Last modified September 7, 2025 by Jarjar
Overview
Arcs is a board game created by Cole Wehrle (Root, Oath) that immerses players in the heart of a declining galactic empire. It skillfully blends conquest and diplomacy in a richly constructed science-fiction universe. Players embody stellar factions that compete for power through ingenious action selection mechanics and rapid combat resolution. In campaign mode (with the expansion), games unfold in an evolving saga where past decisions influence the future, creating a unique story each time.
My first impressions
Both in its discovery before my first game and during my first games, this game was a good slap in the face. Certainly a game that will not please everyone because we hit each other royally, but not just any old way: you have to plan it well and take advantage of the opportunities created by the movements of the other players. Arcs shines with its main mechanic which is intended to be a trick-taking game, where not only do you choose the type of action and the number of times you will execute the action, but also which determines what will be counted at the end of the chapter. It's brilliant and it works wonderfully!
I've only played two-player (and solo with two hands) so far, where controlling the pace and initiative seems important. It's more like a complex chess game than a chaotic battle. You don't get lost in the rules, but Arcs is very rich in strategy, tactics, and is very addictive. The depth of interactivity Cole has built into this game is impressive. Spend a lot of influence to get guild cards? Someone will want to raid one of your cities. Have a lot of resources on your board? People will want to raid you. Build a lot of ships? People will move ships into gates. If you like long-term planning, you'll be disappointed! It's about making the most of bad hands, reading the opponent's intentions, and seizing opportunities. It's a tense and stressful game where it's very difficult to feel safe =) The feedback mechanics and diverse strategic paths sometimes allow for surprising wins.
- One player writes: “With one planet and one ship for half the game… I ended up winning… even though I was stuck on the defensive for most of the game.” Reddit
- Another recalls a meteoric rise: “In the third chapter, everything finally worked out… a player made a crazy 20-point play… we almost wished we had more time…” Reddit
In other words, even if you are completely behind during the first two chapters, a player can sometimes turn the tide in a significant way! Very interesting for this kind of game! Cards (guild) with bonus actions can be acquired on a majority principle, but this can be manipulated by other actions.
Careful placement of your fleet on the map is important, for example in gates, which allow you to block catapulted ships, and constitutes a good defensive strategy.
GAME FACTS
– The author wanted to continue working on a campaign game after Oath, because there were many interesting questions that the latter could not address, hence Arcs was born.
– Leder Games has announced a separation between the base game and the campaign, with the latter being offered as an expansion. The author explained that they wanted to offer an accessible “arcade” mode before embarking on a potentially overwhelming campaign, while still allowing for the possibility of adding more modules in the future!
The Artist: Kyle Ferrin is the illustrator for Leder Games. His art evokes a sense of childlike wonder. Ferrin drew a lot of inspiration from 70s pulp sci-fi art, primarily book covers and band posters. It was important to the team and himself that Arcs be unlike any other space game on the market!
For all these reasons, Arcs is ranked very high in my ranking, without doubt my game of the year and it will join my top 3 for life. I am always very eager to play it again and to attack the campaign with the expansion when it will be available in French!
RULES POINTS
>> You can build multiple cities or spaceports on the same planet, as long as there is space.
>> You lose the initiative if you have no more cards in hand but other players can still play.
>> The player who has the initiative and who starts the turn can choose to pass the initiative to the next player.
>> Warrior leader: his additional movement must be linked to the attack.
>> Guild cards with an action (in parentheses) modify a primary action. To use this action, you must spend 1 action point.
TECHNICAL SHEET
Number of games played: 4 (solo and 2 players)
Best player configuration: 2-3
Price paid: CAD 100
Level: experienced player (BGG complexity: 3.42/5)
My best score: 40
MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS
I loved :
>> The action selection mechanic which is a trick-taking game.
>> This selection of points awarded at the end of the chapter is determined by the first card played in the trick.
>> All the little twists the game has in store! Super fun to discover!
>> Pretty fast for a game of this genre.
>> We don't drown in rules, but offer great strategic depth.
>> These illustrations and this very original and amusing humor!
>> The combat system that allows us to select dice based on the type and intensity of damage we want to do. (probability calculator: https://arcs-calculator.streamlit.app/)
>> Very quick resolution of fights.
>> Even if we know chapters with low points, we can quickly get back on track.
I liked less :
>> You have to watch out for the rapid construction of cities by your opponents, which seems to be a fairly profitable strategy.
>> It would have been nice to give names to the planets.
Arcs offers a captivating strategic experience that surprises with its simplicity but reveals formidable tactical depth, mixing trick-taking mechanics and space conquest. It's a game of fast-paced tactical combat, full of heart-wrenching choices and epic twists, creating constant tension and excitement in a fun space opera universe! A masterpiece!
FUN FACTOR 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂