Kremlin (1988 Avalon Hill Edition, Complete)

A Cold War Classic on Your Table

The 1988 Avalon Hill edition of Kremlin is a political intrigue board game that puts players in the roles of competing factions within the Soviet Politburo. Designed by Urs Hostettler and originally published in German as "Kreml" by Fata Morgana, the Avalon Hill English-language edition brought this satirical strategy game to the American market during the final years of the actual Cold War. A complete copy in good condition has become a sought-after piece for board game collectors.

The game accommodates 3 to 6 players, each secretly controlling multiple politicians within the Soviet government. The goal is to maneuver your candidates into the position of Party Chief and then have them wave from atop Lenin's Mausoleum during the October Revolution parade three times. The catch is that politicians age, get sick, get purged, and occasionally die, creating a darkly humorous simulation of Soviet political life.

Game Components (Complete Set)

A complete 1988 Avalon Hill Kremlin should contain:

Components Checklist

• 1 Game board depicting the Soviet government hierarchy

• 26 Politician cards with portraits and attributes

• Influence point tokens (multiple denominations)

• 6 Player screens for hidden influence allocation

• 1 KGB track marker

• Health status markers (Healthy, Sick, Dead)

• Parade markers

• 1 Year marker

• 2 Six-sided dice

• 1 Rule book (Avalon Hill edition, English)

• Original box with Avalon Hill branding

Missing components significantly reduce value. The politician cards and influence tokens are the most commonly lost items. The rule book, while reproducible, adds meaningful value to a complete set.

Gameplay Overview

Kremlin plays out over a series of "years" (rounds), during each of which players:

1. Secretly allocate influence points to politicians
2. Attempt to nominate candidates for government positions
3. Vote on appointments using their controlled politicians
4. Execute special actions (purges, investigations, rehabilitations)
5. Watch the October Parade (where the Party Chief waves, or doesnt)

The hidden influence mechanism is the heart of the game. No one knows for certain which politicians another player controls, creating an atmosphere of paranoia and backstabbing that perfectly captures the theme. Alliances form and dissolve constantly as players jockey for control of the most powerful positions.

Historical Context

The timing of Kremlin's 1988 Avalon Hill release was remarkable. Mikhail Gorbachev was implementing glasnost and perestroika, the Berlin Wall would fall within a year, and the Soviet Union itself would dissolve by 1991. The game arrived at exactly the moment when its subject matter was at peak cultural relevance.

Avalon Hill was the gold standard for strategy board games in the 1980s. Founded in 1954 by Charles S. Roberts (often called the father of wargaming), the company published classics like Diplomacy, Civilization, and Squad Leader. An Avalon Hill logo on the box carried weight with serious gamers.

Condition and Value Guide

Current Market Values (1988 Avalon Hill Edition)

• Complete, Excellent condition (box shows minimal wear, all components present and undamaged): $60 to $100

• Complete, Very Good (box shows shelf wear, components present and functional): $40 to $65

• Complete, Good (moderate box wear, components complete but showing play wear): $25 to $45

• Incomplete (missing components): $10 to $25

• Sealed/Unpunched: $120 to $200

The game has appreciated modestly but steadily as the Avalon Hill brand has become more collectible following the companys acquisition by Hasbro. Cold War themed games have also seen increased collector interest.

Factors That Affect Value

• Completeness is paramount. Missing politician cards or influence tokens are deal-breakers for many collectors.

• Box condition matters more than usual because the Avalon Hill box art is a key part of the collectible appeal.

• Unpunched copies (where cardboard tokens have never been separated from their sprues) command significant premiums.

• The rule book should be the original Avalon Hill printing, not a photocopy.

Collecting Context

Kremlin occupies an interesting niche in the board game collecting world. It is not a mainstream mass-market game, but it is not an obscure micro-publication either. Its position as a mid-weight Avalon Hill strategy game with a unique theme gives it appeal to several collector demographics:

• Avalon Hill completists who seek every title the company published

• Cold War memorabilia collectors who appreciate the thematic content

• Political game enthusiasts who value games exploring power dynamics

• Euro game historians who recognize it as an early German-design game brought to the American market

Storage and Preservation

• Store flat to prevent box lid warping

• Keep in a cool, dry environment

• Bag individual component groups (cards, tokens) in resealable bags to prevent loss

• Avoid stacking heavy games on top, which can crush the box

• If displaying, keep out of direct sunlight to prevent color fading on the box and cards

Final Thoughts

The 1988 Avalon Hill Kremlin is a product of its time that transcends its time. The game mechanics of hidden influence, political maneuvering, and strategic timing remain engaging decades after the Soviet Union ceased to exist. A complete copy connects collectors to both the golden age of Avalon Hill board gaming and the final, fascinating years of the Cold War. For game collectors who appreciate theme, strategy, and historical context, Kremlin delivers on all three counts.

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