Space Station Phoenix

Start with a maxed-out engine and dismantle it, building a space station while your options shrink.

Designer: Gabriel J. Cohn
Published by: Rio Grande Games

Space Station Phoenix turns the usual engine-building curve upside down. You are a representative of the Galactic Council, sent to Earth to build space stations and observe humanity. You start with nine ships and a station hub, and the ships double as your action spaces for gathering resources, exploring nearby planets and building. Turns are quick: take a ship action or take income. Where most games grow a small engine into a big one, here you begin with the best production engine you will ever have and then dismantle it, piece by piece. Your actions get more efficient, yet the number of ways to take them shrinks. It is a worker-placement game for two to four, around two hours, that makes you plan the decline.

Nine ships double as action spacesStart strong and break the engine downVariable player powers and setups

Who it's for

You enjoy worker placement and engine puzzles and want a twist where timing the decline matters more than growth.

Not for you if…

You want a gentle, forgiving game. The mid-weight planning needs a group that likes optimizing.

Vibe's take

Clever and slightly backwards: you feel rich on turn one and then carefully spend that wealth. Quick turns and a satisfying sense of tightening efficiency.