Stellar FactorySpaceteam: A Fast-paced, Cooperative, Shouting Card Game

I'm a game nerd, raised on the old Avalon Hill bookcase games and tactical miniatures games by Games Workshop, and I still love all manner of board games today. 'Spaceteam' was worth a quick review because this game checks off a lot of boxes.Games of 'Spaceteam' are short but frenetic, making it a great go-to for impromptu pick-up games or for game nights when things wrap up earlier than expected.'Spaceteam' scales well with its advertised 3-6 players (or even more if you use the expansions, although we thought that 4-6 players is the game's 'sweet spot').Its cooperative play— which puts emphasis on social interaction— and its pace and hilarity make 'Spaceteam' suitable for use as a 'party game' at small gatherings, even among players who aren't really serious board gamers.'Spaceteam' is a relatively simple game, and while it's described as suitable for ages 12 and up, I think that a lot of kids below that age could pick up on the rules pretty easily.At its current pricing, 'Spaceteam' has a cheap buy-in and offers a good value. It won't require a huge investment to add this title to your collection-- and it won't take up a lot of space on your shelf, either, which is always a concern at my casa.There are a couple of minor criticisms, too.First of all, people who have difficulty processing fast-paced events happening more or less simultaneously may feel overwhelmed by 'Spaceteam.'You're liable to shout a lot while playing 'Spaceteam,' so this might not be the game to play while baby is napping.Players need to be able to pass cards to each other or move freely around the table, so 'Spaceteam' might not be the best game to play in a tight breakfast nook or when seated in a booth. Three or four players facing each other across an absurdly long dining table might be in for a cardio workout.'Spaceteam' isn't a good game to play while multitasking. I'd plan on turning the TV off and putting the phone away (and not being rude to your friends LOL).On a note completely unrelated to this review of the base set, we own both of the expansions for 'Spaceteam' and they're both great-- and I especially liked that both expansions fit within the box for the basic set.This one's a no-brainer. If you're reading this and thinking about buying 'Spaceteam,' go ahead and pull the trigger!

I bought this game to spend time with my adult siblings on a family trip. Everyone had a blast (no pun intended) playing this. It kept a bunch of drink adults entertained for almost 2 hours. The only reason we didn't play it again, is there were other games everyone wanted to try. The action is fast-paced and chaotic as everyone tries to describe what they need and random events happen. It gets really crazy when people describe the pictures, coming up with their own unique descriptors. I think this would be suitable for older teens on up, though younger kids could probably enjoy this without the timer. The setup of the deck takes a little time, so parental assistance would likely be needed. I definitely recommend this one.

There are many reviews for this game already, so I want to concentrate on a few tips based on our experience of giving the gift as a Christmas present and then playing it with friends multiple times.FIRST: There's a suggestion that all you need to do is watch a short video to learn the rules. The video is fun and we recommend watching it, but the production values were more important than simply explanatory information in this case. We watched the video twice and it didn't equip us to play. So, we did actually have to read the rules. Good news is that the rules are short. This is a quick game to learn. You just won't be able to pick it up from the video alone.SECOND: We found you really need to play this game around a table where people are in close proximity. We actually started playing at a table that was too long and the rapid communications and handing off of cards wasn't easy. So, find a table where you're sitting close around the playing surface.THIRD: You'll need to play the game a couple of times to really get the strategy. But that's OK. It's fun and quick. Just expect that you won't get it quite right the first time or two.FINALLY: If you're ordering the game for yourself or a give, we would recommend you go ahead and add on the expansion pack. You'll likely find yourselves playing the game over and over again—since it's quick and fun—and you'll want the extra cards that come with https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075JR7VBM/

Bought this game for my brother's birthday, and we appreciated having a website we could go to in order to see how the game is played. We have played it several times together since. I am not usually a person who prefers games that require timed pressure and/or physical actions, so I was surprised at how much I enjoy this game. Perhaps because the game is a combination of individual and team dynamics, it helps me not to get overwhelmed with a timer. You get so distracted trying to solve your own malfunctions and anomalies while also helping others take care of theirs, that you don't have time to focus on the hour glass.Spaceteam seems to work better with at least 4 people playing, else we tend to win too easily even on the hardest level. I think having at least four people adds the chaos of having to pass cards around the circle, as opposed to handing them straight over when needed. It also makes it easier to overlook players with anomalies who cannot talk or sometimes move until other players notice and help. Both of these things make a dramatic difference when testing different difficulty levels.I also really enjoy that the malfunction cards utilize different means of indicating what tools are needed. When you just have a picture of the tool, the team organically creates names for the tool which can be harder or easier, based on the way players process information (I need that hot glue gun looking doodlie doo!). Symbols, words, or pictures serve both to help players and hinder them, which is genius. It is truly chaotic and loud and immensely entertaining.