Best Space Board Games

There’s a list of space-themed board games out there that’s as vast as… well, space. 

Who doesn’t want to take command of their own starship, liquify some Xeno scum, or even become Xeno scum? 

It’s easy to get lost in the myriad of options for space-hopping adventures, but have no fear. The Cows will be your guide to galactic gaming.

Let’s take a look at some of the best space-themed board games we could find. 

🏆 Our Top Picks for Best Space-Themed Board Games

In a hurry? Check out our favorites below.

06/05/2023 01:30 pm GMT

Cosmic Encounter

Players: 3-5
Playing Time: 60-120 minutes
Ages: 12+

Cosmic Encounter is an amazing space-themed game. It offers an epic galactic feel without having to take an extra day off from work to complete it.

Players will choose from 1 of 50 different alien races, each with its own unique powers and abilities. If you pick up expansions, the number of races to choose from jumps dramatically with the total possible being somewhere in the triple digits. 

That’s a lot of replayability packed into one box. 

It’s an epic space colonization game that hits every single space theme checkbox: space battles, planet colonization, diplomacy, betrayal, and awesome alien races.

It’s a must-have if you’re a fan of sci-fi and are looking for a solid space game that will consistently hit the table at game night. 

What We Liked

With over 50 different alien races to choose from, Cosmic Encounter offers variety on a galactic scale. There are so many different ways to play the game, and so many different abilities to choose from. This adds to the game’s replayability as there are tons of different permutations that make each game feel unique. 

What Could Be Better

Although you can play with just three players, Cosmic Encounters loses a lot of its fun with fewer players. More players mean more interaction and more possibility of alliances, more enemies to fight, and more political intrigue. If possible, play with the maximum number of players. 

Galaxy Trucker

Players: 2-4
Playing Time: 60 minutes
Ages: 10+

This game is dumb as hell and I love it. 

Galaxy Trucker puts you in the driver’s seat of some of the toughest and roughest hombres in the galaxy. That’s right, truckers…

The cheap-ass corporation that hired you is shipping piping and random construction materials across the galaxy and to cut costs, you’re actually responsible for building your own ship out of the random bits of pipes and junk that you’re shipping. 

The game comes in 2 parts: A timed rush to build your ship and actually flying to your destination while avoiding all the hazards of space.

The game is super tense and absolutely ridiculous, making it a household favorite and securing one of the top spots on the list. 

What We Liked

Although winning is usually better than losing, there is something really amusing about losing badly in Galaxy Trucker. You want to build the most efficient ship at the cheapest cost so corners are going to be cut. Building a sub-par ship can have hilarious consequences so even if you’re losing, you’re at least still laughing. 

What Could Be Better

Galaxy Trucker is a game of two parts: First, you build and then you fly. The building part is a lot more fun and is more consequential for the game overall. The flying part feels more like going through the motions because all of the important decisions have already been made. 

Twilight Imperium (Fourth Edition)

Players: players 3-6
Playing Time: 240-480 minutes
Ages: 14+

Surprise surprise, Twilight Imperium makes it into my top 3.

Honestly, it only hit lower because I’ve been given TI a lot of love in my top lists and I want to showcase more board games.

It’s no secret that I freakin’ love this game. If you’re into space themes and sci-fi, you need to check out Twilight Imperium. It defines space opera.

The only issue I’ve ever had with this game is finding enough players who aren’t intimidated by its massive size. It especially shines with 6-players, so if you can get 5 friends together, you won’t be disappointed.

What We Liked

Twilight Imperium is gaming on the grandest scale. Its scope is huge and there is so much going on at any one time. There isn’t one single strategy that dominates over others so you’ll need to tinker and change your approach for each game. 

What Could Be Better

One of the only negatives is that it can be tough to find people who are willing to commit or who even understand what such a commitment might entail. If you play, it will take hours, so you need to find a bunch of gamers who are ready for this and understand the obligations of the game. 

Firefly: The Game

Players: 1-4
Playing Time: 120-240 minutes
Ages: 13+

Join Captain Mal and the crew of the Serenity as they embark on an epic adventure to get paid and not die!

Firefly is, of course, set in Joss Whedon’s iconic space western. Players will choose a captain and travel the verse, picking up jobs, and trying not to die in the process.

You’ll need to avoid authorities, shady employers, and Reavers.

The game itself is a race to complete objectives and missions but if you’re a fan of Firefly, it does an amazing job of immersing the players in the theme. 

What We Liked 

It was a tragedy when Firefly, the TV show, was canceled. The premise and theme were awesome and there was so much potential to be explored. Well, if you’re a fan of the TV show then the board game has loads to offer. The components are high quality, the artwork is great, and the theme of the TV show is incorporated expertly into the game. 

What Could Be Better

Luck plays quite a large role in Firefly: The Game. You can have a great crew and everything can be going really well for you, and then you just happen to roll badly and this sets you way back. If you’re frustrated by swingy games determined by dice rolls then beware. 

Gaia Project

Players: 1-4
Playing Time: 60-150 minutes
Ages: 12+

Are you a fan of Terra Mystica? Why not give Terra Mystica in space a try?

Gaia Project is the spiritual sci-fi successor to Terra Mystica. It’s still a land grab where all players are looking to terraform territory into their preferred landscape, but it’s not quite just a reskin.

There are slight alterations to the rules and scoring, but there’s also the fact that planets are farther away and you’ll need spaceships to colonize new worlds.

Think of it as Terra Mystica 2.0 in space. 

What We Liked

Gaia Project is extremely strategic and involves a lot of planning and timely execution. You need to build the best engine and decide on which areas of the map to control, while also guessing what your opponents are plotting. This makes for an intense and highly rewarding gaming experience.

What Could Be Better

One major feature of Gaia Project is that there is no combat. It’s all about engine building and area control. Of course, depending on your preferences, this can be a pro. But it’s definitely something you need to be aware of when purchasing this game. 

Terraforming Mars

Players: 1-5
Playing Time: 120 minutes
Ages: 12+

In the year 2400, humanity has finally gotten to the point where it can reach Mars and attempt terraformation for future colonization. 

Of course, it’s been privatized and corporations are the ones tasked with terraforming the Red Planet.

In Terraforming Mars, it’s your job to run one of these corporations and change the Red Planet into a luscious green and blue one. 

Players compete for various terraforming objectives, all while juggling the responsibilities and tech necessary to make Mars liveable. 

What We Liked

Given that landing a person on Mars has become a somewhat realistic goal and tons of people are talking about it these days, terraforming Mars actually seems within our capacity. So, when playing the board game, it feels like we are potentially playing out our future, which makes the theme of the game more realistic and immersive. 

What Could Be Better

Although the late game plays great, the start game can be painfully slow. No one has enough resources to do anything of consequence and players can only take one action per turn. 

Star Wars: Armada

Players: 2
Playing Time: 120 minutes
Ages: 14+

If you’re looking for a great space theme, it’s hard to top Star Wars. 

Armada is a collectible miniatures tabletop game that is massive in scope. Your entire dining room table can easily be swallowed up into an epic space battle. Similar to the X-Wing miniatures game, Armada amps up the battle by focusing on entire space battles instead of dogfight skirmishes. 

Players will have full dreadnaughts and battlecruisers at their command along with full squadrons of tie fighters and X-wings. 

It’s a massive game that can quickly grow out of control if you let it. 

What We Liked

Star Wars: Armada offers a great mix of strategy and tactics. You’ll constantly need to tinker and respond to challenges in the short term. But it’s also important to keep your eyes on long-term plans as ultimately, this is where you will be rewarded the most.

What Could Be Better

One thing that holds Star Wars: Armada back is the price tag. If you’re a committed Star Wars fan, maybe making the investment is a no-brainer. But shelling out so much money for a board game is not a minor decision. 

Mission: Red Planet (Second Edition) 

Players: 3-5
Playing Time: 60 minutes
Ages: 10+

Who doesn’t like a little steampunk action, but steampunk in space?

There have been some weird mashups, but I honestly never would have considered Victorian-era fantasy steam engines to make it into space.

Enter Celerium and Sylvanite, two newfound substances on Mars. Celerium combusts 10,000 times hotter than any other substance on earth and Sylvanite is the densest material ever found. Both are perfect for making the best steam engine ever. 

As with all things, the corporations got their hands on it first… or are trying to anyway. Mission: Red Planet puts you in control of a corporation looking to lay claim to the richest veins of both materials on Mars before your rivals get there first.

Strap on your goggles and shovel that coal. You’re going to Mars!

What We Liked

There’s no fat in Mission: Red Planet. It’s the exact right length it should be. Played over 10 rounds, it always plays in an hour or less. There’s tons of action in each round and the game flows at an excellent pace. Each turn is brief and downtime doesn’t really exist. 

What Could Be Better

Player interaction is a huge feature in Mission: Red Planet, and it plays a lot better with more players. Given that adding more players doesn’t add to the downtime between turns, and only adds to the excitement and tension, I definitely recommend playing with more rather than less. 

Race for the Galaxy

Players: 2-4
Playing Time: 30-60 minutes
Ages: 12+

Race for the Galaxy is a pretty epic space empire game, in which players spread out and expand their empires through economic and galactic expansion.

As players expand outward, they’ll gain access to new abilities and bonuses. But every action performed gives your opponents the chance to copy your moves, so you’ll need to be aware of all surrounding empires so you don’t inadvertently give them an advantage. 

Race for the Galaxy is super simple to learn, yet deep and satisfying space game. 

What We Liked

Race for the Galaxy offers a lot in the way of strategy. The sheer combination of cards means that you can adopt a new strategy in every game. Finding a new combination of cards that fits perfectly feels awesome, and this happens all the time. It also adds to the replayability of the game as each game is different.

What Could Be Better

The game can tend to resemble multiplayer solitaire. Sure, you interact with your opponents and need to be roughly aware of what they’re up to. But ultimately, your main concern is your cards, how much time you have left, and where you rank in the game. You can become a lot more focused on what you’re doing than what your opponents are. 

Battlestar Galactica: The Board Game

Players: 3-6
Playing Time: 120-180 minutes
Ages: 14+

So this isn’t here because I’m rewatching the entire series or anything… (I totally am.) It’s here because it’s an amazing board game with an awesome hidden traitor mechanic. 

Battlestar Galactica is an iconic sci-fi experience at its best. 

Humanity creates A.I.
A.I. rebels against humanity
Earth gets destroyed and reduced to a fraction of survivors living aboard a convoy of starships.
A.I. is still pissed and pursues humanity.

Battlestar Galactica definitely took a few pages out of the Asimov playbook. 

The game is fantastic though because the main premise of Battlestar Galactica is that the Cylons (A.I. race) have adapted machines to look exactly like humans. There could be Cylons aboard the ship that don’t even know they’re machines. 

It translates beautifully to the tabletop. 

Players will be working together to stop the Cylon threat but throughout the game, Cylon agents will be activated and a once-loyal player could become a traitor. The worst part is there’s no way of telling who’s who. 

What We Liked

The fact that there are definitely Cylons in the fleet breeds a certain degree of mistrust and paranoia that permeates through the whole game. This results in a deliciously tense affair where no one can be trusted and anyone could be the enemy. 

What Could Be Better

BSG is going to be too long for some people. A game can easily exceed three hours. Additionally, some scenarios just slow the game down. It can take a lot of time and effort trying to get players out of the Brig, for example. Apart from this, there is very little to fault. 

Space Hulk: Death Angel

Players: 1-6
Playing Time: 30-60 minutes
Ages: 13+

You’re trapped aboard a derelict spaceship infested with Xeno scum and there is no escape.

Death Angel is the card game successor to the classic Space Hulk from Games Workshop. Players play cooperatively as a group of Space Marines, loaded up as only Space Marines can be, working to clear out the Genestealer infestation. 

It’s surprisingly easy to learn and plays relatively quickly for something from Games Workshop. 

If you’re looking for a Warhammer 40K fix without the guilt of leaving unpainted miniatures on your workbench for 6 months, Death Angel does the trick. 

What We Liked

Unlike some of the bulkier games on this list, Space Hulk is extremely portable and easy to set up. It only takes a couple of minutes to transition from deciding to play to actually starting a game. In this way, it works great as a filler and can be brought along to any game night.  

What Could Be Better

While challenging games are great, this one is particularly difficult to beat. You need to play well, work together and be a little bit lucky in order to beat the game. It’s definitely doable but can lead to some serious frustration. 

Star Trek: Ascendancy

Players: 3
Playing Time: 180 minutes
Ages: 14+

This is possibly the best Star Trek board game in existence.

Star Trek: Ascendancy puts players in command of one of three iconic Star Trek factions: the Federation, the Romulan Empire, and the Klingon Empire. 

This 4X-inspired game has each faction vying for supremacy through conquest.

Players will need to manage their empires’ economies and spread out through the galaxy to become the dominant faction in space. 

What We Liked

Each game results in a new, unique galaxy. Starting from nothing, you explore the galaxy and each game will have its own constellations of stars and civilizations. Not only does it end up looking really cool every time, but it also keeps each game fresh and adds to the replayability factor. 

What Could Be Better

Star Trek: Ascendancy is a long game. The game itself can last for over four hours. And then there is the downtime between turns. Players who suffer from analysis paralysis are going to slow the game down a lot. And there isn’t much you can do except watch and patiently wait until it’s your turn again. 

Core Worlds 

Players: 2-5
Playing Time: 60-120 minutes
Ages: 10+

Who doesn’t like a good ol’ fashioned space coup?

In Core Worlds, the old dynasties are falling and you, the barbaric empires at the fringe edges of space, are looking to capitalize on their weakness. 

Core Worlds is a deck-building game in which players invade the core worlds of the galaxy. As players progress, they’ll pick up new technology, tactics, and troops to continue their invasion. 

What We Liked

Core Worlds combines deck-building with an awesome theme. It’s not abstract in the way that Dominion is. It’s not a random assemblage of cards that score you points. Rather, your cards represent a highly developed, deadly civilization that is hell-bent on conquering all in its path. This game ties together the theme and the mechanic really well. 

What Could Be Better

The components are the only real thing that let the game down. They aren’t high quality and are prone to warping or deteriorating over time. Just be careful with them because they can’t handle much abuse. 

Among the Stars 

Players: 2-4
Playing Time: 30 minutes
Ages: 12+

In a different twist on the galaxy-wide war theme, Among the Stars takes place after the war is over. A galaxy-wide conflict left all the alien races reeling and now they’ve banded together against a greater threat.

Each player controls a different race and tries to build the best defense against this new invasion.

The entire game lasts 4 in-game years at which point the player that built the best defense is declared the winner. 

What We Liked

Among the Stars is essentially 7 Wonders set in space. Thematically it’s awesome and, if you’re a fan of the mechanics and gameplay of 7 Wonders, Among the Stars is definitely worth a go. 

What Could Be Better

Once you’ve had a few run-throughs, there isn’t anything left to surprise you about the game. There are only so many cards and you’ll become very familiar with them sooner rather than later. 

Space Alert

Players: 1-5
Playing Time: 30 minutes
Ages: 12+

Space Alert is one of the most stressful games I’ve ever seen. The game itself only takes 10 minutes.

Whaaaat? “How do you have a space game in only 10 minutes?”, you may ask.

The Answer: As fast as you freaking can!

Space Alert uses an automated soundtrack from an app that plays in the background. In those STRESSFUL 10 minutes, Murphy’s Law beats the hell out of your spaceship and it’s up to you and your crew to put out all the fires, avoid the asteroids, and fight off space pirates and aliens, all in 10 minutes.

What We Liked

The pacing is fantastic. It’s frenetic and chaotic but cooperative teamwork is absolutely essential. Every player needs to be aware of what’s going on at all times. They need to react instinctively, yet accurately. If players don’t communicate well then failure is guaranteed. If everyone knows their role and works together, victory is at hand. All in the space of 10 minutes. 

What Could Be Better

The game might be too fast and chaotic for some people. It’s easy to feel flustered and, when there is only a split-second to choose the path between victory and failure, it’s easy to make the wrong choice. This can have catastrophic consequences for everyone. Luckily, you can just play again.

Eclipse: New Dawn for the Galaxy

Players: 2-6
Playing Time: 60-180 minutes
Ages: 14+

Eclipse is an epic 4X game in which players each control one of seven factions. 

The galactic government can no longer contain the growing tensions. 

This game is epic and only keeps getting better. There are spaceship upgrades, planetary invasions, alien races, and a weak-willed galactic council. 

The stage is set for an epic space saga and Eclipse is currently getting a new makeover on Kickstarter with a second edition.

This could be the time to pick up the original (which is amazing, by the way) for cheap, once the newer edition hits shelves. Or if you’re a Kickstarter fiend, check out their Kickstarter to see what exclusive goodies you can score. 

What We Liked

The learning curve allows new players to join in. Turn-taking is easy and quick, but there are also a lot of moving parts. You are in control of your own destiny and strategy is more important than luck. In this way, beginners can understand how to take turns, and over time they can increase their skill level and understand what the best moves are each turn. 

What Could Be Better

Eclipse takes up a lot of room on the table. If you’re playing with the maximum number of players, make sure you’ve got a big table so the play area doesn’t get too chaotic and confusing.

Alien Frontiers

Players: 2-4
Playing Time: 90 minutes
Ages: 13+

Alien Frontiers is a worker placement planet colonization game with a twist.

Instead of adorable meeple people, dice substitute for your workers.

This adds a bit of randomness, but a heck of a lot of strategy to a solid little dice game. Players will always have a set of actions they want to perform but it’ll be up to the RNG gods to determine what happens. 

What We Liked

Alien Frontiers looks awesome. The artwork is gorgeous and captures the theme perfectly. The components are also really high quality and made to last. This all makes the game that much more fun to play, as it really immerses you in the act of colonizing alien worlds. 

What Could Be Better

Alien Frontiers has all the features of a Eurogame. This isn’t a problem if you are looking for that kind of experience. But, in particular, the last couple of rounds can be quite slow as players deliberate over the best possible strategy. This can slow the game down significantly.

Nexus Ops

Players: 2-4
Playing Time: 90 minutes
Ages: 12+

Avalon Hill made a space game? I’m in, I’m totally in!

Nexus Ops is a wargame in the vein of Axis and Allies. Replacing the familiar human troops are a host of alien creatures. One of the niftier aspects of Nexus Ops is the fancy glow-in-the-dark alien miniatures. They’re completely unnecessary, but cool nonetheless. 

Players compete in a total war-like fashion to dominate the battlefield and crush their opponents. 

What We Liked

Nexus Ops offers a great combination of tactics and strategy. Every turn requires meaningful and consequential decision-making. You need to react in real time and adjust the course accordingly. Plus you always need to be aware of your opponent’s plans. Nexus Ops does a great job of keeping you on your toes. 

What Could Be Better

There are dice involved so you can probably guess that luck plays a role. How much of a role? Quite a big one. And, depending on your tolerance for luck, it could be a deal breaker. 

Eminent Domain 

Players: 2-4
Playing Time: 45 minutes
Ages: 10+

Eminent Domain is a space game, blah blah I’ve said that a thousand times already.

It does, however, do something incredible.

If you’re a fan of Dominion, Puerto Rico, or Roll for the Galaxy, you’re going to want to check out Eminent Domain. It manages to pick and choose mechanics from various games and turns them into something remarkable.

There are deck-building elements, follow mechanics, engine-building, and a host of others yet, it manages to come together to create something unique. In a world of derivative games, it’s hard to point to a mechanic and not see another game in it, but Eminent Domain manages to hold its own while creating something special. 

What We Liked

Eminent Domain isn’t particularly hard but it still offers quite a punch in the way of strategy. There are quite a few different ways to earn Victory Points. You can focus on conquering planets, dominating trade, or developing the most tech. Plus, you improve at your role as you keep doing it, so the game rewards commitment to a particular path. 

What Could Be Better

Though there is player interaction in the game and it’s important to track what your opponents are doing at all times, there’s no direct conflict or combat. If you’re looking for a more confrontational game, you might be disappointed. 

Xia: Legends of a Drift System 

Players: 3-5
Playing Time: 60-180 minutes
Ages: 12+

Xia is a sandbox space game.

That’s a freaking bold claim for a board game. A sandbox game means that you’re free to do whatever the heck you feel like, and Xia offers that in spades.

Each player is given a small junker and a few credits before being let loose on the galaxy. What a player does with their ship and money is 100% up to them. Make the speediest ship to jet-set around the galaxy, arm yourself to the teeth, become the most profitable space merchant, or just be Nathan Fillian. The choice is 100% yours. 

What We Liked

Xia achieves something quite special. The open-world gameplay and sandbox approach allows you to do basically whatever you want. Games can be long or short, there are tons of paths to victory and each game is unique. 

What Could Be Better

The tyranny of choice is present in every turn. Players who are likely to suffer from analysis paralysis will find every single move an anxiety-inducing experience. There are just so many options and if a player is struggling to choose what to do it can increase the game time substantially. 

Wrap-Up

The idea of outer space has fascinated humanity since the possibility of space travel first entered our minds. As a species, we have a tendency to romanticize and fear the unknown, which has become a major theme in the sci-fi and space genres.

Jet-setting among the stars, heroically fighting an alien enemy, and bravery against all odds are some of the things that made me fall in love with sci-fi at a young age. It’s always humanity at its best. 

Of course, this may have biased my list, but these are the games that I think of when I think of space themes.

Did you have a favorite space-themed board game that didn’t make the list? Leave a comment below. We’d love to hear from you.

Looking for more Space Board Games? Check out our best Star Trek Board Games below: