Home Shall we play Global Thermonuclear War? Let’s hope ICBM Escalation isn’t connected up to anything important

Shall we play Global Thermonuclear War? Let’s hope ICBM Escalation isn’t connected up to anything important

It seems a bit like tempting fate at the moment to release a game centered around the potential for a global nuclear holocaust, but ICBM is nothing if not topical.

A follow-up to the popular ICBM, this latest version – ICBM Escalation sees Slitherine up the Defcon level with a game that, “features a brand-new single-player campaign, with scenarios spanning from conflicts in the 1950s to hypothetical wars in 2040s.

The single-player mode also includes three additional ways to play: Blitz, which is the mode closest to the original ICBM; Standoff, designed for 1-2 hours matches; and Conquest, the longest match type, up to six hours. These modes are also available in multiplayer, supporting face-offs of up to ten players.”

Covering aspects of conventional and nuclear war Escalation arrives some four years after the original ICBM and expands on its capabilities significantly.

Will you try the diplomatic route to try and talk down some of the world’s most fiendish despots, or will the inevitable failure of the concept of deterrent finally come true?

Whichever you go for that big red button is never far from the end of your fingertip in this grand-scale RTS where somehow you are not supposed to be bothered about the possibility of making a mistake and wiping the human race from history. No pressure then/

Are you sure you don’t want to play a game of chess?

ICBM Escalation is due to release any minute now on Steam (21st November)

ICBM Escalation Features

  • A blend of conventional and nuclear warfare
  • Highly replayable with a wide range of strategies and unit choices
  • Mass-destruction weapons, like chemical bombs and MiRVs
  • Detailed diplomacy and technology research systems
  • Multiplayer mode supporting up to 10 players, with ranked competitive play
  • A single-player campaign featuring both historical and futuristic missions
  • A deep customization system for the matches

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The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the tech industry for major developments, new product launches, AI breakthroughs, video game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to staff writers or freelance contributors with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.

Paul McNally
Gaming Editor

Paul McNally has been around consoles and computers since his parents bought him a Mattel Intellivision in 1980. He has been a prominent games journalist since the 1990s, spending over a decade as editor of popular print-based video games and computer magazines, including a market-leading PlayStation title published by IDG Media. Having spent time as Head of Communications at a professional sports club and working for high-profile charities such as the National Literacy Trust, he returned as Managing Editor in charge of large US-based technology websites in 2020. Paul has written high-end gaming content for GamePro, Official Australian PlayStation Magazine,…

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