
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Burning Suns: Parallel Galaxies
- 2–5 players
- 80–200 min
- 2013

2013
Rules assistance for Burning Suns
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Burning Suns is a board game released in 2013 for 2–5 players, 80–200 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Emil Larsen and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Area Movement, and Dice Rolling.
Burning Suns is an intense tactical science fiction game set in an expansive universe in which you'll be competing for supremacy through technology, diplomacy, exploitation and destruction. Tactical 4X thematic action > Burning Suns is not a traditional 4X game. It takes the 4X actions and gives you complete tactical control. This means you'll have to adapt and improvise on the way to victory. A strategy can only take you so far; in the meantime you'll have to rely on your ability to analyze the situation and calculate the best possible moves ahead of you. Being able to force, trick and outmaneuver your opponents is key to success. Seize opportunities as they arise and don't wait for the perfect moment—because it doesn't exist! It's about being proactive and reactive according to your chances and the risk you're willing to take! Create an Empire > You'll be able to create no less than 1000 possible empires, using the three elements of Ideology, Race, and Framework, each with unique strengths and weaknesses. Galaxies in motion > Galaxies can be created just as you see them fit—and they might evolve during a game. Immediate actions > The order in which actions are executed changes every turn. All actions in Burning Suns are carried out immediately and players are therefore involved throughout the game, bringing downtime to a minimum. Your empire, your strategy > In Burning Suns there are many ways to victory depending upon your empire, how you use abilities, leaders and agents, whether you choose to ally or conquer worlds, and how you choose to engage your opponents with the many various units. Expanded by: Burning Suns: Parallel Galaxies Burning Suns Accessory: Invading Races Burning Suns: Flying Unit Stands Burning Suns Accessory: Combat Dice
Burning Suns supports 2–5 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 Burning Suns is 80–200 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 Burning Suns for ages 14 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.
Burning Suns has a complexity rating of 3.4 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight 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.
Burning Suns belongs to these categories: Fighting, Territory Building, and Print & Play. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Area Movement, and Dice Rolling. 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 Burning Suns are: Emil Larsen. 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 Burning Suns 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.