- BGG rank
- BGG #6,713
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Submarine
- 1–6 players
- 60–180 min
- Complexity 3.2/5
- 1976
- BGG rank
- BGG #16,818
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Starfall
1979
Rules assistance for Starfall
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–4 players
- 180 min
- 12+
- Complexity 3.2/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for Starfall
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Starfall is a board game released in 1979 for 1–4 players, 180 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Michael J. Matheny and J. Stephen Peek and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Variable Set-up, and Grid Movement.
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About the game
"Starfall" is a strategic wargame of stellar exploration and conquest. You build ships and send them out to explore the Galaxy. After generating detailed worlds, you decide whether to colonize or not, and how to deal with the natives (if any). Wormholes may be discovered, which change the topology of the map. Investments in tech research highly required. Yaquinto's almost trademark hidden movement (task force counters, including dummies, and actual task force set up sheets behind player screens) is in full use here. The usual expected good stuff for this kind of game. Not as complex as SPI's StarForce 'Alpha Centauri': Interstellar Conflict in the 25th Century and the like, but still not light fare.
Designers
Publishers
- Yaquinto
Questions and answers
Starfall supports 1–4 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 Starfall is 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 Starfall 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.
Starfall 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.
Starfall belongs to these categories: Economic, Wargame, and Exploration. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Variable Set-up, and Grid Movement. 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 Starfall are: Michael J. Matheny and J. Stephen Peek. 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 Starfall 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.