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Where to Buy Star Wars: Rebellion: Amazon US | Amazon CA
Game Overview
Star Wars: Rebellion is a two-player strategy game (or four with teams) from Fantasy Flight Games, set in the classic era of the original Star Wars trilogy. This game is all about asymmetry: one person plays the mighty Galactic Empire, trying to crush the upstart Rebellion, while the other plays the Rebel Alliance, fighting a losing battle but surviving through tricks, hidden bases, and careful planning.
This game isn’t a light, quick match — it’s more like a full-on Star Wars movie you play at the table. The box says 3 to 4 hours, and yeah, that’s about right. Longer if it’s your first game. But for those hours? You’re living in the galaxy far, far away.
The Basics: What’s in the Box?
The box is massive, and it needs to be. Inside, you’ll find:
- 150+ plastic minis (Stormtroopers, X-Wings, Death Star, and more)
- Over 40 characters from the movies like Leia, Darth Vader, Han Solo, and Emperor Palpatine
- A HUGE two-part game board showing the whole galaxy split into different systems
- Decks of mission, objective, and tactic cards
- Dice, tokens, and hidden movement sheets
The production is excellent. It looks like Star Wars from top to bottom. The character artwork fits the mood, the plastic pieces are detailed, and the double-board makes it feel big and cinematic. It takes a while to set up, though, and you’ll need a good-sized table.
How It Plays
This isn’t a game where you just roll dice and watch what happens. This is planning, bluffing, and reacting. Here’s the short version:
- The Rebel player hides their secret base somewhere on the galaxy map
- The Empire doesn’t know where it is and tries to find and destroy it
- Both sides take turns sending iconic leaders on missions
- Combat happens with dice plus tactics cards
- The Rebellion wins by scoring objectives and running out the clock
- The Empire wins by finding and turning the Rebel base into space dust
The missions are where the heart of the game lives. You might send Luke to sabotage a factory, or maybe Emperor Palpatine tries to capture Mon Mothma. Some missions are secret, and that adds tension. Do you defend Coruscant, or do you send Vader across the map to capture Leia?
Asymmetry: Two Very Different Games in One Box
This is where it shines. The Empire plays like a giant machine. Crush, conquer, control. You have more ships, more troops, and tons of power. But you don’t know where the enemy is.
The Rebels play smart and nimble. You don’t win in battle (usually), you win in surprise. You’re always slipping out and popping back up with clever plans. If the Empire guesses your base wrong, you have space to breathe. If they guess right, it can get ugly.
What Star Wars: Rebellion Does Right
1. Thematic Feel
This game feels like Star Wars. The way missions are structured, the familiar faces, the rebel hit-and-run style — it all lines up. Major events from the movies can happen differently too. Maybe Luke turns to the Dark Side. Maybe Leia leads the Rebellion alone. It’s fun seeing the story take new paths.
2. Tense and Strategic
Every decision matters. Do you send Han on a risky prison break, or save him for an important battle later? Do you defend your worlds or spread out to slow the Empire? If you enjoy games with strong planning and high stakes, you’ll have a good time here.
3. Hidden Information Equals Real Drama
The hidden Rebel base is one of the best mechanics in modern board games. It turns the whole game into a race against time and a battle of wits. The tension climbs every time the Empire explores a new system. Did they find you? Can you relocate in time?
4. Variety and Replay Value
The mission cards change up every game. Random events and different base locations keep things fresh, especially for the Rebel player. The two factions play so differently that switching sides makes it feel like a new experience.
Where It Falls Short
1. Long Playtime and Table Space
I like deep games, but Rebellion isn’t one you pull off the shelf during a weekday. You’re looking at setup, playtime, and then clean-up — all of which add up. It fits best with dedicated game nights or weekend sessions. And if you don’t have a big table, good luck fitting the board, player mats, minis, and tokens without serious crowding.
2. Learning Curve
I’ve taught this a few times now. The rulebook is clear but deep. Between leaders, missions, dice combat, and the base mechanics, it can easily overwhelm a new player. And teaching both sides? Not simple.
This isn’t just “move your army, roll some dice.” It’s more than that, which is great once you know how to play, but rough the first game or two — especially for someone who doesn’t usually play 3-hour games.
3. Balance Hinges on Experience
The Empire has more weight, and the Rebels are more fragile. That’s by design and makes the game exciting. But if one person is new and the other experienced, it can be a crushing defeat. I recommend playing it a few times and rotating sides. Once both players are comfortable, it sings.
Expansion Thoughts: Rise of the Empire
If you’ve played the base game and want more, I do recommend the expansion, Rise of the Empire. It adds better combat rules, new leaders, fresh missions, and ties into the Rogue One story. It fixes some of the clunkier parts of the base game and keeps everything that made it good. We play with it every time now. You can play without it, but it’s a solid upgrade after a few games.
Is Star Wars: Rebellion Right for Your Group?
Let’s break it down:
- Great for: Star Wars fans, two-player groups, people who like a mix of story and strategy
- Maybe skip if: You hate long games or don’t want to learn complex rules
- Best with 2 players: The game comes with 4-player rules (teams), but I only recommend it for teaching. Head-to-head is the best experience by far
If you’ve played games like War of the Ring, Twilight Struggle, or Root, and you enjoyed them, this is probably your kind of game. If you like your gaming spicy with a shot of drama and bluffing, the tension from that hidden base alone is worth the ticket.
Final Thoughts
Star Wars: Rebellion isn’t perfect, but man, it’s memorable. The asymmetry is bold. The theme is everywhere. And when things click, you’re not just playing a game — you’re retelling the Star Wars saga in bold, sometimes wild ways. I’ve seen crazy comebacks, heartbreaking reveals, and moments that still come up in conversation a year later.
If that sounds like the kind of experience you want from a board game, then Rebellion has a real chance of earning your attention — and a long-term spot on your shelf. Just leave some time for setup… and probably an extra pizza.
