The confrontation between the East and the West is coming to an end, but not between East and West Germany. The old party leaders are still sitting in their offices, not changing anything and waiting for exclamations from Moscow. But their end is close – Gorbachev and Kohl have already decided...
Players can choose from three Eastern Bloc nations - East Germany (GDR), Romania, and Bulgaria - each with its own distinct political landscape, economic situation, and relationship with the Soviet Union. Future updates promise to expand the roster, adding Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary.
At the heart of the gameplay, players must carefully balance the demands of their party, the desires of their citizens, and the pressures from both the Soviet Union and the West. Decisions regarding reforms, party leadership, propaganda, and managing popular support are crucial to maintain stability and retain power in the face of growing unrest and calls for change.
Alongside the political challenges, players must also oversee the economic well-being of their country. This involves making decisions about privatization, state-owned enterprises, and investment in various sectors to maintain financial stability, control inflation, and improve the standard of living - all while avoiding economic collapse.
Beyond domestic affairs, players must also navigate the complex web of international relations. This includes managing relationships with the Soviet Union, the Western powers, and other Eastern Bloc countries, as well as potentially seeking alliances or even confronting superpowers. Decisions regarding foreign policy, trade agreements, and even nuclear weapons development can have far-reaching consequences.
The game offers a high degree of replayability, as players can pursue different strategies and outcomes for each playthrough. A variety of achievements and challenges encourage experimentation, allowing players to explore the various "what-if" scenarios that emerge from the turbulent geopolitical landscape of the late 1980s.