Fortress America

One defender versus up to three invading powers in an over-the-top 1980s near-future invasion of the US.

Designer: Michael Gray
Published by: Milton Bradley

Fortress America, from the 1986 Gamemaster series, imagines a near future in which the rest of the world invades the United States all at once. One player defends the continental US; up to three others play the invaders, arriving from the west, the south through Mexico and the east. The defender relies on the few remaining ground and air forces plus partisan uprisings, while the invaders bring infantry, APCs, hovertanks, helicopters and bombers. Even a space-based laser relay shows up, because why not. It is a big, loud, dice-rolling 80s war game with an over-the-top premise, and it does not pretend to be anything else.

One US defender against up to three invadersHovertanks, bombers and space lasersPartisan uprisings behind enemy lines

Who it's for

You like asymmetric 80s war games with a pulpy premise, and one of you wants to be the underdog holding the line.

Not for you if…

You want a balanced, serious strategy game. The setup is deliberately lopsided and a bit silly.

Vibe's take

Lopsided and loud. The defender scrambles to plug holes while the invaders squeeze in from three sides, and dice keep every battle a little uncertain.