Balance of Power

Developed by:

Mindscape, Inc.

Mindscape International Ltd. was the major European publishing and distribution arm of Mindscape, Inc. beginning in about 1986. Located in West Sussex, England, some games were also developed by this division. Its sister company was Mindscape International GmbH.

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No Multiplayer

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Description

Balance of Power (1985) is widely considered one of the most innovative and thought-provoking strategy games of the Cold War era. Designed by the legendary Chris Crawford and published by Mindscape, it stands out because it isn't about winning a war—it’s about preventing one.
You play as either the President of the United States or the General Secretary of the Soviet Union. Your goal is to lead your superpower for eight years (1986–1994) and accumulate more "Prestige" than your opponent without triggering a global nuclear war.
You interact with 62 different countries by sending economic aid, supporting insurgents, backing coups, or providing military hardware. The heart of the game is the diplomatic "poker" you play with the other superpower. When you take an action (e.g., sending troops to a country), your opponent can protest. You then have to decide: do you back down (and lose prestige) or escalate? Every escalation brings the world closer to nuclear war. If either side pushes too far and neither backs down, the screen goes black.