Ascending Empires

Colonize a new galaxy and fight space battles by flicking your ships across the board.

Designer: Ian Cooper (I)
Published by: Z-Man Games

Ascending Empires is a space empire game where the fighting is done by flicking. The last survivors of humanity have fled to a new galaxy and found the ruins of four long-dead civilizations. You race to colonize worlds, build cities and research facilities, and develop technology from the alien relics. Your ships are little discs, and when they move or shoot you flick them across the board, so a plan only works if your finger does. Exploration, building and tech paths come with a pinch of dexterity that keeps it light and tactile. A 2011 game for two to four, around seventy-five minutes, for anyone who likes 4X with a wink.

Space combat by flicking shipsAlien relics unlock new technologiesColonies, cities and research facilities

Who it's for

You like a space empire game with real choices but also enjoy the silliness of flicking things across the table.

Not for you if…

You dislike dexterity in your strategy or want precise, luck-free combat.

Vibe's take

Part strategy, part party trick. You plan like an emperor and then shoot like a kid with a marble, and the table groans or cheers on every flick.