Dark Stars (board game)

Dark Stars is a 4X strategy board game designed by Dr. Reiner Knizia and published by Stronghold Games in 2023. It is a space-themed game where players control different galactic civilizations competing for dominance over the cosmos.

The core gameplay revolves around exploration, expansion, exploitation, and extermination, the four pillars of the 4X genre. Players explore the modular board, discovering new planets and resources. They expand their empires by colonizing these planets, exploiting resources for economic and technological advancement, and building fleets to defend their territories and potentially conquer others.

Each player controls a unique alien species with asymmetric abilities, offering different strategic advantages and playstyles. These species, known as the Zodiacs, have special powers that influence resource production, combat, or technological development.

Dark Stars utilizes a unique action selection mechanism. Players use a limited set of "Destiny cards" to determine their actions each turn. These cards are drafted and then used to bid for different actions, such as moving ships, colonizing planets, researching technology, or constructing buildings. The order in which these actions are performed can be crucial for success.

The game features a branching technology tree that allows players to customize their civilizations and unlock powerful abilities. Researching technologies improves economic efficiency, combat strength, and unlocks new options for planetary development.

Combat in Dark Stars is resolved using dice rolls, with modifiers based on ship technology and the strengths of each civilization. Strategic positioning and fleet composition are important factors in determining the outcome of battles.

The game ends after a predetermined number of rounds, and the player with the most victory points wins. Victory points are earned through controlling planets, achieving technological milestones, and defeating other players in combat.