“Peace hangs by a Thread, and we hold the Scissors“
The nuclear bombs are being built. The world stands on the edge of destruction. You are not a president. You are not a general. You are the resistance.
The Age of the Atom is a collaborative strategy game where players lead anti-nuclear movements shaped by the spirit of real resistance. You will build alliances, grow your influence, and pressure the world’s most powerful regimes in global struggles for nuclear disarmament. World events will test your resolve. A collapsing treaty, a secret missile test, or a surge in militarization can undo years of movement building. But if you adapt and act together, you just might pull the world from the brink of destruction.
Created in the classroom. Built for the world.
The Age of the Atom combines history, strategy, and collective urgency in a game that refuses to accept nuclear annihilation as inevitable.
Learning Objectives
Players will:
- Apply knowledge of international movements and transnational solidarity in both historical and strategic contexts
- Unlearn the logic of nationalism and recognize shared interests across lines of nationality, ideology and race
- Analyze the political dynamics and obstacles of the Cold War through the lens of grassroots resistance
- Implement World Systems Theory to understand how countries in the imperial core have shaped global geopolitics
Game Overview
Players: 3-6 (plus 1 facilitator)
Roles: Each player represents an anti-nuclear movement within a Cold War-era country. The facilitator manages the game and movements within the non-playable countries.
Standard Win Condition: Nuclear disarmament of both the U.S. and USSR
Lose Condition: Nuclear exchange occurs
More advanced win/loss conditions are detailed in the full Rules & Setup Guide
Presentation Slides
An overview of how history, mechanics, and learning come together in the game.
How to Play
Everything you need to play the game is in our Rules & Setup Guide. It includes setup, round structure, movement mechanics, and post-game debrief guidance. Facilitators, be sure to check out the companion Facilitator Reference Sheet for additional support.
Downloadable Game Materials
Use these printable files to set up the full game. Some materials are meant to be printed double-sided while others should be printed single-sided. Each document includes a note. We recommend the facilitator track and update the Political Capital Tokens (PCT) and Militarization Tokens (MT) for non-playable stations as events unfold.
- Play Aids: Country-specific rules and resources
- Country Name Plates: Rivalries, bloc alignment, disarmament tracking and perks
- Global Event Cards: Cold War history, round-by-round
- Movement Progress Cards: Strikes, uprisings, peace efforts, and more
- Achievement Cards: Red Phone, Mass Opposition, Movement Connection, Financial Influence
- Resource Cards: Popular Will, Elite Opinion, Diplomatic Savvy
- Tokens: MTs, PCTs
Game Previews
Here are sample setup images to show the game in action.
Note: The PCTs and MTs from the Tokens document may look different than those shown in the Rules & Setup Guide and in the images below. The updated tokens function the same but now include symbols and clear visual text in addition to color. This makes them more accessible and intuitive for all players.
Individual Player Station Setup
Entire Playing Space
Post-Game Reflection
This game isn’t just about winning or surviving. It’s about understanding power, solidarity, and what it takes to shift history. Use the debrief questions included in the Rules & Setup Guide to reflect:
- Did you win? What helped you build an international movement?
- Did you lose? What frustrated your efforts to build an international movement most?
- Do you think this game would be harder if less people were playing? Is that realistic? Why or why not?
- In what ways is this game realistic? In what ways is it not?
- Which countries had the largest effect on the gameplay and, by proxy, the world? Why?
- Were some countries passive? Why do you think that is?
- Do you remember any global events we learned about that weren’t in the Global Event Cards?
- What kinds of changes would have to happen within countries for the things to happen in real life as they did in the game?
- Stars and wishes?
Credits
Game Designers: Emily Drakeley, Jorge Duarte, Cam Keenan
Created for EDHD 621 – Spring 2025
Featured Image: Created with ChatGPT’s image generation tool. It’s currently used as a concept placeholder for visual tone.
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