Fantasy Flight Games | Star Wars: The Deck-Building Game | Strategy Card Game | Ages 12+ | 2 Players | 30 Minutes Playing Time

Product Information

Personally speaking, I loved all the ways the game uses in-universe references. From simple things like using Sabotage or Bounty Hunting when referring to player actions, to the impressive artwork and descriptions on the cards, it all flows together to make you feel like you’re fighting it out withing Star Wars. It’s easy to get immersed into it. Each faction also includes 10 Base cards spanning a number of iconic locations from throughout the Star Wars universe including Tatooine, Endor, Hoth, Alderaan, Coruscant, Mustafar, Yavin 4, and the Death Star. Aside from their mandatory starting location, each player can choose which bases they want to use during the game, depending on their overall strategy. These additional bases are kept secret from the opponent, often leading to a bit of surprise in the latter parts of the game. What inspired me to do Star Wars was this idea that I can make a game that just gets to the table really fast,” Grace told Polygon in an interview, “[where] people can get into it and find deep strategy — but there isn’t that high bar for learning.” What this particular Star Wars game has going in its favor is that everyone sort of knows its story, just like everyone sort of knows the rules of poker. As it’s been described to me, it feels like Grace’s clever design reinforces that story almost perfectly. The rules of the game are the rules of the Star Wars universe, and that should lead to both a satisfying time at the table and a minimum of fuss. Image: Fantasy Flight Games

While the game has more base cards than the five listed, they are only going to be used once you have become more familiar with the game. Including them helps to extend the match’s duration or to have more options when making plays. For your first time playing the game, you don’t need to worry about the advanced options. Once you have all components, it’s time to work on the setup. Shuffle the 90 galaxy cards and place the pile in the middle of the table. Then, draw six cards from the top of this pile, creating a row in between the players. The cards must be placed facing the player who represents the faction they are part of. Neutral cards are placed horizontally.Throughout the game, a Force meter records the balance in The Force, which may alter the effect of cards in favour of a particular faction. [1] Reception [ edit ] The Force begins the game all the way on the Rebels’ side, but the Empire gets to take the first turn. Regardless of which faction you play as, what you choose to do in those opening moves can have a lasting impact on the rest of the game. Read more The Rebel Alliance fights valiantly against the tyranny of the Galactic Empire. Each new victory brings the Rebels hope, and each heroic sacrifice strengthens their resolve. Still, the Empire's resources are vast, and the firepower of its Empire Navy is unmatched. With neither side willing to accept defeat, their war rages across the galaxy... The Rebel Alliance fights valiantly against the tyranny of the Galactic Empire. Each new victory brings hope to the Rebels, and each heroic sacrifice strengthens their resolve. Yet the Empire's resources are vast and the firepower of its fleet is unmatched. With neither side willing to accept defeat, war rages across the galaxy...

If you're looking to scratch the two-player tabletop itch in the meantime, Wheels has a list of excellent entries. For all that, however, I feel like something has been missing. Nothing has quite scratched the same itch as the older Star Wars Collectible and Trading Card Games. The thrill of “duking it out” merely with the strength of your cards and strategy. Some of have gotten really close to that feel, but whether it’s more complicated—or too simplistic—mechanics, or incorporated to much other stuff (dice, boards, etc)…they weren’t exactly what I was wanting.You choose to fight as either the Empire or Rebellion, and both players use the same 152 cards that are included in the box. I was a bit worried they were returning to this well-trod period of time, but they include enough characters/vehicles from the other movies and even animated series, that it feels far more fleshed out. The Rebel Alliance fights valiantly against the tyranny of the Galactic Empire. Each new victory brings the Rebels hope, and each heroic sacrifice strengthens their resolve. Still, the Empire’s resources are vast, and the firepower of its Empire Navy is unmatched. With neither side willing to accept defeat, their war rages across the galaxy…

It’s just cool to see that kind of risk/reward strategy in a card game. It’s an aspect of the gameplay that makes each match feel different, with no battle playing out the same way…even though you’re using the same cards every time. Cost (units and capital ships): This specifies the number of resources you need to spend to buy that specific card from the galaxy row. Fantasy Flight ceased design on Star Wars: The Card Game in 2018, and many of its Star Wars titles have been shuffled to other Asmodee-owned studios since the giant company bought Fantasy Flight in 2014. The studio has more recently dedicated itself to “more thoughtful releases,” as it told Dicebreaker in 2021, spinning down some games into an indefinite hiatus and adopting a more measured release schedule for the rest of its portfolio. In addition to units, players can also find capital ships in the galaxy row, such as the Rebel Transport Imperial Carrier Of course, the bases themselves are also a factor in your strategy. The Rebels always start with Dantooine Lothal Use the Force

The Force begins the game all the way on the Rebels’ side, but the Empire gets to take the first turn. Regardless of which faction you play as, what you choose to do in those opening moves can have a lasting impact on the rest of the game. A Galactic Struggle In this example, the Force is currently with the Rebel player because it is on one of the three light side spaces. Wheels, Matt and Meehan play Star Wars: Dark Side Rising toegther. Player count, game length and overview

Gamer Network Limited, Gateway House, 28 The Quadrant, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 1DN, United Kingdom, registered under company number 03882481. The Empire always takes the first turn, but given how valuable the Force can be, this doesn’t feel like a fair trade-off. The game’s Full Galaxy mode has bases to help swing things the Force more dramatically in your favor; however, in our beginner games, the Empire player often felt shut out of Force activities. First, each player must decide which faction they are playing with. While mechanically playing as the Rebels or the Empire has very little impact, the faction you play with determines the cards you can buy during the game from the galaxy row, so take this into consideration in case you would like to play using some of your favorite characters.The game features a variety of different modes, including a solo mode and a cooperative mode where players work together to defeat a common enemy. There is also a competitive mode where players face off against each other in intense Star Wars battles. With everything set, it’s time to start the battle between the Rebels and the Empire. During the game, players take turns that can be split into two phases and whenever a new game begins, the Empire has the first turn.