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 increasing destabilization of the political and economic situation in the Soviet Union is undercutting our positions in the world.
Core mechanisms
Key systems that shape the decisions players make.
Movement Points
Spend a movement allowance across spaces with different costs.
Dice Rolling
Roll dice to introduce uncertainty into actions, production, movement, or resolution.
Hexagon Grid
Use a hexagonal map where each space connects evenly in six directions.
Simulation
Model a real or imagined system through detailed cause-and-effect rules.
Zone of Control
Restrict or influence movement through areas controlled by nearby pieces.
Read the full game description
"The increasing destabilization of the political and economic situation in the Soviet Union is undercutting our positions in the world. The pride and honor of the Soviet people must be restored in full." Public Declaration of State Committee for the State of Emergency in the U.S.S.R., June 11, 1985 1985: Under an Iron Sky is the spiritual successor of The Next War by SPI: an operational, highly detailed simulation of a NATO - Warsaw Pact conflict in Central Europe. Being a so-called "Monster", 1985 is not exactly a beer and pretzel game. Rules include every aspect of modern warfare, leaving little or nothing on an abstract level: air war, helicopters, electronic warfare, special forces, revolts, nuclear and chemical warfare.....you name it. In order to survive, both sides must keep a constant eye on the front line, the rear areas and on the sky above. Game Parts 3 95x65cm and 2 31x24cm maps, depicting Central Europe from Denmark to Northern Italy 2000+ counters, representing Warsaw Pact and NATO combat and support units 65 pages Rules booklet 60 pages Scenario / Designer’s Notes booklet 10 Charts and Tables sheets in full colour Game Highlights 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 sized ground combat units Squadron sized Air and Helicopter units Extensive air war rules covering Escort, Intercept, SEAD, Wild Weasel, Ground Strike and more EF-111 and Yak28 PP Offensive ECM Squadrons E-3 Sentry and A-50 Mainstay AWACS Squadrons Special Forces, Airmobile, Paratroops, Electronic Warfare, Artillery, SSM, SAM and Air Defense Artillery units Rules for Chemical Warfare, Nuclear Warfare and uncontrolled escalation to Strategic Nuclear Exchange Specific operational tactics like Airmobile Antitank Battalions, Active Defense and Single-Echelon Assaults Variable NATO reinforcements, depending on players’ decisions and events in the battle of North Atlantic Variable Warsaw Pact reinforcements, depending on Pact’s decision for Mobilization and Norway Invasion Unrest and Revolts in Warsaw Pact countries Two different Campaign Games: “Forward, Comrades!”, the classical Warsaw Pact offensive in Central Europe “It Started in the Shipyards”, NATO intervention in support of widespread revolts in Warsaw Pact satellite countries Four smaller scenarios: “Checkpoint Charlie”, the battle for West Berlin “A Damned Nice Thing”, Warsaw Pact main attack against NORTHAG “Mind the Gap”, Warsaw Pact secondary attack against CENTAG "Para Bellum", Warsaw Pact offensive against Italy following a stalemate on Central front Playable stand-alone or in combination with 1985:Deadly Northern Lights and 1985:Sacred Oil