Runan (Andrew) Lin

Overview

The Red Divide is a 3-player political strategy game about the late-1930s Soviet power struggle. Two players lead rival Opposition factions (Left and Right) attempting to seize a majority in the Supreme Soviet; the third plays Stalin’s regime, working to prevent either coup before the purges begin.

Rulebook (PDF)

Right Opposition — Bukharin

Factions

  • Left Opposition — revolutionary bloc aiming to depose Stalin and outmaneuver the Right.
  • Right Opposition — Bukharin/Rykov reformists competing with the Left to topple Stalin first.
  • Stalin’s Centrists — incumbent regime consolidating power and preparing a purge.
Stalin deck and actions

Objectives

  • Oppositions win by reaching a 51-seat majority in the Supreme Soviet before Turn 10 ends.
  • Stalin wins by preventing either Opposition from attaining a majority through Turn 10.
Turn structure reference

Turn structure

  • Draw — Oppositions draw from the Opposition deck; Stalin draws from the Stalin deck.
  • Action — each Opposition plays card(s) face-down to project influence.
  • Correspondence — both Oppositions state seat power; Stalin may call a bluff.
  • Stalin phase — Stalin plays a face-up response and may veto one Opposition card.
Design approach motif

Design approach

I aimed to translate the era’s paranoia and performative politics into mechanical tension. Hidden information, asymmetric objectives, and constrained channels for truth-telling make deception and self-preservation the core play loop. The system favors rigorous structure with room for emergent negotiation, so outcomes feel historically plausible yet player-driven.

Players 3 (Left Opposition, Right Opposition, Stalin)
Core Bluffing, hidden info, asymmetric play
Components Opposition deck, Stalin deck, seat markers/tokens