- BGG rating
- 7.1
Armies of the Imperium
- 2 players
- 1 min
- Complexity 3.3/5
- 1991
- BGG rank
- BGG #6,059
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Space Marine
1989
Rules assistance for Space Marine
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–3 players
- 120 min
- 12+
- Complexity 3.2/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Space Marine
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Space Marine is a board game released in 1989 for 2–3 players, 120 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Jervis Johnson and Graeme Davis and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Dice Rolling, and Simultaneous Action Selection.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Ork and Squat Warlords
- 2 players
- Complexity 3.2/5
- 1992
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Renegades: Eldar and Chaos Armies for Space Marine
- 2–3 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 3.3/5
- 1992
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Space Marine Battles
- Complexity 4.0/5
- 1993
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Hive War
- 2 players
- Complexity 3.4/5
- 1995
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About the game
Space Marine is a miniatures wargame set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. This game, in both its first and second editions, was the flagship of Games Workshop Ltd.'s 'Epic' range of miniatures games, with a nominal scale of 6 mm. These editions were replaced by Warhammer Epic 40,000, which used the same scale but had all-new mechanics. Both of these editions were sold as boxed sets which contained rules, scenery and enough miniatures for two armies. First edition subtitled Epic Battles in the Age of Heresy was set in a much earlier time period than Warhammer 40,000. It featured Space Marines versus Space Marines in a civil war. The game could be combined with the previous published Adeptus Titanicus which featured Titans, giant mecha, in the same 6 mm scale. Ork and Eldar models were also released, with rules for them in the Codex Titanicus expansion. Second edition was subtitled Epic Conflict in the War Torn Universe of the 41st Millennium and brought the setting into the standard era of Warhammer 40,000. It was radically revised but still fundamentally the same system, unlike later editions. This edition included Orks, Eldar and Titans in the base rules. Supplements greatly expanded these factions, along with some new ones. First Edition expansions and compatible games: Adeptus Titanicus (1988) - also a stand alone game. Codex Titanicus Second Edition expansions and compatible games: Armies of the Imperium: Space Marines and Imperial Guard (1991) Renegades: Eldar and Chaos Armies for Space Marine (1992) Ork and Squat Warlords (1992) Space Marine Battles (1993) Titan Legions (1994) - also a standalone game. Hive War:Tyranids (1995) Later Editions of the Epic system: Warhammer Epic 40,000 - 3rd Edition (1998) Epic Armageddon - 4th Edition (2004) NetEpic - unofficial continuation of 2nd Edition (1997) Heresy - unofficial rules in same scale and setting, designed to be a grittier wargame. (Other fan-made variants of the various editions also exist, but not all have their own entry in BoardGameGeek.)
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Games Workshop Ltd.
Questions and answers
Space Marine supports 2–3 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 Space Marine 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 Space Marine 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.
Space Marine has a complexity rating of 3.2 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight 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.
Space Marine belongs to these categories: Wargame, Miniatures, and Science Fiction. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Dice Rolling, 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 Space Marine are: Jervis Johnson and Graeme Davis. 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 Space Marine 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.