These games effortlessly blend the worlds of science fiction and tabletop gaming to deliver a fun playing experience everyone can enjoy. Not only that, but many space themed board games offer some educational elements that can help you appreciate the cosmos in all of its infinite glory.
Finding a new game that’s worth your time is easier said than done in today’s saturated games market. Lucky for you, we’ve done all of the hard work to bring you a collection of some of the best space-themed board games available. Here are some of our favorite games that are out of the world!
Best Space Themed Board Games Reviewed
Terraforming Mars
Set in the 2400s, Terraforming Mars is a strategy-based game with plenty of lore to uncover. You’re tasked with helping mankind colonize the Big Red Planet!
This a unique board game in the fact that you must cooperate with players to succeed. However, completing missions and projects earns you points to help you become the victor. With a beautiful gameboard, detailed artwork, and a litany of fun gameplay elements, this is a game that you and your friends can spend hours playing.
Key Features:
- 1 to 5 players
- Good replay value
- Over 200 in-game projects
- Beautifully designed board and cards
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Star Trek Ascendancy
Based on the long-running TV show and film franchise, Star Trek Ascendency is a highly detailed game with a lot to discover. The game board is very distinct. Rather than a full mat, you play on a modular board made up of planetary nodes.
Once you choose your faction, you must travel through the fictional universe to discover new planets and races. There are 45 exploration cards, giving you plenty of obstacles to overcome.
Key Features:
- Played with 3+ players
- Unique gameboard
- Play as difference factions
- New Star Trek lore
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Star Wars: Rebellion
Continue the battle between the Rebel Alliance and the Galactic Empire! This Star Wars game is a must-have for fans of the space opera. Not only does it include your favorite characters and settings, but the game comes with 150 different miniature figurines! The figurines represent your units. They come in molded shapes of some of the franchise’s most iconic ships, characters, and planets.
The game involves a lot of skill to conquer. Build up your units and strengthen your troops to win!
Key Features:
- 2 to 4 players
- Battle-focused game
- 150 plastic miniature figurines
- Cinematic game with a detailed plot
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Star Trek Frontiers (Star Trek Themed Mage Knight) Board Game
Fans of the Star Trek franchise can dive head-first into the lore with this board game. Star Trek Frontiers is an innovative tabletop strategy game that puts you in the shoes of a ship captain.
In this game’s world, a new contested region of space is causing trouble. The Federation and Klingon empires both have outposts in this region. However, strange happenings are resulting in unique challenges.
As a player, you’re tasked with commanding your very own ship. Hire crew members, earn experience points, and build your skills. From there, you can investigate this mysterious patch of space and unlock mysteries along the way.
There are many ways to play this game. You can play by yourself to conquer every challenge on the board. Alternatively, friends can join you for competitive or cooperative play. Either way, this game has a lot to offer. Not only that, but it has a high replay value.
Key Features:
- For one to four players
- Over an hour of playtime
- Versatile scenario options
- Colorful game pieces
- Licensed artwork from the TV show
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Tiny Epic Galaxies
Tiny Epic Galaxies is a multi-faceted game that pulls elements from many different genres. It has a little bit of empire building, resource management, and strategy all thrown into one fun game. The goal is to stay on top of the action and race other players to victory. How you get there, however, is entirely up to you!
The game itself is gorgeous and features some well-designed elements. The abundant of colorful components might seem confusing at first. Luckily, the game is pretty easy to understand when you read the included instruction manual. Whether you play by yourself or with others, it won’t take long to get into the swing of things!
Key Features:
- One to five players
- Beautiful artwork
- Good for all ages
- Easy to learn
- Multi-genre gameplay
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Space Alert
From the same designer who created Codenames, Space Alert is a fast-paced game centered around survival. Rather than working against other players, you must all cooperate to successfully complete missions.
The game features a wide range of scenarios. These scenarios are decided upon based on cards and several gameplay elements. Space Alert even comes with MP3 tracks. They act as the timer for individual missions. The soundtrack offers an immersive gaming experience, too.
Key Features:
- Team survival game
- 1 to 5 players
- Includes MP3 soundtrack
- Difficult missions
- Colorful game board
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Xia: Legends of a Drift System
Xia: Legends of a Drift System is a space-lovers dream! This is a sandbox-style game where every playthrough is different. Players must fly through a fictional universe to complete missions. At every stop, players are presented with opportunities to mine, gather resources, trade cargo, and more.
The goal of this game is to become one of the most famous ship captains in the universe! At the start of the game, players get to choose one of several spaceships. Each ship is modeled and painted with tons of detail.
Key Features:
- Sandbox-style strategy game
- 3 to 5 players
- Customizable ships
- High replay value
- Unique art style and game pieces
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Xia: Embers of a Forsaken Star
This title is an expansion to Xia: Legends of a Drift System. It adds a lot more content to the original game, creating hours of fun. The expansion takes on a bit of a darker tone. The drift system from the original game orbits a dying star, leading to disarray.
As you play through, you will uncover a new storyline. There are also several new missions and objectives to complete. The game even has a solo campaign for single players to conquer alone.
Key Features:
- Expansion to Xia: Legends of a Drift System
- Includes new painted game pieces
- Solo campaign
- Darker storyline
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Alien Frontiers 5th Edition
Go head to head against friends and families while you do your best to colonize an alien planet! In Alien Frontiers, you must collect and manage resources to build your colony up as best as you can. Despite its strategy-based gameplay, this game can get intense very quickly!
You can sabotage other players’ colonies, steal resources, and even overtake areas by force! Doing those moves are risky, but the reward may be worth the effort!
Key Features:
- Competitive strategy game
- Detailed game board
- 2 to 4 players
- Several gameplay elements
- Sculpted game pieces
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Peaceable Kingdom Space Escape Cooperative Strategy Game
The Peaceable Kingdom Space Escape Game is a quirky tabletop title geared towards younger kids. It has an exciting storyline that centers around spacefaring moles trying to escape an infiltrated space station.
As far as gameplay goes, this board game is perfect for growing kids. It teaches many skills while keeping the experience fun and stress-free. Your child will learn how to make tough decisions while also communicating and working with others.
While it’s still competitive, this game builds a sense of community and fun. It teaches kids some essential social skills without heavy-handed messaging!
Key Features:
- For ages seven and up
- Two to four players
- Fun and easy gameplay
- Non-stressful
- Encourages cooperation and decision-making
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Cosmic Encounter
Cosmic Encounters is a strategy game with a lot of possibilities. The end goal of the game is to gain control of the entire fictional universe! But to do that, you must contend with 50 different alien races. You can approach new conflicts diplomatically. Or, you can go in star guns blazing!
You must strategize and think about all of your options. Whether you decide to create alliances with other players or not, you never know when negotiations will turn into a fierce war!
Key Features:
- 3 to 5 players
- 50 unique alien races
- Exciting strategy-based gameplay
- Every playthrough is different
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Monopoly: Star Wars Complete Saga Edition
Who doesn’t love Monopoly? This iconic board game is back with a brand-new theme. This version revolves around the entire Star Wars saga. It doesn’t just include elements from one or two films. It covers them all! This game is the ultimate collector’s edition.
Every detail is carefully thought out to appeal to the Star Wars fanatic in all of us. The properties are memorable and themed. The same goes for all the accessories. Instead of houses and hotels, you’re getting Tie Fighters and X-Wings! Even the player figures are different. They’re all metal busts of the main characters.
Key Features:
- Licensed Star Wars game
- Encompasses all nine episodes
- Detailed artwork
- Familiar properties and figures
- Themed cards and character busts
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Terraforming Mars Board Game
Step into the shoes of an explorer in the future! In this board game, you’re tasked with colonizing Mars and making it habitable for future generations. Terraforming Mars has many unique elements. It’s not a single-genre title. Instead, it combines features of role-playing, strategy, and more.
You can play this game alone or with five friends. There are over 200 different tasks to complete. As a result, this game can go on for several hours! But, the experience and payoff are well worth the time. Beautifully designed and captivating to play, Terraforming Mars is a must-try for any space fan.
Key Features:
- One to five players
- Detailed board with realistic Mars map
- 230 cards, 400 markers, and 80 tiles
- Role-playing elements
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
MONOPOLY: Space Jam A New Legacy Edition Family Board Game
Space Jam: New Legacy brought the 90s franchise back to life! All your favorite Looney Tune characters are back in action, saving the world through basketball. But this time, they’re rocking with Lebron James!
This board game is a licensed version of the classic Monopoly game. At its core, the gameplay experience is pretty similar. However, the old-school board is swapped out with one that brings the Space Jam movie to life.
Check out all the cool artwork throughout the board! Even the game pieces and money are different. While the basic concept is similar, this game does add some new twists. The most notable is the plastic basketball hoop. Players can test their skills right on the game board and earn some extra points each time they score.
Key Features:
- Officially licensed
- Colorful artwork
- New gameplay mechanics
- Good for two to six players
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Twilight Imperium – 4th Edition
Twilight Imperium is an absolutely massive game that’s different each and every time you play it. When you’re setting the game up, the starting conditions are completely randomized. You can also play as one of 17 different factions, so there’s a lot of replay value.
The game includes over 1,000 game pieces. The goal is to dominate the galaxy. Themes of political unrest, economic turmoil, and war provide a unique game experience. It’s a complex game. However, it’s one that can provide hours of entertainment.
Key Features:
- 3 to 6 players
- Over 1,000 game pieces
- In-depth game lore
- Random board setup
- Strategy-based game
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Mission: Red Planet
With the colonization of Mars in our sights in the real world, it’s no surprise that game-makers use the Red Planet as inspiration! Mission: Red Planet is a quirky title that’s all about exploring Mars. You can play as one of nine unique characters. Your goal is to uncover the mysteries of Mars while collecting resources.
The game features a cartoonish art style. It’s relatively easy to play as well, making this game a good option for family game nights.
Key Features:
- 2 to 6 players
- Rules differ based on player count
- Easy to understand
- Cartoon art style
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Starship Samurai
The story of Starship Samurai is set after the death of a powerful Galactic Emperor. Amidst the chaos, you must claim the throne and fight your way through several clans.
You can approach meetings with opposing clans in several ways. Use a diplomatic strategy to keep things peaceful or use your galactic army to wipe them away!
The game comes with unique power cards. These cards can change things up in a moment’s notice to keep you on the edge of your seat!
Key Features:
- 2 to 4 players
- Strategy and bluff game
- Detailed game pieces
- Dynamic power cards
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Space Base
Here’s a board game title with a lot of depth and variety. As the leader of a space base, you must draw up new ships to support your sectors. There are many different kinds of ships that you can employ. Each one offers its own challenges and rewards.
The cool thing about this game is that there’s action at every turn. Even if you’re not the one rolling the dice in real-time, you can collect rewards and complete some gameplay.
Key Features:
- 2 to 5 players
- Engaging gameplay
- Beautiful artwork
- Only takes an hour to play
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
BooTaa 29″ Large Dart Board
Want a safer alternative to darts for your kids? Check out this unique sticky ball game board. It has the same concept as darts. But instead of throwing potentially dangerous projectiles, players use balls wrapped in hook and loop strips. They stick onto the fabric board with ease, giving you the chance to record scores.
The board has a space-themed aesthetic complete with planets, constellations, and colorful nebula. Show your child the wonders of outer space while teaching them math and dexterity. The balls are safe to throw, and the board is sturdy enough to use anywhere. Set it up indoors or out; you’ll have fun either way!
Key Features:
- It measures 29 inches in diameter
- Space-themed board
- Sticky ball gameplay
- Hook and loop attachment
- Foldable
- Good for indoor and outdoor use
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Race To Space Ultimate Edition
Need an innovative way to help your child with their schoolwork? Check out the Race to Space card game. This isn’t like your standard board game. It’s an educational title disguised as a fun game!
The set comes with several question cards and missions. Players must correctly answer questions, complete fun missions, and avoid obstacles to reach space! You can use the standard cards to help with overall academics. Blank cards are included as well for more focused study.
Key Features:
- 2 to 4 players
- Customizable game
- Focuses on core academics
- A fun way to help kids study
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
The Crew – Quest for Planet Nine
Here’s a fun game that you can play in short bursts. The game revolves around completing missions. Each mission only takes about 5 to 10 minutes to complete, allowing you to play both long and short games.
This is a cooperative strategy game. You must work together to make your way across the solar system. There are 50 different missions. Pair that with surprise elements and the game stays interesting no matter how long you play it!
Key Features:
- 3 to 5 players
- Co-op strategy game
- Flexible gameplay
- Easy enough for all skill levels
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Skillmatics Educational Game: Space Explorers
Suitable for kids between the ages of six and nine, this educational activity set helps them learn more about space as they play. Each of the six includes play mats has a double-sided design that gives them two activities in one. They also get a certificate that you can fill out to show that they finished all of the activities along with two dry erase markers. You also get a dry dust cloth that lets you easily wipe off the mats after your kids play.
This set comes loaded with 20 activities that are perfect for younger kids. They can develop critical thinking skills and learn how to solve complex problems at the same time that they learn how to focus on tasks and communicate with others. Kids read through the included cards to see what they need to do before working on the tasks. Some kids will even like going back over some activities to see if they can do better. The mats and all other included items conveniently fit inside the pack, which has a carrying handle on the top.
Key Features:
- Suitable for kids six to nine
- Includes six double-sided activity mats
- All supplies fit inside the box
- Teaches kids different aspects of space
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Late for the Sky Space-opoly
Want to enjoy the thrill of Monopoly without hours of gameplay? Check out Late for the Sky Space-opoly. It’s a scaled-back version of the classic board game. You have many of the same elements, including buying property and exchanging money. But, it’s much easier to win. There’s a long and short version of the game. The shorter one only takes about an hour to complete!
Of course, everything is unmistakable space-themed. As a player, you’ll be soaring through the galaxy to snatch up as much property as you can!
Key Features:
- Two to six players
- Short and long version
- Includes cards, figures, and play money
- Good for all ages
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Ultra Tiny Epic Galaxies: The Universe in Your Pocket!
Don’t let the small size of this game fool you. It’s more than capable of keeping you entertained for hours on end! This particular version of the Tiny Epic Galaxies game is specifically designed for portability. Take it on road trips! It has everything you need to play a full game.
The game is rather simple. You must build your galaxy up and colonize planets. Overcome the game’s many challenges and work strategically to earn as many victory points as possible!
Key Features:
- 1 to 5 players
- Strategy-based game
- Includes expansion packs
- Compact size for easy travel
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Xtronaut 2.0: The Game of Space System Exploration
Explore the world of space with this game, which is now available in a brand new edition. Designed for players who are seven or older, it allows you to play with just one other person or up to six people. Good Housekeeping picked this as one of the top games and recommended it for people of all ages. A professor who works with NASA designed the game, which lets you know that it features realistic aspects of space and the universe. It comes with a six-sided die and dozens of cards to help you get to the end.
The game gives each player a different board and asks you to select different cards to get ships and unlock missions. Some cards will let you perform actions to go further. The Xtronaut 2.0 version now comes with a handbook that helps you learn about space at home. It covers everything from the physics behind rockets and what gravity assists do to what happens on a space mission and what recent NASA missions uncovered.
Key Features:
- Perfect board game for families
- Suitable for two to six players
- Designed for ages seven and up
- Good Housekeeping board game award winner
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Space Themed Board Games Buying Guide
What exactly makes a good space game? Board games are a bit different than other forms of media, such as video games and movies. There’s no one tried and true formula to create something magical. While a title might look promising due to some killer sci-fi artwork on the box, that doesn’t always mean that you’re going to get a good game inside!
To help you sift through your many game options, here are some things you need to keep in mind while you shop.
Target Demographic
Before you start looking into the finer details of a space themed board game, it’s a good idea to check out its target demographic. Curiously enough, board games don’t have a universal age rating system. Most developers will include some kind of warning if the game includes adult themes, but there’s no standard to follow.
So, you’ll have to do some investigation for yourself. The game’s target demo is going to impact its difficulty, themes, and overall gameplay. Those targeted for kids are a lot of fun and simple enough for anyone to play. However, complex tabletop strategy games will be too much for younger players to handle.
Genre
Board games fall into several genre categories. The genre reflects the type of gameplay you can expect. Genres aren’t as defined as they are with video games or films, but having some general information about what they entail can help you choose something that’s suitable for you and your friends.
The broadest category is often called “mainstream.” These games are designed for the masses and often include most of the popular games you’re familiar with. Think of them as the big blockbuster titles of the board game world!
Then, you have family games. These family-friendly titles include content for everyone. Usually devoid of mature themes or anything remotely controversial, you can rest easy knowing that anyone can play them.
Next, there are party games. Usually simple in design, these games are all about promoting social interaction. Some games can be raunchy, but that’s not always the case with space-themed games.
If you prefer a deeper storyline, thematic games are the way to go. Many board games set in outer space are thematic by nature. Typically, these games feature elements of combat, strategy, and resource-collecting.
Strategy wargames are similar to thematic games, but the primary focus here is to outwit your opponents. Usually made for adults, these games can be difficult for younger players to grasp. Even seasoned tabletop fans may take a few playthroughs to get the hang of. But once you know what you’re doing, these games are a joy to play!
Those are just a few of the most popular genres you’ll see on the market. There’s certainly far more worth investigating.
Concepts and Themes
No one is going to want to play a space themed board game that has a poor concept! What makes the game interesting? Why should you play it? These are two questions you should ask yourself when selecting a game.
The good news is that most space games have plenty of great themes to captivate players. There’s are endless possibilities when in an outer space setting.
Of course, you can get lighter games if you want something more suitable for kids. But many space titles are going to be rife with fun concepts that can challenge the mind and keep you entertained.
Gameplay Elements
Gameplay mechanics can be as simple or complex as you want them to be. On the simpler side of things, you have basic card games. The rules for these games are generally easier to understand, making them easy to pick up and play.
Meanwhile, more in-depth games might have trickier gameplay elements. They might combine game pieces, several types of card decks, buildable components, and more. There’s a fine balance between getting a game that’s too complicated and getting one that’s too easy. Think about your experience with tabletop gaming and choose a title with gameplay elements you’re comfortable with.
Player Count
Board games are all about bringing people together! If you want the next big hit for your weekly game nights with friends, you might want to go with an 8 or 10 player game! However, smaller games with a low player count may be best for intimate gaming sessions with the family.
Most titles have a minimum and a maximum player requirement. See what they are before buying the game to ensure that you have enough board gamers to try it out!
Artwork
Attractive artwork is going to help create that immersive playing experience. Board games are a bit limited compared to interactive media or TV shows. You have to use your imagination a bit. However, stunning art is going to make getting to that point much easier.
Space games are usually beautifully designed. Look for games that have plenty of space-themed art to draw players in and keep their curiosity piqued!
Story and Lore
Last, but definitely not least, it’s always good to consider story and lore. Space-themed games can have a wide range of plotlines. They could be simple titles focused on discovering a new planet. Or, you could have a strategy game with some heavy backstory to muster through!
Whatever the case may be, look for a story that’s interesting enough to keep you playing. If there’s no interest in the plotline, why play?
Also, look for games with flexible stories. The game doesn’t need to have a highly detailed plot. But, it should have a plot that changes based on your gameplay. This will improve the replay value and give you more reasons to relive the story.
Conclusion
Space is a captivating and enjoyable setting for any form of media. That includes board games! While there are abundant space games for computers, it is a completely different experience bringing a space game to the tabletop. There’s nothing better than pretending to captain a ship that’s zipping through the cosmos.
Space games are fun and offer a unique element to traditional gameplay. Thanks to detailed lore and amazing artwork, you can immerse yourself in the game world and have fun! Take one of our recommended games for a spin and have an out-of-this-world adventure!