Star Wars: Rebellion

With hida and kets taking the Empire and me left with the thankless job of being the Rebel, Star Wars: Rebellion put on its familiar, splendidly weighty table show: a contest decided by the narrowest margin, where even a small move seemed to leave a mark.

A round is not simply a sequence of ships moving about. The Empire spreads its reach and hunts, while the Rebellion tries to stay one step ahead, choosing where it can afford to be seen and where it must merely endure. Even when the table is full of options, the game keeps its story legible.

The conflict between players does not need to become a battle every few minutes to feel suffocating. We had only a handful of clashes, yet the pressure was everywhere: in the threat behind a move, the suspicion that your opponent has read your plan, and the choice between taking a risk now or disappearing for a little longer. When the fleets finally do meet, the moment carries weight.

Time is the price; even at a brisk pace, and without many battles, the game filled three hours. But for an evening that wants to put on a little theatre at the table, Star Wars: Rebellion remains quietly excellent and right up there among two-player games.