
- BGG rank
- BGG #15,319
- BGG rating
- 6.0
AeroTech: The BattleTech Game of Fighter Combat
- 2–8 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 3.1/5
- 1986

1984
Rules assistance for The Last Starfighter Combat Game
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
The Last Starfighter Combat Game is a board game released in 1984 for 2–10 players, 90 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Jordan Weisman and L. Ross Babcock, III and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Simultaneous Action Selection, and Grid Movement.
Starfighters of opposing forces clash in space. Laser beams cut through ships as they explode and die. Torpedoes smash into others igniting them in great balls of fire. The two forces are fighting for control of the galaxy and both sides feel the need to win this battle. Your commander sends in reinforcements constantly until finally it is your time. You don your flight suit and climb into your ship then you realize that it's all up to you, for you are The Last Starfighter. Players choose to be pilots for the Rylosians, striving to save the galaxy, or pilots of the dread Ko-Dan armada attempting to subjugate the civilized worlds. The Last Starfighter uses a simple system for simultaneous action. Players plan their moves and plot them on an easy-to-use plotting sheet, hoping to outmaneuver their opponents. Then they execute their moves, get the enemy in their sights, and FIRE! This game includes 78 colorful playing pieces, a 17x22-inch map sheet, rulebook, a pad of plotting sheets and 2 dice. Everything you need for a galaxy of fun.
The Last Starfighter Combat Game supports 2–10 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 The Last Starfighter Combat Game is 90 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 The Last Starfighter Combat Game 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.
The Last Starfighter Combat Game has a complexity rating of 1.5 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a 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.
The Last Starfighter Combat Game belongs to these categories: Wargame, Movies / TV / Radio theme, and Science Fiction. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Simultaneous Action Selection, 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 The Last Starfighter Combat Game are: Jordan Weisman and L. Ross Babcock, III. 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 The Last Starfighter Combat Game 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.