Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis (Czech: Operace Flashpoint) is a 2001 tactical shooter simulation video game developed by Bohemia Interactive Studio and published by Codemasters. Set during the Cold War in 1985, the game follows United States Armed Forces personnel in various combined arms roles as they combat a rogue Soviet Armed Forces field army invading the fictional island countries of Everon and Malden.

Operation Flashpoint was released on June 22, 2001 in Europe and August 30, 2001 in North America to positive reviews from critics, who praised its realistic gameplay and depiction of modern warfare. The game was ported to the Xbox in October 2005 as Operation Flashpoint: Elite. Two expansion packs, Operation Flashpoint: Red Hammer and Operation Flashpoint: Resistance, were released in February and June 2002 respectively and follow differing perspectives surrounding the conflict on Malden and others on nearby islands.

In 2005, developer Bohemia Interactive split from publisher Codemasters following an internal falling-out, with the former losing the rights to the Operation Flashpoint name. Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis thus has two sequels under two different series: Arma: Armed Assault, a spiritual successor released in 2006 by Bohemia Interactive; and Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising, a direct sequel released in 2009 by Codemasters. In 2011, Bohemia Interactive rereleased the game as Arma: Cold War Assault, establishing it as part of their Arma series and distributing it for free to owners of the original Operation Flashpoint.

Operation Flashpoint's gameplay varies significantly depending on the player's role, but the game is best described as a tactical shooter with significant vehicle elements and minor real-time tactics elements. OFP's gameplay is largely team-oriented and the player spends much of the game with a squad of up to 11 computer-controlled members, either as a member of the squad or as its squad leader. On-foot gameplay and the vehicle elements are blended seamlessly and the player can get into any available vehicle at any time, orders and mission conditions permitting. Whether on foot or in a vehicle the player can view the action from both first- and third-person views, as well as an additional "command view" available to squad leaders that provides a limited bird's-eye view of the surrounding area.

At the start of each mission the player is presented with a briefing explaining the situation, describing the player's goals in the mission and, often, providing further information in the form of notes. Once in-game the player is provided with a map, compass, watch, and a notebook. Depending on the mission the player may be required to participate in and complete a variety of tasks, from simply driving a truck or guarding bases to attacking or defending various objectives, patrols, reconnaissance and sabotage behind enemy lines, air support, or any combination of these and more.

When the player is given command of a squad of NPCs, the game becomes more strategy-oriented. As a leader the player is responsible for guiding the squad to its objectives and is able to issue a wide variety of orders to men under their command, such as movement orders, designation of priority targets, formation orders and various other tactical instructions governing how they should behave such as holding fire or attacking only select targets.

Operation Flashpoint features a wide variety of Cold War-era equipment, all of which can be used by the player, depending on availability in any given mission. Available firearms range from standard-issue military assault rifles such as the M16A2 and the AK-74, machine guns, and more specialized weaponry such as sniper rifles and suppressed submachine guns, all of which have iron sights or telescopic sights that the player can use to aim.

Available vehicles include wheeled vehicles (such as jeeps and trucks), patrol boats, tanks and APCs, helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft such as the A-10 Thunderbolt II. If a vehicle is accessible to the player, they can take the position of driver or simply ride in the vehicle as a passenger. Many vehicles, such as tanks, require a crew of at least a driver and a gunner to be used effectively. All vehicles have accurately modeled 3D interiors.