# Shackleton Base: Below. Within. Above. ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2026 - **BGG Rating**: 8.6 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 1-4 - **Duration**: 60-120 min - **Weight**: 4.00 / 5 - **Designers**: Fabio Lopiano, Nestore Mangone - **Artists**: David Sitbon - **Publishers**: Sorry We Are French, 4GAMES, Pandasaurus Games - **Categories**: Expansion for Base-game, Science Fiction, Space Exploration - **Mechanics**: Variable Set-up, Worker Placement ## Verdict If you love mixing space exploration with strategic decisions, this expansion will get you pumped.Engaging gameplayVariety of corporationsHigh replayabilityPlaytime may varySetup changesHIGHLY RECOMMENDED ## Description Shackleton Base: Below. Within. Above. is the expansion that takes the lunar saga to a new level. Imagine this: besides the original base, you can now choose from three different corporations – Lunar City, Undermoon, and Zenith Works – each with its own mission and playstyle. Lunar City wants to attract civilian settlers to the Moon, Undermoon brings an advanced excavation system that lets you dig tunnels beneath existing structures, and Zenith Works offers the chance to collaborate with a construction giant to build shared infrastructure. The game keeps the Worker Placement mechanic, but the most fun part is the variable setup: the board changes every game, so you never play exactly the same thing. Playtime ranges from 60 to 120 minutes, perfect for a board‑gaming night without fatigue. Complexity is medium – easy to learn but with strategic decisions that keep it replayable. Components? Corporation cards, worker tokens, base pieces, and detailed maps. If you love space exploration, sci‑fi, and want something that fits nicely with the base game, this expansion will get you pumped. Just remember: the layout changes, so it’s good to have a little extra time to get used to it, but that only boosts replayability. ## How to Play Objective of the Game In Shackleton Base: Below. Within. Above., players are managing lunar operations. While the specific victory conditions are not fully detailed in the provided text, players aim to accumulate Victory Points (VP) through various activities such as building Structures, funding Projects, and managing Civilians and Astronauts. The goal is to maximize your score by effectively managing resources like Titanium, Credits, and Reputation while navigating the challenges of the lunar environment. Setup To prepare the game, follow these steps: Place the 4 Scoring Bonus tokens of each type (10 VP and 25 VP) face up next to their corresponding value on the VP track. Each player selects an Agency Leader tile. Note that each Agency Leader has a special ability that can be improved once the player has built their Headquarters. Consulte el manual para detalles sobre esta sección. Gameplay The game progresses through various phases and actions. While the full turn structure is not explicitly listed in a single sequence, the following elements are identified: Maintenance Phase: During this phase, players may lose Reputation from their Drill marker (Step 1) and may regain Reputation during the Income Phase (Step 3). In the Solo Mode, AstroBot does not gain benefits from Underground Halls or lose Reputation during this phase. Scoring Token Triggers: When a player reaches 10 VP, they immediately pick a 10 VP token of their choice to gain a bonus, then discard it. When a player reaches 25 VP, they pick a 25 VP token of their choice and place it next to their player board for later use. IMPORTANT: If multiple players reach a Scoring token threshold simultaneously (such as during the same step of the Maintenance Phase), they gain it following turn order. IMPORTANT: You only gain a tile the first time you reach the target score, even if you later lose and regain Victory Points. Actions and How to Play Players perform various actions to develop their lunar base. Key actions and mechanics include: Corporation Actions These are standard actions used to develop the base. Specific interactions include: Building Structures: You can build Structures or Overbuild on top of existing ones. You can only overbuild on the top level of a building if you own its base structure. Note that Overbuilding does not increase the "size" of a building for certain rules; size is equal to the footprint of the base structure. Exploiting the Crater: This action allows players to interact with the crater. When performing an Exploit the Crater action, players may repair Fractures on the selected row to gain Reputation. Funding a Project: Players can fund Projects to gain benefits. Certain Scoring tokens can be discarded to reduce the Energy requirement and Project cost. Placing Astronauts: Placing an Astronaut on the Lunar Gateway allows the use of a 25 VP token to perform an additional Corporation action. Agency Leader Abilities Each leader has unique capabilities that can be improved: India 1: After a Command Action, spend 3 Reputation for a Corporation action (Improved: spend 1 Reputation). India 2: When funding a Project, spend 2 Reputation to ignore the Energy requirement (Improved: spend 3 Reputation to ignore the Credit cost). Civilians and Astronauts Civilians: Used to activate sectors. They cannot repair Fractures. If a Fracture is present, a Civilian can only mine, gain Credits, or activate a Corporation token if there is no matching Fracture in that sector. Astronauts: Used for specific tasks like retrieving from the Lunar Gateway. Fractures A Fracture in a sector prevents that sector from being exploited for its matching resource (via gathering, mining, laboratories, leader abilities, or project cards) until it is repaired. End of Game and Scoring The game ends when specific triggers are met (Consulte el manual para detalles sobre el gatillo de fin). Scoring includes: Victory Points (VP): Accumulated through various gameplay actions. Scoring Tokens: 10 VP Tokens: Provide immediate bonuses (2 Titanium, 4 Reputation, 3 VP, or 6 Credits) and are then discarded. 25 VP Tokens: Provide powerful one-time effects (reducing costs, additional actions, or doubling rewards) and are kept for later use. Solo Mode Scoring: In solo play, AstroBot scores 4 VP for each flipped Underground Hall. Tips for Winning Manage your Reputation: Be careful with your Drill marker, as you will lose Reputation during the Maintenance Phase. Optimize Overbuilding: Remember that Overbuilding allows you to add layers to a building, but the "size" for certain rules remains the footprint of the base structure. Utilize Scoring Tokens: Use your 25 VP tokens strategically to reduce costs or double rewards when it provides the most benefit to your expansion. ## FAQ ### What is the average playtime? Between 60 and 120 minutes, depending on the number of players and initial setup. ### How many players is it suitable for? 1 to 4 players, but it works best with 2 to 4 to fully enjoy Worker Placement dynamics. ### What is the complexity level? Medium – easy to learn, but with strategic decisions that keep the game engaging. ### What are the main components? Corporation cards, worker tokens, base pieces, detailed maps, and infrastructure pieces. ### Who is the target audience? Sci‑fi fans, space explorers, and players who already own the base game and want more depth. ### Does the expansion work alone or needs the base game? It’s an expansion, so you need the Shackleton Base core game to play. ### Is there a time limit for play? No fixed limit, but playtime can increase with more complex setups. ## Price Comparison ### Best International Offers - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 39.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6806790&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/122632/shackleton-base-below-within-above?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com