The latest entry in the Next War wargame series has arrived from GMT Games. In Next War: Iran, the Iranians close off the Straits of Hormuz in an attempt to cut off oil to the West and force the Americans to recognize Iranian sovereignty and end foreign intervention in their affairs. The game is for one or two players, ages 14+, plays in 60 to 480 minutes, and carries an MSRP of $85.00.
About the game:
The Middle East has long been a hobgoblin for foreign powers and, as much as Afghanistan, also a graveyard of empires. Sitting squarely astride ancient trade routes and with the added impetus of the world’s addiction to oil, the area has been a hot spot for centuries.
Now, with the old regime teetering and losing its grip, Iran makes a bid for forcing the West to recognize its complete sovereignty and control over its own affairs by striking at the one thing they care about: the flow of oil. Mining the Straits of Hormuz and declaring it closed to all traffic, Iran defies the world. The US, and perhaps some of its allies, takes action to re-open the straits and get the black gold flowing to the world again.
Next War: Iran is the sixth game in the Next War series. It is unique in the series in that the Allied player has to do the attacking while the non-Allied player attempts to defend its territory against neo-imperial oppression. With a long logistical tail, few true allies in the region, and the menace of Iran’s A2AD capabilities, re-opening the Straits is a tall order.
Ownership of any previous Next War series will NOT be required to play Next War: Iran.
There are several Standard Game scenarios. Some are small and focus on limited objectives while at least one is a campaign game encompassing the entire map. Similarly to previous games in the series, the Advanced Game scenarios will be divided into various starting points representing different levels of build-up before the game begins.
So, the question remains. Can you, as the Allied player, enforce the will of the West on Iran and get the oil flowing again? Or will you, as the Iranian player, defy the world?
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