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Ion Core

Ion Core

Magister Games · 2026
1–460–150 min12+ yrs3.0/5 complexity8.8 BGG11Strategy
short answer

How do you play Ion Core?

Enter Ion Core, a thematic sandbox game set in a post-apocalyptic dystopian world. Humanity has been driven to piracy to secure a brighter future and it's up to you to guide your faction to victory!

To find the best price for Ion Core, howtoplay.ro compares deals from Romanian shops every day.

Ion Core box art
official art · Magister Games

Enter Ion Core, a thematic sandbox game set in a post-apocalyptic dystopian world. Humanity has been driven to piracy to secure a brighter future and it's up to you to guide your faction to victory!

Procedurally generated maps by placing tiles using specific actions ensure a diverse and different seafaring and treacherous landscape each time you play. How will you navigate in order to brave the perils of Ion Core’s world? Plan your course well or enemy factions will take all the glory!

Enjoy an adventure with minimal luck factor – actions like Scavenge or Plunder can be enhanced using a deck or upgrades to allow players to either enhance or mitigate chances, shifting the outcome to your favor.

Pillage or visit cities to upgrade your ship, gather spoils and forgotten relics, hunt dangerous beasts, enlist new crewmembers or entertain them to increase their morale, trade your way to riches or plunder your way to victory!

With a variety of ways to play and different aspects to focus on, there is never a dull moment - reading through your opponent’s intent is just as important as planning your own. No matter how you choose to advance, make sure to set your sights on controlling the energy source of this cruel world, and gather the most renown at the end! The choice is yours!

Beautifully hand-drawn artwork and components will suck you into Ion Core’s world and its unparalleled aesthetic! Each character comes to life through backstory and art to immerse players and make bonds, not just progress.

But beware, you are not alone in sailing the seas... Enemy ships and a mysterious, relentless adversary haunt your every move so plan well, take risks and brave your way to total control!

—description from the publisher

🔬 game anatomy
Complexity3.0 / 5
BGG rating8.8 / 10
Vibe
Strategy
Play time
60–150 min
Players
1–4
Recommended age
12+ yrs

from Trișache · verified

Frequently asked questions

Q1How much does Ion Core cost?
No store is currently tracking Ion Core. Check the Prices tab — you can set a price alert to be notified when it appears.
Q2Where can I buy Ion Core cheapest?
Check the Prices tab — howtoplay.ro aggregates offers from 7+ Romanian board-game stores and tracks price history.
Q3How do you play Ion Core?
Ion Core is a exploration game, for 1–4 players, taking ~60–150 minutes, featuring action / event. Check the Rules tab for setup, gameplay, and scoring, or ask Trișache anything about Ion Core — our AI assistant built by howtoplay.ro and trained specifically on board game rulebooks.
Q4How many players does Ion Core support?
Ion Core is played by 1–4 players.
Q5How long does a game of Ion Core take?
A game of Ion Core takes about 60–150 minutes. (The first game doesn't count. It never counts.)
Q6What age is Ion Core for?
Ion Core is recommended from age 12.
Q7How complex is Ion Core?
Ion Core has a BoardGameGeek complexity of 3.0 out of 5.
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