The Best 12 Strategy Games Set In The Cold War

8 – Maestro’s Cold War 2

Maestros Cold War 2 Screenshot of the map of Europe

This is a gem for those who enjoy grand strategy on a global map. Developed by Maestro Cinetik, the legendary designer of minimalistic grand-strategy titles like Cauldrons of War and Rise of the White Sun, Maestro’s Cold War 2 focuses heavily on the economic and political levers of power. You have to manage your nation’s internal stability while funding insurgencies or propping up allies abroad. It is a game about the “Great Game,” where a well-placed diplomatic bribe can be just as effective as a carrier strike group. If you’re looking for the kind of game that you can just jump right in, play, and enjoy without having to learn, scour YouTube for tutorials, and read manuals for dozens of hours.

7 – Headquarters: Cold War

Headquarters: Cold War is the most recent game in this list, and takes the polished tactical combat of Headquarters: World War 2 and applies it to a “what if” 1980s conflict. Like it’s WW2 counterpat, Cold War excels excels at creating an accessible and in-depth battle system that’s in equal parts easy to jump right with very little context or tutorials, and still have plenty to learn after dozens of in-game hours. Each building and every treeline feel important for your cover and fire-opportunities, and the inclusion of helicopters changes the the battlefield in major ways, making anti-aircraft a necessity. The visuals are excellent, and the focus on squad-level tactics provides a much more intimate look at the hypothetical Third World War than the massive grand strategy titles on this list.

6 – Regiments

Regiments is often described as a more focused, single-player alternative to the Wargame series of titles, and that is a compliment. The fact that the game has been in development for quite a while, with just a single guy doing all the work, is absolutely remarkable, especially when you take into account its high level of quality and amazing presentation. It does away with the frantic clicking of traditional RTS games in favor of having fewer units on screen at any given time, and I’m a fan of that. The Operation mode is the standout here, forcing you to manage your forces across several days of fighting, where every loss carries over to the next battle.

5 – Sea Power: Naval Combat In The Missile Age

Sea Power Naval Combat In The Missile Age Screenshot of a ship firing a missile

Coming from the lead designer of Cold Waters, Sea Power: Naval Combat In The Missile Age is the dream game for naval warfare enthusiasts, and a gift that keeps on giving, now that the game is nearly 2 years into Early Access. It covers the era of early missiles and supersonic jets, where detecting the enemy is half the battle, and avoiding getting shot down by something you never even knew was coming is the other half. It’s one of the most detailed naval simulations in existence (with proper 3D graphics), and controlling a carrier strike group or a lone submarine in the vastness of the Atlantic is as tense an experience as it should be. The flight models and sensor mechanics are top-notch, making it the most authentic naval wargame in years. The game’s simple but powerful scenario editor is one of my favorite highlights, and it allows players to quickly put together scenarios with just a couple of clicks.