60 Years In, Star Trek Has Officially Found a Perfect Crossover in a Brand-New Release

Designing for Star Trek Decisions

Early in development, the designers considered whether players could negotiate or trade with one another. They wanted the game to reflect the decisions that shape a Star Trek episode, not just put the Enterprise in players’ hands.

At the U.S.S. Gathering launch party in Los Angeles on November 6, set design lead Gavin Verhey described mechanics that let players assemble a crew, operate a spacecraft and explore new worlds. Some of those mechanics take time to get going, he said.

Dilemmas Become Part of Play

The set gives players dilemmas and lets them decide how to respond. That approach may appeal to fans who debate choices made in the series, such as Sisko’s decision in “In the Pale Moonlight.” Verhey said the design team wanted to preserve the pleasure of thinking through a problem. It also aimed to make the cards understandable to people picking up their first deck, while leaving room for them to build something distinctive.

A Crossover Across Formats

Magic: The Gathering | Star Trek is a collaboration between Wizards of the Coast and the Star Trek franchise, drawing on 60 years of Star Trek. It launches with a range of products spanning all formats of the card game.

The designers’ focus on crew-building, exploration and player choices brings familiar science-fiction themes into tabletop play. The result invites players to make decisions themselves, rather than simply watch characters face them on screen.