Space Base Review: A space fleet game that perfectly combines dice luck and engine building
Space Base is an innovative board game that "evolves Machi Koro and is filled with fun decisions that put players in control."
In this article, we will thoroughly explain why Space Base continues to be loved by so many gamers, its appeal, and points to be aware of, through actual player testimonials and detailed game analysis.
Whether you're looking for a balance between dice luck and engine building, or a strategy game the whole family can enjoy, we've got some important information to help you decide before you buy.
Game Basics
Space Base is a dice and table building game for 2-5 players (recommended 3-4 players), with a play time of approximately 60 minutes, and is recommended for ages 14 and up.
Space Base is a dice and table building game for 2-5 players (recommended 3-4), approximately 60 minutes, and is recommended for ages 14 and up.
The designer is John D. Clair, and it has a BGG rating of 7.5/10 (over 22,000 reviews) and is positioned as a medium-weight light game lure weighing 2.12.
The core mechanic of the game is to roll two dice and choose either the individual number or the total value to activate the corresponding card .
Each player has 12 sectors of their personal board (dice rolls 2-12) and an initial ship card.
The game features an ingenious system where purchased ships are inserted into the corresponding sector, and the old card is flipped over and put on standby as a "blush" ability.
Each player manages three resource tracks: credits (yellow), income (green), and victory points (blue), and aims to win by reaching 40 VP.
The essence of this game lies in its innovative design: the blue section of the ship card activates during your turn, the green section during all turns, and the red section during other players' turns.
The appeal of Space Base: an innovative system that allows everyone to participate at all times
The greatest feature of Space Base is its groundbreaking system that allows all players to enjoy the game even when it is not their turn.
An innovative system that can be enjoyed even outside of your turn
The biggest innovation of Space Base is the "non-turn income" system, which allows all players to participate in the game at all times .
"After five minutes, every player gets a reward for every dice roll, and it's a matter of how much you get."
Many reviewers praised Space Base for having "all players playing all the time, with minimal downtime."
This cleverly avoids the biggest problem with dice games: players getting bored of rolling the dice and watching the results.
Strategic depth of the blue/red side system
By flipping purchased ship cards and putting them on standby as a "blush" ability, a "buying new cards deploys existing cards, generating greater profits" engine is built.
It has the characteristic that "inactive rewards can be massive" and has received the surprising reputation of being "the only game that is more fun on other turns."
The diversity of strategies and the joy of probability analysis
The "constant tug-of-war between the angel on your shoulder reminding you of dice odds and the devil telling you to throw prudence to the wind" is at the heart of the strategy.
A variety of builds are possible, such as a stable type that takes probability distribution into consideration vs. a high-cost, high-VP, single-point breakthrough type.
"Building a low probability area gives you the bonus of making the cash machine rain every time your opponent rolls a 12."
The colonization system's dilemma
Colony cards are an innovative system that grants temporary victory points but permanently disables the corresponding sector.
This powerful card is rated as having an excellent dilemma: it is expensive, but when purchased it "colonizes" a sector, making it impossible to activate afterwards.
It creates a sense of tension: "When should I buy? The only answer is 'Before my greedy space friends do.'"
Concerns and solutions
Space Base presents several challenges, but there are solutions for each.
Dice luck and countermeasures
One of the challenges is that "the luck of the dice plays a large role, and if the engine doesn't mesh well, you could be shut out."
However, there are rescue measures available: "There are cards that allow you to set or reroll the dice, the latter being especially important when you make a roll that gives your opponent a big advantage."
Countermeasure : Utilize the adjustment rule that "give players extra credits and cards at the start of the game to speed up the early game" and diversify your risk by investing in sectors with higher probabilities (6, 7, 8).
Extended play time and player limits
It has been pointed out that "Space Base can last over an hour when playing with two or more people" and "if a player gets off to a good start, they may experience lag for up to 70 minutes."
There have also been reports of issues with downtime and game time increasing when there are more than five people.
Tips : We recommend playing with 3-4 people, and having an experienced player explain the rules beforehand will ensure a smooth game.
Unclear rules
One issue is that the manual is unclear about the various timing windows and doesn't give the rulings you're looking for.
Some have pointed out that the image of the card used for charging is somewhat confusing.
Countermeasures : The game is designed so that you can learn the rules in the first one or two rounds, so it is effective to deepen your understanding through actual play and to ask questions in the online community.
Recommended for these people and occasions
Space Base is a game suitable for a wide range of players.
Perfect for family gamers
Its features include " a 'benefit-sharing' type of interaction with few aggressive elements, making it easy to recommend to families and casual gamers."
It has been praised as having the potential to reach a large audience of non-gamers, and it can be enjoyed by children from around the age of 10.
Recommended scenes :
- Family time
- Casual gaming with friends
- An introductory game for board game beginners
A bridge for engine building beginners
It's a game that's "worth it for anyone who loves engine building, or who thinks they should love it, but has been disappointed by the way many engine building games play."
The game is designed to have a good balance between dice luck and engine building, making it easy for beginners to experience the fun of engine building.
A great way for intermediate gamers to relax
It's a "small, pretty, 30 pound game" and easy to use, but it's also strategic enough to be a mid-weight light.
"The dynamic, fast-paced nature is one of the most enjoyable aspects," and it's a great way to take a breather between heavy games.
Expected effects :
- Eliminating prejudice against dice games
- Basic understanding of engine building
- Developing probabilistic thinking
- An experience of pure fun
"The satisfaction of building should not be underestimated.
Experience the simple joy of pushing cards off the board and the pure excitement of every roll of the dice.
Space Base is the definitive dice and engine building game, packed with reasons why many reviewers love it and call it "the game they really love."
It's a game that can be enjoyed by a wide range of people, from families to gamers, and is one you'll want to add to your collection.
Check the product on the online store page
Free shipping throughout Japan. Orders placed before 3pm will be shipped the same day.
Reference source/quote source
- Review: Space Base - Shut Up & Sit Down
- REVIEW: Space Base - Tabletop Bellhop
- Space Base Board Game Review - There Will Be Games
- Space Base Board Game Review - What Board Game
- Board Games Geek Information (User Contributed)