Wise Wizard Games Star Realms: Deckbuilding Card Game

Star Realms is an outstanding two-player deck-building card game. From conception to execution, this is a first-rate product. My son and I enjoy it as much as Dominion, maybe even more so due to the sci-fi theme and the faster playing time. I like the fact that you play your entire hand each turn and can spend all credits played, instead of having to decide on a single "action" and "buy." I also like the aggressive, attack-based mechanics (you are trying to reduce your opponent to zero Authority, whereas in Dominion you are trying to accumulate the most Victory Points). The various factions (Empire, Blob, Machine, Federation) have beneficial interactions when you play two or more, but you can't limit yourself to just one faction or you'll miss out on key attributes unique to each faction.You really get a sense of escalating power as you acquire the most expensive cards. Outpost bases function like "taunt" cards and provide you with a certain level of protection...for a time. Eventually, though, firepower escalates and you can wipe your opponent out in one devastating turn if the right cards come your way. In that sense, Star Realms (like all deck-building games) has a fairly strong luck component -- you need to be able to buy the right cards at the right time (trashers early in the game; bases ASAP; and high-powered attack cards mid- to late-game). There is more luck in Star Realms than Dominion because in Dominion the Kingdom supply is fixed and fully available to all; in Star Realms the supply is five cards replenished by the deck at random as soon as one is purchased. But don't think for a minute that luck is the primary factor -- try playing on-line against experienced opponents and you will see how good strategy trumps luck 90+% of the time.If I could have one wish as to game mechanics, it would be to have the power to "Scrap" (trash) an opponent's card from time to time. Instead, the best you can do is send them to their discard pile, so you will see them again (and again and again).The artwork is top-notch, but it would be nice if the cards were printed on stronger stock. I wouldn't say the cards are flimsy, but I can see them getting worn down over time (and one we already bent underfoot when it accidentally wound up on the floor).Can more than two people play? Yes...sort of. This basic deck only has enough starting cards (Scouts and Vipers) for two players. So you either need to modify the starting conditions for 3+ players, or buy multiple decks. But the rules come with multiple suggestions as to how to play multiplayer up to six. Sounds like a blast (pun intended?)!

I'm no stranger to deck building games. My boyfriend and I have played Dominion (we dont enjoy it all that much), Ascension, LoTR and DC Comics deckbuilding games. Of these, DC is, when played with the optional Confrontation to steal heroes from one another, our favorite.Or it was. Until Star Realms.This game is everything we look for in card games. Easy to learn. Varied in its strategy. It plays quick and set up and tear down times are all but nonexistent. And every game is different.Most importantly of all, however - this game changes up the deckbuilding formula. Unlike so many "multiplayer solitaire" type games - Dominion, Ascension, etc - Star Reals is built around interaction between players. There are no vicoty points. No collecting things in order to win.Rather, Star Realms sees each player building a fleet of ships and space stations. And each turn, a player attacks the opponent. The first player to reduce their opponent's Authority (health) to Zero wins. Sounds simple enough, and at first blush it is pretty straightforward.But contained within the common deck are four factions: The Blob are an aggressive species who specialize in rushing. Alone their ships are weak; in groups they are extremely powerful. Collecting numerous Blob ships early can end a game fast. The Empire ships are varied in size and power level - and they like to mess with the opponent's hand, often forcing discards. The Federation will draw their controller cards while also restoring authority. And the Machine race will allow players to purge cards from their deck. Each faction features numerous cards which benefit from playing other members of their faction, and every faction has Space Stations, many of which can defend a player and one another from attacks as well as provide special powers to use once per turn.The game is fast, fun, has tons of depths, great art and a coherent, cohesive theme that the game play supports very well. If you're into Deck Building games and longing for something different from an overpopulated and rather stale genre of gaming, you honestly cannot go wrong with Star Realms.