2024Joseph M. Balkoski, Chris Withers
- Videos
- 57
- Creators
- 6
2 - 4 players60 - 600 minHeavy weight

2023Yves Rettel
Mainly playthroughs and unboxings. Red Strike is covered on BoardGameVideo.com by 6 how-to-play guides, 11 recorded sessions, 7 unboxings, and 6 other videos.
From BoardGameGeek
Red Strike is a war game simulating a hypothetical clash between NATO and Warsaw Pact (WP) armed forces in Summer 1989. It covers operational land, air and sea warfare in Central Europe and the Northern Atlantic, while also keeping an eye on the strategic situation around the world. Red Strike is a highly interactive game. Its detection and interception mechanisms allow for simultaneous actions and reactions from both sides. Having to constantly monitor the battlefield minimizes player downtime and maximizes their ability to recreate a very fluid “What if“ representation of a Cold War gone hot. The mechanisms can seem complex at first, but will soon become second nature. The rules that make Red Strike so interactive, also make it perfect for team play. Players can divide responsibilities between air, ground and possibly naval forces. The ground forces could be split by army/front or corps. The crucial naval/air war over the North Atlantic can be played either as a standalone game, or as part of the Campaign Scenarios. As would have happened historically, its impact on the battlefield in Germany can be decisive; the interception and sinking of convoys carrying supplies and reinforcements making the difference between success and failure. Awards and Honors "Red Strike" wins 2023 Charles S. Roberts Awards in the categories - "Best Operational Game" - "Best Hypothetical Game" and - "Award for Outstanding Presentation". Pablo Bazerque Yves Rettel wins the "Chad Jensen Memorial Breakthrough Designer Award".
Learn to play
Watch it played
Red Strike has 30 videos from 13 creators: 6 how-to-play guides, 11 playthroughs, 7 unboxings and 6 other videos. They date from 2021 to March 2025.
To learn the rules, start with "INTRO 00: Yves Welcome Intro" by Moe's Game Table, which runs 5 min.
To see it played, watch "ok.OK.. I had to a do video. holy cow!" by Big Board Gaming, one of 11 playthroughs.
If you like it, try Thunder on the Mississippi: Grant's Vicksburg Campaign, Battles of the American Revolution Tri-pack: Guilford, Saratoga, Brandywine, Nations in Arms: Valmy to Waterloo or Roads to Gettysburg II: Lee Strikes North, which share several of its mechanics.
8 of 13
2024Joseph M. Balkoski, Chris Withers
2 - 4 players60 - 600 minHeavy weight
2017Mark Miklos
2 players180 - 240 minHeavy weight
2012François-Stanislas Thomas
2 - 7 players3000 minHeavy weight
2018Joseph M. Balkoski, Ed Beach, Mike Belles, Chris Withers
2 players60 - 1200 minHeavy weight
From BoardGameGeek:
Red Strike is a war game simulating a hypothetical clash between NATO and Warsaw Pact (WP) armed forces in Summer 1989. It covers operational land, air and sea warfare in Central Europe and the Northern Atlantic, while also keeping an eye on the strategic situation around the world. Red Strike is a highly interactive game. Its detection and interception mechanisms allow for simultaneous actions and reactions from both sides. Having to constantly monitor the battlefield minimizes player downtime and maximizes their ability to recreate a very fluid “What if“ representation of a Cold War gone hot. The mechanisms can seem complex at first, but will soon become second nature. The rules that make Red Strike so interactive, also make it perfect for team play. Players can divide responsibilities between air, ground and possibly naval forces. The ground forces could be split by army/front or corps. The crucial naval/air war over the North Atlantic can be played either as a standalone game, or as part of the Campaign Scenarios. As would have happened historically, its impact on the battlefield in Germany can be decisive; the interception and sinking of convoys carrying supplies and reinforcements making the difference between success and failure. Awards and Honors "Red Strike" wins 2023 Charles S. Roberts Awards in the categories - "Best Operational Game" - "Best Hypothetical Game" and - "Award for Outstanding Presentation". Pablo Bazerque Yves Rettel wins the "Chad Jensen Memorial Breakthrough Designer Award".
Designer
Yves Rettel
Artist
Pablo Bazerque
Publisher
VUCA Simulations
Categories
Mechanics