# Shackleton Base: A Journey to the Moon

Shackleton Base: A Journey to the Moon is a board game for 1–4 players. It plays in 60–120 minutes and is meant for ages 14 and up. Ludoya players call it best with 3. It is rated 8.1 out of 10 by 28 Ludoya reviewers. The cheapest copy in stock is $71.99 (United States).

- **Players:** 1–4 (best with 3)
- **Playing time:** 60–120 minutes
- **Minimum age:** 14+
- **Complexity:** 3.9 out of 5
- **Year published:** 2024
- **Categories:** Science Fiction, Space Exploration
- **Mechanics:** Solo / Solitaire Game, Worker Placement, Different Worker Types, Income, Variable Player Powers, Contracts, Area Majority / Influence, Variable Set-up
- **Ludoya rating:** 8.1 out of 10, from 28 reviews
- **Owned by:** 65 Ludoya players
- **Plays logged on Ludoya:** 156
- **Unique players:** 233

**Designers:** Fabio Lopiano, Nestore Mangone

**Artists:** David Sitbon

**Publishers:** Sorry We Are French

## Where to buy in United States

| Shop | Price | Link |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Miniature Market | 71.99 $ | https://www.miniaturemarket.com/detail/019851f6ad9c7fed92852c330222e0bb |
| Board Game Bliss | 79.95 $ | https://www.boardgamebliss.com/products/shackleton-base-a-journey-to-the-moon |
| 401 Games | 79.95 $ | https://store.401games.ca/products/shackleton-base-a-journey-to-the-moon |
| Ludifolie | 59.9 € | https://www.ludifolie.com/20405-shackleton-base-a-journey-to-the-moon.html |
| Zatu Games | 54.99 £ | https://zatu.com/products/shackleton-base-a-journey-to-the-moon |
| Travelling Man | 55 £ | https://travellingman.com/products/shackleton-base-a-journey-to-the-moon |
| Get Your Fun | 64.99 € | https://www.getyourfun.it/036052-shackleton-base-viaggio-sulla-luna-giochi-gestionali.html |
| Gameology | 111.45 $ | https://www.gameology.com.au/products/shackleton-base-a-journey-to-the-moon |
| Fantasiapelit | 74.7 € | https://www.fantasiapelit.com/index.php?main=ai&kat=single&mista=indeksi&etsittava=_240260 |
| Spielezar | 77.9 Fr. | https://www.spielezar.ch/brettspiele/mondbasis-shackleton-de |
| Nexus | 11995 kr | https://nexus.is/vara/shackleton-base-a-journey-to-the-moon/ |
| Alphaspel | 999 kr | https://alphaspel.se/491-bradspel/244695-shackleton-base-a-journey-to-the-moon |

## Expansions

- [Shackleton Base: Below. Within. Above.](https://www.ludoya.com/games/shackleton-base-below-within-above-expansion)

## Similar games

- [From the Moon](https://www.ludoya.com/games/from-the-moon)
- [Nippon: Zaibatsu](https://www.ludoya.com/games/nippon-zaibatsu)
- [SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence](https://www.ludoya.com/games/seti-search-for-extraterrestrial-intelligence)
- [Phoenix New Horizon](https://www.ludoya.com/games/phoenix-new-horizon)
- [Luna Maris](https://www.ludoya.com/games/luna-maris)
- [Andromeda's Edge: Deluxe Edition](https://www.ludoya.com/games/andromedas-edge-deluxe-edition)
- [Andromeda's Edge](https://www.ludoya.com/games/andromedas-edge)
- [Galactic Cruise](https://www.ludoya.com/games/galactic-cruise)
- [Star Trek: Captain's Chair – To Boldly Go](https://www.ludoya.com/games/star-trek-captains-chair-to-boldly-go)
- [Beyond the Sun](https://www.ludoya.com/games/beyond-the-sun)
- [Darwin's Journey](https://www.ludoya.com/games/darwins-journey)
- [Anachrony](https://www.ludoya.com/games/anachrony)

## Rules questions

### How do we choose Shuttle tiles, and who goes first each round?

Choose Shuttle tiles in reverse current turn order. After everyone chooses, turn order is reset in ascending order of the chosen Shuttle numbers; the player with the lowest number goes first (p. 4).

### Do I have to pay Credits for every sector when I exploit the crater?

Yes, if you do not have a structure in an activated sector, you must pay the indicated Credits to the player who has the biggest structure there. Activating every sector in the row is mandatory, so you cannot use a slot if you cannot afford all required payments (p. 4).

### Can I build a Solar Panel whenever I want, and can I build more than one per turn?

You may build one Solar Panel per turn, at any time while performing a Command action, by spending 1 Rare Earth. You cannot build one while the Energy marker is on either of the two rightmost spaces; Energy must first be spent to move it back (p. 5).

### What bonus do I get from the Astronaut I use for a Command action?

An Engineer triggers a Corporation-token bonus after building, a Technician grants one Corporation action after funding a Project, and a Scientist lets you take an Astronaut from the Lunar Gateway after resolving the Command action. The bonus is based on the Astronaut deployed, not on the type of Command action itself (pp. 6–8).

### What happens during Maintenance, and what if I cannot pay all my costs?

During Maintenance, retrieve crater Astronauts, collect Corporation, Dome, and Headquarters income, pay Reputation and structure maintenance costs, and remove Astronauts from the Command area. For each missing Credit, move your Reputation marker back one space; if it would go below 0, lose 2 VP for each remaining unpaid Credit (pp. 9–10).

## Links

- [This page](https://www.ludoya.com/games/shackleton-base-a-journey-to-the-moon)
- [Shackleton Base: A Journey to the Moon in the Ludoya app](https://app.ludoya.com/g/shackleton-base-a-journey-to-the-moon)
- [BoardGameGeek entry](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/408180)

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