Hard Vacuum

About this board game

Hard Vacuum is a sci-fi space combat game for 2–8 players, with complete games taking about 45 minutes. Set in a fictional World War II, it casts players as pilots from either the U.S. Space Corps or the German Raummacht across about a dozen scenarios spanning roughly 1942 to 1945.

Every turn begins with secret thrust planning. Players record how much thrust they apply to each ship’s thrusters, then reveal their choices simultaneously and add or remove thrust markers. In the vacuum of space, movement has lasting consequences: thrust in one direction carries a ship onward until that motion is compensated for.

The combat phase adds uncertainty and timing pressure. Players roll to determine whether they can still see an opponent; if they can, they may fire. Weapons are resolved simultaneously, with hits and critical effects applied at the same time.

• Alternate-history space combat: Fight as American or German pilots in a light, comic-book-style setting.
• Distinct spacecraft strengths: German craft are generally more powerful but have limited fuel and weapons, while American supplies automatically recharge each turn.
• Flexible play surface: The rules support either a hex field or a completely free-form playing area.
• Accessible play: Once the mechanics are mastered, a game can be completed in under an hour.

The game requires players to provide the playing surface and dice, ideally dice numbered from 0 to 5 rather than 1 to 6. The counters come on a laminated sheet and must be cut out.

With straightforward rules and momentum-driven maneuvering, Hard Vacuum suits fans of classic science fiction, dogfights, and space combat games. It is expanded by Hard Vacuum: Science Gone Mad and Hard Vacuum: War’s End.