Customer Reviews

Race for the Galaxy

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The first time you read through the instructions, you'll probably be confused. So read them through again, and then play a slow round. The first time we played, we showed each other all our cards and discussed the moves we were thinking about doing, so we could each start learning the strategy. Now it's one of our favorite games. It's fun, it's different each time because of the cards you draw, and it stays pretty even (with another game, Catan, sometimes it gets lopsided really quickly and one player just doesn't have a chance.) We've only played with two players, and I'd be interested to see how it is with three or four. Anyway, if you like strategy games, and someone you know has recommended this to you because they think you'll like it, give it a try. And don't be dismayed the first time you read the instruction manual.

I waited a long time before buying Race for the Galaxy because I thought most of the positive feedback was just hype. I was wrong.

This game is fantastic. The "phase" selection at the beginning of each turn is great and the different strategies available to win are varied and useful.

There is a little bit of a learning curve because one must learn the symbols on the cards but a couple playthroughs should have everyone set and ready. Fast and quick I love that I can play this game a couple times in the same amount of time playing something like settlers.

My favorite game period.

This is a great game. I like that you are building your own tableau but still competing and racing against your competitors. Also plays well as a two player - a definite plus!

This is an excellent, reasonably quick card game. It is very similar to San Juan (San Juan), which I also recommend highly. Of the two, Race for the Galaxy is a bit heavier and more complex.

Race for the Galaxy is an excellent addition to my gaming collection. A four player game can be completed in an hour, making it a welcome break from other games that drag on for many hours. Still, its mechanics are complex enough to offer a variety of strategies for victory. I recommend it.

Race for the Galaxy is a card-based game centered around a space theme. The cards themselves are very attractive, both in terms of construction and artwork. Naturally, card covers might be a good investment for those planning on playing the game a lot. Unfortunately, as much as I do enjoy this game, it has not made it into my family's favorites for several reasons. First off, we were already accustomed to large instruction manuals and did not balk at the sheer mass of the rules. Usually, it turns out that playing the game makes the rules much more clear. With Race for the Galaxy, we are still struggling from time to time after many playthroughs. Some of the rules are a little confusing, and added to the fact that there are so many, someone usually gets confused.

Another reason for it not becoming a favorite game is the fact that it is not as enjoyable as other card games, such as Dominion. Even though these two games are very repetitive, Race for the Galaxy makes the repetition noticeable. With the base game, there is also no way of attacking opponents: It's almost like everyone plays completely separately in many respects. It could just be me, but I'm also confused by some of the icons and benefits on the cards. Many of these are explained in the rulebook and summary sheets, yet I'm almost positive that a few are left out. Again, not a huge flaw, but another element that can add some confusion.

This is a game that requires time to understand and get used to. Many of the expansion packs appear to add a lot to the game, and perhaps those will be worthwhile purchases down the line. Even with the confusing rules and somewhat tedious nature of gameplay, Race for the Galaxy still has its good points! The "luck of the draw" factor adds a bit of suspense, and when the right card comes up, the game can take a turn for the better. Setup and cleanup are also quite easy and straightforward. I probably wouldn't recommend this game to anyone just getting into European-style board/card games, yet it's definitely one to try out at some point.

Ok, I felt absolutely compelled to write a review for this game. Mainly because I agreed with all the negative and positive feedback that had already been left. Being a Sci-Fi fan lucky enough to be engaged to a Sci-Fi fan, I got this game hoping it would be great fun for the both of us. We love games, and Dominion is one of the best we have ever played, so I figured this would fit us perfectly. When I opened the box and looked at the cards and rule book I thought.... oh cr@p, I just bought one of those games that will never get played. I sat down with the book, and started reading. It was a rainy Sunday, and I thought we would spend the day playing games, and learning this new one. I was dead wrong. So many symbols to learn, so many phases to figure out.... I decided to wait till another day to figure it out, and we played Dominion instead.

This might be where the story ends for a lot of people, and it might have been where my story ended as well. However, after a quick trip to YouTube, and simply typing in Race for the Galaxy, I found several tutorials to 1) Help understand the symbols, and 2) Watch a three part tutorial. After spending a little time watching these videos I couldn't wait to get home and try out this great new game! It literally only took me 5-10 minutes to explain it to my Fiancé, and we were playing out first game. Sure, we still had a lot to learn, but the game is actually AMAZINGLY simple in some respects. Like any good game though, the strategy comes with time, and knowledge of the cards will help you to build your own strategy once you are comfortable.

Here is the most surprising thing.... The symbols... they are a GOOD THING! They keep you from reading cards all night. It is actually easier to look at a big red +1 and know it adds one to your military, then having to read a card that says "Add +1 to your Military score when defeating other planets". Sometimes card games can be too wordy, this game is not. People talk about the steep learning curve for the game, but I really don't agree. You can be playing quickly with the help of someone who knows how to play, or has watched the tutorials. You will get better as you play (i.e. knowing which combos to go for, and how not to get locked into any one strategy before you should) but actually playing the game and having fun isn't very difficult at all.

Ok, so now that we have gotten past the part where RftG is difficult to learn out of the box, let's talk about something else. This game is Awesome. The games are usually close, and there are many different paths you can take toward winning. In my opinion the key is to not lock yourself down doing one thing, and having big point cards you can't use show up in your hand late in the game. That isn't to say do a little of everything, but don't be in too much of a hurry to dump your hand and take up your precious 12 spots with junk you can't use later. As for the game length... please remember this game is called RACE for the Galaxy, not EPIC DUEL for the Galaxy. These games play out quick, and you should be able to get a few into about an hour. We like to play 2 out of 3 like MtG, but you can play it however you want. For those who say it's not any fun because you are losing and can't catch up... I wonder if they are playing by the actual rules, because if someone is killing you, the VP points and "Tableau" are filling up fast and the game will be over soon. It's been my experience that this is a rarity though. Most games stay pretty close, but for those people that find the right end game cards, and have maneuvered into a position to have the resources and time to play them, scores can get pretty high right at the end.

Overall the game is just amazing. The cards, which some have called fragile, are the best quality of ANY of the card games I have bought recently (Dominion, Ascension, Thunderstone) and they are beautiful. I am waiting on the first expansion which is due tomorrow, just in time for game night with some friends. I am a firm believer in teaching the base game to people first, no matter how much better the expansion makes the game, but I have a feeling after 2 or 3 games we will be ready to add the goals and extra cards.

If you like card games and space themes, PLEASE, get this game and watch the YouTube tutorials. You won't be sorry.

There is a relatively steep (for a game) learning curve as you get used to the symbols and the flow of the game but once you catch on (a round or two) it is a lot of fun. It can be played as a fun casual game or - if you really gear up the competitive juices - as a very competitive one. A fun addition to our household game repertoire and a ver good purchase.

I got this game a while back to play with my wife. It turns out that when we actually would have a chance to play it is too late at night for anything but TV.
So I ended up playing with my kids, 8 and 10.
My 10 year old is an evil genius so he was a worth opponent but my 8 year old had trouble and needed to have rules explained often.
Anyway, if you can get some people your own age who are into games you'll love this one.
Why will you love it? Each and every card (there's a million cards) are very well illustrated. Every single card!
The game is engrossing as you literally race to develop your empire.
There are many ways to win.
Why some wont like it: The rules are a bit complex and can be less than perfectly clear.
Some say its like 4 player solitaire but I didn't feel that way.
It's best with more than 2 players, which can some times be a challenge to locate and they actually be available to take time out of their lives to sit around playing card games. Therefore recommended if you have a group of gamers!

After reading through the manual several times and playing it a couple of times the game became great fun! After you learn the mechanics of the game it becomes cool and very interesting. There are also youtube videos that can help you learn. It plays kinda like MTG but everyone uses the same deck and the phase mechanics are different.