MeeplePulse

Space Games

Browse all Space board games in the Meeple Pulse database.

Dune: Imperium – Uprising
RANK #5
Dune: Imperium – Uprising invites players to delve deeper into the political intrigue and strategic warfare of Arrakis in this compelling 2023 standalone worker placement and deck-building board game. Experience the brutal struggle for spice as you command iconic factions, deploy agents, and build a powerful deck to outmaneuver rivals and reshape the fate of the Imperium. With fresh mechanics, a new game board, and exciting avenues for conflict and victory, this epic strategy game delivers a rich, cinematic experience where every decision echoes across the desert planet. Forge alliances, betray enemies, and lead your forces to supremacy amidst the sands of Dune.
1-6 90m⚖️ 3.5
Dune: Imperium
RANK #6
Dive into the epic world of Arrakis with Dune: Imperium, a groundbreaking 2020 board game that masterfully blends the strategic depth of deck-building with the tactical choices of worker placement. As a leader of a Great House, players will deploy agents to crucial locations across the desert planet, gathering precious spice, forging alliances, and battling for dominance in the Landsraad. Every decision shapes your hand and your influence, demanding clever card play and precise agent placement to outmaneuver rivals, secure victory points, and ultimately control the flow of spice and power in the universe.
m⚖️ N/A
BoxNo Cover Art
RANK #58
On Mars is a strategic board game designed for 2-4 players, where each player takes on the role of an astronaut tasked with establishing a human settlement on the planet Mars. The game's primary objective is to be the first player to successfully establish their colony and earn the most points by completing various missions and tasks. Players must carefully manage their resources, including oxygen, food, and water, while also navigating the challenges of Martian terrain and unpredictable weather conditions.
2-4 m⚖️ 3.0
BoxNo Cover Art
RANK #110
Beyond the Sun is a game that challenges players to explore and settle new planets, managing resources and making strategic decisions to ensure their survival and success. The game is set in a distant future where humanity has reached the stars, and players take on the role of space explorers tasked with establishing colonies on newly discovered planets. Each player starts with a small fleet of ships and a limited amount of resources, which they must use to build and maintain their colony. As players explore new planets, they will encounter various challenges such as hostile alien species, toxic environments, and scarce resources. They must carefully manage their resources, including food, water, and energy, to keep their colonists alive and happy. Players can also discover new technologies and upgrade their ships to improve their chances of success. The game is won by the player who establishes the most successful colony, with a balance between resource management, exploration, and technological advancement.
1-4 60m⚖️ 3.5
BoxNo Cover Art
RANK #113
In The Search for Planet X, players take on the roles of astronomers tasked with discovering a mysterious new planet in our solar system. This game is all about strategic planning and resource management as players navigate through various astronomical phenomena to uncover clues that will lead them to their target. The gameplay involves a combination of worker placement and area control mechanics. Players must carefully allocate their resources, including time, money, and personnel, to conduct research and gather data from different celestial bodies. The game board features a modular design, with interlocking tiles representing the solar system's various regions. As players progress through the game, they will uncover new information about the planet's location, size, and composition. One of the unique aspects of this game is its thematic depth. Players must consider the scientific principles underlying astronomical research, such as orbital mechanics and spectroscopy. The game also includes a variety of challenges and obstacles that players must overcome, including equipment failures, data corruption, and rival astronomers trying to steal their discoveries.
2-4 60m⚖️ 3.5
Galactic Cruise
RANK #130
Galactic Cruise invites players to the helm of a burgeoning interstellar tourism company in a competitive, heavyweight Eurogame experience. You take on the role of a supervisor, vying for the prestigious position of CEO within the galaxy's premier space travel corporation. Your objective is to prove your managerial prowess by accumulating the most victory points. This is achieved by building and operating a fleet of luxurious starships, designing incredible interstellar vacation packages, and attracting wealthy guests from across the cosmos. The game is a test of long-term strategy and economic acumen, where every decision contributes to your corporate legacy. Only the supervisor who can most effectively expand their operations and satisfy the discerning tastes of interstellar travelers will rise to the top of the corporate ladder. The gameplay is driven by a sophisticated worker placement system set across three distinct 'eras'. Players assign their crew members to action spaces on a dynamic, modular main board to gather resources, acquire advanced blueprints, construct shuttle components, and build crucial developments that link locations and unlock new strategic pathways. A standout feature is the game's interactive 'bumping' mechanism; if you place a worker on an occupied space, the original worker is returned to its owner, who then receives a small income boost. This clever design choice ensures players are never truly locked out of actions, adding a tactical layer to placement decisions. The core loop revolves around assembling and launching your custom-built shuttles. Once launched, a crew member becomes a pilot, journeying to various destinations to reap valuable rewards while players manage a fluctuating resource market and invest in new technologies to gain a competitive edge. What makes *Galactic Cruise* a compelling title for seasoned gamers is its deep, multi-layered strategic puzzle. The game rewards careful planning and efficient engine-building, offering immense satisfaction as you see your tourism empire grow from a small operation into a galactic powerhouse. The modular board ensures high replayability, as the available actions and connections will shift with every game. Renowned artist Ian O'Toole's distinctive visual style brings the futuristic setting to life, complementing the high-quality production. The clever worker-bumping mechanic fosters a healthy level of player interaction that feels engaging rather than punitive, keeping all players involved throughout the game's considerable playtime. It's a challenging and rewarding journey for those who relish complex economic simulations and the thrill of building a successful enterprise among the stars.
1-4 120m⚖️ 4.0
BoxNo Cover Art
RANK #157
Forbidden Stars is a strategic board game designed for 2-4 players, where each player takes on the role of an intergalactic empire vying for dominance in a distant star system. The game's objective is to be the first player to achieve three victory points by controlling key planets and resources. Players must carefully manage their resources, build and upgrade their spaceships, and strategically deploy them to outmaneuver their opponents.
2-4 60m⚖️ 3.0
BoxNo Cover Art
RANK #160
In Clank! In Space!, players take on the roles of thieves trying to steal valuable treasures from a spaceship while navigating its dangers and avoiding detection by the ship's security systems. The game is played over several rounds, with each player starting with a hand of cards that represent their character's abilities and equipment. On each turn, players can choose to draw new cards, play cards from their hand to perform actions such as moving around the ship or attacking other players, or use special abilities to gain an advantage. One of the key mechanics in Clank! In Space! is deck-building, where players can acquire new cards and upgrade their existing ones to improve their chances of success. However, this also means that players must carefully manage their resources and make strategic decisions about which cards to play and when. Another important aspect of the game is its thematic elements, which are heavily focused on space exploration and adventure. The game's artwork and design are highly detailed and immersive, drawing players into the world of the spaceship and its inhabitants.
2-4 45m⚖️ 3.0
Andromeda's Edge
RANK #186
Andromeda's Edge invites players to command a unique faction in a newly discovered, resource-rich sector of the galaxy. As a spiritual successor to the acclaimed fantasy game 'Dwellings of Eldervale', this title trades swords and sorcery for starships and advanced technology. Your objective is to establish dominance over your rivals by earning the most victory points. This is achieved through a combination of territorial expansion, technological advancement, commercial savvy, and military might, creating a grand-scale struggle for supremacy in the unexplored frontiers of space. The gameplay is centered around a compelling blend of worker placement and engine building, driven by a simple but strategically deep choice each turn: either launch a starship or recall your entire fleet. Launching your ships sends them to various regions to gather resources from planets, claim moons for special abilities, trigger powerful actions at Alliance Bases, or engage rivals and non-player raiders in combat. The dice-based combat system includes an innovative 'targeting' mechanic that lets you mitigate luck by re-rolling dice below your ship's targeting value. Recalling your ships is a pivotal move, allowing you to activate the custom engine of module cards you've assembled on your personal space station, generating a cascade of resources and special actions to power future turns. What makes Andromeda's Edge so engaging is the satisfying puzzle of building an efficient engine while competing for control on an interactive board. Players must constantly weigh the benefits of expanding their presence against the need to pull back and upgrade their capabilities. Success demands careful planning and advancement along five distinct progress tracks: Science, Industry, Commerce, Civilization, and Supremacy. Each track provides crucial rewards and contributes significantly to your final score. As a medium-to-heavyweight Eurogame, it offers substantial strategic depth and replayability, appealing to gamers who relish intricate systems and multiple, interlocking paths to victory.
1-5 120m⚖️ 3.9
BoxNo Cover Art
Star Wars: Imperial Assault – Legends of the Alliance is a cooperative board game set in the Star Wars universe, where players take on the roles of heroes fighting against the evil Empire. The game's goal is to complete missions and defeat the Imperial forces, while also exploring the mysteries of the Force. Players work together, using their unique abilities and skills to overcome challenges and obstacles, all while navigating the complex web of alliances and rivalries within the Rebel Alliance. Gameplay involves a combination of strategy and luck, as players must balance their individual goals with the needs of the team. Each player has a character sheet that outlines their abilities and strengths, which can be upgraded and improved throughout the game. Players also have access to a variety of equipment and resources, such as blasters, medkits, and hacking tools, which can be used to overcome obstacles or defeat enemies. One of the unique features of Imperial Assault is its modular board system, which allows players to create different scenarios and missions for each playthrough. The game includes a range of pre-built scenarios, from simple reconnaissance missions to complex battles against Imperial forces. Players can also create their own custom scenarios using the game's companion app, which provides access to a vast library of user-generated content. Imperial Assault has gained a loyal following among fans of cooperative board games and Star Wars enthusiasts alike. Its unique blend of strategy and role-playing elements, combined with its richly detailed setting and engaging gameplay, make it an exciting and challenging experience for players. Whether you're a seasoned gamer or just starting out, Imperial Assault is sure to provide hours of entertainment and adventure.
m⚖️ 3.5
Beyond the Horizon
Beyond the Horizon is a sophisticated, medium-to-heavyweight civilization-building game that stands as a spiritual successor to the acclaimed "Beyond the Sun." In this strategic experience, two to four players assume leadership of nascent societies, tasked with guiding their people from humble beginnings to a glorious future. The ultimate objective is to achieve dominance not through brute force alone, but through a masterful balance of technological innovation, territorial expansion, and strategic exploration. Players compete to earn the most victory points by advancing their civilization's knowledge, controlling valuable regions of the map, and fulfilling a series of shared public objectives, proving their society's preeminence in this new era of discovery. The core of the gameplay is a compelling fusion of worker placement, tile-based exploration, and a deep, branching technology tree. Each player's turn is structured into distinct phases, beginning with the crucial action phase. Here, a player moves their action pawn to a space on the main board or a newly researched technology card to execute a specific task, such as recruiting population, initiating research, or deploying units. A significant evolution from its predecessor is the introduction of a dynamic, modular map composed of hexagonal tiles. Players must send settlers to the frontiers of the known world to reveal new territories, which they can then claim and fortify. This exploration mechanic is interwoven with the game's central tech tree, where investing in new fields of study unlocks powerful new actions, immediate bonuses, and the very means to expand and produce resources, creating a satisfying and synergistic gameplay loop. The enduring appeal of "Beyond the Horizon" lies in its rewarding strategic depth and the critical decisions it presents at every turn. Players are constantly faced with the compelling dilemma of whether to invest heavily in the long-term benefits of the tech tree or to pursue immediate gains through aggressive territorial expansion on the map. This tension creates a highly interactive and replayable environment, as the path to victory is never the same twice. The game's end is dynamically triggered by the collective achievement of several public goals, forcing players to adapt their strategies in response to their opponents' progress. This creates a thrilling race to claim objectives while simultaneously constructing a robust and efficient victory point engine, making it a celebrated title for strategists who relish complex choices and long-term planning.
2-4 75m⚖️ 3.4