# Race for the Galaxy: The Brink of War

Race for the Galaxy: The Brink of War is a board game for 1–6 players. It plays in 30–60 minutes and is meant for ages 12 and up. Ludoya players call it best with 4. It is rated 8.8 out of 10 by 3 Ludoya reviewers.

- **Players:** 1–6 (best with 4)
- **Playing time:** 30–60 minutes
- **Minimum age:** 12+
- **Complexity:** 3.4 out of 5
- **Year published:** 2010
- **Categories:** Expansion for Base-game, Space Exploration, Science Fiction, Civilization, Economic, Card Game
- **Mechanics:** Hand Management, Variable Player Powers, Simultaneous Action Selection
- **Ludoya rating:** 8.8 out of 10, from 3 reviews
- **Owned by:** 26 Ludoya players
- **Plays logged on Ludoya:** 3
- **Unique players:** 2

**Designers:** Thomas Lehmann

**Artists:** Claus Stephan, Martin Hoffmann

**Publishers:** Rio Grande Games

## Rules questions

### When and how can I spend Prestige—is it just victory points or can I use it during the round for effects?

Prestige is both a resource and end-game VPs: some card powers and Consume/Produce options give prestige, you may spend prestige during play to draw cards, gain VPs, buy temporary Military, or activate other powers, and each prestige chip is worth 1 VP at game end (see p.3 for gaining, p.4 and p.14 for spending effects). (p.3, p.4, p.14)

### If a world gives 1 prestige when I place it, do I get that prestige again if someone later takes it over?

No — a world that provided 1 prestige when placed does not provide that prestige again when it is taken over. (p.3, p.7)

### How exactly does the Search action work if I keep searching after finding a matching card?

When you declare Search you reveal supply cards one at a time until you find a matching card; you may stop and take the first match, but if you continue you must stop and take the second match you find; if the supply and reshuffled discard are exhausted the search fails and you keep your prestige/search card. (p.6)

### When I place or conquer military worlds which cost do I pay (printed cost or defense), and can I buy extra Military with prestige?

Pay-for-military effects use the world's defense as the cost (with any discounts) when placing a military world as a non-military one or vice versa, and some powers grant 1 prestige for using pay-for-military; separately you may spend 1 prestige to gain +3 Military until the end of the Settle phase. (p.13, p.12)

### Does the Consume: 2x (or prestige Consume bonuses) double Prestige gained from Consume powers?

No — the Consume: 2x and related prestige Consume bonuses double or modify VPs/cards as specified but do not double prestige gained from Consume powers; prestige is not doubled. (p.3, p.14)

## Links

- [This page](https://www.ludoya.com/games/race-for-the-galaxy-the-brink-of-war)
- [Race for the Galaxy: The Brink of War in the Ludoya app](https://app.ludoya.com/g/race-for-the-galaxy-the-brink-of-war)
- [BoardGameGeek entry](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/66121)

_Data from Ludoya, updated 2026-09-23. Ratings, ownership and play counts are Ludoya's own._