# Race for the Galaxy

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 2007
- **BGG Rating**: 7.7
- **BGG Rank**: #94
- **Players**: 2-4 (Best with: 2)
- **Duration**: 30-60 min
- **Weight**: 2.99 / 5
- **Designers**: Thomas Lehmann
- **Artists**: Claus Stephan, Martin Hoffmann
- **Publishers**: Rio Grande Games, ABACUSSPIELE, Albi, Ediciones MasQueOca, Feelindigo, Gabinete Lúdico
- **Categories**: Card Game, Civilization, Economic, Science Fiction, Space Exploration
- **Mechanics**: End Game Bonuses, Follow, Hand Management, Income, Market, Multi-Use Cards

## Verdict
If you're looking for a deep, strategic card game that plays quickly and offers immense replayability, Race for the Galaxy is a stellar choice. Its simultaneous action selection and multi-use cards create a fascinating engine-building puzzle.
Brilliant multi-use card mechanic
Engaging simultaneous action selection
High replayability and strategic depth
Fast-paced gameplay
Satisfying engine-building
Steep initial learning curve
Iconography can be overwhelming
Limited player interaction
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

## Description
In Race for the Galaxy, you take on the role of a galactic leader, expanding your civilization and building a stellar empire. The game unfolds entirely with cards, where each card can be a world to colonize or a technological/social development to implement. The trick is that the cards in your hand are not just options, but also the 'currency' for building: to play a card, you discard others, simulating the tough choices and lost opportunities that come with empire building. Once played, the cards in your tableau represent your achievements, providing special powers and victory points at the end of the game. Many worlds also produce goods that can be traded for more cards or consumed to gain victory point chips.

Each round is a spectacle in itself: players secretly and simultaneously choose a main action from the available phases (explore, develop, settle, produce, consume). Only the phases selected by at least one player occur, but everyone can participate in them. The big advantage? The player who chose the phase gets an exclusive bonus! This 'follow' mechanic, where you can participate in another player's chosen action but with a bonus for the initiator, creates tense and strategic interaction. The game ends when a player reaches 12 cards in their tableau or when the victory point chips run out. Victory goes to whoever accumulates the most points, combining those from cards and chips. A 2018 update brought improvements for colorblind players and some revised cards, as well as new promotional homeworlds, ensuring the experience is even more accessible and varied.

## How to Play
Objective of the Game
Welcome, future galactic emperors! In Race for the Galaxy, you're not just playing cards; you're building a sprawling, powerful space empire. Your ultimate goal? To outmaneuver your rivals and amass the most **Victory Points (VPs)** by developing advanced technologies, settling valuable worlds, and creating a thriving economy. Will you be the one to dominate the galaxy?

Preparation (Setup)
Let's get this galactic engine revving! Here’s how to set up your game:


    Gather your **VP chips**: Place a total of **12 VPs per player** (using 1's and 5's) within easy reach of everyone.
    Each player takes a set of **7 different action cards**. (If you're playing the 2-player Expert Game, you'll take all 9 action cards).
    Find the **5 start worlds**. Deal one random start world to each player.
    Shuffle any unused start worlds back into the main deck with all the other cards.
    Deal **6 cards** from this shuffled deck to each player.
    Each player then discards **2 of their 6 cards**, keeping their starting hand of 4.
    If **Alpha Centauri** is in play (meaning it was dealt as a start world), place a **goods card** on it immediately.

You're now ready to embark on your cosmic journey!

Playing the Game
A round in Race for the Galaxy is a dynamic dance of simultaneous actions. Here’s how it unfolds:

The Round Structure
At the start of every round:

    Each player **secretly chooses one action card** from their hand. (For the 2-player Expert Game, players choose 2 cards).
    All players then **reveal their chosen action cards simultaneously**.
    Perform the selected phases in order (I through V), skipping any phase that no player chose.
    Each phase has two parts:
        
            An **Action**: Performed by **all players**.
            A **Bonus**: Performed only by the players who **chose that action card** this round.
        
    
    After all selected phases are complete, players must **discard down to 10 cards** in their hand.
    Finally, all players **take back their action cards** to prepare for the next round.

Remember, most actions can be taken simultaneously. If play order matters, proceed clockwise, starting with the player with the lowest-numbered start world. Discards go to a face-down pile, which is reshuffled to form a new draw pile when exhausted.

The Phases Explained

Phase I - Explore

    Action: All players draw 2 cards, keep 1, and discard the other. All explore draws happen before any discards.
    Bonus: Depending on the specific Explore card chosen: either draw 5 more cards, or draw 1 more and keep 1 more.
    Expert Game Note: A player choosing both Explore bonuses draws 8 cards and keeps 2 of them (plus any other bonuses).


Phase II - Develop

    Action: All players may place and pay for a **development card** from their hand. To pay, discard a number of cards equal to the cost shown on the development card. You can never have more than one of each development in your tableau.
    Bonus: If you chose Develop, you discard one card fewer than the indicated cost. The total cost can never drop below 0.
    Expert Game Note: If a player chooses two Develop cards, two complete sequential Develop phases occur. That player gets a bonus in each. Opponents get the bonus only for the first of these two phases. Powers placed in the first phase can be used in the second.


Phase III - Settle

    Action: All players may place and pay for a **world card** from their hand:
        
            Non-military worlds: Discard a number of cards equal to the cost on the world card.
            Military worlds (red circle): Instead, these must be conquered by having a total **Military** value greater than or equal to the world's defense value. (A **Contact Specialist** allows you to pay for a military world instead of conquering it).
        
        If you place a **Windfall World** (with a colored "halo"), it immediately receives a **windfall good** (draw and place a face-down card on top of it).
    
    Bonus: If you chose Settle, draw one card after placing and paying for (or conquering) a world.
    Expert Game Note: If a player chooses two Settle cards, two complete sequential Settle phases occur. That player gets a bonus in each. Opponents get the bonus only for the first of these two phases. Powers placed in the first phase can be used in the second.


Phase IV - Consume

    Action: All players use their **consume powers** if possible, typically to discard **goods cards** for VPs and/or to draw cards. Discard goods face down without looking. A good doesn't have to be on the world consuming it. If multiple goods could be consumed, the player chooses which. Each consume power can be used only once per consume phase. Consume powers allowing "up to" a number of goods must be used to their fullest extent.
    Bonus: There are two possible Consume bonuses:
        
            $:Trade: If you chose this, you must sell one goods card (before applying other consume powers) by discarding it and drawing cards based on the good's type: Alien=5, Genes=4, Rare Elements=3, Novelty=2. Apply all relevant $:Trade special powers.
            2xVPs: If you chose this, double the number of VP chips (but not any other effects) that your consume powers provide. Exception: VPs for discarding cards from your hand are not doubled.
        
    
    Expert Game Note: A player selecting both Consume bonuses must sell one good before consuming other goods for double VPs.


Phase V - Produce

    Action: All players place a **goods card** face down on each **production world** (those with a colored solid circle) without looking at it.
    Bonus: If you chose Produce, you may produce a good (if possible) on a **windfall world** that doesn't already have one.


End of Game and Scoring
The game isn't over until the last VP is counted!

When Does the Game End?
The game concludes at the end of the round in which:

    A player ends the round with **12 or more cards in their tableau** (the cards they've played in front of them), OR
    The initial supply of **VP chips runs out**.

Once either of these conditions is met, finish the current round. If you run out of VP chips during this final round, use the spare 10 VP chips.

Scoring Your Empire
After the final round, it's time to tally up your galactic might:

    Each player totals **VPs from their tableau cards**.
    Add any **VP chips** they've collected.
    Add **VPs for any 6-cost developments** they have.

The player with the most total **VPs wins**! In case of a tie, the tie is broken by comparing the total number of cards in hand (after discarding) and goods on worlds.

Tips for Victory
Ready to conquer the cosmos? Here are a few pointers to help you on your way:


    Balance Your Actions: Don't get stuck always choosing the same phase! Watch what your opponents are choosing. If someone picks **Develop**, you can also develop a card for free, even if you didn't choose it. Smart players leverage the actions chosen by others to their advantage.
    Cards are Currency: In Race for the Galaxy, cards in hand are not just potential plays; they are your primary currency for paying for developments and non-military worlds. Don't be afraid to discard cards to play powerful new ones, but also be mindful of keeping enough for future turns.
    Specialize or Diversify: Consider focusing on a few powerful **consume powers** to generate VPs and cards, or build a broad empire with many different types of worlds and developments. Both strategies can be effective, but understand the synergies within your own tableau.

Now go forth, commander, and build an empire worthy of legend!

## FAQ
### How many players can play Race for the Galaxy?
Race for the Galaxy is best for 2 to 4 players, offering a dynamic and competitive experience in any of these configurations.

### What is the average game length?
A game of Race for the Galaxy typically lasts between 30 to 60 minutes, making it great for shorter gaming sessions or for fitting in multiple plays.

### What is the complexity level of the game?
With a weight of 2.99/5 on BGG, Race for the Galaxy is considered a medium-complexity game. The rules are relatively simple, but mastering the strategies and card interactions takes time and practice.

### Do I need expansions to enjoy the game?
No! The base game already offers a complete and robust experience with high replayability. Expansions merely add more variety and complexity for those looking to delve deeper.

### What are multi-use cards?
Multi-use cards are the heart of the game! They can be played as worlds or developments, but they can also be discarded to pay the cost of other cards or to activate certain abilities. It's a super elegant mechanic that forces tough decisions every turn.

### Who is Race for the Galaxy recommended for?
It's highly recommended for fans of strategic card games, with hand management and simultaneous action selection mechanics. If you enjoy building card 'engines' and planning your moves based on others' choices, you'll love it!

### Is there a digital version of the game?
Yes! Race for the Galaxy is available on several digital platforms, including Board Game Arena, Steam, Apple App Store, and Google Play, allowing you to play online or against AI.

## Price Comparison
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