The next Star Wars board game from Rebellion and Imperial Assault designer is full of scum and villainy

Fantasy Flight is expanding the edges of the galaxy far, far away on the tabletop with its next board game based on the sci-fi saga, Star Wars: Outer Rim. 

Outer Rim focuses on the more disreputable types along the edge of the universe, with players travelling along the Outer Rim, hiring members of their crew to hunt down targets, deliver illegal cargo and complete other jobs to earn fame as a mercenary, smuggler and bounty hunter.

Players start the game with a character and ship, gaining equipment and ship upgrades as they spend earned credits to explore planets and avoid – or destroy – patrols. Ships can even be upgraded into named vessels from the Star Wars series, such as the Millennium Falcon. Players can ally with factions such as the Hutts, Empire and Rebel Alliance, but might end up aggravating other groups as the result of their allegiances.

The eight characters in Outer Rim include original trilogy scoundrels Han Solo, Lando Calrissian and Boba Fett, plus Rogue One’s Jyn Erso and Doctor Aphra, who made her debut in the Darth Vader comic book series. Each of the characters has unique skills and traits, and can pick up crew members – although some may come marked for death, inviting other players to hunt them down.

Outer Rim has been designed by Corey Konieczka – who previously designed Star Wars: Rebellion and co-created Star Wars: Imperial Assault, collectible dice-roller Destiny and the X-Wing Miniatures Game – and Tony Fanchi, who has credits on multiple Imperial Assault expansions.

It’ll play with up to four people – including a single-player mode – in around two to three hours. The US price will be $65 (£50).

Star Wars: Outer Rim will be released in Q2 2019.