If you’ve wondered what the Cold War was all about, then now’s the time to learn as Terminal Conflict is officially launching and going out of Steam Early Access. The game takes place between the years 1946 and 1991 and players take control of one of two global superpowers, which are the American-led West and the Soviet-led East.
With the fate of the world hanging in the balance, players need to make use of everything at their disposal from diplomacy, to economics, intelligence, and of course, military tactics. Then there’s the need to keep watch on the Doomsday Clock.
As the leader of their chosen faction, players test their tactical skills through the genuine rendered retro-computer terminal known as MIRVIN AI. The goal is to prevent the enemy from global domination and get the win by any means necessary. This includes dominating the planet or winning the space race.
For the gameplay itself, players first need to choose a faction and once they do, they get a chance to recruit at least 40 of the Cold War’s iconic leaders, each brining their own unique playstyle. Marshal Tito of Yugoslavia, for example, can cement influence for the Eastern Bloc to shore up Europe’s defenses. China’s Mao Zedong, meanwhile, can help the player increase his influence in mainland China. There are also other leaders like Margaret Thatcher and Che Geuvara.
Players also have different choices available like using diplomatic means to increase their sphere of influence or go for gunboat diplomacy with military might. There’s also the option to send CIA agents to enemy territory. Players can access more than 124 regions spread across 10 theaters of war. Regions include the jungles of South America to the Arctic and its hostile conditions.
Developer Strategy Mill revealed in a post that Terminal Conflict has been “designed to be the most accurate reflection of the Cold War” and gives players “unprecedented control over all strategic aspects of their campaign.” While global domination is key to winning, players need to keep in mind not to push the world to nuclear war.
In order to ensure that the gameplay is evolved and that players face new challenges, there are different tools that support modding and customization. There is an in-game editor that lets players come up with scenarios for different geopolitical struggles. Players can use this editor to create their own version of the Cold War.
Terminal Conflict is available on Steam for $29.99.
