Gemopedia
Card Games🇺🇸United States21st century

Star Realms

FAST 2-PLAYER SCI-FI DECKBUILDING CARD GAME by ROBERT DOUGHERTY + DARWIN KASTLE (also Ascension) + WHITE WIZARD GAMES, released 2014. Deckbuilder with COMBAT — deal 50 damage to opponent to win (deckbuilder version of Magic: The Gathering). 4 factions (Blob, Trade Federation, Star Empire, Machine Cult) with distinct synergies. FAST 15-20 minute games. FREE-TO-PLAY DIGITAL VERSION on iOS/Android/PC drove massive popularity. Multiple expansions (United, Colony Wars, Frontiers, Missions, Crisis, Command Decks). Sold 2M+ copies. Considered THE best 2-PLAYER DECKBUILDER + one of the best card games ever.

📐Small tabletop⏱~20 min🌤indoor

What is Star Realms?

STAR REALMS is a FAST 2-PLAYER SCI-FI DECKBUILDING CARD GAME designed by ROBERT DOUGHERTY + DARWIN KASTLE (also designers of ASCENSION 2010 deckbuilder + former Magic: The Gathering Hall of Fame pros) + published by WHITE WIZARD GAMES. Released 2014 via Kickstarter (raised $150k). Deckbuilder + COMBAT hybrid — deal 50 DAMAGE ('Authority Loss') to opponent to win (essentially the deckbuilder version of Magic: The Gathering). GAMEPLAY: 2 PLAYERS each start with 10-card deck (8 Vipers = +1 damage, 2 Scouts = +1 trade); draw 5 cards each turn; play cards for TRADE (currency to buy new cards from trade row) or COMBAT (damage opponent). Buy cards from 5-card TRADE ROW (constantly refills from central Trade Deck). 4 FACTIONS with distinct synergies + colors: BLOB (green, big combat + destruction), TRADE FEDERATION (blue, healing + trade), STAR EMPIRE (yellow, cards + attacks), MACHINE CULT (red, scrapping + efficiency). Multi-faction cards give bonus abilities when combined. WIN CONDITION: reduce opponent's AUTHORITY from 50 to 0. FAST GAMES: 15-20 minutes per game (much shorter than Dominion). FREE-TO-PLAY DIGITAL VERSION on iOS/Android/PC (also Steam) drove MASSIVE popularity — over 5M downloads; considered one of the best digital card games ever. Multiple EXPANSIONS: United (2014 first, character cards), Colony Wars (2015 standalone 2-player), Crisis (2015 4 mini-expansions), Gambit (2015 event cards), Frontiers (2018 4-player campaign), Missions (2018 events), Command Decks (2020 pre-constructed), Prophecies (2022 mission-based), Federal Reserve, and more. Sold 2M+ copies + digital downloads uncountable. TIE-INS: STAR REALMS: FRONTIERS (2018, 4-player expansion), HERO REALMS (2016 fantasy re-skin), EPIC (2015 constructed CCG spinoff), CTHULHU REALMS (2016 Lovecraftian re-skin). Considered THE best 2-PLAYER DECKBUILDER (Dominion is 2-4 player oriented) + one of the greatest card games ever + established Dougherty + Kastle as design luminaries.

Quick facts

Category

Card Games

Type

Individual

Players

2–4

Duration

~20 min

Where played

indoor

Field / court

Small tabletop

Country of origin

🇺🇸 United States

Estimated origin

2014 Kickstarter + retail; multiple expansions since

Olympic

No

Popularity

major

How it works

Objective

Reduce opponent Authority (starting 50) to 0.

Rules

Basic rules

  • Each player starts with 10-card deck (8 Vipers, 2 Scouts) + 50 Authority

    Standard identical starting decks.

  • Each turn: draw 5, play cards for Trade (buy) or Combat (damage)

    Turn structure similar to Dominion.

  • 5-card Trade Row constantly refills from central Trade Deck

    Constant new options.

  • Bases: ships that stay in play + must be destroyed by opponent

    Persistent card type.

  • Multi-faction bonuses: cards of same faction combined give extra abilities

    Synergy building.

  • Win: reduce opponent Authority to 0

    Combat-focused deckbuilder.

Scoring

Authority (HP) based. Win at 0 opponent Authority.

ActionPoints
Deal Combat damage-1 opponent Authority
Trade for cardsBuy from Trade Row
Scrap cards for one-shot bonusesSlim deck + immediate benefit
Reduce opponent to 0 AuthorityWin game

Win condition · Reduce opponent to 0 Authority.

Playing area

Called

Small tabletop

Dimensions

Small tabletop or coffee table (~30cm × 40cm)

Home tabletop, coffee table, or digital app. Compact + portable.

Equipment

  • Star Realms base game ($15 USD)

    Retail; complete 2-player game

  • Star Realms: Colony Wars ($15)

    Standalone 2-player; alternate cards

  • Star Realms: Frontiers ($30)

    4-player expansion

  • Star Realms digital app (FREE on iOS/Android/Steam/PC)

    Excellent digital adaptation; free base game

  • Various expansion packs ($5-15 each)

    United, Crisis, Gambit, Missions, Command Decks, Prophecies

Strategies

  • Commit to 1-2 factions for synergy bonuses

    Multi-faction cards + same-faction bonuses.

  • Scrap Vipers + Scouts early

    Slim deck for efficiency.

  • Bases pressure opponent

    Force opponent to spend attacks on bases.

  • Balance trade vs combat

    Too much trade = weak damage; too much combat = weak deck.

  • Save big attacks for burst kills

    Combine + surprise damage.

Terminology

Authority
Health/life; start 50, win at 0 opponent.
Trade
Currency for buying cards.
Combat
Damage to opponent.
Trade Row
5 cards visible to buy.
Trade Deck
Central deck; refills Trade Row.
Base
Persistent card in play; must be destroyed by opponent.
Outpost
Base type that must be destroyed before opponent can attack player directly.
Scrap
Trash card for one-shot bonus.
Faction bonus
Extra ability when multiple faction cards played same turn.
Blob / Trade Federation / Star Empire / Machine Cult
4 factions.

Major competitions

  • Star Realms World Championship (annual)

    annual · worldwide + online · since 2015

  • Star Realms digital app tournaments + ladder

    ongoing · worldwide online · since 2015

  • Gen Con + BGG.CON demos + tournaments

    annual · USA + worldwide · since 2015

Where it is played

Governing bodies

  • White Wizard Games (publisher)

    Founded 2013 · USA

  • Robert Dougherty + Darwin Kastle (designers)

    Founded 2014 · USA

  • BoardGameGeek (community tracking)

    Founded 2000 · USA

Famous names & records

Famous athletes

  • Robert Dougherty (US) — Designer; MTG Hall of Fame
  • Darwin Kastle (US) — Designer; MTG Hall of Fame

Learn this sport

beginner

  1. 1

    Download Star Realms app free (iOS/Android/Steam)

    Best entry point.

  2. 2

    OR buy Star Realms base game ($15)

    Physical version.

intermediate

  1. 1

    Add Colony Wars ($15) for alternate cards

    More variety.

  2. 2

    Play online ranked

    App has ladder + tournaments.

advanced

  1. 1

    Enter Star Realms World Championship qualifiers

    Competitive play.

Frequently asked

What is Star Realms?+

FAST 2-PLAYER SCI-FI DECKBUILDING CARD GAME by ROBERT DOUGHERTY + DARWIN KASTLE (also Ascension) + WHITE WIZARD GAMES, released 2014. Deckbuilder with COMBAT — deal 50 damage to opponent to win (deckbuilder version of Magic: The Gathering). 4 factions (Blob, Trade Federation, Star Empire, Machine Cult) with distinct synergies. FAST 15-20 minute games. FREE-TO-PLAY DIGITAL VERSION on iOS/Android/PC drove massive popularity. Multiple expansions. Sold 2M+ copies. Considered THE best 2-PLAYER DECKBUILDER + one of the best card games ever.

Star Realms vs Dominion — which deckbuilder?+

BOTH GENRE-DEFINING BUT DIFFERENT. DOMINION (2008): 2-4 players, 60 min, VP-based (score most points), 500+ cards across 15+ expansions, no combat. STAR REALMS (2014): 2 players, 15-20 min, combat-based (deal damage), 200+ cards across expansions, fast + portable. RECOMMENDATION: STAR REALMS for FAST 2-PLAYER portable games + free app + combat lovers. DOMINION for LONGER 2-4 player VP-based deckbuilding + more variety per game + collector expansions. Both are excellent gateway deckbuilders; can happily own both.

Sources & provenance

Last verified 2026-08-27.verified