There are many Star Wars board games out there, whether they’re editions of existing board game franchises or unique games. Either way, if you’re a fan of Star Wars, then you’ll need to experience these incredible board games or gift them to a fellow fan.
Table of contents
Star Wars Rebellion
Star Wars: Rebellion is a grand game that allows players to reenact the struggle of the original films across the galaxy. The Empire must locate the Rebel base and utterly destroy it, ferrying their Death Star and forces across the galaxy to scout and purge. The Rebellion must plot, scheme, and sabotage to bring the Empire to a halt.
What’s interesting is that Star Wars: Rebellion allows you to perform moments that are seen in the films, such as Han Solo being trapped in carbonite. These don’t leave too much room for authentic and “new” stories, but they’re thematically and mechanically fun.
The board is big, and there are many minis and heroes for either side to enjoy while pushing around the map. Star Wars: Rebellion is one of the bigger games on this list, but it’s equally as awesome to look at.
Star Wars Outer Rim
Star Wars: Outer Rim is a game of mercenaries, outlaws, and smugglers. Each player will be trying to make a name for themselves in the dangerous outer rim, and the first to reach ten fame wins. But this path is writhing with dangers, rivals, and authority that wish to knock you down a peg or two.
Players will be exploring, smuggling, and bounty hunting in their own personal ships in Star Wars: Outer Rim and they will be accompanied by a crew of their choosing that they assemble. You’ll want a crew that complements your style of play, so choose wisely. Some famous Star Wars legends may also be available for hire!
In a competitive game where there’s plenty of wiggle room to do your own thing, Star Wars: Outer Rim gives you the freedom of a real outlaw in the wilds of space.
Star Wars The DeckBuilding Game
Star Wars: The DeckBuilding Game is a thrilling head-to-head battle between, you guessed it, the Empire and the Rebels. Each player will be trying to destroy the other player’s base, and there is a selection of each with their own abilities.
What makes this card game interesting is the Galaxy Row between the players, where either side will pick up the cards to form their fighting forces. All cards are face-up, meaning there are no hidden secrets. You’ll get to watch in horror as your opponent pays for and picks up a powerful card that’s been staring at you the whole time.
As players form their armies and deal damage to their opponent’s cards or base, the force will be thrown between the dark and light sides, providing bonuses and allowing some abilities. Star Wars: The DeckBuilding Game is more than a fight to the death; it’s also a tug of war.
Star Wars The Clone Wars
Star Wars: The Clone Wars is, unsurprisingly, set during the Clone Wars, and you’ll be playing as the Galactic Republic to put a stop to the Separatist army. Using the incredibly popular Pandemic System, you’ll be traveling the galaxy and fighting the droids or iconic villains wherever they pop up.
If you’ve ever played a Pandemic game before, you’ll be intimately familiar with its systems. Although Star Wars: The Clone Wars isn’t just a reskin of Pandemic, it’s its own entity with familiar faces, its own map, and its own ability cards.
As you battle across the galaxy with your friends, you’ll have to hope that you’re doing enough to keep enemies such as Darth Maul and General Grievous at bay before the Separatists overwhelm the galaxy.
Star Wars X-Wing
Star Wars X-Wing is a miniature game consisting of multiple kits and boxes containing new ships for players to use to battle in space. Miniature games may seem complicated, but Star Wars X-Wing honestly isn’t too bad. It’s easier to learn than you might think and so much fun.
Players will be using their chosen ship to fly around the void of space to take down their opponent. Upgrade cards and unique customizations can be done to the ship to make it quintessentially yours, although how well it performs in combat is directly up to you.
Just be careful because if you and your friends really enjoy Star Wars: X-Wing, then you may end up down a rabbit hole of purchases and ships. However, it’ll totally be worth it.
Risk Star Wars
Risk: Star Wars isn’t merely a simple reskin of the Risk everyone knows and loves. Honestly, it’s an entirely new game that uses only the base fundamentals of Risk. Even those who don’t enjoy Risk may enjoy this game, as it’s so unique and exciting.
The board, in the shape of a Tie Fighter, will host the formidable ships of the Empire and the scrappy ships of the Rebels. All the Rebels must do is destroy the Death Star, although with limited troops, the Empire may be able to wipe them all out rather easily.
With characters and ships from the franchise duking it out in space and with unique cards that make play interesting, this asymmetric game of galactic warfare simulates the battle of Endor well whilst providing a thrilling battle every time.
Risk Star Wars The Clone Wars
Speaking of Risk, I can’t not include Risk Star Wars: The Clone Wars, a game much more faithful to the Risk franchise, although with some Star Wars twists along the way.
Both teams will be fighting over the planets and clusters of the galaxy in classic Risk fashion. However, as the rounds go on, Darth Sidious grows closer to the completion of Order 66. The Separatists can call this any time, although the sooner they play it, the less effective it is.
Once Order 66 is called, there is a chance for the Republic troops of each planet to be handed over to the Separatists (now the Empire), and the remaining Republic troops will have to focus their attention on bringing down Darth Sidious, who’s now on the map. This may sound unfair, but it’s honestly more exciting and balanced than it sounds.
Selfish Star Wars
Selfish: Star Wars is a hilarious game of petty and personal sabotage in a race to get to the Millennium Falcon. This game is ridiculously simple, and yet the more I play it, the more fun I’m having with it.
In a race, all players spend their turns upgrading their ship, using their upgrades to benefit themselves or hinder their opponents, and then traveling through space to get to their target. Each space tile someone moves may be dangerous and may cause them to move back or discard their cards. Alternatively, it could help them out.
These dangers can be avoided by traveling in hyperspace, but this costs more fuel, and a player’s hand is what keeps them in the race. In a game where every attack is very personal and every space crawled is a big deal, Selfish: Star Wars makes for a hilarious, simple and short game.
Star Wars Legion
Star Wars: Legion is a colossal tabletop game that allows players to field their own armies and go to battle. There’s a core set and a shocking number of expansions for the original Star Wars setting and for the Clone Wars, with some special operative expansions that bring other characters, like the Mandalorian and Grogu, into the game.
No matter your setting, it’ll be a battle against the light and dark side as armies and heroes are brought head-to-head on the table with a certain objective in mind. Players will be using their unique characters and soldiers to attack their enemies whilst trying to score the game objective to win.
Be careful, however, as you may fall down a very deep rabbit hole of buying more and more until you can host a formidable army, and then you may want to start forming a whole new one for another side. You’ll have to paint the miniatures yourself, also. For more interesting fights, you’ll also have to provide your own terrain.
Star Wars Villainous
Star Wars Villainous allows players to act on behalf of iconic Star Wars villains to out-compete each other in a symmetrical and unique gameplay. Each player will get their own board unique to their villain and will have their own objective that they need to reach to win.
Each player will be moving their token to different positions on their board to carry out actions unique to that room. This will range from gaining ambition or credits to disrupting your opponents and summoning allies and troops to fight back enemy cards that stand in your way.
Although each player in this game isn’t too involved with each other, it pays to pay attention as you can disrupt another player using cards that inhibit their progress. So knowing who’s ahead is key to keeping yourself in the runnings to win.
With this excellent list of Star Wars board games, the hardest part now is choosing one to get for the Star Wars nerd in your life.
Published: Aug 31, 2024 09:29 am