3 Board Games for Star Wars Fans
Star Wars is one of the world’s most popular franchises, spanning all types of media and formats. However, when you think of Star Wars - odds are that you immediately think of movie and television. But there are some truly incredible Star Wars board and card games that fly under the radar, but are absolutely worth your time. Whether you’re a TTRPG fan, avid board gamer, or miniature collector, we’ve got you covered with 3 incredible Star Wars board & card games!
#1 - Star Wars: Shatterpoint
Star Wars: Shatterpoint is a miniatures skirmish game developed by Atomic Mass Games, the creators of Star Wars: Legion and Marvel: Crisis Protocol. Released in 2023, Shatterpoint delivers fast-paced, squad-based combat, allowing players to lead teams of iconic Star Wars characters in intense battles.
Designed for dynamic and cinematic action, the game focuses on small-scale engagements, where strategic positioning, special abilities, and dice-driven combat decide the outcome. Unlike larger war games like Legion, Shatterpoint embraces hero-focused skirmishes, making it ideal for fans who love the personal duels and squad-based tactics seen in Star Wars shows like The Clone Wars and The Mandalorian.
How Does Star Wars Shatterpoint Play?
Squad Building – Players assemble a team of one Primary Unit (leader), one Secondary Unit (support), and one Supporting Unit (troopers or weaker fighters). Teams must be carefully balanced to utilize different strengths.
Mission-Based Gameplay – Instead of simply eliminating the enemy, players fight for control of objectives, with missions changing dynamically during the game. This creates shifting tactical priorities.
Cinematic Activations – Unlike turn-based games, Shatterpoint uses a random activation system, meaning players won’t always know which of their units will act next. This adds an element of unpredictability and excitement.
#2 - Star Wars: Outer Rim
Star Wars: Outer Rim is a narrative-driven board game published by Fantasy Flight Games, designed for 1-4 players. It focuses on the underworld of the Star Wars galaxy, with players take on the roles of smugglers, bounty hunters, and mercenaries, competing to become the most infamous outlaw in the galaxy.
Inspired by the scoundrel lifestyle of characters like Han Solo, Boba Fett, and Lando Calrissian, the game is a mix of adventure, exploration, and resource management, with players upgrading their ships, taking on dangerous jobs, and making alliances—or enemies—with different factions.
How Does Star Wars: Outer Rim Play?
Planning Phase: Choose to move, gain credits, or recover damage.
Action Phase: Trade, buy/sell items, complete jobs or missions, and interact with factions.
Encounter Phase: Resolve planet encounters, bounty hunts, or faction patrols with dice rolls and skill checks.
Objective: Earn Fame points by completing bounties, jobs, and missions, upgrading your ship, and gaining reputation.
#3 - Star Wars Legion
If you’re looking for a huge tactical miniatures wargame that brings the massive, galaxy-spanning battles of Star Wars to the tabletop, look no further than Star Wars Legion. Designed for players who enjoy strategy, planning, and large-scale warfare, the game pits players against each other as they command armies of iconic Star Wars units, from Stormtroopers and Rebel soldiers to AT-ATs and X-Wing fighters. Each player builds their army, carefully selecting commanders, special forces, vehicles, and troopers to form a cohesive fighting force. The game immerses players in the clash between the Empire and the Rebel Alliance or other factions like the Clone Wars-era Republic and Separatists, depending on the chosen armies.
The core of Star Wars: Legion revolves around tactical gameplay, with an emphasis on activation choices, objectives, and the control of terrain. Every unit in the game is designed with unique abilities, and the decisions you make with each move will often determine the fate of the battle.
How Does Star Wars Legion Play?
Command Phase: Players secretly choose Command Cards that determine which units will be activated and grant special abilities to those units for the round. This sets the tone for strategic planning.
Activation Phase: Players alternate activating one unit at a time, where they perform actions like move, shoot, or use special abilities. The sequence of activations can be critical to executing strategies.
Combat Phase: After activating a unit, players resolve any attacks with dice rolls, factoring in cover, defense rolls, and unit abilities. The outcome determines if an enemy unit is hit, wounded, or destroyed.
End of Round: Players check and resolve any end-of-round effects (such as scoring objectives), and then prepare for the next round. Command Cards are refreshed, and the process repeats.