Race for the Galaxy

[Catacombs]

https://www.templegatesgames.com/raceforthegalaxy/





The game is great fun. I sunk many hours in the board game and recently got the Steam version. Anyone else play? Perhaps we could get a game in or two.

 

[Zombra]

Let's race, compadres.

Spoiler

 

[Zombra]

Eh? Just send me an invite, weirdo. The game already supports asynchronous play.

 

[Citizen]

What a high-effort thread, how about adding game description, some screenshots and a steam url?

 

[Zombra]

I'm not the OP, but here's the Steam page



Quick & dirty, this is simply a solid, well-balanced non-collectible card game. There are several expansions that add new factors and currencies but even the base game is excellent. It's all about trying to build an empire before the game ending conditions are met, and have the highest score when it's over. Note that there are no "victory conditions" - you're just racing to build your score before the game reaches an end point. It's possible for any player to trigger game over even when they are behind.

The main factor that sets this apart is that players control not only what actions they take, but which phases occur at all during a round. If one player chooses to pursue the Development phase, then all players that round may develop a technology if their resources allow. If no player selects Develop, then no tech is developed that round. This leads to observing your opponents' strategies and predicting which phases will happen, or denying opponents resources based on what you imagine their predictions will be. For example you might predict that your opponent may choose to produce goods with their industry, which means your industry will produce as well without your doing anything, so you can focus on settling a new planet instead. But if your opponent chooses not to produce, your strategy may be screwed.

Pacing is just right - games don't drag out. There is enough time to develop a strategy, with chances to change gears a few times depending on what happens, and then the game is over and win or lose you're hungry to try again.

This version is asynchronous, meaning you can sign in and take a turn any time without your opponent having to be online. This makes it a perfect gaming snack for pandemic telecommuters like myself throughout the day.

Screenshots may not look like much, but the gameplay is involving, deep, and furious. On top of all that, I love the art's dorky charm, preserved as is from the original 2007 physical game.

 

[mastroego]

It's a deeper game than it might seem at first glance.
The key point to understand is that you have to make so that in the phases YOU pick, the opponent should gain as little as possible, while you gain the most.
Conversely, you need to be able to "leech" and progress even during the phases picked by the opponent.
Simple in theory, hard in practice, especially with several viable paradigms/paths of efficient empire building, and the way they can combine/clash with each other.

Very elegant, lots of decisions condensed in every move, that is, if you're serious about winning.

 

[Zombra]

Eh? Just send me an invite, weirdo. The game already supports asynchronous play.

I'm not on a Windows computer very often. That's the only downside with playing on Steam.

I'm confused, the game is cross-platform. My homies are playing me on their iPads while I'm on Windows. Are you playing on a coconut shell radio or what?

 

[Falksi]

Race for the Galaxy?

Let me guess, it ends up being the niggers.

 

[v1rus]

Just bought the physical copy. Had a 3p game, and then a 2p game. Loved it.

Barely understanding the cards, so literally no sense of meta, but I loved what i saw.

 

[v1rus]

Just bought the physical copy. Had a 3p game, and then a 2p game. Loved it.

Barely understanding the cards, so literally no sense of meta, but I loved what i saw.

The symbol reference card is your friend.

Indeed, but still, theres so much to digest. There have been times when I explore, and draw three or four cards, and I'm so overwhelmed by number of information (that i could understand individually) that my plan is pretty much "these cards are gonna serve as payment and nothing else".

 

[Zombra]

Indeed, but still, theres so much to digest. There have been times when I explore, and draw three or four cards, and I'm so overwhelmed by number of information (that i could understand individually) that my plan is pretty much "these cards are gonna serve as payment and nothing else".

Yep. Welcome to stage one of understanding the game.