This tabletop pastime blends strategic resource management with narrative-driven exploration within a science fiction setting. Players typically command crews aboard spaceships, navigating perilous sectors while completing objectives and confronting hostile entities. The core mechanic often revolves around carefully balancing resources, upgrading vessels, and engaging in tactical combat.
Its significance stems from providing immersive experiences where player choices directly impact the unfolding story. The benefits include fostering strategic thinking, collaborative problem-solving (in multiplayer formats), and creative engagement with a rich, thematic universe. While specific origins vary, such games represent a modern evolution of science fiction tabletop entertainment, building upon earlier examples of strategic gameplay and narrative storytelling in the genre.