I picked up this game shortly before Christmas. I had missed out on a lot of the hype when it first came out, but what I started reading intrigued me. Was it possible to make a great game that was played entirely with cards (and VP markers)?

I read the rules several times before bringing it to the table. Our first play was a little sketchy as we both tried to figure out all the different icons. By the third game we'd figured out the icons and were developing strategies. By the fourth, the wife thrashed me soundly.

So, what makes this game great for us?

Once you figure out the icons, it's a pretty straight-forward. I think it's a neat mechanism that uses cards for playing in front of you, for money and for goods. All the different worlds and developments, as well as the choice of phases to play each round, give great diversity and replayability, but it's not so much that it causes brain cramps. All of our games have been 20 minutes or less, making this a great way to get a game in when we don't have the time to play one of our other favorites. And the fact that it's just cards and a few victory point tokens means hardly any setup. Count out some chips, shuffle some cards and you're ready!

But even though it's easy to get into, it's definitely got some depth. There are enough different kinds of cards to play to a number of different strategies, but with the need for flexibility depending on the draw. This is one that neither of us will master for some time.

We both are avid sci-fi readers, so the them is a hit with us. The artwork reminds me of a lot of the movie posters and book covers that were coming out when I was younger. I love Twilight Imperium, but hardly ever have the time. This is a great way for me to get a sci-fi 'fix' in 20 minutes or so.

Race for the Galaxy is one that comes off our shelf quite a bit, and is sure to come off the shelf a lot in the future. If you want a game that's fairly easy to learn, but has some fairly deep strategies and a cool sci-fi theme, this is one to look at a little closer.