Multipolar

Multipolar is a single-player grand strategy game with six playable countries, inspired by the modern-day world order. I felt that in other grand strategy games, even the big titles, espionage and information have very little impact on the game. This is in contrast with reality, where information is a huge part of both warfare and the exertion of influence between nations, especially big nations over smaller ones. You play as the spirit of a nation, trying to guide it through eight years in the near future, from 2030 to 2038.

You set up a network in a country. You have to wait a few months for the network to mature. Then you can deepen it, gaining more knowledge about the nation. Or you can proceed with operations, either destabilizing, influencing or subverting a nation and its influence. Be aware: every nation's counterintelligence is always at work. You might be discovered, which can cause serious trouble in your diplomatic relations with that nation. My favourite operation is Divide and Rule, which tries to plant suspicion between two allies.

Set your counterintelligence against the countries you suspect might build networks and cause trouble in your country. It will help you identify their networks. If you identify a network and burn it, its owner suffers penalties to stability and to relations with you and your allies.

You can exert influence over minor countries that used to be allies of your big rivals, and cut them off. This takes away the rivals' cheap production, and with it their influence and general power. It also renders them unable to sustain long-term wars, making war extremely expensive for them. Each country sets its own national interests and focuses.

Credits:

Trailer music: "Rynos Theme" Kevin MacLeod , licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License