Space Nexus Gameplay
HOW TO PLAY SPACE NEXUS
Space Nexus is a strategic sci-fi board game featuring 2 game modes:
Alien Onslaught! – a co-op/competitive game mode where players defend Earth from invading alien fleets
To Boldly Go… – a race-based exploration mode where you collect trophies and outmaneuver your opponents across a modular galaxy
QUICK OVERVIEW
1. Set the stage
Create a map with Earth at the center and Alien Onslaught! invasion points at the edges. Place face down alien fleets at each invasion point.
2. Prepare Earth’s defenders
Each player chooses a color, places their ships at Earth, takes 4 Defender cards, and gets matching dice. The Earth Defender die goes to the first player.
3. Reveal movement conditions
At the start of each round, reveal a Movement card. It might help Earth or help the aliens.
4. Move Earth ships and intercept aliens
One at a time, players roll for movement and send ships out into the Nexuses, using doubles and Defender cards to gain extra reach or flexibility.
5. Move the alien fleets
Alien fleets advance toward Earth, sometimes diverting to attack weak pockets of Earth ships. Nearby Alien fleets can join together into larger, more dangerous forces.
6. Resolve combat on the Combat Board
When Earth and alien ships meet:
Move ships onto the Combat Board
Flip a Combat card
Apply alien modifiers and special abilities
Roll Earth ship dice and add any medallions and Defender cards
Compare totals and destroy ships based on by how much you beat the alien strength
7. Win or lose as a team
Aliens win if enough ships reach Earth. You win if you prevent their victory condition, and you achieve a full “Great Defender of Earth” win if no alien ship ever reaches Earth.
QUICK OVERVIEW
1. Build the galaxy
Lay out hex tiles in a fan, surround, tunnel, or any custom pattern you like, with Earth at one end and the “To Boldly Go…” goal cards at the other.
2. Place Nexus Trophies
Put a face down trophy on one Nexus in each quadrant and extra trophies on each goal card.
3. Set up your ships and cards
Each player chooses a ship color, gets a set of Explorer cards, and prepares to roll movement dice.
4. Take turns exploring
On your turn you:
Resolve a Nexus Event card
Choose and roll base dice in the colors you want to use
Move your ships along matching colored lanes
Collect trophies when you end movement on a Nexus with a token
Zap opponent ships if you land directly on them
Doubles give you wild moves or let you refresh Explorer cards for extra tricks
5. Win the race
Be the first player to guide all of your ships into different goals. When your last ship reaches its final goal, you win.