
- BGG rank
- BGG #137
- BGG rating
- 7.7
Keyflower
- 2–6 players
- 90–120 min
- Complexity 3.3/5
- 2012

2008
Rules assistance for Supernova
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 3 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Supernova is a board game released in 2008 for 3–5 players, 90–180 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Oliver Harrison and Mike Roy and its main mechanics are Set Collection, Auction / Bidding, and Tile Placement.
Escape! Expand! Defend! Conquer! Your civilization is living peacefully in a solar system whose sun is steadily approaching Supernova. You must abandon your planet and fight for a foothold in a new solar system before your home world is destroyed. Over the next millennium, you will have to learn new technologies - Weapons, Shields, Communications or Engines - to aid in your quest for survival. Earn income by mining moons and discover alien races on new planets, earning you valuable bonuses. You need to plan carefully, balancing your rate of expansion with defense, as you must guard your claimed territory and fend off other civilizations to protect what you have rightfully won. Supernova is a board game with a unique card-based battle system and inspired artwork by Mike Doyle. Players vie for control of space as well as the unstable sun, imminently approaching Supernova. Players acquire points by owning planets and moons, earning income, and by placing tiles to expand their empire. The modular game board of this wonderful new space design offers a different experience with each play. The player with the most points when the sun goes Supernova is proclaimed the winner! Supernova is #3 in the Valley Games Modern Line
Supernova supports 3–5 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 Supernova is 90–180 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 Supernova 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.
Supernova has a complexity rating of 3.0 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.
Supernova belongs to these categories: Science Fiction and Space Exploration. Its main mechanics are Set Collection, Auction / Bidding, and Tile Placement. 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 Supernova are: Oliver Harrison and Mike Roy. 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 Supernova 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.