1979: Revolution in Iran

About this board game

1979: Revolution in Iran is a two-player strategic wargame with an approximately 120-minute play time, covering the events leading up to the 1953 coup, the Islamic Revolution, and the turbulent period between them.

One player leads the Coalition, pushing to nationalize the oil industry and later rising in opposition to the Shah. The other plays the Royalist, fighting to keep Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi in power while protecting American and British oil interests.

As a card-driven wargame, 1979 combines event cards with a distinctive turn structure. Each turn begins with a draft of event cards, followed by alternating action rounds in which both players decide how to advance their faction’s goals.

• Draft event cards at the beginning of each turn.
• Alternate action rounds as the Coalition and Royalist factions.
• Use factional influence to trigger events and take actions.
• Mount opposition against those in power.
• Keep scoring hidden to maintain uncertainty throughout the game.

Factional influence is the primary resource. It supports events and actions, but its most important role is helping players mount opposition to those currently in power. Managing influence effectively is central to shaping the struggle.

Scoring is not open information, keeping tension front and center from start to finish. Every decision takes place against an uncertain political landscape, where the struggle for power can change the course of history. In 1979: Revolution in Iran, the question is whether you can guide your faction through the upheaval and achieve its goals.