Snap Ships Tactics (2023) Board Game

Snap Ships Tactics is a board game based on the popular toy line Snap Ships, which features customizable spacecraft that snap together. The game was released in 2023 and is designed by Gino Stratolat. It falls under the categories of Miniatures, Science Fiction, and Wargame, appealing to fans of space battles and tactical gameplay.

Game Components of Snap Ships Tactics

Over 100 detailed plastic pieces for building ships

Chassis cards and add-on module cards (guns, engines, wings, etc.)

AI cards for solo or cooperative play

Energy and heat cubes for resource management

Custom dice

Heavy-duty flight stands

Plastic move tools

Terrain, hull trackers, ID, and missile tokens

Range rulers

How To Setup Snap Ships Tactics

To set up the game, players first build their ships using the snap-fit connection system, either following the instruction manual or customizing their designs. Each ship has a dashboard composed of a chassis and add-on modules. The game includes everything needed to start playing 1v1 or solo against an AI ship, with options to expand for multi-ship combat.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Resource Management: Players manage energy and heat cubes to activate ship systems and weapons.

Ship Building: Customizable ships built using modular plastic pieces.

Turn Structure: Each turn involves resetting resources, taking forced actions, and spending cubes to activate ship parts for movement, attacks, or other actions.

Combat: Simple dice rolling mechanics with range bands and evasion values.

AI Integration: AI cards allow for solo or cooperative play.

Objective: Destroy the opponent’s ship or ships to win.

Player Experience

Snap Ships Tactics offers a unique blend of creativity, strategy, and tactics. Players enjoy the LEGO-style building of their ships and the tactical depth of managing resources and activating ship systems. The game is quick to learn but has competitive depth, making it appealing to both new and experienced gamers. The inclusion of AI cards expands play options to solo and cooperative modes, adding variety to the game experience.

Pros

High Customization: Players can build unique ships using over 100 plastic pieces.

Resource Management: Engaging mechanics of managing energy and heat cubes add strategic depth.

AI Integration: Solo and cooperative play options using AI cards.

Easy to Learn: Rules are not overly complex and can be picked up relatively easily.

Fun and Addictive: Players find the gameplay mechanics fun and engaging.

Cons

Component Scale: Some players find the ship models too large, leading to frequent collisions on the play area.

Additional Costs: Full customization and multi-ship combat require the purchase of additional ship packs.

Pace with Multiple Players: Game length increases significantly with more players, stretching from 20 to 40 minutes.

Personal Thoughts on Snap Ships Tactics

Snap Ships Tactics is ideal for fans of spaceship combat and modular building. It is a great introduction to tabletop miniatures wargames, especially for newer gamers, due to its accessible rules. The game’s balance of creativity, strategy, and tactics makes it enjoyable for both solo and multiplayer experiences. While it may not offer the rich depth of some other skirmish games, its unique mechanics and customization options set it apart as a fun and innovative addition to the genre.

We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost for you. Learn more.