
- BGG rank
- BGG #24,815
- BGG rating
- 5.8
The Last Starfighter Combat Game
- 2–10 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 1.5/5
- 1984

1984
Rules assistance for Battlestar Galactica
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Battlestar Galactica is a board game released in 1984 for 2–12 players, 120 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Jordan Weisman and L. Ross Babcock, III and its main mechanics are Simultaneous Action Selection, Grid Movement, and Paper-and-Pencil.
"Players can fly either Colonial Vipers or Cylon Raiders, using a simple system for simultaneous action. They plan their moves, and plot them on an easy-to-use plotting sheet, hoping to outmaneuver their opponents. Then they execute their moves, get the enemy in their sights and FIRE!" A game of outer space ship-to-ship battles between the Colonial Vipers, Cylon Raiders, Battlestars, and Cylon base ships. Inspired by the TV series.
Battlestar Galactica supports 2–12 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 Battlestar Galactica is 120 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 Battlestar Galactica for ages 12 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.
Battlestar Galactica has a complexity rating of 2.8 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-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.
Battlestar Galactica belongs to these categories: Wargame, Movies / TV / Radio theme, and Science Fiction. Its main mechanics are Simultaneous Action Selection, Grid Movement, and Paper-and-Pencil. 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 credited designers of Battlestar Galactica are: Jordan Weisman and L. Ross Babcock, III. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Battlestar Galactica 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.