Best Star Wars Board Games of 2021 – Review & Comparison

If you are a star wars fan looking for some of the best star wars board games on the market – you have come to the right place.

The star wars fever seems to be affecting everything, and board games are no exception. It is excellent news for anyone who loves playing board games and enjoys the Star Wars galaxy as some of the most notable board games got released over the last couple of years. In fact, there are over two hundred board games that wear a Star Wars theme alone! And if you factor in board game expansions, you can safely triple that number. That is a lot of Star Wars board games!

In our review, you are sure to find a board game for every age, player count and experience level. We have done an exhaustive job to make sure that there is a Star Wars board game for everyone. At the same time, due to the thematical aspect of the genre where the Rebel Alliance opposes the dominance of the Galactic Empire, most Star Wars board games are designed for two players competitive gameplay.

There is no shortage of star wars themed board games, yet the best star wars board games out there are relatively recent. Mostly, due to designers borrowing game mechanics from other board games that have proved to be successful. Good or bad? Probably debatable.

In reality, however, it ensures a refined, proven and market tested boardgame that employs the best board game mechanics.

The below table provides a quick summary of our top picks. It contains some of the key details of the game to see if the game is right for you. Once you found the star wars game you like, click on its link and read the review in more details. For each board game reviewed, you will see pros and cons as well as a summary if you are on the run. Enjoy!

Top 10 Star Wars Game Picks – Quick Summary

Best Star Wars Board Games of 2021 – Detailed Review

1. Best Overall – Star Wars: Rebellion

Playing for the Imperials feels grandiose as the army at your disposal is enormous to the point where it feels unbeatable. You get to control TIE fighters, Star Destroyers, legions of Stormtroopers, Death Star and Darth Vader himself. To win the game, just like in the movies, you need to discover the Rebel base hideout and destroy it.

As a Rebel player, you genuinely feel outgunned, outmanned and outnumbered compared to the fearsome might of the Imperials. You get to control X-wings, T-47 Airspeeders, troopers, Corellian Corvettes, and Luke Skywalker. To win the game, you need to build a strong alliance with other planets in the galaxy and get their support. The strong reputation and alliance with other galaxy citizens is the key to eventually executing a full-scale revolt and winning the game.

To fully appreciate the board game, the time commitment is required. Thankfully, the game never feels slow as each player can almost play the game at his own pace. As the time runs out, the Rebel player gets closer to victory. On the other side, the tension gradually builds up as the Imperial player learns more about the Rebel base. If the hideout’s whereabouts are discovered, the climactic final confrontation is guaranteed.

Star Wars: Rebellion is a profoundly thematic, strategic and tactical galaxy scale experience. As you play the game, you get to enjoy it more and more since knowing the cards and the edge cases are hugely beneficial. Additionally, to have the best Star Wars board game experience, it is recommended to play with equally enthusiastic board gamers as the game often requires patience and commitment. In return, however, it rewards you with full-scale experience only the best Star Wars board games can offer.

2. Best Light Star Wars Board Game – Risk: Star Wars Edition

The red sideboard of the map features a lightsaber battle between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. This part of the game is more thematic but not as important. Winning the encounter awards extra command cards which may prove useful on the battlefield.

Finally, the center stage of Risk: Star Wars Edition features the main action area where the Rebel fleet is trying to destroy the Death Star, and the Imperials are doing everything they can to protect it. This is the busiest area of the game where ultimately the victory gets determined. Depending on the side you took, you either need to take the Death Star down or keep it alive and have the Rebel fleet destroyed.

It is worth noting that although Risk: Star Wars Edition carries the word ‘Risk’ in its name, it is very different to other Risk games you may have played. It is similar, however, in being positioned as a mainstream boardgame that is extremely accessible, easy to learn and quick to play. Conversely, the gameplay, map, three play areas, and the card driven approach set this game apart from any other Risk game we have played before.

3. Best Infantry Battles – Star Wars: Legion

Like most war games, Star Wars: Legion features a board-free, ruler-based layout that allows you to get creative and design battlegrounds with any items you have at your disposal. So in other words, instead of a board game map divided into sections or regions, you get a clean slate terrain where your units determine the proximity to each other and engage in combat using the ruler.

The game simulates the command and control mechanism and adapts an initiative and activation system. Players start each of six rounds by issuing orders to their squads on the ground. Each order card contains values that determine which player gets to take the turn first and how many units can be engaged.

Going first can bring a significant tactical advantage, so you want to try and beat your opponent as there are pivotal moments in the game that can change the tide of the battle. Command cards have a beautiful design and most importantly deliver a nice thematic punch that is rich in details and extremely fun.

For a core starter set, the game represents a good value and allows you to have a good taste before getting into Star Wars wargaming seriously. At the same time, to get a full-scale experience and have the game come to life, you need to invest in additional upgrade packs and perhaps some terrain and scenery objects. The great thing about it is that you can build your perfect Rebel Alliance and Galactic Empire armies just as you want it.

4. Best Epic Scale Star Wars Board Game – Star Wars: Armada

In the game, each player gets to take on a role of an admiral commanding the Rebel Alliance fleet or the mighty Imperial Navy. You get to control every unit separately, starting with small starfighters and ending with gigantic capital ships. Controlling capital ships and starfighters requires a very different approach due to their difference in size and the role they are summoned to achieve on the battlefield.

Capital ships are enormous in size and weight, therefore their maneuvering capabilities are limited by inertia. As a result, reacting to the dynamically evolving conditions of the battlefield is not always an option. It makes planning an ultimate key to winning battles, keeping your fleet alive, and ultimately winning the game.

The game comes with an innovative maneuver tool to help you guide your flagships and squadrons of starfighters. It determines the course and the turning rate your ships can take when in motion.

The rules are relatively straightforward. Once you have your head around key concepts, the game flows nicely and makes total sense. Player turns consist of multiple phases following some of the best skirmish wargame concepts.

Firstly, players get to issue secret orders for the next round. The second step is a lot more engaging as players reveal and carry out orders that got previously issued. Some of which may involve firing weapons and advancing ships on their flying trajectory. Thirdly, players get to engage fighter squads and other smaller spaceships to move or attack. Lastly, players need to attend to some housekeeping needs before starting the next round.

Since the board game release in 2015, over twenty different expansions followed. Most of them represent ships or squadrons that you can add to your map to make battles more epic. At the same time, with so many amazingly detailed spaceships available, the game can get really expensive really quickly. To help you out with picking the best Star Wars Armada expansions, refer to the section at the bottom of this page for details.

The fact that Star Wars Armada is also a collectible board game makes the process of buying expansions slightly less confronting. After all, additional spaceships can add some spice to your board game experience. Alternatively, they can sit gracefully on your glass shelf. Besides, the level of miniature details is stunning. Quite easily one of the best we have seen in board games.

5. Best Dogfight in Space – Star Wars: X-Wing

Before starting the turn, players secretly choose the movement for each one of their units. When everyone is ready, players reveal cards simultaneously and re-position their spaceships according to the player movement choices. If any two spaceships end up within the firing range of each other, they can initiate a fight and engage the lasers.

The combat in Star Wars: X-Wing is resolved using a dice. When you score a hit, the opponent’s spacecraft receives a damage card. Dealing sufficient damage ultimately destroys the space fighter. The last player with spaceships left on the board wins the game.

Whether you are in combat or not, the game always feels quick with almost no downtime. It keeps you engaged and addicted throughout the game that only takes around an hour to play. At the end of it, you will feel relieved, but after catching a breather, you would want to start over again.

Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game may come in a small box with only three starfighters, but it sets the foundation for something much bigger. It allows you to build on top of the starter set and create the Rebel and Imperial fleet as you see it. Adding your favorite spaceships and heroes from the Star Wars universe lets you create a completely custom Star Wars experience that is truly unique and exceptionally beautiful.

6. Best Star Wars Tabletop RPG – Star Wars: Imperial Assault

Each campaign consists of multiple scenarios which are linked thematically to deliver great storytelling and a sense of achievement. Failing or winning scenarios impact the storyline and consequently determine the next mission in the campaign. Some scenarios feel a little bit out of balance, where one of the sides feels doomed. However, I never found it distractive enough to lose engagement and not enjoy the game.

While the brave bunch of Rebels is trying to complete quests to gain loot and accomplish missions to progress in the campaign, the Imperial player’s objective is to stop them at all cost. The dungeon master ultimately has limitless troops and resources at his disposal, so playing a smart rather than a tough game is the key for Rebels to win. Besides, the dungeon master has access to secret conditions that would trigger certain events for the Rebels which he can use to help him carry out his evil plot.

As the Imperial dungeon master and Rebel heroes progress throughout the campaign, they get to acquire new skills and gain experience. Character progression is one of the main aspects of Star Wars: Imperial Assault. It allows characters to evolve together with the storyline and adds an excellent level of customization to the gameplay.

Alternatively, you can always try the skirmish mode. It is not as epic or storytelling as the campaign mode but delivers a quicker and simpler casual fun. The skirmish game takes around one hour and involves each player building a strike squad with some of his favorite heroes such as Luke, Han, and Chewie to face the opponent’s team. This mode is slightly less about objectives and a lot more about killing. So, if you are after a quick casual Star Wars clash, skirmish mode could be a great option.

Like the best dungeon crawlers out there, Star Wars: Imperial Assault is all about the experience, and it does a remarkable job at it. The miniature sculpts details are phenomenal, the map tiles feature beautiful artwork, and even the rulebooks (there are four of them) are dripping with theme.

Lastly, character progression and the campaign mode add a whole new level of engagement to the game. It makes you invested in your character, immerses you in the storyline and teaches you how to be a great team player. In other words, the game has everything you ever wanted from an epic dungeon crawler in space and much more.

7. Best One on One Hero Experience – Star Wars: Destiny

Star Wars: Destiny is an extremely accessible game that can be equally enjoyed by casual and more experienced board gamers. The rules are simple and easy to learn, making the game ideal to introduce new players to the world of card and board games. It would only take five to ten minutes to walk through the main concepts of the game and hit the ground running.

The game consists of rounds, which are split into Action and Upkeep phases. During the Action phase, players can play cards from their hand, activate support, resolve the roll or terminate the round early to get additional bonuses.

The Upkeep phase, however, un-exhausts the cards played before and prepares additional resources and cards for the next round.

Overall, the whole game feels like a real-time battle delivering a tense and interactive experience. What we like the best, however, is a great feeling of competition and the drive to be one step ahead of your opponent. If you swing your staff, the opponent can block it and throw you on the ground. If you fire your laser gun, your opponent can deflect the shot and respond with a backfire, to name a few.

8. Best Star Wars LCG – Star Wars: The Card Game

Setting up Star Wars: The Card Game is exceptionally straightforward. Once players have picked their sides, the card deck are selected from the pre-made decks, unless you want to build your own custom deck. Each player needs to pick/draft three objective cards, reveal them, and you are now set for your first space-wide card game encounter!

There are three types of cards available – Unit, Enhancement, and Event cards. Unit cards represent anything from characters and creatures to droids and starships. Those cards are typically used to strike the opponent and deal damage.

Enhancement cards are usually used to make your units more effective either. They often add extra damage or constraining your opponent with special effects.

Lastly, Event cards are the secret sauce of the game. They represent special powers and tactical maneuvers that will form part of your offensive strategic approach.

Although the game is not that hard to get your head around, it is recommended to watch a helpful rules overview video from Fantasy Flight Games before referring to the rulebook. The video should answer the most common questions and shorten your learning curve.

Despite the game’s reasonable simplicity, it delivers a sufficient strategic experience every time you play it. In fact, your selected faction and your deck mostly determine your strategic approach. There is enough flexibility in the base game to experiment with card combinations. However, if you feel that you are running out of steam, there are plenty of expansions (aka force packs) available to diversify and customize your combat tactics and strategy.

All in all, if you like building decks of cards and the Star Wars theme – Star Wars: The Card Game is one of the best card games you will find.

9. Best Star Wars Roleplaying Game – Star Wars: Age of Rebellion RPG – Beginner Game

Apart from heroes, there is also a game master or GM. The role of the GM is paramount as it can make or break the role-playing experience. Not only should the person be good at storytelling, but also at judging and helping the team to make fair decisions. Additionally, the GM can also take part in the game if there are characters not controlled by other players.

The game is designed to introduce key concepts and mechanics incrementally as the narrative advances. It prevents players from getting overwhelmed and makes the learning experience more streamlined and enjoyable.

The character sets are also pre-generated, which allows you to get into roleplaying straight away. Players can choose between an engineer, a human ace pilot, a soldier, or a spy. Each character is unique in their background, capabilities and playing styles. In addition to the characters that come with the game, you can also download folios of Jin-Rio and Arkhan. from the publisher’s website.

They also feature quick reference guides, character stats and ways to develop your character going forward. They are beautifully designed and are practical at the same time.

The game comes with fourteen custom dice and nine Destiny tokens, which form the unique engine of the game.

Custom dice are beautifully designed and well made. They feature thematic symbols that contribute to the rich narrative of the game.

Star Wars Board Games Review – Conclusion

If you have expected only a handful of Star Wars board games in our review, you may be a little overwhelmed. Picking the best Star Wars board games out there is not an easy task. But like with anything, there is a really good reason for it.

Firstly, there are over 200 board games out there with a Star Wars theme. Picking the top 10 board games from such a big pool is already a challenge. Secondly, like most of our reviews, we are trying to pick board games that could appeal to different audiences. We consider gaming style preferences, age, complexity, cooperation or competition and the time available on hands.

Games we have recommended in our list are all different, and most of them are not comparable with each other. To help you choose the best Star Wars board game for you, here is a quick summary of everything we have mentioned above.

If you like to experience one-on-one battles on a smaller, more personal scale then Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game is a fantastic board game featuring epic dogfights between Rebel and Imperial starfighters.

If, however, you want to scale the same one on one miniature experience to the point where you have armies at your command, then Star Wars: Armada is simply epic. It allows you to build and control Star Wars armies as you like them.

For anyone who is after a streamlined and family oriented experience – Risk: Star Wars Edition is a great choice. The game is easy to learn, quick to play and works well with kids eight years of age or older. It is perfect for non-gamers, family, and friends.

If however, you are after a full-scale Star Wars board game in its true sense, then Star Wars: Rebellion is probably as good as it gets. It features a large board game map, 150 miniatures, and intergalactic travel. When I get asked for the best Star Wars board game, Star Wars: Rebellion is the first board game that comes to mind. It is my personal favorite that delivers one of the most epic board game experiences I’ve had.

Alternatively, perhaps a competitive style of board gaming is not your cup of tea, and you would much rather enjoy playing with other players as a team? If that is you, then – Star Wars: Imperial Assault is the best cooperative Star Wars board game I can think of. It features a campaign mode and character progression that keeps the thematic storytelling active throughout the game.

In case you prefer playing card games instead of board games Star Wars: The Card Game or Star Wars: Destiny are worth checking out. Although the games vary slightly in their mechanic, the most significant difference is that the first one is an LCG and latter one is a CCG (see references in FAQ).

In short, if you don’t want to be chasing new cards in flat packages only to discover that you already have it, then go for Star Wars: The Card Game. Alternatively, if you are fine potentially spending money on cards you already have – Star Wars: Destiny is a very solid option.

Lastly, for the ones that love war board games in its true sense and prefers to experience epic Star Wars encounter son the ground – Star Wars: Legion is a great choice. In fact, not only it is the best Star Wars war game around, it is one of the top wargames in general.

Oh, and for the ones that want to get into the Star Wars role-playing hobby, Star Wars: Age of Rebellion
RPG – Beginner Game is a fantastic place to start. It features a ‘play as you go’ mechanism that blends in storytelling and never feels overwhelming.

Star Wars: Armada – Best Expansions To Buy

Since the release of Star Wars: Armada over 20 different expansions got made. Given that the base game only comes with a couple of battleships, you need more than that to recreate full-blown epic scale space battles.

Armada expansions average somewhere between $20 to $30, so buying all can quickly send you north of $500. The fact is that some expansions provide a better value than others. Besides, since the game is highly customizable, it works with any number of expansions. But keep the fleet balance in mind to ensure each player gets to enjoy the game equally.

Fantasy Flight has released Armada expansions in waves, each having anywhere from two to seven expansions. To help you navigate the maze and find the best value ones, we have compiled a quick reference guide.

Wave 1 Expansion Packs

The Assault Frigate Mark II (for Rebel fleet) and Gladiator-class Star Destroyer (for the Imperial army) are the two most essential expansion packs of wave 1. If you do buy one of them, get the other one too. It helps to have both to keep the game balance in check. Having Assault Frigate Mark II in play allows the rebels to face Imperial Star Destroyers head-on. This one expansion alone adds a lot to the gaming experience.

On a different note, the Gladiator-class Star Destroyer allows the Imperial army to carry navigation crew that helps with battleship movements.

Additionally, CR90 is an excellent choice for Alliance as it is quite agile and fast. Imperial Fighter Squadrons, on the other hand, helps to deal with extremely swift Rebel fighter squadrons.

The complete list of wave 1 expansion packs is:

• CR90
• Assault Frigate Mark II
• Gladiator-class Star Destroyer
• Imperial Fighter Squadrons
• Nebulon-B Frigate
• Victory-class Star Destroyer
• Rebel Fighter Squadrons

Wave 2 Expansion Packs

If we had to pick one expansion from the lot as the most valuable, Rogues and Villains is likely to be the one. It represents the smallest cost per spaceship, so it should be the easiest expansion pack to say ‘yes’ to.

You get eight miniatures (4 for each side) of the best-known fighters, bombers, and fighters in the Star Wars galaxy. Although spaceships are small, you will find the famous Millenium Falcon, Slave 1, JumpMaster and other known space vessels included in the set.

If you are looking to add some epic scale to your fleet, Home One and Imperial-class Star Destroyer are great expansions to consider.

The complete list of wave 2 expansion packs is:

• Home One
• Rogues and Villains
• Imperial-class Star Destroyer
• Imperial Raider
• MC30c Frigate

Wave 3 Expansion Packs

There were only two packs released in wave 3, which feels a little empty. Both packs feature support type vessels, such as a carrier and a transport ship.

In short, you could easily experience the full scale of space battles without having any one of those two packs. At the same time, if your wallet stretches enough and you are a collector, you may want to look into those two sets for completeness.

The complete list of wave 3 expansion packs is:

• Imperial Assault Carriers
• Rebel Transports

Wave 4 Expansion Packs

Wave 4, similarly to wave 3, feels a bit lackluster as it only features two additional spaceships. Conversely, they are amongst the biggest ones and deliver more ‘epic’ value than spaceships from the previous wave.

If we had to pick one, it would be the Interdictor, as it allows you to slow down the Rebel fleet. Which, when timed well, can provide a tremendous tactical advantage.

The complete list of wave 4 expansion packs is:

• Liberty
• Interdictor

Wave 5 Expansion Packs

Wave 5 delivers four expansion packs that are quite balanced for both the Rebels and the Imperials. The two squadron packs Imperial Fighter Squadrons II, and Rebel Fighter Squadrons II provide the most value as they include four miniatures each. Those packs look far from epic but add a necessary distraction to harass bigger flagships as well as disrupt enemy fleet formations.

Also, those two small sets add a load of fun into the game. They can fly close to the larger enemy ships teasing them and almost certainly getting away when needed.

If you are looking for grandeur rather than value, then Imperial Light Cruiser and Phoenix Home is the way to go.

The complete list of wave 5 expansion packs is:

• Imperial Fighter Squadrons II
• Rebel Fighter Squadrons II
• Imperial Light Cruiser
• Phoenix Home

Wave 6 Expansion Packs

The last wave brings only two new expansion packs. They do not necessarily speak value, but rather bring a new, exciting twist to the gameplay.

The Imperial Light Carrier can take on a role of a mobile command HQ. In conjunction with other cards, it can also disrupt the defenses of enemy ships in proximity.

Alternatively, Hammerhead Corvettes expansion pack comes with two spaceships classified as carriers. At the same time, they are tough enough to take part in a full-scale space encounter. Besides, the two ships can work together by bringing the new formation tactics to the battlefield.

The complete list of wave 6 expansion packs is:

• Imperial Light Carrier
• Hammerhead Corvettes

Frequently Asked Questions