Race for the Galaxy

About

Race for the Galaxy is a strategy game that can be played with 2-4 players, either competitively or against advanced AI. The goal is to build the most prosperous space empire by exploring, developing, settling, trading, consuming, and producing. With multiple expansions available, players can choose from over 100 cards to customize their gameplay experience. The game is based on the best-selling board game and allows for network multiplayer.

Genres & Tags

Strategy

Play Modes

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 599 reviews

gameplay18 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

Excellent adaptation of the classic card game with a well-designed interface and smooth gameplay.
Challenging AI provides a competitive experience, making it enjoyable for both solo and multiplayer sessions.
High replayability with various strategies and expansions that enhance the core gameplay.

The user interface can be cumbersome, making it difficult to view opponents' cards and manage actions efficiently.
Occasional crashes and bugs, particularly in multiplayer mode, detract from the overall experience.
The tutorial is lacking, making it hard for new players to grasp the game's mechanics without external resources.

gameplay
76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
68%
8%
The gameplay is characterized by its unique mechanics and strategic depth, offering a fast-paced experience that rewards thoughtful choices and card combinations. While the digital implementation is generally smooth and well-executed, some users noted issues with online connectivity and a lack of catch-up mechanics. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging mechanics and variety, though newcomers may benefit from additional tutorials or resources to fully grasp its complexities.
- “It's a fantastic game and once you get the hang of the mechanics, it's great.”
- “Deep gameplay that rewards good choices.”
- “Those that can appreciate its intertwining mechanics and its deceptively complex simplicity can enjoy an intense, compact experience like no other!”
- “Sadly, the art is dull as dishwater, there's only one music track, and the gameplay doesn't fit the theme/setting at all; but this digital implementation is well-done with decent AI.”
- “Game mechanics don't work properly and the game randomly boots players out of online games.”
- “Love the card game and I love the mobile version of the game, but the Steam implementation is just a port of the mobile, and the mechanics of the game are not fluent on a keyboard/mouse platform, making the game awkward to play.”
graphics
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
50%
21%
The graphics of the game are generally described as decent but basic, with a clean art style that prioritizes functionality over flashy visuals. While the card artwork is praised for its beauty, the overall aesthetic may not appeal to everyone, and there are some graphical issues that have been noted. Despite these shortcomings, the minimalist UI is effective in keeping gameplay straightforward and readable, and the developers are actively addressing any glitches.
- “The beautiful artwork on each of the cards has not been sacrificed, and the minimalist UI helps keep track of the game's progress without ever feeling intrusive.”
- “Beautiful artwork, great mechanics.”
- “Easy controls and great visuals.”
- “The visuals are basic, there are no achievements or challenges, nothing to unlock... there is no real reward for playing the game and it doesn't look all that interesting either.”
- “There are also numerous projection and graphical issues that other reviewers have posted about and are more descriptive.”
- “I kind of wish now that I'd bought it on mobile instead; it would have the exact same graphics and also fit in my pocket.”
replayability
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
41%
14%
The game boasts exceptionally high replayability, enhanced by various expansions that introduce new cards and features, allowing for diverse gameplay experiences with each session. Players appreciate the strategic depth and challenging AI, which contribute to its longevity and value. Overall, it is considered one of the more replayable card games available, offering a rewarding experience for both new and seasoned players.
- “The replay value of the game is incredibly high, as each empire built will likely be different each time. This means that players must learn how to use all functions available in the game to play the hand dealt to them.”
- “As you can toggle which expansions you want to use in each game, I recommend picking up the expansions—at least eventually when you fully grasp the rules—as they add infinite replay value and depth to the game with a large number of new cards and key new features such as goals and takeovers.”
- “The replay value of the game is incredibly high, as each empire built will likely be different each time - which also means that players must learn how to use all functions available in the game to play the hand dealt to them.”
- “As you can toggle which expansions you want to use in each game, I recommend picking up the expansions—at least eventually when you fully grasp the rules—as they add infinite replay value and depth to the game with a large number of new cards and some key new features such as goals, where you get points for meeting certain requirements like the first to have five victory chips or the strongest military, for instance, and takeovers, which allow you to attack and potentially steal another player's cards.”
- “It is a faithful adaptation of the original tabletop game, is easy to play, and offers endless replayability.”
music
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
63%
19%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its quality and thematic fit, described as "spacey" and unobtrusive. However, there is criticism regarding the lack of variety, as there is only one track, and some players express a desire for a more interactive soundtrack to enhance gameplay. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the experience, it could benefit from greater diversity and engagement.
- “Also, the music is really good as well!”
- “The sound effects and music add to the theme.”
- “Music and sound is unobtrusive and appropriately 'spacey'.”
- “Sadly the art is dull as dishwater, there's only one music track, and the gameplay doesn't fit the theme/setting at all.”
- “If I had one request, I wish they had a more interactive soundtrack; that would help remind you when someone is close to putting down 12 cards or running out of VP chips.”
- “No animations, not many sound effects, one music track...”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
The game's optimization is criticized for sluggish and unresponsive controls, requiring multiple clicks for simple actions, which leads to a frustrating experience. In contrast, players note that other games run smoothly, highlighting a significant performance gap. Despite this, some users mention that familiarity with the game can lead to quicker gameplay.
- “But after a few dozen games and having memorized what everything does, I can play a competitively optimized game in 5 minutes.”
- “After a few dozen games and having memorized what everything does, I can play a competitively optimized game in just 5 minutes.”
- “The optimization in this game feels rushed and incomplete, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.”
- “I often find myself struggling with the optimization mechanics, which detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
story
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's story is criticized for its lackluster tutorial mission and an abbreviated presentation of the rulebooks, which may leave players feeling unprepared and disconnected from the narrative.
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by a reviewer who, during a discussion about "Race for the Galaxy," is rendered speechless and visibly moved, indicating a deep connection to the game's themes and experiences. This moment underscores the profound impact that certain games can have on players, evoking strong feelings and reflections.
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability, with users reporting no glitches and a well-designed user interface. Many players found the tutorial effective, allowing them to quickly grasp the gameplay mechanics and enjoy the experience without issues typically associated with poorly ported games.
- “I was able to pick up the game after running a decent tutorial, and after a couple of games, it clicked and was fun. The game UI is good, there are no glitches, and it does not feel like a cheap port (as some reviews had claimed).”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be slow and tedious, leading to a frustrating experience during matches.
- “If not, it's a very slow, tedious match.”
- “If not, it's a very slow, tedious match.”