- BGG rating
- 7.7
Firefly: The Game – Artful Dodger
- 2–5 players
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 2013
- BGG rank
- BGG #532
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Firefly: The Game
2013
Rules assistance for Firefly: The Game
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–4 players
- 120–240 min
- 13+
- Complexity 3.0/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for Firefly: The Game
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Firefly: The Game is a board game released in 2013 for 1–4 players, 120–240 minutes per game, and ages 13 and up. It was designed by John Kovaleski, Sean Sweigart, and Aaron Dill and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Take That, and Trading.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 7.8
Firefly: The Game – Breakin' Atmo
- 1–4 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 2013
- BGG rating
- 8.1
Firefly: The Game – Blue Sun
- 1–4 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 2014
- BGG rating
- 7.8
Firefly: The Game – Pirates & Bounty Hunters
- 2–6 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2014
- BGG rating
- 7.9
Firefly: The Game – Esmeralda
- 1–4 players
- 120–240 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 2015
- BGG rating
- 7.8
Firefly: The Game – Jetwash
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2015
- BGG rating
- 8.2
Firefly: The Game – Kalidasa
- 1–4 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 3.0/5
- 2015
- BGG rating
- 8.1
Firefly: The Game – Crime & Punishment
- 1–4 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 3.0/5
- 2017
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About the game
Players begin with a ship, and travel from planet to planet, hiring crew, purchasing ship upgrades, and picking up cargo to deliver (jobs) all in the form of cards. Some crew and cargo are illegal, and can be confiscated if your ship is boarded by an alliance vessel. Travelling from planet to planet requires turning over "full burn" cards, one for each space moved. Most do nothing, but you can also encounter an Alliance ship, have a breakdown, or even run into Reavers. Completing jobs gets you cash. First player to complete the story goals wins. Game description from the publisher: In Firefly: The Game – based on the popular Firefly television series created by Joss Whedon – players captain their own Firefly-class transport ship, traveling the 'Verse with a handpicked crew of fighters, mechanics and other travelers. As a captain desperate for work, players are compelled to take on any job — so long as it pays. Double-dealing employers, heavy-handed Alliance patrols, and marauding Reavers are all in a day's work for a ship's captain at the edge of the 'Verse. Firefly: The Game is a high-end thematic tabletop boardgame from Gale Force Nine (GF9) and the first in a series of tabletop hobby board games and miniatures games from GF9 set in the Firefly Universe.
Mechanics
Publishers
- Devir
- Heidelberger Spieleverlag
- Gale Force Nine, LLC
- Battlefront Miniatures Ltd
Questions and answers
Firefly: The Game supports 1–4 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 Firefly: The Game 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 Firefly: The Game for ages 13 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.
Firefly: The Game has a complexity rating of 3.0 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.
Firefly: The Game belongs to these categories: Movies / TV / Radio theme, Travel, and Exploration. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Take That, and Trading. 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 Firefly: The Game are: John Kovaleski, Sean Sweigart, and Aaron Dill. 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 Firefly: The Game 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.