Starfleet takes the table

Star Trek Board Games: Ascendancy, Catan, 3D Chess and More

By Updated

From a 1967 race game to Away Missions and Captain's Chair, these Star Trek board games cover a lot of ground. The right Star Trek board game depends on whether you want ships, crews, cards or chess. This guide sorts all 14 by group size and play style.

  • 14 games
  • 1979 to 2026
  • 1 to 6+ players
  • 2 classic editions

Engage! The fleet is sorted by player count, so you can pick a mission fast.

Star Trek has been on tabletops since 1967, with games ranging from vintage race games to modern deck-builders. Many newer titles mix exploration and diplomacy with combat, as in Ascendancy and Captain's Chair. If fleet battles in a galaxy far away are your thing, our Star Wars board games page makes a natural comparison.

Got three players and a free evening? Ascendancy fits the bill.

Choosing your first Star Trek board game

Star Trek Catan makes a gentle first game for families.

  • Families and newcomers

    Star Trek Catan

    Star Trek Catan seats 3-4 players, takes 45-90 minutes and is rated ages 10+. The familiar Catan loop of trading and building is still here.

    Difficulty
    Time to explainabout 15 min
    Player experience
    Geek Level5 / 10Quotes the best lines
    How we rate

  • Strategy night for three

    Star Trek: Ascendancy

    The core box is for 3 players, with Federation, Klingon and Romulan factions. Set aside time for a long, weighty strategy session.

    Difficulty
    Time to explainabout 40 min
    Player experience
    Geek Level7 / 10Can explain the timeline
    How we rate

  • Two players, one evening

    Star Trek: Away Missions

    A two-player miniatures skirmish that takes 60-90 minutes. Each side fields an away team and plays three rounds.

    Difficulty
    Time to explainabout 30 min
    Player experience
    Geek Level6 / 10Has a favorite side character
    How we rate

The cards cover everything from three-player strategy to solo-friendly deck-building. Check player counts first: the Ascendancy core box seats three, Away Missions is strictly two-player, and Attack Wing starts at two. For a gentler start, Star Trek Catan keeps the familiar trading rules.

Star Trek board games, card games and chess sets

Finding out-of-print card games like the CCG usually takes a bit of searching.

Showing all 14

Main games

Star Trek: Ascendancy

  • 2016
  • 3 players

This civilization game spans the Star Trek galaxy. Federation, Klingon and Romulan players each build out a home region.

How it plays

Send ships to explore and colonize new systems, then develop technology. Rivals clash in dice combat, trade agreements or diplomacy. The game ends when one civilization pulls ahead.

The film or show connection

Systems, life forms, hazards and discoveries all come from Star Trek lore. The three starting factions are the Federation, the Klingon Empire and the Romulan Star Empire.

Difficulty
Time to explainabout 40 min
Player experience
Geek Level7 / 10Can explain the timeline
How we rate

Type strategy board game

  • 4X
  • factions
  • long game
Publisher
Gale Force Nine
Show detailsHide details

Editions and expansions

  • Cardassian Union
  • Ferengi Alliance
  • Borg Assimilation (2017)

Source 1 (startrek.com) Source 2 (startrek.com) Source 3 (en.wikipedia.org) Source 4 (startrek.com)

Star Trek: Captain's Chair

  • 2025
  • 1-2 players
  • 60-120 minutes
  • Ages 14+

This deck-builder puts you in command as a captain. The core box includes six captains, and there’s a solo mode.

How it plays

Each player picks a captain with a unique deck, then plays cards to command ships, crew and away teams. Manage resources and alliances while following paths like diplomacy, exploration or science to score.

The film or show connection

The first box includes Picard, Sisko, Burnham, Koloth, Sela and Shran. Each captain has a deck built around their allies and assets.

Difficulty
Time to explainabout 30 min
Player experience
Geek Level9 / 10Reads the wiki for fun
How we rate

Type deck-building game

  • solo mode
  • two players
  • captains
Publisher
WizKids
Designers
Dávid Turczi, Nigel Buckle
Show detailsHide details

Editions and expansions

  • To Boldly Go (listed by WizKids)
  • Second Contact (listed by WizKids)

Source 1 (asmodee.co.uk) Source 2 (shop.wizkids.com)

Star Trek: Attack Wing

  • 2013
  • 2+ players
  • 60+ minutes
  • Ages 14+

This Star Trek miniatures game focuses on fast ship duels. The ships come pre-painted, and the starter set includes the Enterprise-D.

How it plays

Choose each ship's move with a maneuver dial, then carry it out with a template. A build starts with a ship card and captain, then adds crew, weapons and tech upgrades.

The film or show connection

Ships and captains come from the shows and films, making this a fleet battler rather than a retelling of one story.

Difficulty
Time to explainabout 25 min
Player experience
Geek Level6 / 10Has a favorite side character
How we rate

Type miniatures game

  • ship combat
  • collectible ships
  • two players
Publisher
WizKids
Show detailsHide details

Source 1 (wizkids.com) Source 2 (wizkids.com)

Star Trek: Fleet Captains

  • 2011
  • 2-4 players

A fleet game that mixes exploration and combat. It plays two or four players, either head to head or in two-versus-two teams.

How it plays

Command a Federation or Klingon fleet, shifting each ship’s power between shields, engines, sensors and weapons on its dial. Lay out your own map, attempt missions and fight. Use a Command Deck of crew and tricks to claim sector supremacy before your opponent.

The film or show connection

Random encounters often feel like a single episode, including one built around Tribbles. Ships and crew draw on every series and the classic films. A Dominion expansion adds a fourth faction.

Difficulty
Time to explainabout 30 min
Player experience
Geek Level7 / 10Can explain the timeline
How we rate

Type strategy board game

  • exploration
  • miniatures
  • four players
Publisher
WizKids
Designers
Mike Elliott, Ethan Pasternack
Show detailsHide details

Editions and expansions

  • Dominion

Source 1 (startrek.com) Source 2 (startrek.com) Source 3 (shop.wizkids.com)

Star Trek: Away Missions

  • 2023
  • 2 players
  • 60-90 minutes
  • Ages 14+

Star Trek Away Missions board game is a crew-level skirmish with character miniatures. The core set pits Federation and Borg teams against each other.

How it plays

Players take turns activating characters, with two actions each, such as moving, attacking or taking cover. Teams score points by chasing mission objectives. After three rounds, the higher score wins.

The film or show connection

The core game opens amid the wreckage of the Battle of Wolf 359. Riker leads the Federation away team against Locutus's Borg.

Difficulty
Time to explainabout 30 min
Player experience
Geek Level6 / 10Has a favorite side character
How we rate

Type miniatures game

  • skirmish
  • two players
  • Next Generation
Publisher
Gale Force Nine
Show detailsHide details

Editions and expansions

  • Gowron (Klingon Honor Guard)
  • Sela (Romulan Infiltrators)
  • House of Duras
  • Captain Picard
  • Captain Kirk
  • Commander Scotty

Source 1 (gamesradar.com) Source 2 (gf9games.com)

Star Trek Customizable Card Game

  • 1994
  • 2 players
  • 60 minutes

Decipher's Star Trek CCG is a collectible card game. It's out of print, though a fan group still supports it.

How it plays

Bring personnel and ships into play, then move a team to a mission. Dilemmas await along the way. Complete missions and objectives to reach 100 points.

The film or show connection

The 1994 Premiere set covered The Next Generation only. In 1997, Decipher announced a wider license that added Deep Space Nine, Voyager and the Next Generation films.

Difficulty
Time to explainabout 45 min
Player experience
Geek Level7 / 10Can explain the timeline
How we rate

Type trading card game Out of print

  • collectible
  • out of print
  • fan community
Publisher
Decipher
Show detailsHide details

Editions and expansions

  • First Edition (1994)
  • Second Edition (2002)

Source 1 (en.wikipedia.org)

Star Trek: Frontiers

  • 2016
  • 1-4 players
  • 60+ minutes
  • Ages 14+

Think Mage Knight in Star Trek, with a heavy, card-driven adventure. Scenarios support competitive, cooperative or solo play.

How it plays

Play cards from your ship deck to cross a randomly built map, explore, recruit crew and tackle challenges. Cards and skills help with obstacles and combat.

The film or show connection

The setting is a contested region near a wormhole, where the Federation and the Klingon Empire have built outposts. Players command a starship such as the Enterprise-D.

Difficulty
Time to explainabout 45 min
Player experience
Geek Level9 / 10Reads the wiki for fun
How we rate

Type strategy board game

  • solo mode
  • co-op option
  • Mage Knight system
Publisher
WizKids
Designers
Andrew Parks
Show detailsHide details

Editions and expansions

  • The Return of Khan (announced 2017)

Source 1 (wizkids.com) Source 2 (wizkids.com)

Star Trek Deck Building Game: The Next Generation

  • 2011

Bandai’s deck-builder features The Next Generation crew. Check availability before planning game night: it’s a 2011 release.

How it plays

Build a deck representing your crew and ship, then explore the Space Deck by completing missions, resolving events and facing starships. The first player to reach 400 Mission Points wins. You can also play as a team or join a cooperative Borg Invasion.

The film or show connection

Picard, Riker, Data and other crew members are available to recruit. You can also win a rival starship through diplomacy or combat.

Difficulty
Time to explainabout 20 min
Player experience
Geek Level6 / 10Has a favorite side character
How we rate

Type deck-building game

  • card game
  • co-op scenarios
  • Next Generation
Publisher
Bandai
Show detailsHide details

Editions and expansions

  • The Next Phase (2012)
  • The Original Series (2012)

Source 1 (startrek.com) Source 2 (en.wikipedia.org)

Star Fleet Battles

  • 1979
  • 2+ players

A long-running tactical wargame about starship combat. Amarillo Design Bureau still publishes it and calls it the longest-running starship combat game.

How it plays

Track every ship system on a display sheet, then spend energy each turn on movement, weapons and defenses. Ships move at the same time. Once shields are down, damage spreads through the ship.

The film or show connection

It uses ships and factions from the original series in its own Star Fleet Universe. The license excludes the original Enterprise crew, so Kirk and Spock are absent.

Difficulty
Time to explainabout 90 min
Player experience
Geek Level9 / 10Reads the wiki for fun
How we rate

Type strategy board game In print

  • wargame
  • ship combat
  • since 1979
Publisher
Task Force Games, now Amarillo Design Bureau
Designers
Stephen V. Cole
Show detailsHide details

Editions and expansions

  • Pocket Edition (1979)
  • Designer's Edition (1979)
  • Commander's Edition (1983)
  • Captain's Edition (1990)

Source 1 (starfleetgames.com) Source 2 (starfleetgames.com) Source 3 (sf-encyclopedia.com)

Star Trek Adventures

  • 2017
  • 4-6 players

It's a role-playing game, so you need a gamemaster, not a board. Most groups play a starship or starbase crew.

How it plays

Create characters and play missions led by a gamemaster. The game uses Modiphius’s 2d20 system. A resource called Momentum lets players buy extra dice.

The film or show connection

Set in the Star Trek universe, the game features original missions rather than scripted episodes. Modiphius released the first edition in 2017 and the second edition in 2024. The Klingon Empire core book arrived in 2020.

Difficulty
Time to explainabout 45 min
Player experience
Geek Level8 / 10Argues about the extended cut
How we rate

Type role-playing game In print

  • RPG
  • needs a gamemaster
  • 2d20
Publisher
Modiphius Entertainment
Show detailsHide details

Editions and expansions

  • Second Edition core rulebook (2024)
  • The Klingon Empire core book (2020)

Source 1 (modiphius.net) Source 2 (space.com) Source 3 (en.wikipedia.org)

Star Trek: The Ultimate Trivia Deck

  • 2026

A 200-card trivia deck with 400 questions, published by Clarkson Potter. Its on-sale date is August 18, 2026.

How it plays

Draw a card and answer questions from categories such as Technology, Characters, Events and Anomalies, and Planets, Places and Cultures. Each card has an easier question worth one point and a harder question worth two. The rules booklet covers team, one-on-one and solo play.

The film or show connection

Questions cover the films and series, making this a franchise quiz rather than a story game.

Difficulty
Time to explainabout 3 min
Player experience
Geek Level5 / 10Quotes the best lines
How we rate

Type party game

  • trivia
  • cards
  • solo or group
Publisher
Clarkson Potter
Designers
Robb Pearlman
Show detailsHide details

Source 1 (penguinrandomhouseretail.com)

Licensed classic editions

Star Trek Catan

  • 2012
  • 3-4 players
  • 45-90 minutes
  • Ages 10+

Star Trek Catan swaps the island for Federation space. It is standalone, so you do not need base Catan to play.

How it plays

Collect and trade resources, then build outposts and starbases linked by starships. A Klingon ship gets in the way, while support cards add show flavor.

The film or show connection

The Federation Space map set uses the Explored Galaxy star chart from Captain Kirk’s quarters. The base game includes a rules booklet and an almanac, while its Helpers cards feature Kirk, Spock, McCoy and other crew.

Difficulty
Time to explainabout 15 min
Player experience
Geek Level5 / 10Quotes the best lines
How we rate

Type licensed classic edition

  • trading
  • family
  • standalone
Publisher
Mayfair Games
Designers
Klaus Teuber
Show detailsHide details

Editions and expansions

  • Federation Space Map Set (needs Star Trek Catan)

Source 1 (catan.com) Source 2 (startrek.com)

Star Trek Monopoly

  • 1998

USAopoly has released several Star Trek Monopoly editions, all with standard Monopoly rules. The sources we found don’t list player counts or play times.

How it plays

Buy and trade themed spaces for payments, just as in regular Monopoly. Starships replace houses, starbases replace hotels, and the money is gold-pressed latinum or Federation Credits, depending on the edition.

The film or show connection

The Original Series edition has eight character tokens: Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Scott, Sulu, Uhura, Chekov and Chapel. Properties are named for aliens such as the Gorn and tribbles. The Continuum Edition (2009) spans all five series.

Difficulty
Time to explainabout 8 min
Player experience
Geek Level3 / 10Knows the main characters
How we rate

Type licensed classic edition

  • property trading
  • collectible
  • four editions
Publisher
USAopoly
Show detailsHide details

Editions and expansions

  • Next Generation Collector's Edition (1998)
  • Original Series edition
  • Continuum Edition (2009)
  • Klingon Collector's Edition

Source 1 (en.wikipedia.org) Source 2 (en.wikipedia.org)

Chess sets

Star Trek Tri-Dimensional Chess

  • 2016

The licensed take on 3D chess in Star Trek is a stacked, multi-level board based on the original series prop.

How it plays

Two players play chess across boards set at different heights, with four movable attack boards linking the levels. The Noble Collection set includes an instruction sheet showing each piece’s moves.

The film or show connection

These sets recreate the tri-dimensional chess prop from the original series. The Noble Collection replica has 32 die-cast pieces and translucent acrylic boards.

Difficulty
Time to explainabout 20 min
Player experience
Geek Level5 / 10Quotes the best lines
How we rate

Type chess set

  • 3D chess
  • collectible
  • two players
Publisher
Franklin Mint; The Noble Collection
Show detailsHide details

Editions and expansions

  • Franklin Mint 50th Anniversary set (2016)
  • The Noble Collection (2021)

Source 1 (startrek.com) Source 2 (trekmovie.com) Source 3 (en.wikipedia.org)

Comparing Star Trek Catan, Ascendancy and the rest

Star Trek games compared by year, players and type
GameYearPlayersType
Star Trek: Ascendancy20163strategy board game
Star Trek: Captain's Chair20251-2deck-building game
Star Trek: Attack Wing20132+miniatures game
Star Trek Catan20123-4licensed classic edition
Star Trek: Fleet Captains20112-4strategy board game
Star Trek: Away Missions20232miniatures game
Star Trek Customizable Card Game19942trading card game
Star Trek: Frontiers20161-4strategy board game
Star Trek Deck Building Game: The Next Generation2011Not listeddeck-building game
Star Fleet Battles19792+strategy board game
Star Trek Monopoly1998Not listedlicensed classic edition
Star Trek Tri-Dimensional Chess2016Not listedchess set
Star Trek Adventures20174-6role-playing game
Star Trek: The Ultimate Trivia Deck2026Not listedparty game

A Star Trek tabletop timeline

Star Trek tabletop releases, from the original series to today.

Got three players and a free evening? Ascendancy fits the bill.

Star Trek is one of the rare cases where a prop became a product. Tri-dimensional chess appeared in the original series, and its stacked boards inspired licensed sets decades later. The next section covers the on-screen game and real sets, while the Star Trek Tri-Dimensional Chess page lists what comes in each set.

3D chess Star Trek: the Enterprise game and the sets you can buy

The 3D chess Star Trek fans ask about started as a prop in the original series and later became a real set.

  • On screen

    Crew members play tri-dimensional chess in the original series. The game first appears in the second pilot, Where No Man Has Gone Before.

  • The prop

    The original was reportedly built from 3-D Checkers and 3-D Tic-Tac-Toe boards, plus chess pieces from Peter Ganine's Classic set.

  • The rules

    The show never explained the rules. Franz Joseph added a starting position and short rules to the Star Fleet Technical Manual. Andrew Bartmess later developed the Standard Rules fans still use.

  • Sets to look for

    Franklin Mint announced an official 50th anniversary set in 2016 for $275. The Noble Collection replica has 32 die-cast pieces, translucent acrylic boards and four movable attack boards.

Miniatures fans have four options at four different scales. Attack Wing and Fleet Captains focus on ships, Away Missions features individual crew members, and Star Fleet Battles is a deep wargame. The newest is the Star Trek Away Missions board game, released in 2023.

For 3D chess, check that the set includes the attack boards.

Star Trek miniatures game guide: ships, fleets and away teams

Four games explore the Star Trek miniatures game space at different scales.

Attack Wing: single-ship duels

2 or more players, 1+ hours. Maneuver dials and templates keep ship battles quick and customizable.

Fleet Captains: fleets and exploration

2-4 players. Each ship has a power-level dial, you lay out the map yourself, and there’s a Dominion expansion.

Away Missions: crew skirmishes

2 players, 60-90 minutes. Character miniatures battle over mission objectives across three rounds.

Star Fleet Battles: wargame depth

2+ players. Power allocation and impulse sequencing give veteran wargamers plenty to manage. No principal series characters.

Star Trek card games span three decades, from a 1994 collectible game to a 2026 trivia deck. Most of the older titles are out of print, so check availability before planning game night. For a game with a living fan base, the Star Trek customizable card game still has an active community.

Star Trek customizable card game and other Star Trek card games

Star Trek card games span a 1994 collectible game and a 2026 trivia deck.

  • Decipher CCG (1994, out of print)

    Race to 100 points by completing missions. The Continuing Committee, a fan group, keeps the game going with virtual sets.

  • Bandai Deck Building Game (2011)

    A Next Generation deck-builder with a cooperative Borg Invasion scenario. Check availability before scheduling game night.

  • Captain's Chair (2025)

    A captain-driven deck-builder for 1-2 players, with a separate deck for every captain. WizKids also lists To Boldly Go and Second Contact.

  • The Ultimate Trivia Deck (2026)

    Question cards have easy and hard sides, with questions about both the series and films.

Star Trek board game facts

Star Trek Catan makes a gentle first game for families.

  • Ideal's 1967 Star Trek Game is described as the only board game released during the original series' run. Players raced to visit three planets, then return to Earth.

    Source 1 (popularmechanics.com)

  • Star Fleet Battles has no Kirk or Spock because its license doesn't include the original Enterprise crew.

    Source 1 (starfleetgames.com)

  • The show's tri-dimensional chess prop was reportedly assembled from 3-D Checkers and 3-D Tic-Tac-Toe boards, plus pieces from Peter Ganine's Classic chess set.

    Source 1 (en.wikipedia.org)

  • The Federation Space map set for Star Trek Catan takes its design from the Explored Galaxy star chart seen in Captain Kirk's quarters.

    Source 1 (catan.com)

  • Andrew Parks designed Star Trek: Frontiers as a Star Trek take on Vlaada Chvatil's Mage Knight.

    Source 1 (wizkids.com)

  • Star Trek: Away Missions starts in the wreckage after the Battle of Wolf 359, with Riker's away team facing Locutus's Borg.

    Source 1 (gamesradar.com)

  • Decipher stopped supporting the Star Trek CCG in 2007, but the Continuing Committee, a fan group, still creates virtual sets.

    Source 1 (en.wikipedia.org)

Star Trek board game questions

Which Star Trek board game is a good place to start?

Star Trek Catan works for families and newcomers: 3-4 players, 45-90 minutes, ages 10+. Choose Star Trek Ascendancy for a three-player strategy night or Away Missions for two players.

Is there a Star Trek Catan game?

Yes. Star Trek Catan is a standalone Mayfair Games edition for 3-4 players, ages 10+. The Federation Space map set adds two maps, but you need Star Trek Catan to play.

How many players can play Star Trek Ascendancy?

The core box has three factions, the Federation, the Klingons and the Romulans, and seats 3 players. Player expansions, such as the Cardassian Union, add a faction and an extra seat.

Is there a Star Trek Monopoly?

Yes, USAopoly has several Star Trek Monopoly editions. They include the Next Generation Collector's Edition from 1998, an Original Series edition, the Continuum Edition from 2009 and a Klingon edition.

What is 3D chess in Star Trek?

It's the tri-dimensional chess seen on the original series, played on stacked boards. The show never set the rules, so Franz Joseph's rules in the Star Fleet Technical Manual are a common reference.

Can you buy a Star Trek 3D chess set?

Yes. Franklin Mint announced an official 50th anniversary set in 2016, and The Noble Collection sells a replica with 32 die-cast pieces and translucent acrylic boards.

What is the Star Trek CCG?

It's Decipher's Star Trek customizable card game from 1994, with First and Second Editions. Decipher stopped supporting it in 2007, but the Continuing Committee keeps it going online.

Is there a Star Trek miniatures game?

Several options: Attack Wing handles ship duels, Fleet Captains covers fleets and exploration, and Away Missions focuses on crews. Star Fleet Battles is the veteran wargame. For more space games, see our sci fi board games hub.

Is the Star Trek Away Missions board game for two players?

Yes. This is a two-player skirmish game that takes 60-90 minutes and is for ages 14+. The core set includes Federation and Borg teams.

Is there a Star Trek tabletop RPG or trivia game?

Modiphius's Star Trek Adventures is the tabletop RPG, first published in 2017 with a second edition in 2024. Star Trek: The Ultimate Trivia Deck from Clarkson Potter went on sale on August 18, 2026.

Finding out-of-print card games like the CCG usually takes a bit of searching.

Got three players and a free evening? Ascendancy fits the bill.

Sources

  1. Catan: Star Trek Catan catan.com
  2. WizKids: Star Trek: Attack Wing wizkids.com
  3. WizKids: Star Trek: Frontiers wizkids.com
  4. Asmodee UK: Star Trek: Captain's Chair asmodee.co.uk
  5. Wikipedia: Star Trek Customizable Card Game en.wikipedia.org
  6. Amarillo Design Bureau: Star Fleet Battles starfleetgames.com
  7. TrekMovie: Noble Collection Tri-Dimensional Chess review trekmovie.com
  8. StarTrek.com: Inside Star Trek: Ascendancy startrek.com
  9. StarTrek.com: WizKids/NECA Beams You Into Fleet Captains startrek.com
  10. Modiphius: Star Trek Adventures Second Edition modiphius.net
  11. GamesRadar: Star Trek: Away Missions starter set review gamesradar.com
  12. Penguin Random House: Star Trek: The Ultimate Trivia Deck penguinrandomhouseretail.com
  13. Wikipedia: List of Star Trek games en.wikipedia.org
  14. Popular Mechanics: Retro board games based on sci-fi classics popularmechanics.com