We made observations of cosmic objects and recorded them in our notebooks in Stellar, the next game in our A-Z game shelf play-through.
Stellar
Players: 2
Time: 30 Minutes
Designers: Ben Pinchback, Matt Riddle
Artists: Tim Barton, Janos Orban
Publisher: Renegade Game Studios
Stellar is a 2-player game where each player is collecting cards into a telescope and an observation notebook over 11 rounds. Whoever can collect the best combination of objects will win.
Game play
Stellar is set up with each player first laying out their telescope cards into a picturesque tableau. The five starter celestial object cards are shuffled and two dealt to each player; the remaining one goes back into the box. Players then choose one of those cards to place face up in the top slot of their telescope and the other face up near their play area to start their notebook.
The five number cards are placed out in a line on the table. The remaining celestial object cards are shuffled, and each player gets a hand of two cards. Then one card is dealt face-up under each of the number cards. Players choose a start player, and the game begins.
On their turn, a player will first add a card to their hand from the ones available under the number cards.
Then they play one card from their hand either into their telescope or notebook. The number on the card will determine which card they’ll play next — they take the card from the same numbered slot in the card row and place i either in their notebook or telescope, wherever they didn’t play the first card. When playing cards into their telescope, if there’s another card of the same type already there, the next card must adjacent to it. If it’s a new type of object, it can go anywhere.
Finally the player refills the card market and the next player takes their turn.
The game continues until players have filled their telescopes — 11 rounds. Then each player chooses one of the two cards left in their hand to play into their notebook before scoring begins.
There are three categories of points in the game. For each type of celestial object, players will count the number of stars showing on cards in their telescope and multiply that by the number of cards in the longest run of consecutive numbers in their notebook. Then, players will compare the totals on the cards in three different sections of their telescope; whoever has the highest total in each section will get points. Finally, players will get points if they have at least one of each type of object in their telescope. Whoever has the most points, wins.
My Thoughts
Stellar was a no-brainer for us to pick up, given the theme of the game. The telescope is so stunning when you first set it up that it’s hard not to be drawn into the game immediately.
The rules are simple, but I struggled to wrap my mind around the strategy with our first couple plays. It’s a bit of a brain bender to figure out how to chain together playing the right card from my hand to play the best card from the market. But, of course, needing a minute to get the strategy just makes me want to play it more.
Three Quick Questions
How is it as a 2-player game? Since it’s two-player-only, Stellar works great with 2 players.
How about the art and component quality? I really like the art — it mimics real space imagery without being actual telescope imagery. I can’t decide if I would have liked it better with real imagery, but the art is striking as-is. The only components are cards, and they’re good quality.
Will this stay in my collection? Yes. This is a quick, strategic 2-player game with a theme that I love.