The Star Wars universe has deeply penetrated our culture, extending its reach to include Star Wars toys, LEGO sets, and even tabletop gaming. It might surprise some fans to learn that the range of board and roleplaying games inspired by this iconic franchise includes several outstanding options. From simple, quick-play games to expansive, detailed experiences with numerous miniatures, there's a Star Wars game for every type of enthusiast. All these games are readily available and can be enjoyed immediately.
TL;DR: The Best Star Wars Board Games
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Star Wars: The Mandalorian Adventures Board Game
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Star Wars: Bounty Hunters
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Star Wars Shatterpoint - Core Set
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Star Wars: Unlimited
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Star Wars: Jabba’s Palace – A Love Letter Game
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Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game
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Star Wars: The Clone Wars Board Game
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Star Wars Villainous: Power of the Dark Side
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Star Wars: Outer Rim
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Star Wars X-Wing Second Edition
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Star Wars: Imperial Assault
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Star Wars: Rebellion
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Star Wars: Destiny
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Star Wars: Legion
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Short on time? Click the links above to check out each game on the list. Read on for detailed descriptions of each one.
Star Wars: The Mandalorian Adventures Board Game
Star Wars: The Mandalorian Adventures Board Game
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Age Range: 12+
Players: 1-4
Playtime: 30-60 mins
If your love for Star Wars was reignited by The Mandalorian series, you can now craft your own adventures with this excellent tabletop game. Players assume the roles of heroes from the show, including IG-11 and Mando himself, and choose an episode to play from a ring binder of maps. The cooperative gameplay uses an innovative action system where accumulating action cards can trigger enemy responses, requiring strategic planning and teamwork to control the pace and counter threats. With numerous narrative references to the series and envelopes containing surprising variants for added replay value, each session of The Mandalorian: Adventures offers a fresh and engaging experience.
Star Wars: Bounty Hunters
Star Wars: Bounty Hunters
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Age Range: 10+
Players: 2-6
Playtime: 20-30 mins
For those who have ever wanted to play as the villains and embrace the role of a Star Wars bounty hunter, this simple yet frenetic drafting game is perfect. Players draw cards from four decks: hunters, targets, contracts, and the Jawa Market, which includes droids and other useful items. After playing one card, players pass the rest to their neighbor, adding variety to the gameplay. The goal is to assemble enough hunters and droids to overcome a target's shield values, earning points and potentially bonuses from contracts. Fast-paced and filled with beloved characters, it's an excellent opportunity to explore your darker side with some classic scum and villainy.
Star Wars: Shatterpoint
Star Wars Shatterpoint - Core Set
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Age Range: 14+
Players: 2
Playtime: 90-120 mins
Shatterpoint is the latest addition to the Star Wars tabletop gaming scene, brought to you by Atomic Mass Games, the creators of X-Wing, Legion, and Marvel Crisis Protocol. This new release features a focus on smaller squad units from the Clone Wars era, utilizing vibrant, larger 40mm miniatures that offer a striking visual experience. The gameplay is dynamic and swift, featuring unique mechanics that add depth and tactical complexity. While this complexity can occasionally slow down play, Shatterpoint offers a sophisticated and modern gaming experience for those willing to dive in.
Star Wars: Unlimited
Star Wars: Unlimited
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Age Range: 12+
Players: 2+
Play Time: 20 mins
Following the success of Disney Lorcana in 2023, the trading card game format has seen a resurgence. Star Wars: Unlimited, released in March 2024 by Fantasy Flight Games, has generated significant excitement. The gameplay is straightforward, drawing on familiar TCG mechanics like spending resources to play equipment, characters, and vehicles. A unique feature is the alternating action system, reminiscent of miniatures skirmish games, which adds a distinctive rhythm to the gameplay. With new illustrations instead of film stills, Star Wars: Unlimited enhances its unique personality and appeal.
Star Wars: Jabba’s Palace – A Love Letter Game
Star Wars: Jabba’s Palace – A Love Letter Game
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Age Range: 10+
Players: 2-6
Play Time: 20 mins
Based on the popular Love Letter card game from 2012, Star Wars: Jabba’s Palace adds a fresh twist to the core framework. Players choose between two cards each turn, each with different effects and featuring iconic characters from Return of the Jedi. For example, Boba Fett allows you to take a card from another player, while Salacious Crumb lets you peek at their hand. The game introduces a new Agenda mechanism that changes scoring each round, adding variety and tactical depth. Simple, affordable, and suitable for a wide age range, this game is perfect for quick, engaging sessions.
Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game
Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game
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Age Range: 12+
Players: 2
Play Time: 30 mins
For those looking to engage in strategic battles in a galaxy far, far away, Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game is an excellent choice. This standalone game provides all the cards needed to pit the Rebel Alliance against the Empire, making it perfect for newcomers to deckbuilding games while offering enough depth for seasoned fans. If you enjoy this style of play, be sure to explore our comprehensive list of the best deck-building board games.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Star Wars: The Clone Wars Board Game
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Age Range: 14+
Players: 1-5
Play Time: 60 mins
Inspired by the mechanics of Pandemic, Star Wars: The Clone Wars pits the Jedi against Count Dooku and the Sith forces during the Clone Wars era. The game includes four scenarios for ample replay value, making it an engaging choice for fans of cooperative gameplay.
Star Wars Villainous: Power of The Dark Side
Star Wars Villainous: Power of the Dark Side
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Age Range: 10+
Players: 2-4
Play Time: 20 mins per player
Building on the success of Disney Villainous, this version allows players to control some of the most iconic villains from the Star Wars universe, each with unique objectives. For example, Darth Vader aims to turn Luke to the dark side. Players must manage resources and cards carefully, but beware: other players can draw from your fate deck and play heroes or events that can disrupt your plans. With new resources and the ability to explore deep space, this game offers more complexity and strategic depth than its predecessor, making for a richer and more immersive experience.
Star Wars: Outer Rim
Star Wars: Outer Rim
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Age Range: 14+
Players: 1-4
Play Time: 3-4 hrs
While many Star Wars games focus on epic battles or specific conflicts, Star Wars: Outer Rim explores the lives of the galaxy's edge-dwellers. Players take on the roles of smugglers and bounty hunters, making choices that shape their characters. The interconnected mission cards create a cohesive yet unique narrative each game. As players progress, they can upgrade their skills and ships, choosing whether to be heroic rogues or ruthless villains—or a bit of both.
Star Wars X-Wing (2nd Edition)
Star Wars X-Wing Second Edition
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Age Range: 14+
Players: 2
Play Time: 45 mins
X-Wing has inspired many imitators, but it stands out with its Star Wars theme and high-quality, pre-painted figures. The game's second edition streamlined the rules and added new mechanics, including force powers. Players can now enjoy squad-building, hidden movement tactics, and the thrill of space combat with ships from various Star Wars eras, including Rebels, the Empire, and Scum and Villainy factions.
Star Wars: Imperial Assault
Star Wars: Imperial Assault
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Age Range: 14+
Players: 1-5
Play Time: 1-2 hrs
While spaceship combat is thrilling, the heart of Star Wars lies in its unfolding stories and character-driven action. Imperial Assault captures this essence, borrowing mechanics from the dungeon-crawling game Descent. Players set up maps and engage in grid-based combat between Imperial and Rebel forces using plastic models of iconic characters. The game offers two distinct experiences: one is a battle game, and the other is an ongoing campaign where one player controls the Imperial forces and the others play as Rebel heroes. With numerous expansions available, players can craft their own Star Wars saga over multiple sessions.
Star Wars: Rebellion
Star Wars: Rebellion
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Age Range: 14+
Players: 2-4
Play Time: 3-4 hrs
For those who want to commandeer Star Destroyers, AT-ATs, and even Death Stars, Star Wars: Rebellion offers a grand strategy experience. Players can recreate the entire Galactic Civil War on their table, with the Rebel player engaging in a clandestine war of insurgency and politics, while the Imperial player seeks to destroy the hidden Rebel base. Despite the lengthy playtime, the game is engrossing and surprisingly characterful, featuring many beloved heroes and villains.
Star Wars: Destiny
Star Wars: Destiny
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Age Range: 10+
Players: 2
Play Time: 30 mins
Star Wars: Destiny boldly revives the collectible card game format, allowing players to build decks featuring characters from across the Star Wars timeline. The game's unique twist is the integration of custom dice, which players roll to determine actions during their turn. This mechanic adds variety and excitement, mimicking the unpredictability of Star Wars battles. With a balance between reliability and flexibility in dice choices, players can craft diverse and strategic forces.
Star Wars: Legion
Star Wars: Legion
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Age Range: 14+
Players: 2
Play Time: 3 hrs
Star Wars: Legion is the ground-based counterpart to X-Wing, featuring troops and vehicles instead of spaceships. Players must assemble and paint their miniatures, but the game offers a rewarding experience. With a unique activation system and card-based scenario creation, each game is both strategic and varied. The game includes sculpts of favorite characters and vehicles, adding to the immersive experience of building and commanding a Star Wars army.
Star Wars Board Game FAQ
What is a miniatures game, and how do the various Star Wars ones differ?
Miniatures games share similarities with board games but are distinguished by higher-quality figures and the hobby of painting and customizing them. These games are typically played on open tables with scenery, using tools to measure distances rather than fixed boards.
There are four Star Wars miniatures games, each offering unique experiences:
- X-Wing: The most accessible, featuring pre-painted starfighters and simple rules. No modeling or scenery required, and the starter set is enjoyable on its own.
- Armada: Focuses on fleet-level action with pre-painted capital ships. More expensive, requiring more than the starter set for a full experience. Some expansions include starfighters that may need painting.
- Shatterpoint: Uses larger models for skirmishes between famous characters. Complex but rewarding with movie-like narrative action. Requires painting and scenery.
- Legion: Represents larger battles with troops and vehicles. Easier to learn but involves more painting due to the larger forces. Includes scenery in the starter set.
Each game caters to different preferences, from quick and easy setups to more involved, strategic experiences with a focus on customization and painting.
