Nuclear War
A Cold War comedy of missiles, propaganda and population loss, where peace never lasts.
Who it's for
A group of four to six who enjoy black humor and table talk. Perfect for people who like Cold War satire and do not take cards too seriously.
Not for you if…
Nuclear war as a joke is not your thing, or you want a game with careful strategy. It is satire with plenty of luck.
Vibe's take
Loud, jokey and a bit grim, like a Cold War cartoon: threats, deals, and a missile launched at exactly the wrong moment. The spinner adds a hit of luck to every strike.
About this game
Nuclear War is a satirical card game from 1965 where each player runs a major world power and tries to come out on top, or at least not to be annihilated. You start in the peace phase, trading Secrets and Propaganda cards and negotiating with the other players. Then someone launches a missile, and the war phase begins. If the missile is not shot down, the target spins to see how much population is lost. The game continues until peace returns or only one player has any population left. It is darkly funny, with Cold War jokes on every card, and it works best with people who like to laugh at the absurdity.
Get it
Mechanics
By the numbers
Players
Duration
60 min
Ages 10+
Complexity
1.4 / 5 — Very LightBGG Rating
5.8/10
Rank #4,399
3.0k ratings
Published
1965
Language
Heavy text
Designed by
Douglas Malewicki
Published by
(Self-Published), Flying Buffalo, Inc. (FBI)
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