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Moonrakers
IV Studio · 2020
1–560–120 min14+ yrs2.5/5 complexity7.7 BGG#790 BGG6,6 K
⚡ short answer
How do you play Moonrakers?
The primary objective in Moonrakers is to accumulate Prestige Points. The game concludes at the end of any round in which at least one player has reached or exceeded 10 Prestige Points. If multiple players achieve this milestone in the same round, the winner is determined by comparing their total wealth (credits, value of ship parts, and crew members). The player with the highest total wealth among those who reached 10 or more Prestige Points is declared the winner.
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FromRON 399
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the rules in 60 seconds▶ auto · 1/6
🧩
01
Setup
Each player receives a Command Terminal, a starting hand of 5 action cards from their shuffled 10-card starting deck, and 2 credits; then set up the Armory, Dispatch, and Objective boards with their respective cards and tokens.
The rules, step by step
Setup
To set up Moonrakers, each player first takes a Command Terminal, which serves as their personal player board. Players then receive a starting deck of 10 identical action cards (3 Reactor, 2 Thruster, 2 Shield, 2 Damage, 1 Miss), which they shuffle to form their personal draw pile. From this draw pile, each player draws 5 cards to form their initial hand. Additionally, each player starts with 2 credits. The central play area is set up with the Armory board, where Ship Part and Crew cards are displayed for purchase, and the Dispatch board, which holds Contract cards. The Objective board is also placed, featuring Objective cards that grant Prestige Points. Hazard dice and additional credits are placed within reach of all players.
Objective
The primary objective in Moonrakers is to accumulate Prestige Points. The game concludes at the end of any round in which at least one player has reached or exceeded 10 Prestige Points. If multiple players achieve this milestone in the same round, the winner is determined by comparing their total wealth (credits, value of ship parts, and crew members). The player with the highest total wealth among those who reached 10 or more Prestige Points is declared the winner.
On your turn
A player's turn, as the Mission Leader, is divided into three distinct phases: Planning, Execution, and Buy. In the Planning Phase, the Mission Leader decides whether to attempt a Contract or stay at the Base. If attempting a Contract, they choose one from the Dispatch board and may negotiate with other players for assistance. If staying at the Base, they draw 2 Objective cards (keeping 1), gain 1 credit, and may discard and replace a Contract. The Execution Phase involves playing action cards to meet Contract requirements and rolling Hazard dice. The Buy Phase allows the Mission Leader to purchase Ship Parts or Crew cards from the Armory using their accumulated credits.
Scoring
Prestige Points are the main currency for victory in Moonrakers. Players earn Prestige Points primarily by successfully completing Contracts, which are chosen from the Dispatch board. Each Contract specifies the number of Prestige Points awarded upon completion. Additionally, players can gain Prestige Points by fulfilling Objective cards, which are personal goals kept secret until completed. These Objectives often require specific combinations of cards played or Contracts completed. Unblocked Hazard symbols rolled during Contract execution result in a loss of Prestige Points at the end of the round.
Game end
The game concludes immediately after the end of any round in which one or more players have accumulated 10 or more Prestige Points. If only one player has reached this threshold, that player is the sole winner. If multiple players achieve 10 or more Prestige Points in the same round, a tie-breaking procedure is initiated. The tied players compare their total wealth, which includes their remaining credits, the value of their Ship Parts, and the value of their Crew members. The player with the highest total wealth among the tied players is then declared the winner.
Tips
Moonrakers heavily emphasizes player interaction and negotiation. During the Planning Phase, the Mission Leader can invite other players to form an alliance to help complete a Contract. This negotiation involves offering a share of the Contract's rewards (credits, Prestige Points, or bonus cards) in exchange for their assistance. Be strategic in your offers and consider the trustworthiness of your allies, as players are not obligated to honor verbal agreements. Building a strong deck with a good balance of Reactor, Thruster, and Shield cards is crucial for successfully tackling Contracts, especially those with higher Hazard levels. Don't be afraid to trash less useful cards from your draw pile to streamline your deck and improve your chances of drawing powerful combinations.
🔬 game anatomy
Complexity2.5 / 5
BGG rating7.7 / 10
Language dependence
Moderate text — a crib sheet helps
Play time
60–120 min
Players
1–5
Recommended age
14+ yrs
BGG rank
#790
✨ from Trișache · verified
Frequently asked questions
Q1What is the goal of the game?
The primary objective in Moonrakers is to accumulate Prestige Points. The game concludes at the end of any round in which at least one player has reached or exceeded 10 Prestige Points. If multiple players achieve this milestone in the same round, the winner is determined by comparing their total wealth (credits, value of ship parts, and crew members). The player with the highest total wealth among those who reached 10 or more Prestige Points is declared the winner.
Q2How do you set up the game?
To set up Moonrakers, each player first takes a Command Terminal, which serves as their personal player board. Players then receive a starting deck of 10 identical action cards (3 Reactor, 2 Thruster, 2 Shield, 2 Damage, 1 Miss), which they shuffle to form their personal draw pile. From this draw pile, each player draws 5 cards to form their initial hand. Additionally, each player starts with 2 credits. The central play area is set up with the Armory board, where Ship Part and Crew cards are displayed for purchase, and the Dispatch board, which holds Contract cards. The Objective board is also placed, featuring Objective cards that grant Prestige Points. Hazard dice and additional credits are placed within reach of all players.
Q3How does a turn work?
A player's turn, as the Mission Leader, is divided into three distinct phases: Planning, Execution, and Buy. In the Planning Phase, the Mission Leader decides whether to attempt a Contract or stay at the Base. If attempting a Contract, they choose one from the Dispatch board and may negotiate with other players for assistance. If staying at the Base, they draw 2 Objective cards (keeping 1), gain 1 credit, and may discard and replace a Contract. The Execution Phase involves playing action cards to meet Contract requirements and rolling Hazard dice. The Buy Phase allows the Mission Leader to purchase Ship Parts or Crew cards from the Armory using their accumulated credits.
Q4How is scoring calculated?
Prestige Points are the main currency for victory in Moonrakers. Players earn Prestige Points primarily by successfully completing Contracts, which are chosen from the Dispatch board. Each Contract specifies the number of Prestige Points awarded upon completion. Additionally, players can gain Prestige Points by fulfilling Objective cards, which are personal goals kept secret until completed. These Objectives often require specific combinations of cards played or Contracts completed. Unblocked Hazard symbols rolled during Contract execution result in a loss of Prestige Points at the end of the round.
Q5When and how does the game end?
The game concludes immediately after the end of any round in which one or more players have accumulated 10 or more Prestige Points. If only one player has reached this threshold, that player is the sole winner. If multiple players achieve 10 or more Prestige Points in the same round, a tie-breaking procedure is initiated. The tied players compare their total wealth, which includes their remaining credits, the value of their Ship Parts, and the value of their Crew members. The player with the highest total wealth among the tied players is then declared the winner.
Q6What tips are there for beginners?
Moonrakers heavily emphasizes player interaction and negotiation. During the Planning Phase, the Mission Leader can invite other players to form an alliance to help complete a Contract. This negotiation involves offering a share of the Contract's rewards (credits, Prestige Points, or bonus cards) in exchange for their assistance. Be strategic in your offers and consider the trustworthiness of your allies, as players are not obligated to honor verbal agreements. Building a strong deck with a good balance of Reactor, Thruster, and Shield cards is crucial for successfully tackling Contracts, especially those with higher Hazard levels. Don't be afraid to trash less useful cards from your draw pile to streamline your deck and improve your chances of drawing powerful combinations.
Q7How much does Moonrakers cost?
Moonrakers costs around 399 RON in Romania.
Q8Where can I buy Moonrakers cheapest?
The lowest price for Moonrakers right now is 399 RON at Pionul.ro. The Prices tab lists every store currently tracking it.
Q9How do you play Moonrakers?
Moonrakers is a card game game, for 1–5 players, taking ~60–120 minutes, featuring action points. Check the Rules tab for setup, gameplay, and scoring, or ask Trișache anything about Moonrakers — our AI assistant built by howtoplay.ro and trained specifically on board game rulebooks.
Q10How many players does Moonrakers support?
Moonrakers is played by 1–5 players.
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