
- BGG rank
- BGG #10,496
- BGG rating
- 7.6
The Drifter
- 1 player
- 15–80 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 2019

2023
Rules assistance for Star Drifter
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 1 player

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Star Drifter is a board game released in 2023 for 1 player, 15–80 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Ken Kennedy and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Hexagon Grid, and Events.
StarDrifter is a solo, story dice game based in a science fiction setting. StarDrifter is reminiscent of games like Barbarian Prince (1980), where every game is a unique story experience. You are a talented pilot with a nebulous past. Your time spent away from your home-world has been mostly taken up with performing dishonourable jobs for untrustworthy characters. Your most recent run in with the authorities has caused you to question your life's current trajectory and has you feeling that maybe it is time for a course correction. Equipped with your ray gun, multi-purpose utility pad and modest starship, you are ready to travel the cosmos in your hope for acclaim. The galaxy is vast, densely populated and full of odd planets, dangerous creatures and intergalactic anomalies. There are humans and aliens that live throughout, in peace and also at war. You simply want to make your mark among the stars. Will you fall victim to one of the endless dangers found throughout the galaxy or will you find glory among the stars?
Star Drifter supports 1 player according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Star Drifter is 15–80 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 Drifter 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.
Star Drifter has a complexity rating of 1.7 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a 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 Drifter belongs to these categories: Wargame, Print & Play, and Adventure. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Hexagon Grid, and Events. 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 Drifter are: Ken Kennedy. 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 Drifter 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.