# Games like DEFCON

> The closest matches to DEFCON: ICBM, WARNO, Wargame: Airland Battle, First Strike, and Total War: EMPIRE – Definitive Edition. Ranked by imho.run from Steam co-play data, shared tags and reviews.

## Similar games, ranked

The full ranked list, 24 games, best match first (the HTML page shows the top 8 as cards).

1. [ICBM](https://imho.run/games/1178220/icbm) — Also Cold War and RTS, like DEFCON. 1,143 Steam reviews, 93% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1178220/)
2. [WARNO](https://imho.run/games/1611600/warno) — Shares unit micromanagement with DEFCON. 8,160 Steam reviews, 82% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1611600/)
3. [Wargame: Airland Battle](https://imho.run/games/222750/wargame-airland-battle) — Also Cold War and Wargame, like DEFCON. 2,310 Steam reviews, 86% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/222750/)
4. [First Strike](https://imho.run/games/587000/first-strike) — A frequent pick in DEFCON players' libraries, and another Action. 523 Steam reviews, 71% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/587000/)
5. [Total War: EMPIRE – Definitive Edition](https://imho.run/games/10500/total-war-empire-definitive-edition) — Also RTS and Military, like DEFCON. 12,170 Steam reviews, 90% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/10500/)
6. [RUNNING WITH RIFLES](https://imho.run/games/270150/running-with-rifles) — Also Wargame and Military, like DEFCON. 5,049 Steam reviews, 89% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/270150/)
7. [AI War: Fleet Command](https://imho.run/games/40400/ai-war-fleet-command) — Also RTS, like DEFCON. 854 Steam reviews, 87% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/40400/)
8. [Twilight Struggle](https://imho.run/games/406290/twilight-struggle) — A frequent pick in DEFCON players' libraries, and another Simulation. 1,396 Steam reviews, 87% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/406290/)
9. [Commandos: Origins](https://imho.run/games/1479730/commandos-origins) — Also Wargame and RTS, like DEFCON. 597 Steam reviews, 78% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1479730/)
10. [Rebel Inc: Escalation](https://imho.run/games/1088790/rebel-inc-escalation) — A frequent pick in DEFCON players' libraries, and another Strategy. 2,582 Steam reviews, 83% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1088790/)
11. [Multiwinia](https://imho.run/games/1530/multiwinia) — A frequent pick in DEFCON players' libraries, and another Indie. 306 Steam reviews, 86% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1530/)
12. [Radio Commander: Vietnam '64](https://imho.run/games/871530/radio-commander-vietnam-64) — Also Cold War and Wargame, like DEFCON. 776 Steam reviews, 70% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/871530/)
13. [Insurgency: Sandstorm](https://imho.run/games/581320/insurgency-sandstorm) — Also Military, like DEFCON. 59,257 Steam reviews, 86% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/581320/)
14. [Original War](https://imho.run/games/235320/original-war) — Also Wargame and RTS, like DEFCON. 607 Steam reviews, 90% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/235320/)
15. [Regiments](https://imho.run/games/1109680/regiments) — Also Cold War and Wargame, like DEFCON. 1,598 Steam reviews, 88% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1109680/)
16. [Z-Collapse](https://imho.run/games/1804500/z-collapse) — Also Wargame and RTS, like DEFCON. 55 Steam reviews, 67% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1804500/)
17. [Armored Brigade](https://imho.run/games/1089840/armored-brigade) — Shares unit micromanagement with DEFCON. 175 Steam reviews, 86% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1089840/)
18. [Air Defender](https://imho.run/games/3985030/air-defender) — Also Cold War and Wargame, like DEFCON. 259 Steam reviews, 78% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/3985030/)
19. [Men of War: Vietnam](https://imho.run/games/63940/men-of-war-vietnam) — Also Cold War and RTS, like DEFCON. 529 Steam reviews, 57% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/63940/)
20. [Sins of a Solar Empire: Trinity®](https://imho.run/games/201290/sins-of-a-solar-empire-trinity) — Also RTS and Military, like DEFCON. 572 Steam reviews, 79% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/201290/)
21. [Company of Heroes 2](https://imho.run/games/231430/company-of-heroes-2) — Shares unit micromanagement with DEFCON. 28,233 Steam reviews, 85% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/231430/)
22. [Nuclear Dawn](https://imho.run/games/17710/nuclear-dawn) — Also RTS, like DEFCON. 977 Steam reviews, 78% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/17710/)
23. [SPACECOM](https://imho.run/games/263860/spacecom) — Also RTS, like DEFCON. 97 Steam reviews, 64% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/263860/)
24. [Forts](https://imho.run/games/410900/forts) — Also Military, like DEFCON. 8,557 Steam reviews, 93% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/410900/)

## Machine-readable

The same ranked list as JSON from the imho.run API for AI assistants (GET, no key, same site as this page):

- Top 20: https://imho.run/api/agent/games-like?q=1520&n=20
- Co-op games only: https://imho.run/api/agent/games-like?q=1520&n=20&coop=true
- Free games only: https://imho.run/api/agent/games-like?q=1520&n=20&free=true
- Facts about this game: https://imho.run/api/agent/game-facts?q=1520
- This page as markdown: https://imho.run/md/game/1520
- API docs: https://imho.run/developers (OpenAPI: https://imho.run/openapi.json, MCP: https://imho.run/mcp)

## About DEFCON

DEFCON is a minimalist real-time strategy game released in 2006 by Introversion Software that simulates global thermonuclear warfare. Players command forces across a stylised world map, managing units, timing strikes, and assessing damage in escalating phases that force difficult decisions about escalation and restraint. The game is priced at $11.99 USD, supports both single-player and online co-operative play, and is marked as playable on Steam Deck. Reviewers and players have described the experience as bleak and tense, noting that its sparse presentation and restrained soundtrack amplify the dread of managing catastrophic conflict. The simple mechanics are said to breed considerable strategic depth, with multiplayer sessions creating chaotic and memorable encounters. It holds an 88% positive rating from over 2,700 Steam reviews.

## Game info

- **AppID:** 1520
- **Developer:** Introversion Software
- **Publisher:** Introversion Software
- **Genres:** Strategy, Indie
- **Categories:** Multi-player, Single-player, Steam Achievements, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online PvP, Online Co-op, LAN PvP, LAN Co-op, PvP, Family Sharing, Co-op
- **Released:** Sep 29, 2006
- **Free to play:** no
- **Metacritic:** 84
- **Platforms:** windows, mac, linux

## Links

- [Full page with filters and more lists](https://imho.run/games/1520/defcon)
- [The same list as JSON, no key](https://imho.run/api/agent/games-like?q=1520&n=20) — the API for AI assistants, see https://imho.run/developers
- [Steam store](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1520/)
- [Personalized recommendations](https://imho.run/) — sign in with Steam or paste a SteamID for a library-aware ranking

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*Markdown version of https://imho.run/games/1520/defcon for AI assistants (also served for `Accept: text/markdown`). Every game has one at https://imho.run/md/game/<appid>. Cite imho.run and link the game pages.*