Space Cats Fight Fascism (2018) Board Game

Space Cats Fight Fascism is a board game released in 2018, designed by Evan Rowland. The game features a unique theme of cats in space fighting against fascism, blending humor, politics, and science fiction into an entertaining gameplay experience. The game was illustrated by Toolbox for Education and Social Action (The TESA).

Game Components of Space Cats Fight Fascism

Player Characters: Each player has a Space Cat character card with unique abilities (Pouncer, Medic, Smuggler, Freedom Fighter) and tracks wounds (scratches).

Planets: 12 planet cards arranged in a 4×3 grid as the game board.

Fascist Tokens: Blue cubes representing the fascist forces.

Liberation Tokens: Tokens for liberating planets.

Resist Cards: Cards with actions like “Knock Fascist Things Over” and “Cuddle in Solidarity.”

Galactic News Cards: Cards that move the Fascism scale and introduce challenges.

Occupied Flags: Tokens indicating fascist control.

Fascism Scale: A tracker for the fascist power level.

How To Setup Space Cats Fight Fascism

To set up the game, shuffle and lay out the 12 planet cards in a 4×3 grid. Each player randomly selects a Space Cat character card and places their cat token on their home planet. Place one fascist token on every even-numbered planet and one additional token on each cat’s home planet. Each player draws two Resist cards. Other tokens and cards are placed within easy reach.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Objectives

Liberate Planets: Players must liberate four planets by placing four Liberation tokens on each.

Defeat Fascism: Prevent the Rat Pack from winning by avoiding three Occupied flags on the board, keeping the Fascism Scale below “Lose,” and ensuring fewer than 20 fascist tokens on planets.

Actions

Travel: Move to an adjacent planet.

Fight Fascism: Remove one fascist token from the current planet.

Restock: Draw up to four Resist cards.

Play Resist Card: Use cards to remove fascists, heal, transport, or gain new powers.

Mechanics

Fascist Scale: Roll dice (1d6 to 3d6) based on the Fascism Scale level, placing new fascist tokens on planets corresponding to the roll numbers.

Galactic News: Draw cards when rolling certain numbers, introducing additional challenges.

Player Experience

Space Cats Fight Fascism offers a fast-paced and engaging cooperative experience, likened to the feel of Pandemic but with the urgent theme of fighting fascism. Players strategize together, utilizing their unique cat abilities and Resist cards to liberate planets and thwart the fascist Rat Pack. The game is praised for its tight mechanics, funny Galactic News headlines, and the blend of fun and social relevance.

Pros

Cooperative Gameplay: Encourages teamwork and strategy.

Unique Abilities: Each cat has distinct skills, adding variety to gameplay.

Resist Cards: Provide diverse actions and combinations.

Socially Relevant Theme: Addresses themes of fascism and resistance in a engaging way.

Sustainable Production: Made in the US and Europe with sustainable practices.

Cons

Setup Complexity: Although not difficult, setup requires laying out multiple components.

Luck Element: Dice rolls can introduce unpredictability and challenges.

Personal Thoughts on Space Cats Fight Fascism

Space Cats Fight Fascism is ideal for those who enjoy cooperative games with a strong thematic element. It is particularly suited for players aged 13 and above who appreciate a mix of strategy and social commentary. The game’s message of resistance against oppression, combined with its fun and engaging mechanics, makes it a standout in the board game genre. It is a great choice for casual game nights with friends or family, offering both entertainment and a thought-provoking experience.

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