
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,775
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Starfire
- 2–3 players
- 30–120 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 1979

1980
Rules assistance for Starfire II
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.
Starfire II is a board game released in 1980 for 2–3 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Stephen V. Cole and Barry Jacobs and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Modular Board, and Hexagon Grid.
Starfire II was the first expansion for the original pocket game Starfire. Although it was an expansion for Starfire, it was also designed as a stand alone game, and included the rules for the Starfire system. Starfire II built on the Starfire (1st ed) rules, adding various ship systems to the prior rules and adding space fighters; it did not however include full ship construction rules. Re-implemented by: Starfire 2nd Edition
Starfire II 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 Starfire II is 30 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 Starfire II 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.
Starfire II has a complexity rating of 2.7 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.
Starfire II belongs to these categories: Wargame and Science Fiction. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Modular Board, and Hexagon Grid. 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 Starfire II are: Stephen V. Cole and Barry Jacobs. 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 Starfire II 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.