
- BGG rank
- BGG #23
- BGG rating
- 8.4
Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy
- 2–6 players
- 60–200 min
- Complexity 3.7/5
- 2020

Rules assistance for Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy – Gamemat
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy – Gamemat is an expansion for Eclipse: New Dawn for the Galaxy released in 2020 for 2–9 players, 120–240 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Touko Tahkokallio and its main mechanics are Hexagon Grid.
Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy – Gamemat is a double-sided 3' x 3' neoprene playmat for Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy for the Galaxy or the original Eclipse: New Dawn for the Galaxy boardgame. One side has a regular playing area for 2–9 players, and the other side has a specially designed playing area for a more balanced 5-player game. Also includes a handy carrying bag for the mat.
Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy – Gamemat supports 2–9 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 Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy – Gamemat is 120–240 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 Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy – Gamemat 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.
Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy – Gamemat 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.
Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy – Gamemat belongs to these categories: Expansion for Base-game and Space Exploration. Its main mechanics are Hexagon Grid. 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 Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy – Gamemat are: Touko Tahkokallio. 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 Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy – Gamemat as an expansion for Eclipse: New Dawn for the Galaxy. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Eclipse: New Dawn for the Galaxy to use it. Check that your edition of Eclipse: New Dawn for the Galaxy is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.