Looking for the best space-themed board games in 2025? Here's a quick guide to eight top picks that range from quick, family-friendly games to epic, strategic adventures. From managing resources on Mars to leading interstellar fleets, these games offer something for everyone.

Quick Overview

• Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition: Fast-paced Mars colonisation (1–4 players, 45–60 mins).

• Stellar Horizons: Lead space agencies from 2030–2169 (1–7 players, 1–20 hours).

• Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy: A 4X strategy game with ship customisation (2–6 players, 2–4 hours).

• Gaia Project: Terraform planets in a modular galaxy (1–4 players, 60–150 mins).

• Voidfall: Rebuild galactic order with Euro-style mechanics (1–4 players, 90–120 mins).

• ISS Vanguard: Campaign-based exploration with ship management (2–4 players, 90–240 mins).

• Xia: Legends of a Drift System: Open-world space adventures (1–5 players, 60–180 mins).

• Starfarers of Catan (Revised Edition): Resource gathering and diplomacy in space (3–4 players, ~120 mins).

Quick Comparison

Whether you're after a quick game or a day-long campaign, these titles combine strategy, exploration, and storytelling for an unforgettable gaming experience.

The 11 Best Sci-Fi Board Games to Play in 2025. By Tabletop Gaming News. From @tabletopgamingnews

Key Elements of Space Board Games

When choosing a space board game, consider these six key factors. They’ll help you decide which game from our top nine 2025 picks suits your group best.

Theme Integration
A strong theme pulls players into the game, creating an immersive space adventure filled with engaging narratives and choices.

Gameplay Complexity
Games range from simple to highly detailed, so you can pick one that matches your group’s preference for rules and strategy.

Replay Value
Great space board games stay fun over multiple sessions. Features like variable setups, different factions, multiple victory paths, and random events keep things fresh. Optional rules and cooperative modes can also add variety.

Mechanical Depth
Most space games rely on a mix of resource management, strategy, exploration, and combat to keep players engaged:

• Resource management: Making the most of limited supplies

• Strategic planning: Thinking ahead to outmanoeuvre opponents

• Exploration: Unveiling new territories or surprises

• Combat: Tactical battles that reward skill over luck

Player Interaction
Trading, diplomacy, and conflict add depth, as players’ decisions can directly influence each other’s strategies.

Each game we review below will be evaluated against these criteria.

1. Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition (2025 Edition)

The 2025 edition of Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition delivers an engaging interplanetary strategy experience in just 45–60 minutes. It keeps the complexity of engine-building intact while requiring less table space, making it perfect for game nights in the UK.

The Terraforming Mars game box and assets. Image credit: Fryx Games

Key Details:

• Theme: Mars colonisation

• Complexity: Medium (easy to learn, but still strategic)

• Players: 1–4 (ages 14 and up)

• Playtime: 45–60 minutes

• Replayability: High, thanks to varied corporations and card combinations

Terraforming Mars official tutorial: INTRO. By FRYX Games. From @isaacfryxelius979

This game puts you in charge of an interplanetary corporation, where you'll build engines and manage resources using a deck of over 200 cards. Whether you prefer competitive or cooperative play, the game rewards tactical thinking and efficient planning without dragging down the pace.

Players have given it an impressive 4.8/5 rating from 771 reviews, often praising its quick gameplay and strategic depth.

Up next, we explore Stellar Horizons.

2. Stellar Horizons

Stellar Horizons puts players in charge of global space agencies, allowing 1 to 7 participants to lead one of seven Earth factions. Starting with orbital outposts, players work their way towards managing interplanetary fleets.

This game stands out for its focus on resource management, research, and diplomacy rather than relying solely on combat. Each turn represents a year, covering the period from 2030 to 2169 CE. During this time, players must make strategic decisions for their space programmes, carefully balancing diplomacy, technological advancements, and resource allocation.

The evocative deep space imagery on the Stellar Horizons box art. Image credit: Compass Games

The Stellar Horizons game guide. Image credit: Compass Games

How to win:

• Establish interstellar colonies

• Terraform worlds

• Achieve space supremacy

Game details:

• Players: 1-7

• Duration: 1 to 20 hours

• Setting: 2030-2169 CE

Scenarios cater to various playstyles, offering short, cooperative or competitive sessions that last about an hour. For experienced players, full campaigns can stretch across an entire day or even a weekend.

Up next: Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy - a game where political manoeuvring meets starship battles.

3. Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy

Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy brings the classic 4X experience - explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate - to the table for two to six players. With its advanced level of complexity, this game immerses players in a cosmic struggle for dominance, combining strategic depth with engaging mechanics.

Eclipse: Dawn of the Galaxy poster. Image credit: Board Game Geek

The game assets for Eclipse: Dawn of the Galaxy. Image credit: Board Game Geek

The game’s action-selection system revolves around upkeep costs, making every decision impactful. Players guide their chosen civilisation through space, with each faction offering distinct abilities and strategies. For example, the Planta faction focuses on exploration rather than combat, providing an alternative route to victory. This unique approach for each faction aligns with different playstyles, adding depth to the gameplay.

Key Features:

• Ship customisation: Tailor your fleet to suit your strategy.

• Communal technology tray: Research advancements that all players can compete for.

• Diplomatic negotiations: Form temporary alliances to gain an edge.

• Combat mechanics: Dice-based battles with a rock–paper–scissors style, rewarding players with victory points for tactical decisions and interaction.

The shared technology tray fuels competition, as players race to claim advancements. Randomised technology availability and tile placement ensure no two games feel the same, keeping the experience fresh and unpredictable.

Next, we delve into Gaia Project - where the challenge of terraforming meets interstellar expansion.

4. Gaia Project

Gaia Project takes the core mechanics of Terra Mystica and launches them into space. Players compete to expand across a modular galaxy board, juggling terraforming, trade networks, and faction-specific abilities to rack up victory points. On BoardGameGeek, it scores an impressive 8.36/10, with ratings of 4.4/5 for complexity, 1/5 for luck, 3/5 for interaction, and 4.5/5 for replayability.

Gaia Project in about 3 minutes. By 3 Minute Board Games. From @3MBG

Key Gameplay Features

Gaia Project's gameplay revolves around several intricate systems:

• Advancing technology through a detailed tech tree, unlocking new abilities and opportunities.

• Forming federations strategically to gain immediate perks and long-term advantages.

• Positioning on the board to maximise scoring potential across the hexagonal grid.

• Developing trade networks that span planetary systems, boosting influence and resources.

Gaia Project box art. Image credit: Capstone Games

Unique Faction Abilities

The game includes a variety of factions, each with its own powers, goals, and paths to victory. The modular setups and federation bonuses ensure every match feels fresh, while maintaining a competitive edge among players. These distinctive traits encourage diverse strategies and keep the game engaging.

"With a 24-page rulebook to tackle, Gaia Project is a cerebral delight." – Owen Duffy.

Ready for more? Up next is Voidfall, where exploration meets deck-building.

5. Voidfall

The enticing box art for Voidfall. Image credit: Mindclash Games

Voidfall is a game for 1–4 players where you take charge of distinct Houses to rebuild the fractured Domineum and defend it against the Voidborn menace.

You can choose from competitive, cooperative, or solo modes, offering flexibility in how you play.

Each House comes with unique traits, while the game’s Euro-style resource management and varying sector and technology setups keep every session strategic and engaging.

Next, we’ll dive into ISS Vanguard, another standout in the 2025 space gaming line up.

6. ISS Vanguard

ISS Vanguard combines binder-based ship management with planetary missions, offering a campaign experience that spans 20–60 hours. Players manage their ship by upgrading systems, researching technology, and recruiting from a pool of 86 crew members. Once prepared, they launch landers to tackle dice-based challenges on alien planets.

ISS Vanguard game assets. Image credit: Awaken Realms

Each session lasts between 90 and 240 minutes, featuring gear customisation, teamwork mechanics, and nearly 1,000 log entries that shape a constantly evolving story.

A free companion app enhances the experience with ambient audio and automatic progress tracking. On the planets, shifting weather conditions and unexpected threats keep things unpredictable, while discoveries can provide immediate rewards or benefits for the entire ship.

Designed for 2–4 players, the game ensures everyone stays engaged in the story. With high-quality components and striking artwork, ISS Vanguard promises to be a standout choice for campaign nights in the UK come 2025.

Next: Xia: Legends of a Drift System.

7. Xia: Legends of a Drift System

In Xia: Legends of a Drift System, you take command of a small starship, venturing into space to explore sectors, complete missions, mine resources, trade goods, and battle rivals. The game caters to various playstyles - whether you prefer mining, salvaging, trading, exploring new territories, or engaging in combat to earn titles, wealth, and fame.

Cover box art from the Xia Legends of a Drift System. Image credit: Board Game Geek

The gameplay takes place across a vast hexagonal cosmic game board. Image credit: Far Off Games

You can customise your ship by upgrading cargo holds, weapons, and special modules, turning it into a powerful cruiser. Risk-taking plays a big role here, especially with the Blind Jump, a daring move that can lead to either great rewards or unexpected dangers.

Gameplay Tips

The game shines with three players, offering a good balance between interaction and downtime. NPC ships with unique behaviours add an unpredictable element, while random events can impact movement, combat, and resource gathering. Careful planning can help reduce risks, and even if your ship is destroyed, it resets with penalties instead of being permanently eliminated.

Next, we'll dive into Starfarers of Catan (Revised Edition), which transforms the classic settlement-building gameplay into an interstellar adventure.

8. Starfarers of Catan (Revised Edition)

The 2025 Revised Edition of Starfarers of Catan takes players on a space adventure set in the third millennium. This stand-alone game features updated illustrations, simplified rules, and redesigned components to enhance the experience.

A brief overview of CATAN – Starfarers. By Catan. From @catancommunity

Players guide their spaceships through an ever-changing universe, exploring distant planetary systems to gather resources. Each game presents fresh challenges and opportunities, with planets ranging from ore-rich worlds to barren ice systems.

The gameplay revolves around three main aspects:

• Resource Management: Construct ships and spaceports to expand your reach.

• Diplomacy: Build alliances with alien civilisations to unlock trade opportunities.

• Strategic Defence: Protect your fleets from threats like pirates and wormholes.

The Starfarers of Catan game assets. Image credit: CATAN GMBH

What’s New in the 2025 Edition?

• A variable game plan adds more replay value.

• Redesigned components for improved functionality.

• A streamlined rulebook makes it easier to learn.

• Updated artwork creates a more immersive atmosphere.

Gameplay Details

• Players: 3-4 (ages 14 and up)

• Duration: Approximately 120 minutes

UK Gaming Night Setup Guide

When planning a gaming night, it's not just about the games themselves. Where you get them and how you set the mood can make all the difference.

Where to Buy and Try Games

Here are some great places in the UK to find board games:

• Amazon: A great place to start discovering the various types of board games

• Games Lore Ltd: Frequently seen at events like the UK Games Expo in Birmingham.

• Games Quest: Boasts an online catalogue of over 30,000 products.

• The Board Game Hut: Offers both a local store experience and online shopping options.

If you're unsure about a game, many local board game cafés let you try them out before committing to a purchase.

Setting the Right Gaming Atmosphere

Music can transform your gaming night. Use background tracks inspired by the game's franchise or theme to create a more immersive experience. Match the soundtrack to the game's vibe to make the evening even more engaging.

Conclusion

Space exploration board games in 2025 bring exciting mechanics and immersive themes across nine standout titles. Whether you're after quick gameplay or epic campaigns, this year's selection has something for everyone.

For example, Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition packs strategic depth into under an hour, while Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy offers a multi-hour challenge for those who love long sessions. Cooperative experiences like ISS Vanguard and games with strong solo modes ensure there's a perfect fit for any group size or preference.

These games blend strategy with rich storytelling, offering players the chance to manage interplanetary corporations or lead starship missions. Each title showcases the depth and creativity that define modern space-themed board games.