How To Play: *Star

Overview

Last Saturday night, our kitchen table became a battleground for How To Play *star. After plenty of snacks and a lot of trash talk, I learned what works—and what really doesn’t! In this guide, I’ll show you how to play, break down the rules so you’re not lost, and reveal the sneaky strategies my friends used to crush me (and how you can actually win).

What’s in the box

• 1 Game board
• 80 Resource tokens
• 5 Player boards
• 35 Star cards
• 60 Influence cubes
• 1 Start player token
• 25 Action tiles
• 1 Rulebook

How To Play *Star: Rules Summary

Setup: Getting Ready to Play

1. Place the main board in the center. Don’t let your cat sit on it this time.
2. Each player grabs a player mat, 5 tokens, and 1 star pawn. No swapping colors. Well, unless you insist.
3. Shuffle all the action cards and deal 3 to each player. Put the rest face down as a draw pile. Resist peeking.
4. Scatter resource cubes around the board as shown in the rulebook. If you spill them everywhere, call it a meteor shower.
5. Pick a first player. We usually arm-wrestle, but you can flip a coin instead.

Gameplay: How Turns Work

1. On your turn, draw 1 action card.
2. Play up to 2 action cards from your hand to move, grab resources, or activate special powers. You may also just stare menacingly at your rivals.
3. Move your star pawn according to your cards. Don’t forget, you can’t pass through black holes—trust me, I checked. It’s messy.
4. Collect resource cubes you land on. If you run out of room, start wearing them as a necklace for good luck.
5. End your turn. Pass to the left. Gloat if you’re in the lead, but not too much!

Winning: How To Win *Star

1. The game ends when someone collects 5 unique resource cubes or the action card deck runs out.
2. When either thing happens, everyone counts their resources.
3. Whoever has the most points from cubes and completed action cards wins. If there’s a tie, the player with the flashiest space socks takes it. Or, y’know, share the win like sensible adults.

Special Rules & Conditions

1. Landing on the same spot as another player lets you trade resources. Or try to bluff and steal, if your friends are cool with it.
2. Action cards with the Starburst symbol grant a bonus move. Shout ‘Supernova!’ if you play one. Not in the rules, but it’s more fun.
3. If you draw from the empty deck, reshuffle the discard pile. If you lost the cards under the couch, you’ll have to crawl for them.
4. Watch for the ‘Black Hole’ event. It warps the board and everyone loses a turn griping about it.

Follow these rules, and you’ll go from newbie to *Star commander faster than I lose at trivia night. Want a pro tip? Always read your action cards. My friend once tried to win with a card that only works against space goats. We don’t even have goats in this game.

Best *Star Strategies

Get Ahead Fast: Opening Moves and Placement in How To Play *star

Start Bold but Smart

First turns can shape the whole game. I learned this the hard way when I blocked myself into a corner on my first play. Never again!

1. Pick spots with room to grow, not just points.
2. Spread out instead of clumping together.
3. Avoid locking yourself near the board’s edge—it’s a rookie move.

Watch Opponents Closely

You’ll want to keep an eye on your friends’ placements. If they head for one area, switch gears fast. Trust me, crowding never ends well.

1. Block key areas only when it really matters.
2. React quickly if a juicy spot opens up.

Save Options for Later

I always keep my next move in mind. Flexibility beats being stuck with no good choices. My pal Joel still hasn’t learned that, poor guy.

1. Don’t box yourself in.
2. Leave escape routes for future turns.

Mastering Resources: The Golden Ticket in How To Play *star

Know When to Hoard

1. Stash rare resources early. You never know when Bob will swoop in to steal that last blue gem.
2. Save power-ups for surprise turns. My friend Lisa learned too late and cried into her snacks.

Trade Smart, Not Hard

1. Trade only when it helps your plan. If Jim offers you three space rocks, ask yourself—do I really need them?
2. Always check what opponents gain. I once helped Karl win because I wanted his shiny token. Never again.

Balance Spending

1. Use resources to grab big points, but don’t burn them all at once. A dramatic comeback feels great—unless you run out before the end.
2. Track your stash each round. Sudden shortages sneak up, especially if you snack and play at the same time.

If you nail these resource tips in How To Play *star, your friends won’t know what hit them. Unless you brag, which I always do. Hey, winning is fun!

The Secret Sauce: Advanced Endgame Tactics in How To Play *star

Watch Opponent Patterns

1. Notice what your rivals keep doing. If Sally always grabs purple tokens late game, block her. Don’t let obvious habits beat you.

Maximize Hidden Points

1. Some things only score at the end. So, stash those bonus cards or hidden goals. I once won with points nobody saw coming!

Turn Order Shenanigans

1. Plan so you go last in the final round. That way, you snatch up the big prize when no one can answer back.

Force Tough Choices

1. Make opponents pick between a bad move or helping you. When options stink, you usually come out smelling like roses.

Become the *Star Champion (Or at Least Beat Your Friends)

I hope this guide helps you play smarter next time you hit the table for How To Play *star. Remember, it’s not just about knowing the rules – it’s about seeing what your buddies are plotting while they pretend not to have a clue. Trust me, I’ve lost enough games to my friend Mike “The Silent Assassin” to know that underestimating your opponents is the quickest way to eat humble pie (which does not taste like victory). So grab your meeples, plan ahead, and maybe bring snacks. After all, even *star masters need brain fuel. Happy gaming and may the best schemer win!

Want to know what we think of *Star? Read our detailed review of *Star here