Save the word from nuclear fallout in 10 minutes

Coldline is an interactive puzzle game that puts you in charge of saving the world from nuclear fallout. With a time limit of 10 minutes, it’s your job to contact the President of the United States to alert him of a 50-megaton nuclear warhead on course to New York City.

As a thriller that requires you to uncover your next steps based on a set of hidden clues, the entire game plays out like an escape room of sorts. Similar to games like Twelve Minutes or Dispatch, in Coldline, you have limited time and resources to solve the puzzle.

A simple game with an exciting plot

You must play as the chairman of the USSR in 1962 at the height of the Cold War. Due to a technical failure, a 50-megaton nuclear warhead is headed to New York City. Thanks to breakthroughs in Soviet aviation, your military advisor estimates delivery in 10 minutes. Your last hope at preventing armageddon is to get the US army to intercept the plane.

It’s time to call the president, but finding a direct line is not an easy task. After calling the US Washington-Moscow hotline, an automated voice walks you through your options to speak with someone.

No experience necessary

To stop the warhead from hitting NYC, you must navigate the hotline menu options and enter secret passcodes until you connect with the White House.

But for how engaging it can be, Coldline is surprisingly easy to play and doesn’t require any past gaming experience or controller knowledge. Similar to a choose-your-own-adventure style game or story, Coldline is about trial and error and progressing in the game only requires a numbpad to do.

Easy to play but difficult to win

Coldline is accessible for most players, even those without extra gear or a gaming computer. By utilizing only the number keys of your keyboard, you can get set up and start to play in seconds, but that doesn’t mean it’s not challenging.