Tabletop gamers everywhere enjoy the prospect of shooting down their friend's spaceship in an out-of-this-world battle. Space combat is a common sub-genre of sci-fi games where players use their armadas to fight one another in the depths of space or on a foreign planet in a distant galaxy.
While some games have players control single ships to achieve this, other games give players control of an entire fleet to command and lead. Several space-battle games have come out over the years with more scheduled to release in the future. Sometimes the game is simple and quick, other times it is an all-day affair.
10 Light Speed Simplifies Space Combat In A Unique Way
In Light Speed, players control ships represented by tokens that they will flip and throw onto the table. Each ship token provides lines, dictating the direction the ship is firing. Each ship also has health, shields, and more. The game is played in real-time, which means that all players are attempting to act quicker than their opponents. Players trace lines from their ship's firing trajectory to see if it hits any opponent's ships. If it does, they put damage on the ships and the carnage continues. The game is frantic, it's a tad silly, but most importantly, it's fun.
9 Starship Samurai Combines Diplomacy And Gundam
Starship Samurai offers players the chance to enter into a unique world where they control space ship fleets and giant robot suits. In the game, players will use tokens and cards to determine how many cards they draw, how many cards they play, how they move their ships, and more.
Starship Samurai comes to life when players are controlling one of the beautifully-sculpted robot miniatures. These minis have powerful abilities and effects that players will utilize the best way they can to end the game with a victory.
8 Flipships Is Space Invaders Flipped On Its Head
Flipships is best described as a dexterity board game version of the classic arcade game Space Invaders. On each turn, players use their ships by placing them on the edge of the table and flipping them, attempting to land them on an enemy ship coming down from above. Flipships offers special ship powers, a giant mothership target, and more. It is also a cooperative game, which is rare in the dexterity game genre. Flipships is pure fun and craziness, making it a favorite amongst many gamers.
7 Dune Is A Classic Game Based On The Novel
Dune is a popular franchise that many readers and moviegoers enjoy. The novel has spawned multiple adaptations, with the most recent coming to theaters in 2021. Dune, the board game, adapts the novel in a new way, bringing the story and political intrigue to the table. The game was originally released before any movie adaptation in 1979 to much fanfare across the entire gaming hobby. In 2019, Dune got revamped, streamlined, and improved for modern gaming audiences. Dune is now considered one of gaming's most immersive and thematic experiences.
6 Star Wars: X-Wing Lets Players Become Pilots
In Star Wars: X-Wing, players control different fighter ships from X-Wings to TIE Fighters, each with unique control dials, special abilities, and crew opportunities. The game is highly expandable with many different ships and expansions available for players. X-Wing transports gamers into the dogfighting world of Star Wars' fiercest battles as players outmaneuver, outthink, and overcome their opponents. X-Wing requires a lot of space but a short amount of time, providing a quick and punchy spaceship combat experience for fans of the beloved franchise.
5 Dune: Imperium Is A Modern Approach To The Franchise
Dune: Imperium lets players explore the world of Dune in a unique way as they place workers to perform actions and build their decks throughout the game. In the game, players are competing to be the first to get 10 points by controlling spice, winning conflicts, and gaining influence.
Fans of the 2021 Dune film have found the game to be a fantastic adaptation of the source material, providing an engaging and deep experience that stays true to the theme. Dune's components have received some criticism but there is an upgrade kit available that truly brings the game to life.
4 Star Wars: The Queen's Gambit Is The Best Thing About Episode I
There have been numerous board games made with the Star Wars theme but they are rarely focused on a single film, let alone a specific scene. Star Wars: The Queen's Gambit is based on the climax of Episode I: The Phantom Menace where four battles are happening simultaneously. Each player takes on the role of either the light side or the dark side as they attempt to wipe out each other's armies. The game features three separate boards, lightsaber duels, armies at war, and a 3D Queen's Palace.
3 Cosmic Encounter Is Negotiation And Betrayal
Cosmic Encounter has been a popular board game ever since it was first released in 1977. The game has gone through many changes and editions since then but the core idea has remained intact. At its heart, Cosmic Encounter is a game of negotiating with opponents while using crazy alien powers. Each player gets to play as an alien race who will act very differently than others at the table. At first, the game seems wildly unbalanced, but gamers soon realize this is done intentionally as it adds a ton to the negotiating. Cosmic Encounter has remained popular for decades for a reason.
2 Star Wars: Rebellion Is Star Wars In A Box
In Star Wars: Rebellion, players will play as either the Rebel player or the Empire player. Each player controls tons of different ships, units, and characters, all with their own special rules. The game is very asymmetrical, as each player can generally do similar things but can also do many unique things and each side even has completely different goals.
The Rebels have a secret base that the Empire is trying to find while the Empire has a special phase only for them. Star Wars: Rebellion is a large and lengthy experience but it is one that many gamers enjoy.
1 Twilight Imperium Is An All-Day Space Battle
Twilight Imperium is a legendary game in the hobby. The game has been around for over 20 years and it is now in its fourth edition. Players will take on the role of different alien races, all with special abilities, ships, technologies, and tactics. Twilight Imperium takes a long time to play, ranging from 4-10 hours, depending on the number of players and their experience with the game. Each time players enjoy Twilight Imperium, they get a new experience they have not had before as the game offers many different paths to victory and many different strategies to try.