The best games set in the Cold War 🧊⚔️ 2024

Looking for a party game set during the Cold War 🧊⚔️? We have a list of the best 30 Cold War games.

What is the Cold War?

The Cold War was a post-World War II state of geopolitical tension between the powers of the Eastern Bloc (the Soviet Union and its satellite states) and the powers of the Western Bloc (the United States, its NATO allies, and others).

Period ca. 1947 to 1989.

Historians do not fully agree on dates, but a common time frame is the period between 1947, (the year the Truman Doctrine was announced, a U.S. foreign policy that pledged to help nations threatened by Soviet expansionism) and either 1989 (when communism fell in Eastern Europe) or 1991 (when the Soviet Union collapsed).

Proxy wars

The term "cold" is used because there was no large-scale fighting directly between the two sides, but both sides each supported large regional wars known as "proxy wars."

Interested in histrorics, politics or war games?

We have created some more lists:

list with the best cold-war-society-games 2024 🧊⚔️

This list was last updated on October 8, 2024. We compared 179 board games for this list and selected the top 30. There's also a print version for this list.
  1. Pandemic Legacy: Season 0

    All details for the board game Pandemic Legacy: Season 0 and similar games

    Pandemic Legacy: Season 0 transports you to 1962, at the height of the Cold War, where a mysterious Soviet bioweapon called "Project MEDUSA" threatens global safety. As newly recruited CIA agents and medical graduates, you and your team are tasked with a critical mission: investigate and halt the development of this deadly pathogen. This game stands alone as a thrilling prequel to the earlier seasons of Pandemic Legacy, immersing players in a tense world of espionage and covert operations.

    Nominated for 5 awards.

    More details for Pandemic Legacy: Season 0
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Pandemic Legacy: Season 0

    • YouTube Review for the game "Pandemic Legacy: Season 0" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Pandemic Legacy: Season 0" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Pandemic Legacy: Season 0" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Pandemic Legacy: Season 0" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  2. Twilight Struggle

    All details for the board game Twilight Struggle and similar games

    Twilight Struggle offers an immersive journey through a pivotal period in history, where the world stood on the brink of nuclear annihilation. This two-player game takes place during the forty-five year rivalry between the Soviet Union and the United States. Instead of traditional warfare, players engage in a dance of intrigue, prestige, and the occasional outbreak of hostilities. As the superpowers strive to make the world safe for their ideologies, you'll navigate a complex web of politics, espionage, and strategy. The game begins in the aftermath of World War II, with both superpowers scrambling for control, and concludes in 1989, leaving only one superpower standing.

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 5.

    More details for Twilight Struggle
    • 2 Players
    • 120 - 180 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Hard to learn
  3. 13 Days: The Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962

    All details for the board game 13 Days: The Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962 and similar games

    13 Days: The Cuban Missile Crisis is a tense, strategic two-player game set during the critical moments of the Cuban Missile Crisis. It captures the high-stakes Cold War atmosphere, offering a rich thematic experience in just 45 minutes. The game challenges players to navigate complex dilemmas, such as choosing between gaining prestige or risking global nuclear war, and strategically managing their hand of cards to outmaneuver their opponent.

    Nominated for 4 awards.

    More details for 13 Days: The Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962
    • 2 Players
    • 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  4. Kompromat

    All details for the board game Kompromat and similar games
    • 2 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  5. Secrets

    All details for the board game Secrets and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Secrets
    • 4 - 8 Players
    • 15 - 35 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable

    Video reviews for Secrets

    • YouTube Review for the game "Secrets" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Secrets" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  6. Vienna Connection

    All details for the board game Vienna Connection and similar games
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 120 - 180 Minutes
    • 16+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  7. Cold War: CIA vs KGB

    All details for the board game Cold War: CIA vs KGB and similar games

    Cold War: CIA vs. KGB is a strategic game that immerses players into the tense and intricate world of espionage and global manipulation in the aftermath of World War II. As the head of either the CIA or the KGB, players engage in a delicate dance of influence, using spies, double agents, and any means at their disposal to sway foreign governments towards their ideology. The game captures the essence of the Cold War, where indirect actions, influence, and subterfuge define the struggle for global supremacy rather than direct military engagements.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Cold War: CIA vs KGB
    • 2 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  8. Iron Curtain

    All details for the board game Iron Curtain and similar games
    • 2 Players
    • 20 - 30 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  9. 1960: The Making of the President

    All details for the board game 1960: The Making of the President and similar games

    1960: The Making of the President is a captivating and strategic two-player board game that immerses players in the historical and intense presidential election of 1960 between John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon.

    Nominated for 4 awards.

    More details for 1960: The Making of the President
    • 2 Players
    • 90 - 120 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  10. Gorbachev: The Fall of Communism

    All details for the board game Gorbachev: The Fall of Communism and similar games
    • 1 Players
    • 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  11. Space Explorers

    All details for the board game Space Explorers and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 20 - 40 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  12. Spy Connection

    All details for the board game Spy Connection and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Spy Connection
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 20 - 30 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  13. Match of the Century

    All details for the board game Match of the Century and similar games
    • 2 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  14. Confusion: Espionage and Deception in the Cold War

    All details for the board game Confusion: Espionage and Deception in the Cold War and similar games
    • 2 Players
    • 30 - 45 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  15. 1989: Dawn of Freedom

    All details for the board game 1989: Dawn of Freedom and similar games
    • 2 Players
    • 150 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  16. Hearts and Minds: Vietnam 1965-1975 (Third Edition)

    All details for the board game Hearts and Minds: Vietnam 1965-1975 (Third Edition) and similar games
    • 1 - 2 Players
    • 45 - 360 Minutes
    • 15+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  17. Angola

    All details for the board game Angola and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Angola
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 480 Minutes
    • Medium difficulty
  18. Days of Ire: Budapest 1956

    All details for the board game Days of Ire: Budapest 1956 and similar games
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 90 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  19. 13 Minutes: The Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962

    All details for the board game 13 Minutes: The Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962 and similar games
    • 2 Players
    • 13 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  20. Modern Land Battles: Target Acquired

    All details for the board game Modern Land Battles: Target Acquired and similar games
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  21. Quartermaster General: The Cold War

    All details for the board game Quartermaster General: The Cold War and similar games
    • 3 - 6 Players
    • 90 - 120 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Quartermaster General: The Cold War

    • YouTube Review for the game "Quartermaster General: The Cold War" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Quartermaster General: The Cold War" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  22. Wir sind das Volk!

    All details for the board game Wir sind das Volk! and similar games

    Nominated for 5 awards and won 2.

    More details for Wir sind das Volk!
    • 2 Players
    • 60 - 150 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Hard to learn
  23. Fire in the Lake

    All details for the board game Fire in the Lake and similar games

    Fire in the Lake marks the fourth volume in GMT Games' highly acclaimed COIN Series, offering players a profound and detailed simulation of the Vietnam War's complexities. This game stands out for its multifaceted approach to one of the most tumultuous periods of the 20th century, providing a richly immersive experience that combines military strategy, political maneuvering, and the intricacies of coalition warfare.

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.

    More details for Fire in the Lake
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 180 Minutes
    • Hard to learn
  24. Covert

    All details for the board game Covert and similar games
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 45 - 90 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  25. 1955: The War of Espionage

    All details for the board game 1955: The War of Espionage and similar games
    • 2 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  26. Europe Divided

    All details for the board game Europe Divided and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Europe Divided
    • 2 Players
    • 60 - 75 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  27. 1969

    All details for the board game 1969 and similar games

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for 1969
    • 2 - 5 Players
    • 90 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  28. LEADERS: The Combined Strategy Game

    All details for the board game LEADERS: The Combined Strategy Game and similar games
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 120 - 180 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  29. Nights of Fire: Battle for Budapest

    All details for the board game Nights of Fire: Battle for Budapest and similar games
    • 1 - 3 Players
    • 60 - 90 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  30. Colonial Twilight: The French-Algerian War, 1954-62

    All details for the board game Colonial Twilight: The French-Algerian War, 1954-62 and similar games

    Nominated for 3 awards.

    🔥 Deal: 18% cheaper than the best Geizhals deal, likely for a short time only!

    More details for Colonial Twilight: The French-Algerian War, 1954-62
    • 1 - 2 Players
    • 90 - 300 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Hard to learn

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