Battlestar Galactica: The Board Game
- Designer Corey Konieczka
- Publisher Fantasy Flight Games , Edge Entertainment , Editrice Giochi , Galakta , Game Harbor
- Illustration Kevin Childress , Andrew Navaro , Brian Schomburg , WiL Springer
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Start for freeWhat to Expect
Players take roles from the TV series and try to guide Galactica and its fleet to Earth while handling crises like fuel shortages and food contamination. The game revolves around mistrust: loyalty cards reveal that one or more players may be secret Cylons. You manage skill cards, engage in Viper missions, fend off Cylon ships and resolve crisis cards that force cooperative or conflicting actions.
Who Is This Game For?
Aimed at groups who enjoy social deduction and thematic, lengthy games. At about 180 minutes it is an evening-length, more advanced experience (gamer/enthusiast level) requiring patience, discussion and comfort with bluffing mechanics. Prior experience with hidden-role games helps.
How It Works
Battlestar Galactica blends Hidden Roles with Cooperative Game play and Hand Management: each player has a character with unique abilities and a hand of skill cards, while a loyalty card determines human or Cylon allegiance. Each turn a Crisis Card appears and requires certain skill cards to resolve; matching cards help, mismatched cards hinder. Area Movement and Dice Rolling appear during ship and Viper sequences, and Once-Per-Game Abilities can create pivotal moments.
What Makes It Special
Designed by Corey Konieczka and based on the TV series, the game emphasizes social deduction and negotiation within a cooperative framework. It received multiple 2009 nominations, including Charles S. Roberts Best Science-Fiction or Fantasy Board Wargame (nominee) and several Golden Geek nominations (2009). The semi-cooperative Hidden Roles twist differentiates it from pure co-op designs.
Awards
2009
2009
- 2009 Charles S. Roberts Best Science-Fiction or Fantasy Board Wargame — Nominated
Pro
- Strong tie-in to the Battlestar Galactica TV setting.
- High social interaction through Hidden Roles and Negotiation.
- Crisis-driven gameplay that rewards Hand Management.
- Multiple 2009 award nominations indicating recognition.
Contra
- Long playtime (~180 minutes) demands a big time commitment.
- Heavy social deduction element can be off-putting for newcomers.
Setting & Atmosphäre
Set in the Battlestar Galactica TV universe (science fiction), survivors of the Cylon assault flee toward Earth while facing external attacks and internal treachery. The theme is directly tied to the 2004 series.
Tipp für Einsteiger
Focus on your character's abilities and communicate clearly; play first with a group familiar with hidden-role games.
Häufige Fragen
Can I play this solo?
No. The game is designed for 3–6 players and does not include a solo mode in the provided data.
How long does a game really take?
Duration is listed as about 180 minutes; include setup and discussion when planning an evening session.
What prior experience do I need?
Experience with hidden-role or semi-cooperative games is helpful; the game suits gamers/enthusiasts due to social complexity and length.
How does this compare to similar games?
Unlike pure co-ops, this title mixes Cooperative Game mechanics with Hidden Roles and Negotiation, making betrayal and mistrust central.
Is this suitable for families?
With a minimum age of 14 and long, complex play, it is not primarily a family game.
What mechanic makes it special?
The combination of Hidden Roles with Hand Management and crisis resolution defines the experience.
Fazit
Recommended for player groups that enjoy long, social, thematic sessions with bluff and deduction; less suited for casual family game nights. Be prepared for an intense, roughly three-hour experience.
