Ascending Empires

by Z-Man Games

• For 2-4 players
• Takes 1-2 hours to play
• Science fiction theme

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 11.8 x 3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B004QL7U84
• Item model number: 7065ZMG
• Manufacturer recommended age: 13 - 15 years
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #228,414 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Decimated to the brink of extinction, the remnants of Humanity have fled to a new galaxy in fear of annihilation at the hands of an unstoppable enemy. There, they uncover the ruins of four long-dead civilizations -- and the race to develop new technology based on the alien relics has begun. Join the ranks of Humanity and fight for your survival. Ascend to the stars and claim the galaxy as your own in Ascending Empires. Game Contents: 9 piece puzzle board, 4 player placards, 32 wooden starship discs, 4 wooden battleship discs, 28 wooden planet discs, 10 wooden asteroid discs, 2 sticker sheets, 56 plastic troops, 64 wooden pieces (research facilities, cities, and colonies), 50 VP tokens, 4 range ruler tiles, tech track tokens, and rules.

Product Description

The last survivors of the Human race have fled to a new galaxy in fear of annihilation at the hands of an unstoppable enemy. Now, having discovered the ruins of four long dead civilizations spread across the stars, the race to develop technology based on the alien relics has begun. Humans will once again ascend to the stars to claim the galaxy.Players will colonize new worlds by building colonies, cities, and research facilities. They will develop new Technologies, and build up fleets of Starships. Ascending Empires is a fast paced game that utilizes a dexterity based Starship movement and combat system, and allows for many different strategies to be explored.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best games I've played all year September 28, 2011

By Jonathan L. Schindler

Durability: 4.0 out of 5 stars    Educational: 3.0 out of 5 stars    Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

Ascending Empires is a blast. I mean it. I play a lot of board games, and this one has quickly "ascended" the list of the games I most often want to play.

Ascending Empires is such a blast for several reasons: 1) it moves fast (each turn allows a player only one action, so there's not a lot of downtime between turns), 2) it forces interaction (there is not enough space on the board to avoid other players), 3) it combines dexterity mechanics (you move around the board by flicking your starships, like shuffleboard), 4) there is a good dose of strategy in the game, but also some luck to keep things interesting, 5) these other factors leave room for social interaction throughout the game.

I played this for the first time at GenCon, and this was easily the best game I tried there. If you like space games, strategy games, or games that foster social interaction, get Ascending Empires. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Modern Classic May 16, 2012

By Aaron Silverman VINE™ VOICE

Durability: 4.0 out of 5 stars    Educational: 3.0 out of 5 stars    Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

For years, hobby gamers have been searching for the ultimate space empire-building game. I've been looking myself for over 30 years, and I think I might have found it. While designs have trended to the complex and bloated with extreme playing times (see Twilight Imperium 3rd Edition), out of nowhere comes this simple, fast-playing gem based on one of the most basic game mechanics -- disc-flicking. Painted wooden discs representing your spaceships move around the galaxy at the snap of a finger.

But I'm no good at flicking, you say. Fear not! 90% of the flicks you make in the game will only need to go a few inches. It's not at all tricky, at least with a little practice. Some have complained about the seams in the puzzle-cut board affecting their flicks, but they aren't so bad -- just think of them as space obstacles messing with your plans.

The genius of the game shines in the complex interplay of simple mechanisms, from the basic yet varied tech tree to the straightforward recruiting and production. And although the rules are simple, multiple viable strategies are possible. This game is a well oiled fun machine. And unlike many empire-builder type games, Ascending Empires is a blast even with only two players.

If there is one complaint to be made, it's the confusing organization of the rulebook. There are actually very few ambiguities, but you often have to dig through the rules, examples, and glossary to find things. What few questions remain have been answered online by the designer (and can be found at the Boardgamegeek website, along with variants and scenarios). Some people can't get past the effect of the board seams on the flicking, but in my opinion they just add to the fun. The flicking is the only non-deterministic element of the game (aside from the initial semi-random distribution of planets on the board), so it adds just a little extra chance element. (A few enterprising folks have gone so far as to construct their own one-piece wooden Crokinole-style boards for the game.)

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Vague rulebook BUT very fun and unpredictable August 18, 2011

By William Winters

Amazon Verified Purchase

Durability: 3.0 out of 5 stars    Educational: 2.0 out of 5 stars    Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

I'll say this to get it out of the way; the game's rules are really vague, not just about borderline cases in the game, but about many of the game's basic concepts. The manual fails to provide enough examples of the game's starship combat system, for example, making our first few games a bit of a trial. The battleship, in particular, seems pretty unbalanced until you flip all the way back into the glossary and find information that the rules themselves failed to explain. We were all able to talk it over like adults, but I don;t know how younger kids will handle it.
Once you get over the hump of the rules, however the game is a blast. There are no dice to provide randomness, but the requirement to flick your starships with your finger to move them from planet to planet can create some brilliant successes and spectacular failures. You will find yourself, on more than one occasion, having to get a starship all the way over to the opposite corner of the board to participate in a crucial counterstrike, and your hand will shake from the tension. Will it ricochet off that planet and slide into the enemies' flank? Will the piece flip onto its side and roll off into open space (off the board and into instant death)? Its great stuff, especially if everyone's had a beer or two.
The only other caveat I can think of is that I think the board pieces are cut on separate machines from each other. The jigsaw connections don't fit particularly well and they sometimes warp in humid conditions, but this can be mostly avoided by setting the board up ahead of time and putting some heavy books on it before your buddies arrive.
I greatly recommend it to anyone who always claims that they lose because the dice cheated them.