Crisis in the Kremlin
Press Keyboard right side: Alt+Enter keys to switch to full screen game play, and Alt+Enter keys to return.
How to play Crisis in the Kremlin
Even though it's a classic DOS game, Crisis in the Kremlin plays smoothly in browser versions with intuitive controls:
- Mouse Click – Select menus and make decisions
- Enter – Confirm selections
- Keyboard Shortcuts – Quickly navigate to policy or faction screens
- Esc – Return to main menu or previous screen
Crisis in the Kremlin Description
Originally released in 1991 by Barbu Corporation and published by Spectrum HoloByte, Crisis in the Kremlin invites players to take charge of the Soviet Union in its final years, navigating the challenges of a superpower on the brink of transformation. As General Secretary of the Communist Party, you must make difficult policy decisions, respond to real historical events, and balance the needs of rival political factions. As General Secretary of the Communist Party, you must make difficult policy decisions, respond to real historical events, and balance the needs of rival political factions.
Thanks to modern browser emulators, this political classic is accessible once again—giving players the chance to rewrite, relive, or resist the fall of the Soviet Union without downloading anything.
Gameplay Overview
Your first major decision is choosing your political stance. The game lets you play as one of three real-life leaders, each reflecting a different ideology:
- Mikhail Gorbachev – A reformist pushing for transparency and modernization
- Boris Yeltsin – A nationalist focused on diminishing Moscow’s control and empowering regional autonomy
- Yegor Ligachyov – A hardliner committed to preserving traditional Soviet systems
Once in power, you’ll shape policies in key areas such as industry, agriculture, foreign diplomacy, and military spending. You’ll also face real-world events like the Chernobyl disaster and the Armenian earthquake, which test your ability to lead under pressure.
The game’s strength lies in how every policy move you make has consequences. A shift in military funding might please hardliners but anger reformists. Cutbacks to agriculture could trigger unrest. Your ability to adapt defines your success—or failure.
No fast reflexes are required—just clear thinking and careful planning.
Modern Alternatives to Crisis in the Kremlin
Today’s political simulators owe a lot to this game. These modern titles build on its legacy while offering new systems and expanded depth.
Crisis in the Kremlin (2017 Remake)
Platform: Steam
Developer: Kremlingames
The remake is a significant expansion, offering new pathways such as reintroducing monarchy, forming a democratic republic, or reasserting communist ideology globally. It introduces more complex economic management, real-time diplomacy, and expanded domestic policies.
With dozens of possible outcomes, players can craft a completely different Soviet legacy.
Ostalgie: The Berlin Wall
Platform: Steam
Developer: Kremlingames
In this game, you manage a Cold War-era Eastern Bloc state, from East Germany to Bulgaria, trying to stay afloat amid shifting superpower politics.
You must manage:
- Soviet pressure
- Internal reform movements
- International relations
Your actions determine whether your nation crumbles or thrives.
Collapse: A Political Simulator
Platform: Steam
Developer: Kremlingames
Set in a fictional post-Soviet republic, Collapse challenges you to manage a crumbling state.
You’ll face:
- Riots, revolts, and economic collapse
- Strategic decisions on authoritarianism or democratization
- Unexpected threats, including separatist movements and assassination attempts
It’s a gritty and unpredictable game that reflects the fragility of transitional governments.
Suzerain
Platform: Steam, GOG
Developer: Torpor Games
In Suzerain, you play as President Anton Rayne, navigating the political turmoil of the fictional country Sordland. The gameplay is entirely narrative-driven, told through text and dialogue trees.
What makes it compelling is that every decision you make—whether in foreign policy or personal relationships—has long-lasting effects on the country’s future.
It’s not about mechanics—it’s about leadership, ethics, and survival.
Crisis in the Kremlin was one of the earliest games to place players in the shoes of a real-world leader, challenging them to make consequential choices with national impact. It wasn’t about winning a war—it was about navigating the slow collapse or potential renewal of a superpower.
It gave players a rare opportunity to explore the political, economic, and social realities of a pivotal moment in world history. That core idea remains as relevant—and engaging—as ever.
One of the few political sims available, take over the Kremlin as one of the three Russian leaders (Ligachov, Yeltsin, or Gorbachov), determine your foreign and domestic policies, and react to the crises that happens (like the Chernobyl crisis). Keep yourself in office by keeping both the Nationalists and the Reformists in line. Can you do better than Gorbachov himself?
Cheats/Hints/Walkthroughs for Crisis in the Kremlin
1. Balance Political Power
Favoring one group too heavily—whether hardliners or reformists—can create instability. It’s critical to keep the factions in check.
2. Prioritize Basic Needs
Invest early in agriculture and infrastructure to prevent food shortages and public dissatisfaction.
3. React Strategically to Crises
Emergencies like Chernobyl should be met with transparency and resource allocation to maintain credibility.
4. Maintain Influence Over Allies
Countries within the Warsaw Pact may begin to drift if they feel neglected. Diplomatic attention is key to preserving unity.
5. Survive Beyond 1991
Keeping the Soviet Union alive past its historical collapse unlocks new scenarios, including alternate ideologies and geopolitical strategies.

Crisis in the Kremlin - additional information
