Battlestar Galactica the Board Game [Board Game Review]

I was struggling to find a topic for this review, which is why it is late. However last night actually gave me inspiration. Battlestar Galactica the Board Game is a personal favorite, and whenever we have five or six players it is always a consideration.

An example of how the base game looks when all set up.

There is more to this game than just being a pretty game with lots and lots of cards. It is more than just some simple game that sells thanks to its hot intellectual property.

5 out of 5 stars

This is game is good in its own right. Of course the world of Battlestar Galactica really helps. It is a world filled with betrayal and backstabbing and intrigue. It is a world where people are not what they first seem to be. It is perfect for a cooperative/competitive board game.

A character card for the players. Is Bill a Cylon?

The game is not a recent game. So you may well have played it, in fact I hope you have. I'm just goping to quickly cover some of the ideas of the game and why it is fun.

The game is filled with suspicion. You never know if there is a Cylon lurking among the players. From the very first turn of the game there is a chance that there are one or even two Cylons already in position in the fleet. You have to judge each action taken by players, are they actively sabotaging the Galactica's mission? Are they merely incompetent? Do they have some hidden personal goal (later expansions)? Is it a case of simple bad luck? 

Behind you Starbuck!

The game really shines at larger players levels, when you can have five or six players actively in the game. It will spread the Admiral, President (and in later expansions C.A.G.) cards about, placing power in many hands. That power is valuable for both the humans and the Cylons. A Cylon who has the power of the admiral can easily sabotage the survivability of the Galactica.

The base game is good. The expansions make it better, they add more depth to the game. More characters, more options, more ways to end. There are many options, allowing you to tailor the game to your groups proclivities.

It is also reasonably fast, not super fast, but fast enough. A full game (after set up) should take about 3 hours, so 30 minutes a player. Set up benefits from having multiple people helping, since there are lots of cards to shuffle and minis to place out.

It is an excellent game for a good natured group of people. You have to be able to poke at people, giving and taking the random joking accusations of 'You're a Cylon because you rolled badly!'

This game has a special place, it is always considered when we have a full group and often pulled out because it is so good. And it has a lot of competition in my boardgames closet. Don't just take my word for it (or do and go get yourself a copy). Try it out yourself at a local games store or read about the game in more detail online at Fantasy Flight Games website here. 

Below are the box covers of the three expansions. Here are the links for Exodus and Daybreak expansions.