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Roll for the Galaxy
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Rules assistance for Race for the Galaxy: Xeno Counterstrike
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 30–60 min
- 13+
Rules assistant for Race for the Galaxy: Xeno Counterstrike
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Race for the Galaxy: Xeno Counterstrike is an expansion for Race for the Galaxy released in 2026 for 2–5 players, 30–60 minutes per game, and ages 13 and up. It was designed by Thomas Lehmann and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Simultaneous Action Selection.
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About the game
Xeno Counterstrike is the sequel to Xeno Invasion, together forming the 3rd arc of RFTG expansions. It expands Race for the Galaxy into the starry rift frontier and border zone that lies between the galactic empires and the Xeno hive worlds, with more than 40 frontier worlds (in separate decks) and a different risk/reward method of settling them. The resulting greater empire sizes extends the game end conditions to 15+ tableau cards and 15 VPs/player in the common pool. This makes Xeno Counterstrike the version for those players who have wanted RFTG to be just a bit longer (typically, 1-2 rounds more), as the lead now frequently changes near the end as those final large frontier worlds are settled, the larger economic engines hit their stride, and the last 6-devs hit the table. Xeno Counterstrike can be played by itself with just the base game, though its fifth player and optional counterstrike game require Xeno Invasion. The counterstrike game begins as a Xeno invasion which, once the Xenos are repulsed, turns the tables as the galactic empires then strike back at the Xeno home systems across the starry rift frontier and border zone. In this version, tableau size no longer ends the game: the counterstrike game continues until either an economic victory (VP chips in the pool of 30 VPs/player run out) or a military victory over the Xenos occurs. This is the epic conquest version of Race for the Galaxy; final tableau sizes of 25 cards are not uncommon. —description from the designer
Editions
- Race for the Galaxy: Xeno CounterstrikeenRio Grande Games2026
Designers
Publishers
- Rio Grande Games
Questions and answers
Race for the Galaxy: Xeno Counterstrike 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 Race for the Galaxy: Xeno Counterstrike is 30–60 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 Race for the Galaxy: Xeno Counterstrike 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.
Race for the Galaxy: Xeno Counterstrike belongs to these categories: Card Game, Economic, and Science Fiction. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Simultaneous Action Selection. 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 Race for the Galaxy: Xeno Counterstrike are: Thomas Lehmann. 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 Race for the Galaxy: Xeno Counterstrike as an expansion for Race 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 Race for the Galaxy to use it. Check that your edition of Race for the Galaxy is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.