- BGG rating
- 7.6
Empires of the Void: Key to the Universe
- 2–4 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 2012
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,482
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Empires of the Void
2012
Rules assistance for Empires of the Void
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 120 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.9/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Empires of the Void
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Empires of the Void is a board game released in 2012 for 2–4 players, 120 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Ryan Laukat and its main mechanics are Set Collection, Trading, and Dice Rolling.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Empires of the Void: Pirates of Cidran
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2012
- BGG rating
- 7.8
Empires of the Void: Sirens of Belshar
- 2–4 players
- 2012
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About the game
The galaxy is at war. The Pyrious Empire is struggling to mantain power, and a few young alien races see this as a golden opportunity to expand their horizons. But who will join them in the imminent struggle to become the next galactic superpower? In Empires of the Void, two to four players compete to expand their empire in a vast, diverse galaxy. Each time a player reaches a new planet, he must decide whether to conquer it and strip the land of its resources, or befriend the natives and obtain their special ability. With 7 starting alien races to choose from, and 15 more to conquer or befriend on a variable board, no two games will be the same. The game uses an action point system and exciting dice-rolling combat with plenty of tactical decision making. There are 19 technologies to research that break the rules and change gameplay. Players must use negotiation and trade, even when it is not their turn, which ensures that there is very little downtime. A random event deck helps build the story of the game, as each round something new happens, usually galaxy-wide. A game lasts around 2 to 3 hours and has intuitive rules which are easy to teach.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Red Raven Games
Questions and answers
Empires of the Void supports 2–4 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 Empires of the Void 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 Empires of the Void 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.
Empires of the Void has a complexity rating of 2.9 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.
Empires of the Void belongs to these categories: Science Fiction and Space Exploration. Its main mechanics are Set Collection, Trading, 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 Empires of the Void are: Ryan Laukat. 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 Empires of the Void 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.