- BGG rating
- 5.6
Startropolis: Glow Box
- 2–4 players
- 30–60 min
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #25,470
- BGG rating
- 5.8
Startropolis
2019
Rules assistance for Startropolis
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 30–60 min
- 8+
- Complexity 2.0/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Startropolis
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Startropolis is a board game released in 2019 for 2–4 players, 30–60 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Jeff Petersen and Tony Mastrangeli and its main mechanics are Tile Placement and Modular Board.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Startropolis: Nova Box
- 2–4 players
- 30–60 min
- 2019
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About the game
The Nexus suddenly birthed from nothing. It was just a weak spot in space, created randomly by clashing stresses of gravity. But when it formed, it instantly became an exit point – a extra focus – for every wormhole in the entire galactic octant; the same wormholes used for interstellar travel by every starfaring species. Soon, a human starship found the Nexus, by the simple process of noticing the alternate exit point while traversing one of those wormholes. The commercial and navigational value of the nexus was obvious, and the humans began exploiting the asteroid field surrounding the exit point. They hollowed out the largest asteroid creating the core module in preparation for building a full-blown space station. Led by those same wormholes, other starships soon showed up. Then more. Now all alien civilizations want access to the Nexus. Rather than see bloodshed, the humans, ensconced in place, offered to let all share the Nexus peacefully. The humans would build the space station modules, ensuring compatibility, but the aliens would purchase and own the modules themselves. In effect, the aliens became outside investors – potentially controlling investors – thus Startropolis was born! You are the alien CEO of one of these galactic corporations, and your masters have given you seed money. What will you purchase? A solar power monopoly? Luxury habitats? Will you outperform your competition, and prove your dominance? Startropolis is a modular 3-D space station game. Each turn, players buy modules and connect them to the existing space station. This creates revenue, and allows them to purchase more modules. The player with the most credits at game end wins.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Petersen Games
- Steel Squire
Questions and answers
Startropolis supports 2–4 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 Startropolis 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 Startropolis for ages 8 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.
Startropolis 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.
Startropolis belongs to these categories: Economic, City Building, and Science Fiction. Its main mechanics are Tile Placement and Modular Board. 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 Startropolis are: Jeff Petersen and Tony Mastrangeli. 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 Startropolis 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.