Twilight Struggle

Twilight Struggle plunges two players into the ideological Cold War between the USA and USSR, spanning 1945-1989. Through card-driven gameplay, you'll manage global influence, trigger historical events, and navigate the ever-present threat of nuclear annihilation. Every card presents agonizing decisions: use it for operations points to spread influence, or trigger the event—which might benefit your opponent. The tension is relentless as you balance regional struggles across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America while managing DEFCON levels and the Space Race. Games feel like chess matches infused with historical drama, where one miscalculation can cascade into disaster. The asymmetric powers and event sequencing create a narrative arc that mirrors actual Cold War crises. Players experience genuine anxiety during the Late War period when devastating events enter play. Victory comes through domination, controlling enough regions, or surviving to final scoring with more influence points.