First Strike

Background:

First Strike was the first game we made as Blindflug Studios. The studio was actually formed after the game was finished. After years of contract work, we wanted to have a stab at our own independent project, creating something unique for the brand new iPad but also build a game without a message. Years later, First Strike has become a global phenomenon with over ten million players across the globe.

Gameplay:

Inspired by War Games' famous scene of the AI learning that there is no winner in nuclear war, you take control of a real world nuclear superpower and try to survive the nuclear armageddon. You control your own set of territories which can build rockets, conquer new territories, research technology or shoot aggressive and defensive nukes. Depending on who you pick, the game is easier or harder: USA is our easy mode, North Korea is our impossible mode. 

Design:

First Strike is imbalanced by design. Due to geographic locations, size and starter technology it is very unlikely for smaller nations like Iran, Israel or North Korea to win.

A special mention should go to the game's hidden ending. The game purposefully can not be beaten without millions of people dying, no matter how skilled you fight. However, there is a road to world peace: should you as a player disarm all your nukes, the AI will do the same. And once there are no more nukes on earth you will be rewarded with the cheesy and elusive “You Win” screen that only 2% of all players ever found.