- BGG rank
- BGG #3,622
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Import / Export
- 2–6 players
- 45–90 min
- Complexity 3.2/5
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #8,992
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Star Cartel
2017
Rules assistance for Star Cartel
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–6 players
- 30–60 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.4/5
Rules assistant for Star Cartel
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Star Cartel is a board game released in 2017 for 3–6 players, 30–60 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Martin Boisselle and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Commodity Speculation, and Pick-up and Deliver.
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About the game
It's time to ditch this dingy cantina because you're ready to make it big. Welcome to the Star Cartel. The black market's a tricky business, and now that you've joined the Star Cartel, you'll need to play it smart. Every shipment you make will let you stash some contraband for yourself and will earn you a new ship, but with every fresh delivery the Cartel's prices change. Will you risk it all on illicit plants, plan to convey a careful mix of med-kits and energy crystals, or rush to deliver as quickly as possible to get that special ship? Don't push too hard or the price will fall faster than re-entry to atmosphere, and your hopes will fall with it. Load your ship with available goods and once your ship is full, the goods shipped will modify their own value. Each time you deliver goods, your ship upgrades to the next highest capacity ship. In the end, the player who stashed the most luxurious goods wins.
Designers
Publishers
- Osprey Games
Questions and answers
Star Cartel supports 3–6 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 Star Cartel 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 Star Cartel for ages 10 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.
Star Cartel 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.
Star Cartel belongs to these categories: Card Game, Economic, and Science Fiction. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Commodity Speculation, and Pick-up and Deliver. 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 Star Cartel are: Martin Boisselle. 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 Star Cartel 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.