Ready to discover one of the World Order players? You can always read our previous articles here. In our latest exploration, we focus on the United States, the world’s only superpower—both in reality and within the game. With vast economic resources, military strength, and significant cultural influence, the US is a natural choice as one of the four playable entities in our game. By stepping into the shoes of the US, players can experience the challenges and opportunities as well as pros and cons of being a global hegemony, from the hardship of managing tens of alliances simultaneously to the imperative of exerting hard power in distant places.

The decision to include the US as one of the four playable powers in World Order was driven by the country’s historic and ongoing, although weakening, role as a global policeman. In the wake of World War II, which ended with Europe’s self-destruction, the US became the linchpin of a completely new international order, shaping international politics, world trade, and even world culture through its unmatched multisector influence. Thanks to the mammoth war-related industrial effort, the US economy quickly turned into the world’s largest in the years following World War II. This economic strength, combined with an equally powerful and advanced military, laid the foundation of America’s hegemony throughout the second half of the century and the first part of 2000s.

In the second postwar, with the European influence vanishing quickly, the US also became a dominant trend-setter. Thanks to Hollywood, the star system as a whole, and brain-attracting its tech industry, the US managed to spread its national vision and values worldwide. Such a soft power has been used to complement its hard power, as shown by the fascination exerted by the so-called American way of life and the evergreen American dream, with the result that the US ended up being not only a military giant, but a cultural and ideological beacon as well.

Since the mid-2000s, the US has started to experience a relative decline in terms of cultural appeal and hard power, partly due to internal factors – the imperial fatigue – and partly due to the rise of other great powers. Nevertheless, the US keeps playing a crucial role in international relations, from leading NATO and other alliances to engaging in conflicts and peacekeeping missions. Its influence extends to every corner of the globe, making it a superpower whose decisions reverberate worldwide. No other power, despite the US decline in terms of relative power, has such an influence.

In World Order, the United States’ economic power and military might are two key assets. As the world’s largest economy, the US has the ability to generate immense wealth, to invest, and to export and import. Players can take advantage of this resource-based and hi tech-producing economic strength to outpace rivals, which are respectively Russia and China, secure trade agreements across the world, and invest in strategic countries. 

The military is another critical component of its power. Endowed with the world’s largest and most advanced army, the US player has the matchless capability to project hard power globally, from maintaining a strong military presence in Europe and the Far East to sending troops to the MENA region and Africa. In World Order, players can leverage this real-world-modeled force to achieve strategic objectives, deploy troops, build bases, and deter rivals.

One of the defining features of the US, both in reality and in World Order, is represented by its alliance-building skills. Starting from the first postwar, the US helped develop numerous international bodies, from the short-lived League of Nations to the still existing NATO and the United Nations, that have shaped the international system and contributed to world peace. In World Order, players can also use this diplomatic prowess to forge alliances, secure military bases, and create economic partnerships that enhance the US’ global influence.

Winning as the US in World Order demands a hegemonic approach, requiring players to achieve a balance between economic management, military strategy, and diplomatic engagement. This combination is crucial to maintaining US presence across global regions and securing influence on the international stage. Players must effectively utilize the US’ vast resources to maintain global dominance and think and act strategically when it comes to using military power, knowing when and where to deploy forces and when and where to instead rely on diplomacy and economic primacy.

The US’ ability to project power globally gives players a significant advantage, but overextension or unnecessary conflicts can weaken its position. Since that real world’s rules rule in World Order, balancing hard power with soft power is essential for preserving dominance. In this regard, perhaps, players could win in the game by applying the lessons learned from observing the real-world US, which spent so much time and resources on exporting democracy and on fighting endless wars that it didn’t pay attention to what was occurring outside the MENA, with the result of being caught by surprise by Russia’s and China’s rise.

In World Order, players can truly step into the shoes of the United States, navigating the complexities of global power dynamics. Ready to take on the challenge? Don’t miss your chance to be among the first to experience this game—sign up on our “Notify Me” page for the Kickstarter launch!