Nexum Galaxy Review from Brad Hiscock

Quick Look: Nexum Galaxy

Designer: Enrique Prieto Catalán
Artists: Paco Arenas, Matias Cazorla
Publisher: Eclipse Editorial (in association with Draco Ideas)
Year Published: 2021

No. of Players: 1-4

Ages: 12+

Playing Time: 15-30 mins/player (Average game expected 30-60mins)

Find more info on BoardGameGeek.com

Foreword:

I reached out to Draco Ideas and asked for a chance to review one of their titles. They got back to me with a few they had available in English and asked me if I had a preference. As a huge sci-fi fan, Nexum Galaxy looked like a clear winner right out of the gate. They sent me the base game, an expansion, and some minis! When I dug into it, I was able to pick it up pretty quick as a lot of actions felt intuitive and there wasn’t any confusion amongst the players. I feel this is one of those rare games that can be as easy or hard as you want it to be and you can tweak things for custom missions, which is encouraged, or play scenarios until you get more comfortable.

Nexum Galaxy, despite its genre, amount of content and components, is actually really easy to learn. So much so, I’d almost classify it as an ideal choice for gamers looking to get their friends or family into the board game hobby. It wouldn’t be my choice as the first game to introduce to someone that’s never played board games before but as one of the first that could deliver a heavier experience with a lighter ruleset. This game over delivered on my gameplay expectations and accessibility.

From the Publisher:

You arrive in this galactic sector with a small fleet, on the hunt for the relics of an ancient civilization. The sector is not empty and the ships before you do not look friendly. You are the last hope of your people, everything depends on you!

Nexum Galaxy has a simple and intuitive ruleset that can be learned very quickly, but at the same time has a high tactical and strategic component.

Disclaimer: The publisher provided the copy of Nexum Galaxy. The opinions expressed in the review are completely my own.

Review:

Initial Impression/Components:

After reading up a bit on this title and how much content was said to be inside the box, I had a pre-conceived idea of what I was going to receive. When it arrived, it was all smaller than expected and I was skeptical that the rest of the game was going to under deliver based on this discrepancy. When I read the rules and they claimed the game to be 100% strategy based with no luck element I again thought, okay, this is not going to play out well. The box, rules and components themselves were sturdy and above average. The punchouts were solid (and the really small minis in the 120 miniature set were solid but tiny). I had the base game, the beyond expansion, and the 120 optional mini set for this playthrough. I must also note, they had a quick rulebook and an advanced multi-scenario/set-up rulebook which worked excellently with this title. Their artwork and especially their planets were well done and fit my personal tastes.

Here’s a spread of the base game components:

Favorite:

Each player has 4 cards which represent the actions they have to choose from on their turn. Two of them only have 1 action type, and the other two have both (in opposite order) for 4 unique choices. What I really liked about this was how you had to build a strategy around which order you chose those actions in because you can’t reuse the same card until you’ve exhausted all 4 over 4 turns and got access to them all again. In other words, you have to flip over your action card choice when you use it and can only flip them all over again once each has been used.

Least Favorite:

It will resolve itself after just one game, but I feel the rules should explain how easy it is to win based on the setup of the planets, location of relics, and/or the placement of enemy units. The first game I played was 1v1 and was over in about 20 minutes with only one battle. I had one unit, alone, with a relic attached and the other player already had 3. When they long-jumped to the planet my unit was on, they won the battle, claimed the last relic and won. Though this is exactly the nature of the game, both of us were a little disappointed by that outcome because we were surprised at how easy it was if you weren’t paying attention. Of course, after seeing that in action, I paid a lot more attention the next game and though I lost again, it was a tighter game with more enjoyment all around. A quick note in the rules stressing the importance of such things or the ease of “back dooring” would solve that for first timers.

Mechanics:

Area Movement

Grid Movement

Hand Management
Resource Management

Modular Board

Player Elimination

Simulation

Variable Phase Order

Variable Player Powers

Worker Placement
Area Control

Rules:

The rules were easy to digest and well explained. I got through quickly and had time to play a quick game before digging into the second ruleset for advanced rules and scenarios. This link directs you to a how to play from the publisher:

In short, on your turn you will alternate between choosing from 2 basic phases or both. One you can move/attack and collect rewards, the other you gain income and can grow your fleet. You will need to time your expansion of both units and areas you occupy so you don’t spread to thin and present an easy target. I don’t have a link to the full rules but the how to play video will be more than enough to get you started fast.

Areas they did well:

– Easy ruleset / good rulebook + 2^nd rulebook for advanced rules and scenarios

– Huge replayability, content, and optional scenarios

– Accessible to less experienced gamers

– Lots of interaction and quicker finish with little downtime

– No luck element
– Strategy oriented

– Quick and automatic battles not drawn-out calculations or rolls
– Two paths to victory
– Modular setup and missions

– Solo Mode

– Art and design
– Great turn breakdown and Quick reference
– Nice components and quality

– Clear and consistent iconography

– Neat interplanetary and solar system travel
– Good income/cost balance

– Ability to purchase 1^st player throughout

Areas they could have improved:

– Quick example and explanation of how to exploit a weakness or what’s important.

– The optional add on minis were quite small and didn’t stack relics as good as the original punchouts

– Surprise finish can be underwhelming for first play(s) until more familiar with different strategies

– With no luck element (which I actually loved) individual player strengths in terms of tactics, will show.

Overall:

Especially when you consider the expansion(s), Nexum Galaxy packs a heavy punch with an easy entry to play. You will not get bogged down with choices, confusing options, or rules a mile long. You’re going to get to the action, quickly, build a supply chain/resource income, and battle for victory! Be warned though, whether you meet with success or failure, it will purely come down to your gameplay – so try to be a good sport either way.

Final Thoughts:

This game did a great job of delivering a deep immersive experience that I’d expect from a game twice its length. I got the same great feelings from certain moments in Nexum Galaxy that I invested way more time into other games to get. For someone that is interested in time management, I feel this title is a better investment of my time for the fun I’ll get back. I don’t talk about that aspect of a game often as it’s not really the point of finishing a game as fast as possible. I simply mean if a game can deliver something in half the time, why not play it twice and get double the experience in the same time!

I’ll see you next time, back here at The Game Table,

Brad Hiscock, aka Zerility

Interested in seeing what Jazz thought of NEXUM Galaxy? Check out his NEXUM GALAXY REVIEW.

After reading Brad’s review, if this sounds like a game for you at the time of this posting NEXUM Galaxy is available for purchase for only €28.93. Check it out and back it HERE.
Find out more at BGG.

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Brad Hiscock, aka “Zerility”, is a construction project manager and electrician by trade who was the owner of a 6-time award winning electrical company. His passion for board games has led him from playing hundreds of original titles to creating a design and publishing company of his own, Convivial Games. As an up and coming collaborator on many projects, he is always eager to try new games and meet new people.

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All of Brad Hiscock, aka “Zerility”‘s reviews can be found HERE

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