How To Play: *Star

Overview

So you want to become a *Star master? You’re in the right place! After way too many late nights battling my friends (and eating way too many snacks), I’ve finally put together this How To Play *star guide. In this post, I’ll give you a simple outline of the game rules, plus my favorite strategies to help you win, or at least not come last like I did my first time.

What’s in the box

• 1 Game Board
• 5 Player Mats
• 100 Resource Tokens
• 50 Influence Markers
• 70 Action Cards
• 1 Rulebook
• 12 Dice
• 5 Reference Cards
• 30 Ship Miniatures
• 25 Star Tokens
• 60 Credits Tokens

How To Play *Star: Rules Summary

Setup: The Calm Before the Storm

1. First, spread out the board on your table, unless your table is full of pizza boxes like mine usually is.
2. Next, give each player their colored tokens and a secret player card.
3. Then, shuffle the cards and place the deck face down in the center.
4. Everyone draws three cards to start their hand.
5. Finally, put the resource tokens and point tracker within easy reach. Not in your snack bowl, trust me.

Gameplay: Let the Mayhem Begin

1. The youngest player starts. Yes, age before beauty this time.
2. On your turn, draw one card from the deck.
3. Then, play a card from your hand to take an action. Actions can move your token, grab resources, or mess up your friends (the best part!).
4. After you play, check for any special effects listed on the card.
5. Pass your turn clockwise. Don’t skip Grandma. She plays to win.

Winning: Glory Awaits

1. Keep playing until someone reaches 12 points on the tracker.
2. If two players cross 12 points in the same round, have a speed thumb war. Just kidding. Highest points win, tie goes to whoever has the most resource tokens left.

Special Rules & Conditions: The Plot Twists

1. If you draw a ‘Starfall’ card, everyone loses one point and must swap one resource with the player on their right. Chaos, but fair.
2. No hoarding cards. You can only keep six in your hand at any time. Got more? Discard down to six before your turn ends.
3. If the deck runs out, reshuffle the discard pile to keep the fun going.

The rules might sound wild, but after one round, you’ll get it! For more tips, check out my guides on strategy and How To Play *star like a pro.

Best *Star Strategies

Kickstart Your Victory: Opening Moves and Setup in *Star

Choose Your Starting Position Wisely

1. Scout the board for bonus zones. I once picked a corner spot and got ambushed before I even blinked. Don’t be me. Safe spots matter!

2. Mind your neighbors. Avoid crowding next to your most competitive friend. Trust me, Mark is ruthless.

Gather Resources Early

1. Quickly grab high-value resources. The fastest player often snags the best loot, and you want to be that player.

2. Balance taking risks with securing essentials. A bad start can haunt you the whole game—I learned that the hard way.

Plan Your First Three Moves

1. Map out a route that sets up future turns. Run through your options before acting, but don’t freeze up overthinking it.

2. Adjust if opponents block your path. Stay flexible, or you’ll get stuck like I did last Thursday and watch your How To Play *star dreams slip away.

Resource Management Tips that Actually Help You Win in *Star

Get Greedy, But Not Too Greedy

1. Always grab the highest-yield resource spot first. Your friends will be mad, but hey, it works.
2. Leave yourself some flexibility. If you focus only on one resource, you’ll get stuck faster than my cat in a cardboard box.

Plan Ahead Like a Fortune Teller

1. Count how many resources you need before you start building anything. I once built a spaceship then realized I had nothing left for fuel—goodbye moon landing.

Trade Smart, Not Hard

1. Always trade when it benefits you more than your opponent. Watch out—the How To Play *star guides don’t warn you about sneaky friends.

Try these tricks. They kept me just ahead of the pack. Unless I forgot them, of course. Then my dog beat me again.

How To Play *star: Crush Your Friends in the Endgame

Keep Your Options Open

1. Don’t lock yourself in one path. Instead, hold onto flexible cards or resources so you can zig or zag if things get wild.

2. Spot sudden chances others missed. If your buddy blinks, grab that big scoring moment.

Watch Your Rivals Like a Hawk

1. Check everyone’s board. You might feel goofy but counting their points lets you spot threats.

2. Sometimes you must block someone instead of boosting yourself. Sacrifice a little now to stop a huge swing later.

Maximize Every Last Turn

1. Keep a plan for your last moves—don’t wait until the end to panic. That way, you squeeze out maximum points.

2. If you see a combo, take it—even if it means leaving something minor behind.

Ready to Shine Like a Star?

After too many late nights and at least one bowl of spilled popcorn, my friends and I have learned that *star rewards clever moves, teamwork, and just a sprinkle of luck. Don’t overthink it—bold plays get you noticed, but don’t ignore your resources. Hopefully, this “How To Play *star” guide gives you an edge. Now, go out there and make your mark—just remember to gloat the right amount at the table. Good luck!

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