Solstice

The ruling house of an empire is in decline, leaving rival factions to compete for the throne through diplomacy, military strength, and assassination. Players lead powerful houses, each using a shared set of cards that provide Strength, Favor, Victory Points, and special bonuses. Each round, players draft cards from their own sets, their opponents’ cards, and the available Events, balancing their strategy against the need to deny valuable options to others. Cards are then played face down to the Planets, with only limited information revealed before they are resolved. Players must act on incomplete knowledge and read their opponents’ intentions, seeking to become the strongest or most favored faction and score Victory Points.

Players: 2–4 best 3
Playing time: 20–45 min
Age: 12+
Complexity: 2.5 / 5