ICBM: Escalation on Steam - User reviews, Price & Information
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ICBM: Escalation is a grand RTS where you command armies, develop cutting-edge tech, and wield devastating weapons. Conquer enemies with conventional forces or nuclear firepower. With new modes like Standoff and Conquest, the game offers deep strategic layers in a global warfare setting.
ICBM: Escalation is a strategy, rts and cold war game
developed by SoftWarWare
and published by Slitherine Ltd..
Released on November 21st 2024 is available only on Windows
in 7 languages: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish - Spain, Simplified Chinese and Russian.
It has received 878 reviews of which 771 were positive and 107 were negative resulting in a rating of 8.3 out of 10. 😎
The game is currently priced at 28.99€ on Steam.
The Steam community has classified ICBM: Escalation into these genres:
Media & Screenshots
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System requirements
These are the minimum specifications needed to play the game. For the best experience, we recommend that you verify them.
Windows
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS: 64-bit Windows 10/11
- Processor: 4-core CPU
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: GPU GTX 970
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 8 GB available space
- Sound Card: DirectX Compatible Sound Card
User reviews & Ratings
Explore reviews from Steam users sharing their experiences and what they love about the game.
Like DEFCON (2006), improved for the modern day and expanded into a full-blown RTS game. I put 55 hours in - if playing with friends, I could easily put in another 100+ The good: - Massive, detailed, and (reasonably) accurate tech tree(s) (11 of them). Nukes don't just get "bigger", technology affects specific units, many technologies require prerequisites in different trees. - Incredibly customizable War Room - create quick or detailed strategic or tactical plans, and execute immediately, save for later, and repeat at will. These can be as simple as designating an automatic firing priority for some of your units in some specific conflict/region, or a failsafe "launch all nukes" button in case other factions don't respect your proliferation, or as detailed as a ten-step strike and invasion, systematically crippling enemy radar, launch sites, anti-air, and then ground forces as your forces sweep across the land. This level of strategy doesn't negate the need for tactics, and some micro-management as well as clearly planned operations will go a long way towards success. - Unit behaviors are generally good. Aircraft can automatically patrol around bases, and ships and land units can be given reasonable patrol routes - Resources for RTS gameplay (used for either research or construction) encourage non-nuclear warfare - everyone needs more land to win, and a skirmish over a small region won't trigger nuclear war.... right? - Tech tree provides a massive variety of ways to kill each other (chemical weapons, biological, dirty bombs, truck bombs, just a heroic amount of things) - Scenarios are pretty good (except for the last one, IMO) The bad: - Starting a game at a pre-nuke tech level encourages everyone to invade/fight as much as possible, to gain entrenched power and research early. Losing ground early is basically a loss. - Some regional groups are simply doomed to lose (In every game, Central America is invaded by both North America and South America as both seize territory - there is basically no way to win as Central America) - Unit behavior can be sub-standard - fighters may launch to fight other fighters even when completely out-classed, or when AA might take care of it. Sometimes this can be disabled, but frequently you check in on an air base or carrier and ask "why does it no longer have any aircraft?" Ground units will not perform flanking maneuvers and such without micromanagement, fleets don't position properly for a naval conflict, often leaving your carriers entirely vulnerable, fighters don't protect/escort bombers when possible, etc. - Diplomacy is a good feature, but leads to very frustrating games. Three players left alive? Two of them can just alliance up and then the game is as good as over. In fact, even from the very start, players can band together in massive alliances that screw over whoever was invited last. This is a very real-world feature, but once you and your alliance are "winning", there are no real-world issues (scarcity, etc.) to force alliances to break down. Similarly, the process by which technologies can be banned from use is fairly neat, but it feels wrong to invest a lot of research in some niche technology, and then "be forbidden from using" the 300 bioweapons you've built. Who's forbidding you from using them? The countries launching nukes at you? I think it would make a lot more sense if there was some sort of sanction process for breaking the conventions - diminished production due to your populace, or outrage, cities deciding to defect, things like that. - The Learning Curve. Tutorials help a lot, but it can really take so many hours to grasp this game. Once learned, it doesn't necessarily have any more complexity than any of the other big RTS games, but the somewhat dated menus and controls don't really help. This game would probably have a much bigger community if it was more approachable. If any of The Good sounds fun, I'd recommend this game. Be prepared to sink months into it.
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ICBM: Escalation is about preparation, deterrence, and timing. You begin with a nation under your control, managing research, production, and deployment of nuclear forces. Unlike traditional RTS games that rely on base-building or resource gathering, here the “resources” are geopolitical positioning, missile silos, submarine fleets, radar coverage, and the ability to second-guess your opponent’s moves. The escalation curve is brilliantly designed. Early on, the game is all about intelligence and positioning—placing radar stations, satellites, and nuclear submarines while keeping your adversaries guessing. As tensions rise, the gameplay shifts into a terrifying race: who launches first, who retaliates more effectively, and who can maintain enough of a surviving arsenal to ensure a devastating counterstrike. The simultaneous pace of real-time escalation forces you to think ahead, as even a small delay in ordering a launch can cost millions of lives. The technology tree has been expanded from the original, offering new strategic options such as advanced missile defense systems, stealth bombers, cyber warfare, and improved submarine capabilities. The tech progression is essential: deciding whether to invest in offensive capabilities (longer-range ICBMs, MIRVs, hypersonic weapons) or defensive ones (laser defense grids, satellite shields) can dramatically alter the balance of power. What makes this system engaging is that you can rarely afford to research everything—your choices define your doctrine, whether that’s overwhelming first-strike potential or an ironclad deterrent posture. While the single-player AI provides a tense challenge, especially with its unpredictable strike patterns, ICBM: Escalation shines brightest in multiplayer. Facing human opponents adds a psychological layer the AI cannot replicate—bluffing, baiting, and feints become crucial. Matches can be fast and brutal, or drawn-out games of brinkmanship where neither side dares to fire first. The pacing ensures that a single game can be completed in under an hour, making it highly replayable. The presentation remains stark and minimalist, with its world map view echoing the cold, data-driven feel of military command centers. This design choice, while simple, perfectly fits the theme. Watching missile arcs sweep across the globe, interceptors scrambling to intercept them, and entire cities being wiped from the map carries a chilling detachment that emphasizes the horrifying nature of nuclear conflict. The sound design—alarms, missile launches, distant detonations—adds to the tension without overloading the senses. ICBM: Escalation is not just a strategy game—it’s a simulation of dread, tension, and high-stakes decision-making in a world where one wrong move can end civilization. It improves upon its predecessor in almost every aspect, giving players more tools, more choices, and more reasons to replay. While its presentation may not appeal to those seeking flashier visuals, the stripped-down style ensures that the focus remains on the terrifying logic of nuclear war. If you enjoy real-time strategy, geopolitical mind games, or simply want to experience the unsettling tension of balancing on the edge of Armageddon, ICBM: Escalation is a must-play. It’s chilling, thought-provoking, and endlessly replayable—an RTS that thrives on the razor’s edge of human survival. 8.5/10 DISASTER | BAD | MEDIOCRE | OKAY | GOOD | GREAT |AMAZING| MASTERPIECE Reviewed on: Win11 Home 64-bit, Intel i5-11600K, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB GDDR7, 32GB DDR4-3600 RAM, 2 x Kingston NV1 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD, Internet Broadband 1000/1000 Mbit If you like this review, then please consider giving it a thumbs up. I've also reviewed other games that you might find interesting. If so please follow [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/27418263/] Top of the Chart.
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I loved the original game, and ICBM escalation feels like a well made sequel. More stuff, more tech, more bombs. If anything it would be fun with more countries. instead of large regions!.
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Play the tutorial Struggle to understand basic concepts finish the tutorial play a game as North America overly militarize the border with Central America Invade Central America with the help of South America refuse to upgrade the Navy (I completely forgot that was a thing) make it to Columbia takeover Columbia get into a war with the world repeatedly nuke every city until the game ends 10/10 would commit numerous warcrimes in this game again.
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This game is like a more complex version of DEFCON, with added features like tech research, territory control, and diplomacy. It’s not as realistic as CMO or Harpoon, but it still delivers a cool global warfare experience on a 3D globe, with ICBMs, MIRVs, and NBC warheads. There’s a single-player campaign, multiplayer, and modding support. I’d give it an 8.5/10 — great mix of strategy and style. P.S. I recommend watching this YouTube video on why the military plays war games. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqFMX__AH9s
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Frequently Asked Questions
ICBM: Escalation is currently priced at 28.99€ on Steam.
ICBM: Escalation is currently not on sale. You can purchase it for 28.99€ on Steam.
ICBM: Escalation received 771 positive votes out of a total of 878 achieving a rating of 8.29.
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ICBM: Escalation was developed by SoftWarWare and published by Slitherine Ltd..
ICBM: Escalation is playable and fully supported on Windows.
ICBM: Escalation is not playable on MacOS.
ICBM: Escalation is not playable on Linux.
ICBM: Escalation offers both single-player and multi-player modes.
ICBM: Escalation offers both Co-op and PvP modes.
There are 3 DLCs available for ICBM: Escalation. Explore additional content available for ICBM: Escalation on Steam.
ICBM: Escalation does not support mods via Steam Workshop.
ICBM: Escalation does not support Steam Remote Play.
ICBM: Escalation is enabled for Steam Family Sharing. This means you can share the game with authorized users from your Steam Library, allowing them to play it on their own accounts. For more details on how the feature works, you can read the original Steam Family Sharing announcement or visit the Steam Family Sharing user guide and FAQ page.
You can find solutions or submit a support ticket by visiting the Steam Support page for ICBM: Escalation.
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Last Updates| Steam data | 20 January 2026 22:36 |
|---|---|
| SteamSpy data | 20 January 2026 19:30 |
| Steam price | 29 January 2026 04:17 |
| Steam reviews | 28 January 2026 14:06 |
If you'd like to dive deeper into the details about ICBM: Escalation, we invite you to check out a few dedicated websites that offer extensive information and insights. These platforms provide valuable data, analysis, and user-generated reports to enhance your understanding of the game and its performance.
- SteamDB - A comprehensive database of everything on Steam about ICBM: Escalation
- SteamCharts - Analysis of ICBM: Escalation concurrent players on Steam
- ProtonDB - Crowdsourced reports on Linux and Steam Deck ICBM: Escalation compatibility
Game modes
Multiplayer
Features
Online players
146
Developer
SoftWarWare
Publisher
Slitherine Ltd.
Release
21 Nov 2024
Platforms