Arcs is a cool sci-fi strategy game where 2–4 players dive into a dark yet quirky universe. You and your friends take on the roles of officials from a long-lost Empire, now set free to snag dominance through battles, resource collection, or sly political maneuvers. Brace yourself for unexpected twists as you get sucked into this epic galactic showdown.

The action kicks off using a deck of cards in four distinct suits, each with ranks 1-7 (or 2-6 if you're playing with less than 4 people). Players pick their moves through a trick-taking type of card play, fighting for the initiative and declaring their Ambitions. These Ambitions dictate what scores during that round. Timing is super crucial here. If you're dealt a bad hand, no worries—you can still turn things around with strategic card play and by capitalizing on your opponents' choices.

Battles are quick showdowns where attackers decide their risk levels, and defenders need to be ready with enough ships and cards laid out in their tableau.

In every game, you get a whole bunch of goodies—100 wooden ships and agents, 18 custom dice engraved with awesome designs, a stunning six-panel board, and tons of unique cards, over 60 of them featuring amazing artwork. You can play the basic version without the extra Leaders and Lore cards if you want to keep things simple, or throw them in for a deeper and more diverse experience. Plus, it's the backbone of the campaign game (just add the Blighted Reach Expansion) for a bigger, more story-driven adventure.