For the last few weeks, we have engaged in a strategy game, Fractured - The Epic Sci-fi Card Game from Kelly Family Games. Fractured - The Epic Sci-fi Card Game is a card game. 

Fractured - The Epic Sci-fi Card Game costs $49.99. Recommended ages are ten years old and up. The game can be played with two to four players. Plan on a little over an hour to play and set up.  

The game includes four packs of playing cards, one hundred plastic shot tracking markers, two six-sided dice, and a full-colored Fractured Manual. Each player needs paper, a pencil, and a calculator if needed. Players also need a large table or space to spread out the game. 

The background story is set in the twenty-fifth century. The solar system is celebrating the United Solar Government’s two-hundred years of peace. Tensions are rising among the different classes after a respected president died suddenly. Suspicion is mounting after no election was done and a new president was put in place. The people uprise and shut down stores and factories as the government threatens a swift response. 

Factions are created. The Industrialist Union is resourceful and knows how to build stronger ships, but parts are expensive. The Corporate Alliance is shrewd and knows how to keep costs low for building their ships. The Advance Engineering Corp is high-tech, and it makes their ships expensive. The last Faction, The Remnant of the Solar Government, is the remaining of the previous government. It has the money, resources, and more weapons for its ships. A PDF storybook can be downloaded at a minimal cost to learn more about the story behind the game.

To win the game, the player needs to take down each faction while deploying strategy and learn each faction’s unique strengths, weaknesses, and ships. The winner will destroy all their opponent’s Faction Stations one by one. When a station is destroyed, that government collapses, and the player is out of the game while the others compete till the end. 

Setup instructions are in Fractured Manual. Kelly Family Games website has videos too. First, separate the different card types by Factions, The Store, Random Events, Home Sectors, Money & Supply, Units & Classes, Weapons, Upgrades, and Special Abilities. Players will have to envision an imaginary map with sectors. Each of the factions has a home sector, which houses their station. The ships and the upgrades are deployed from the player’s station. All Faction deck cards will be placed in or next to the home sector. The manual includes a layout. In the middle of the players is the deep space sector. 

Playing the game incorporates phases. On the player’s turn, there are five phases: Collect Income; Purchase Ships and Upgrades; Deployment; Action; and Draw a Random Event. If a player does not complete the phases in order, he will forfeit his opportunity to do the missed phase in that turn.

Phase One: Collect Income- the player adds the income value of his station and any mining ships deployed. Certain actions will earn more income. Each player starts with 10,000 Resource Units. Players earn Resource Units throughout the game.  

Phase Two: Purchase Ships and Upgrades- the player purchases ships, weapons, and upgrades from the store. The Special Ability card is an additional purchase. The cost of the items is located on the card in the bottom right corner. The player manages his account by subtracting purchases. 

Phase Three: Deployment- players must deploy new ships, weapons, and upgrades in their home sector. When a player deploys a unit, it has a “Hull Strength” and a “Shot Counter.” The player will need to track each unit using the plastic shot tracking markers to track hit points and shots on their cards. The cards have a meter bar situated on the right side. For certain cards, players use plastic shot-tracking markers. This phase is preparation for the Action Phase, in which players must check energy rating, weapon mounts, equipping weapons, and upgrades.  

Phase Four: Action- gives two actions: Move and Battle. Each unit can perform one of the two actions. Movement Action depends on the ship and unit. All the movements for each vessel will vary. The Station cannot jump but can attack with the right weapons. Players can stack and unstack ship arrays in this action. Battle Actions are done when two opposing Factions are in the same sector. The player can battle or retreat and jump out of the sector. 

Phase Five: Draw a Random Event – this Phase only applies if the player has at least one ship that ends its turn in Deep Space Sector. The player must draw one Random Event card from the top of the pile and follow its instructions.

This is a basic overview of playing; the game has many facets that make this a fun strategy game. The “Beyond the Basics” hints and strategies section on the website contains several tips, hints, and strategies. The website has several features that new players should take time to explore before playing the game. 

Fractured - The Epic Sci-fi Card Game is intriguing. We liked that we had to develop a strategy to stay in the game. Each gameplay is unique depending on the Faction chosen and the cards. The children enjoyed playing several times. It took a few times to familiarize ourselves with the different cards and actions. It was a bit of a learning curve the first few times we played. It was easy enough to locate information in the manual. 

If I could add anything different, it would be a mat for the gameplay. A mat would already have the space for the Faction and a center area for the deep space area. A mat might be an option for players to purchase separately. This would keep the cards from sliding into another player’s territory and be a neat upgrade. Different colors of plastic shot tracking markers would be more appealing because players could choose their own color.  

I would like to see a video of the game being played. The video would be a great addition to the Fractured Manual. The three videos and information on the website have helpful information. I would like a visual resource to help those who learn visually. 

Kelly Games plans to add expansion decks later in the year. This will add two new factions and the ability to have six players instead of four. The new factions will be completely different from the existing ones. My family looks forward to the new factions.

We enjoyed playing Fractured - The Epic Sci-fi Card Game. The story behind the game is interesting; the fact that the different features change every time the game is played is a plus.

~Product review by Renee Knoblauch, The Old Schoolhouse®, August 2023