Star Chart: Review
Information:
Mechanics: Simultaneous Play, Pattern Recognition
Player Age: 13+Player Count: 1 - 8 PlayersTime to Play: 15 - 30 Minutes
Game Designer: Martin BrandelPublisher: Bigger World GamesYear Published: 2025Disclaimer: A review copy for the game was provided by the publisher.
Player Age: 13+
Game Designer: Martin Brandel
Introduction:
Star Chart is a tableu builder where players are engineering a chart of constellations through a connected path. Players are aiming to create constellations shown on the multi-use cards to reach 15 points. This chart will grow every turn expanding on the left or right side, the real challenge for the players is building a chart where constellations are played in turn succession through a carefully planned chart.
Game Anatomy:
Cards:
Each card is multi-use it will contain multiple signs on the left hand side (each colour will remain in that specific row). The right hand side of the card will feature a constellation that can be built. There is also iconography in the top right for a quick glance.
Each card will have points above the constellation detailing how many points will be gained if it is matched. There are also negative points on some cards that will be gained if they are played in the chart.
Boards:
There is a board for each player to contain their chart and constellation. There is also a shared board on the left and right of each player. This provides two constellations that can be made by either player adjacent. There is also a section for each player to place their card that is going to be passed to the other player, there is also an arrow to denote which player is passing a card and which player is gaining the card.
Ability Card:
Each ability card can only be used once per game. There are three abilities that are explained from left or right.
Remove one card from the chart; move one card from the chart to the left or right of the chart; insert one scored constellation from the players board and place the chosen card in any space on the chart (losing its points).
Setup:
- Deal each player five cards.
How to Play:
Star Chart is a fast playing puzzle where players are expanding a chart to build constellations. The game is simultaneous play that will finish once a player has gained 15 or more points or the deck has depleted. In a round players will play a card to their chart, match a constellation if possible and play an ability if they choose.
Placing Cards:
Simultaneously players are building a chart. Each new card in the chart has to be placed to the left most or right most side.
Players will also pass one card in this phase keeping a steady flow of new cards. Each player will pass one card face-down to their player on the right. On the respective board between players.
Matching Constellations:
If in the players chart there are the symbols in the correct order, only choosing one icon per column matching one of constellations in the player's hand or any of the four to the left/right of the player. Then the player can play one constellation, if both players are selecting the same constellation then the player with the lowest current score will gain the constellation.
Each player can play one constellation per match phase. The symbols can have other symbols in the same column but the order of symbols has to match the constellation perfectly with no interruptions. Any symbol used for a constellation isn't depleted and will permanently remain in the tableu. Any of the two constellations in top of the image would be legal matches.
Activating Abilities:
One at a time after players have done the original matching the players may activate one of their ability cards by flipping the card over. After the ability has resolved the player may do an additional constellation match and if they so choose, flip over another ability card. The player does not have to resolve the ability, this can be done purely to gain another match.
Final Thoughts:
- Takes a little bit to wrap the players head around, an interesting layer of forward planning.
- Unique but intuitive gameplay.
Star Chart is a really engaging puzzle. This is a game where once the first game was completed it was instantly played again. Star Chart has a unique way that players have to forward think. Once the first constellation is played to stay competitive players want to have at least one match (can use an ability to gain more) each turn. This forward thinking is done by playing cards to the chart that isn't only added for the current constellation plan but for future constellation matches. The other excellent element the game has going is it is a perfect gameplay length. The best way to explain star chart would probably be a thinky filler, I can easily recommend as this is a game that is going to keep returning to the table for me.
Comments
Post a Comment