It is not size that matters… Even with the smallest spaceships, you can conquer a grand universe! In Tiny Epic Galaxies, you try to colonise planets by using dice and sending your spaceships on a voyage of discovery. The prime directive from Star Trek will be flouted! Will you become the new galaxy master or will you end up as a redshirt? Now in a hip new look. Blast off!
In Galaxies, players roll dice, use those dice for actions and colonise planets to collect points. Will you create an intergalactic hegemony? The dice you have rolled represent actions. Actions allow you to move ships to planets (face-up cards in the centre of the table), collect resources (energy and culture), perform special actions, upgrade your own civilisation and colonise planets.
Each time the active player activates a die to apply an action, other players may follow by deploying culture. These players may now also apply the chosen action. The active player may re-roll dice not yet activated by deploying energy.
By moving ships to planets, you can apply the planet’s special actions or start colonisation. When colonising, you can progress along the colonisation track by activating specific dice. Once a planet is colonised, you place it under your personal tableau and can then use its special actions for personal gain. Colonised planets also earn points.
Energy and culture can also be used to upgrade your civilisation, allowing you to roll more dice and move ships. Upgrading your civilisation also earns you points. Once a player has enough points, the round is completed and the game ends.
So what is the difference between regular Tiny Epic Galaxies and Blast Off? Blast Off is and streamlined version of the original game. Some game elements have been axed and players no longer get a hidden objective at the beginning of the game. This removes a small element of surprise, but adds a little less complexity. The illustrations and visual design is also more inviting and friendly compared to the original. This makes Blast Off! feel more accessible to families and novice players.
Tiny Epic Galaxies is a delightful game in a small package and the same obviously applies to Blast Off! It feels like a game you would normally find in a big cardboard box, but a lot more efficient. It’s game is wonderfully elegant and intuitive and the most simple and also streamlined of all the Tiny Epics. Still a tiny game of intergalactic proportions, but now the universe is accessible to truly everyone!
