As the people of Taiwan gather with loved ones to celebrate the lunar new year, a foreboding new form of festive entertainment is sweeping the island nation. Developed by local company Mizo Games, the boardgame “2045” invites players to simulate a future Chinese invasion attempt and defend the motherland from annexation. Twenty years in the future, will Taiwan be ready?
Tabletop Tensions Run High
In 2045, players take on roles ranging from Taiwanese military commanders to Chinese sleeper agents to bands of volunteer fighters as they battle for control of the island. “We can’t predict the future, but if a conflict is unavoidable, I hope this game gives people a chance to experience war on the tabletop before it reaches us,” said KJ Chang, founder of Mizo Games.
The game’s release comes amidst escalating tensions between Taiwan and China. The People’s Republic of China has long claimed Taiwan as its territory, vowing to “unify” it by force if necessary, despite the island having its own democratically elected government. In recent years, China has ramped up military drills and aggressive posturing in the Taiwan Strait.
Grassroots Groundswell of Support
Mizo Games tapped into Taiwan’s collective anxiety and fighting spirit with a crowdfunding campaign launched in August. It blew past its original goal to raise over NT$4 million (US$133,000), demonstrating the public’s eagerness to engage with the grim speculative scenario through gameplay.
The 2045 boardgame is part of a wider trend of media depicting a dramatic Chinese invasion and the stalwart Taiwanese resistance. The government-funded TV series “Zero Day” and projects backed by pro-independence billionaire Robert Tsao also bring the harrowing hypothetical to life for mainstream audiences.
Ominous Endgame on the Horizon?
Geopolitical observers point to the period around 2045-2049, the centenary of the People’s Republic of China, as a potential window of heightened risk. President Xi Jinping has boldly proclaimed his intention to achieve the “great rejuvenation” of China by that symbolic date, including building a “world-class military” that could forcibly subdue Taiwan.
VIP supporters of the 2045 boardgame on Kickstarter will receive bonus patriotic swag including a “Let me fly as a Taiwanese” passport cover – a poignant reminder of Taiwan’s precarious political status on the world stage.
As of now, most countries do not officially recognize Taiwan as a separate nation from China due to pressure from Beijing. The island exists in diplomatic limbo, always on guard and gaming out survival strategies for the day the uneasy status quo shatters.
Gamifying Grim Futures
More than just a diversion, Mizo Games’ 2045 aims to instill a sense of readiness and resolve in the Taiwanese populace. By letting citizens play act a Chinese invasion, it demystifies the worst case scenario and strengthens psychological resilience should fantasy become reality.
- Immerses players in intense asymmetric warfare as scrappy Taiwanese units fend off the military might of China
- Teaches strategic and tactical thinking, resource management, and the harsh calculus of war
- Fosters a spirit of defiance even against seemingly insurmountable odds
While a boardgame can never truly simulate the devastation and loss of a real hot war over Taiwan, it serves as a striking reminder of the fragile peace that currently reigns. With every game night gathering, every dice roll and card drawn, Mizo Games’ 2045 invites Taiwanese to contemplate the heavy price of freedom – and the need to be ready to fight for their way of life.
As the Year of the Rabbit dawns, a cloud of uncertainty looms on the horizon. Will the people of Taiwan conquer Chinese invaders on the tabletop only to face them on the battlefield within a few decades? Only time will tell, but 2045 stands as a harbinger of a future where fun and games could give way to deadly serious stakes at any moment. In the end, no one truly wins.
