Shackleton Base: A Journey to the Moon

Sorry We Are French, 4GAMES, Arrakis Games · Board game · 2024
1–4 · best 3 Solo 60–120 min Weight 3.9/5
8.8 rating Ludopedia
8.0 rating BGG
8.8 rating Ludopedia
8.0 rating BGG
Our Verdict

If you enjoy a strategic euro with a space theme and high replayability, Shackleton Base is a sure bet! The interaction with corporations adds a unique flavor.

Highlights
  • Deep strategy
  • High replayability
  • Impactful decision making
  • Immersive theme
  • Quality components
Keep in mind
  • Can be a bit long
  • Initial learning curve
  • Indirect interaction
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Learn How to Play Step by Step Check out our interactive rules guide and exclusive illustrated infographic.
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About the game
In Shackleton Base: A Journey to the Moon, you lead a space agency, collaborating with others to establish and expand a permanent base in the Shackleton crater at the Moon's South Pole. But don't think it's all cooperation! Three major corporations are funding the mission, each with their own objectives and secret agendas, and you'll have to balance everyone's interests to come out on top. The game is a strategic race to build structures and fund corporate projects that offer special abilities and numerous scoring opportunities. What's cool is that each game, three of the seven available corporations are randomly chosen, ensuring that every play is a unique experience with new projects, actions, and ways to score. The lunar journey unfolds over three intense rounds, each divided into three crucial phases. In the shuttle phase, you draft a tile that determines the astronauts and resources you'll have for the round, as well as the turn order. Then, in the action phase, it's time to put your astronauts to work on the Moon: collect resources, build vital structures for the base, or fund corporate projects. Each project you fund brings ongoing abilities and more chances to score. The maintenance phase concludes the round, where your astronauts are assigned to structures for bonuses, you collect income and pay costs, and end-of-round corporate effects come into play. At the end of the three rounds, the final scoring reveals who was the most astute space strategist!
Rules videos

In English

Rules manual
Rules manual — Shackleton Base: A Journey to the Moon English · PDF
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Game details

Families

Digital Implementations: TableTop Simulator Mod (TTS) Space: Colonization / Extraterrestrial Colonisation Space: Earth's Moon
Publisher Sorry We Are French, 4GAMES, Arrakis Games, Engames, Galakta, Ghenos Games, Giant Roc, Hachette Boardgames UK, Happy Baobab, Pandasaurus Games, YOKA Games
Designer Fabio Lopiano, Nestore Mangone
Artist David Sitbon
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average playtime for Shackleton Base?
A game typically takes between 60 to 120 minutes, depending on the number of players and their familiarity with the game. It's good to set aside some time for this lunar journey!
How many players can play Shackleton Base?
The game is designed for 1 to 4 players, making it great for both solo sessions and small groups looking for a more strategic experience.
What is the complexity level of Shackleton Base?
It's considered a medium-heavy weight game (3.93/5 on BGG). It has robust rules and many strategic decisions, ideal for those who already have some experience with more elaborate board games.
What makes Shackleton Base different from other worker placement games?
The big differentiator is the variable corporations mechanic. In each game, three of the seven corporations are chosen, altering actions, projects, and scoring methods, which ensures huge replayability and always new strategies.
Does Shackleton Base have a lot of language dependency?
Although there is some text on project and corporation cards, it is considered to have low language dependency. With a few plays, symbols and effects become easily memorized, and the main rules are very visual.
Who is Shackleton Base most recommended for?
It's perfect for fans of strategic euro games who love sci-fi themes and space exploration. If you enjoy action optimization, long-term planning, and the feeling of building something, you'll feel right at home on the Moon!