
- BGG rank
- BGG #11,652
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Star Traders
- 2–6 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 1987

2017
Rules assistance for Star Traders
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Star Traders is a board game released in 2017 for 2–6 players, 20–180 minutes per game, and ages 7 and up. It was designed by David Ladyman and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Push Your Luck, and Dice Rolling.
In the year 3250, the Galactic Empire is at peace. Mankind’s heroes are not warriors — they’re the daring Traders who journey between the stars. With your trusty hyperdrive ship, you are a Star Trader. You will build trading stations on alien worlds, and race other Traders to be the first to deliver cargoes from world to world. Your goal: to acquire great wealth — and please the almighty Emperor — until you can earn the title of STAR TSAR! Brought to you by original creator David Ladyman, Star Traders has been redesigned and upgraded since its release by Steve Jackson Games in 1987. In it you are a heroic starship captain navigating the galaxy's trade lanes in search of fortune and glory. You must make deals, deliver cargoes and traverse risky jumps, all while competing against your fellow captains in a SciFi themed universe filled with iconic tropes. Microbadge available:
Star Traders supports 2–6 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 Traders is 20–180 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 Traders for ages 7 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 Traders has a complexity rating of 2.0 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 Traders belongs to these categories: Economic, Territory Building, and Travel. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Push Your Luck, and Dice Rolling. 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 Traders are: David Ladyman. 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 Traders 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.