Sleepwalkers: Imperial Rivalries and the Great War

The outbreak of the First World War, often called „the seminal catastrophe of the 20th century”, is one of the most controversial topics in human history. Many Europeans had condoned war, but hardly anyone could have wanted the unprecedented slaughter that began in 1914. Why did it happen? How could it happen?

Players represent the governments of the major powers Austria-Hungary, Britain, France, Germany and Russia. Vying for prestige, they impose tariffs, arm, expand and forge alliances. Random events such as the Dreyfus Affair, the Boer War, the Berlin-Baghdad Railway, the Russo-Japanese War and the Black Hand add to the tensions. Crises are sure to erupt, forcing each player to decide whether to mediate or to mobilize. Can you avoid war, while striving for a peace that suits you?