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Astron
1954
Rules assistance for Astron
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–6 players
- 30 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.0/5
Rules assistant for Astron
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Astron is a board game released in 1954 for 2–6 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. Its main mechanics are Point to Point Movement and Open Drafting.
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About the game
The original Astron was published in Britain by Waddingtons, using the same rocket ships supplied in their Wide World Travel Game. The game depicts a space race from Earth to Saturn (hence the dinky Dan Dare style metal spaceships). Later Astron was published as an around-the-world travel game. Even later this around-the-world travel game was given the more apt name Sky Lanes otherwise using the same components. The special feature common to all versions is a game board that scrolls from one end to the other. Players are dealt cards to help them both in moving their rocket or plane and in scrolling the game board. In the travel version each time a player's plane sits on an airport space at the end of any player's turn, they get an Airport card. Similarly, if a player's plane ends any turn on a hazard, they draw a Hazard card. The object of the game is to have the most points in hand when the board reaches the "GAME OVER" position. Airport cards add to your point total; Hazards subtract from it. While the rolling board, card drafting mechanism and even game play are the same, the British (Waddingtons) and American (Parker) games look very different. There are pictures of both versions in the gallery. The game was released at a time in the period when commercial air travel was really taking off.
Categories
Mechanics
Publishers
- Parker Brothers
- Waddingtons
Questions and answers
Astron supports 2–6 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Astron is 30 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Astron for ages 8 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Astron has a complexity rating of 1.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Astron belongs to these categories: Travel and Aviation / Flight. Its main mechanics are Point to Point Movement and Open Drafting. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The catalogue lists Astron as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.