DEFCON, inspired by the 1983 cult classic Wargames, is a Cold War-era strategy game simulating global thermonuclear war. Hidden in an underground bunker, your goal is to annihilate enemy populations while protecting your own. Fragile alliances and betrayals shape the high-stakes gameplay, as every attack exposes you to retaliation. With its minimalist interface, DEFCON tracks death tolls in real-time, blending psychological tension with strategic depth. In nuclear Armageddon, everybody loses. You just have to lose the least.
Experience the chilling reality of global thermonuclear war in DEFCON. Position submarines, silos, and air defenses to engage in strategic nuclear exchanges. Every attack reveals your own vulnerabilities, making each decision a high-stakes gamble. The minimalist, military-style interface, and chilling soundscape heightens the tension.
DEFCON shines in multiplayer, where alliances are forged and broken in a heartbeat. Engage in brinkmanship, balancing aggression with self-preservation, to avoid triggering total nuclear war. The ultimate goal: ensure you lose the least, as paranoia and betrayal dominate every moment.
DEFCON doesn’t just simulate war — it emphasizes its devastating cost. Real-time death tolls track the human impact as cities are obliterated and the globe plunges into darkness.
DEFCON was the 3rd major game from acclaimed indie developer, Introversion Software, which then went onto to develop the BAFTA winning game, Prison Architect.
Introversion Software has been developing games since 2001, and stands behind acclaimed titles like Uplink, Darwinia, Multiwinia, Prison Architect, Scanner Sombre, and their latest release, The Last Starship. Introversion has garnered both critical and commercial success being recognised with multiple awards including the IGF grand prize for Darwinia and BAFTA for best persistent game (Prison Architect). They have sold more than 4M copies of their games worldwide.
You don't win, you just try to make sure they don't either. Play with the sound so you can have the appropriate amount of dread and despair.
Dont get me wrong, it is fun in single player as well as multi player. Its a schame that most of multi servers are empty. It go abandoned ,last update was in 2024. the price is too high for, or lack of content. a schame realy
After playing a few rounds of this game, I can confirm, that everybody does indeed die.
bomb explody 2
No onboarding, useless tooltips.
This game sends an incredible message, nuclear war should be avoided at all costs. Unfortunately RTS just isn't my thing, I'll be refunding.
Great real time strategy game that requires friends if you want to do the multiplayer (where it really shines). The macro gameplay of missile defense is alright, I feel like the insane potential of microing planes, bombers, and navy shoot this game into one of my favorite rts games I grew up with.
I love nuking everyone
DEFCON costs $11.99.
Minimum: Recommended: Windows XP, P3-600-Geforce 2, 128 Mb RAM, 60 Mb Hard Disk, Internet connection for multiplayer games
DEFCON is available on Windows PC, macOS, Linux.
DEFCON has 78% positive reviews from 9 players. Metacritic score: 84/100.
DEFCON was released on Sep 29, 2006.
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