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About Star Realms
Star Realms is a space‑combat deck‑building game that mixes classic deck‑building loops with Trading Card Game‑style battles. It has earned SXSW 2014 Board Game of the Year, seven Golden Geek Awards, and two Dice Tower awards, highlighting its strong reception.
The free version runs on Windows via Steam and on iOS and Android. It includes a tutorial, AI opponents, and a six‑mission campaign. Purchasing the base set adds extra AI difficulty levels, nine more campaign missions, and both local Pass‑and‑Play and online multiplayer with global rankings.
01 / THE GUIDE
Free Version Features
The free edition is available on Windows through Steam and on iOS and Android. It provides a built‑in tutorial that teaches the core deck‑building loop in minutes, allowing new players to start quickly.
Within the free version players can face AI opponents and complete a six‑mission campaign. These elements deliver the core gameplay loop without any purchase.
- Run the tutorial first to understand the basic card acquisition and combat phases.
- Complete the six free missions before exploring paid content to establish a solid deck foundation.
02 / THE GUIDE
Base Set Additional Features
Owning the base set unlocks three AI difficulty settings, expanding the challenge range for solo play. It also adds nine additional campaign missions, extending the campaign beyond the free content.
The base set enables Pass‑and‑Play local multiplayer, online matchmaking with global rankings, and the ability to challenge a specific friend online. These features require the base set to function.
- Try higher AI difficulties after unlocking them to test new deck strategies.
- Compare the extra missions with the original six to see how enemy decks evolve.
03 / THE GUIDE
Cross‑Platform Multiplayer
Multiplayer works across Windows, iOS, and Android, allowing players on different devices to compete. Online matches include global rankings that track performance regardless of platform.
Friends can challenge each other directly online, and the Remote Play Together feature lets a single screen be shared for local play over the internet.
- Check the global rankings after a match to gauge how your deck compares to the broader player base.
- Invite a friend on a different device to experience cross‑play and note any UI differences.
04 / THE GUIDE
Campaign Modes
The free version’s six‑mission campaign introduces core mechanics and provides a narrative progression. The campaign encourages deck adaptation as you progress through its missions.
The base set adds nine more missions to the campaign. These extra missions require the base set to access.
- Finish the free missions first to build a reliable deck before tackling the added missions.
- Take notes on which cards succeed in each mission to inform future deck tweaks.
05 / THE GUIDE
Tutorial and AI Opponents
A built‑in tutorial guides new players through deck construction, resource management, and combat, allowing them to start playing within minutes. After the tutorial, the AI offers a practice arena.
Once the base set is owned, the AI can be set to three difficulty levels, providing scalable challenges for both beginners and experienced deck‑builders.
- Replay the tutorial after unlocking higher AI difficulty to refresh core concepts.
- Observe AI behavior at each difficulty to identify effective card combinations.
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