Overview
At a glance
Is this game right for my group?
ABG editorial scores on a 1–5 scale.
Harder to teach
High replayability
Highly interactive
Scales well
Deep strategy
How it plays
How does it play?
"The waters of the Barents Sea are constantly violated by nuclear armed US submarines and carriers.
Core mechanisms
Key systems that shape the decisions players make.
Grid Movement
Move pieces between adjacent spaces on a regular grid.
Dice Rolling
Roll dice to introduce uncertainty into actions, production, movement, or resolution.
Movement Points
Spend a movement allowance across spaces with different costs.
Hexagon Grid
Use a hexagonal map where each space connects evenly in six directions.
Combat Results Table
Compare opposing strength as a ratio, then consult a table to resolve combat.
Read the full game description
"The waters of the Barents Sea are constantly violated by nuclear armed US submarines and carriers. Nordic Countries must realize that their tacit consent plunges them into the strategic balance between United States and the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics." Public Declaration of State Committee on the State of Emergency in the U.S.S.R. Moscow July 24, 1985 "1985: Deadly Northern Lights" covers the Warsaw Pact offensive against the Nordic countries during the dramatic events of World War Three. Norway, Sweden, Finland and insular Denmark are in the cross-hair, facing the full might of Northern Fleet, Baltic Fleet and two Soviet Military Districts. Both sides have only a fraction of the ground forces available in the Central European Front and must overcome the problems dictated by scarce lines of communication and by the harsh environment. Every aspect of a modern aero-naval campaign is covered: naval and air combat, electronic warfare, nuclear and chemical weapons, special forces, standoff strikes, supply convoys, coastal defenses, mine warfare, amphibious invasions, and more. Game Components 3 98x65cm maps and 2 smaller maps, depicting Scandinavia and surrounding areas. 1700 counters, representing NATO, Warsaw Pact, Sweden and Finland forces 45 pages Rules booklet 40 pages Scenarios / Designer’s Notes booklet 2 Tables booklets 8 Player’s Aid Charts 2 20-sided dice Game Highlights Playable stand-alone or in combination with 1985:Under an Iron Sky Order of Battle and TO&E are not “generic”, but set exactly in July, 1985 14km per hex, 48 hours per game turn Division / Brigade / Battalion sized ground combat units Special Forces, Airmobile, Paratroops, Electronic Warfare, Artillery, SSM, SAM and Air Defense Artillery units Squadron sized Air and Helicopter units Extensive air war rules covering Escort, Intercept, SEAD, Wild Weasel, Ground Strike and more Surface Ships and Submarines, from single flag ships to groups of fast patrol missile boats Realistic but flowing naval rules. Everyone here remembers the horror of TNW’s 12-turns naval phase Specific operational tactics like Active Defense and Single-Echelon Assaults Variable reinforcements, depending by Players’ decisions and external events Five different scenarios of increasing complexity: The Gates of Fire: The initial Soviet offensive in Northern Norway The Baltic Will Tell: Warsaw Pact's surprise assault against Stockholm Against a Sea of Troubles: Soviet amphibious invasion of Denmark Black Become the Sun's Beams: Warsaw Pact's aeronaval assault on Norway Nordic Balance: The full World War Three Arctic Campaign Playable stand-alone or in combination with 1985:Under an Iron Sky and 1985:Sacred Oil —description from the publisher