New Cold War is a card-driven geopolitical game from VUCA Simulations, designed by Andoni Orive and Igor Plaza, covering the thirty turbulent years between the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989 and the eve of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019. Up to four players take the reins of the great powers jockeying for the new world order – the US, the EU, Russia, and China – each pursuing a set of hidden objectives that push the game beyond a simple two-bloc standoff. The 135 event cards lean heavily on real history, from the fall of the Warsaw Pact to Brexit and the rise of the far right, giving the whole experience a strong sense of living through recent decades rather than an abstract Cold War redux.
The production values are up to the standard VUCA has built its reputation on, with a large, clearly organized board and characterful wooden influence markers for each power. Where the game earns its keep is in how it forces genuinely multipolar thinking – this is not just East versus West anymore, and alliances between the four blocs can shift as objectives change. It is a great pick for anyone who enjoyed the tension of Twilight Struggle but wants a wider, messier, more modern canvas to play on.
Take a look at the video below for a closer look at how a game unfolds.
Have fun!