- BGG rating
- 7.4
Hard Vacuum: Science Gone Mad
- 2–12 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 2001
- BGG rank
- BGG #11,869
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Hard Vacuum
2000
Rules assistance for Hard Vacuum
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–8 players
- 45 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.4/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Hard Vacuum
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Hard Vacuum is a board game released in 2000 for 2–8 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Neal Sofge and Darrell Hayhurst and its main mechanics are Simultaneous Action Selection, Hexagon Grid, and Simulation.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Hard Vacuum: War's End
- 2–10 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 3.0/5
- 2004
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About the game
Hard Vacuum is a sci-fi space combat game based in a fictional World War II. The players take on the roles of pilots from either the U.S. Space Corps or the German Raummacht in about a dozen well balanced scenarios spanning from around 1942 to 1945. The game requires you to supply the playing surface (the rules are designed for either a hex field or a completely free form field) and the dice (which ideally should read 0-5 instead of 1-6). The counters are supplied on a laminated piece of paper roughly the same quality as the cover of the book, you must cut them out. Each turn begins with each player secretly marking down how much thrust they are applying to which thrusters on their ships. These are simultaneously revealed, and thrust markers are added/removed as needed. Because space is a vacuum, thrust applied in one direction will mean you go in that direction until you compensate for it! The next part of the turn is the combat phase. Players must roll the dice to determine if they can still see their opponent. If they can see their enemy can they shoot. All the players fire their weapons simultaneously, and then they apply the results of hits and criticals at the same time. The turn is now complete. There are significant technological differences between the American and German spacecraft. The German craft are generally more powerful, but have a limited supply of fuel and weapons, while the American craft are weaker, but their fuel and weapons supply automatically recharges each turn. Hard Vacuum is aimed at any fan of classic sci-fi, dogfight, or space combat games. It has a lighter, almost comic book quality in its setting and the game does not get bogged down by complex rules or mechanics. Once the game mechanics are mastered (which does not take long), a complete game can be played in under an hour. Expanded by: Hard Vacuum: Science Gone Mad Hard Vacuum: War's End
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Fat Messiah Games
- Sierra Madre Games
Questions and answers
Hard Vacuum supports 2–8 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 Hard Vacuum is 45 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 Hard Vacuum 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.
Hard Vacuum has a complexity rating of 2.4 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.
Hard Vacuum belongs to these categories: Wargame, Science Fiction, and World War II. Its main mechanics are Simultaneous Action Selection, Hexagon Grid, and Simulation. 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 Hard Vacuum are: Neal Sofge and Darrell Hayhurst. 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 Hard Vacuum 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.