In Meltwater, 2 players command the shattered remains of the superpowers, struggling for control of the ice. Simple diceless mechanics let players displace, corner, and isolate their opponent’s survivors. Here, hunger is a crueler weapon than gunfire, and the barren tundra can only support so many souls. And every turn, radioactive contamination pushes in from the coastline, shrinking the available space and forcing the belligerents closer and closer together. In the end, there is only submission or annihilation, and whatever world is left.

Fight for the last habitable ground on Earth in Meltwater. After nuclear war devastates the Northern Hemisphere, surviving American and Soviet forces retreat to Antarctica. The continent offers temporary refuge, but radiation closes in, food is scarce and the two former superpowers remain determined to outlast one another.

Players manoeuvre civilians and soldiers across the hex based map, securing territories and pushing opposing groups towards isolation. Conflict is resolved through diceless positioning rather than random combat rolls, making the placement and support of every unit visible before a decision is made. Stockpiles keep populations alive, while hunger and exposure punish forces that become cut off.

Radiation markers progressively shrink the playable area as contaminated ice becomes unusable. Doomsday cards change conditions and create further pressure, preventing either side from settling into a permanent safe position. Victory requires eliminating the opposing population, but reckless attacks can leave the survivors without enough space or supplies to endure the next stage of collapse.

• Shrinking Antarctic Map: Lose safe territory as radiation spreads across the continent
• Diceless Conflict: Resolve pressure and displacement through positioning rather than combat rolls
• Civilian and Soldier Forces: Use two unit types when holding ground and confronting the enemy
• Isolation Pressure: Cut opposing groups away from support while protecting your own routes
• Scarce Stockpiles: Manage limited supplies as hunger threatens exposed populations
• Doomsday Cards: Face changing conditions that intensify the struggle for survival

Includes:

• 1 Game Board
• 60 Civilian Pieces
• 8 Soldier Pieces
• 56 Radiation and Dead Markers
• 4 Stockpiles
• 2 Cloud Tokens
• 1 Boat
• 28 Doomsday Cards
• 2 Player Aid Cards

Specifications:

• Manufacturer: Capstone Games
• Category: Board Game
• Subcategory: Antarctic Survival Area Control and Diceless Conflict Board Game
• Players: 2
• Age: 14+
• Play Time: 60 Minutes