VESTA (2025)

Overview

It’s the year 2049, and humanity has mastered space travel, making journeys to the Moon and Mars routine. Now, the next frontier is the asteroid belt. Enter Vesta, one of the largest asteroids, and a treasure trove of valuable resources. Survey data reveals that Vesta is rich in Helium-3—an essential fuel for the latest fusion reactors—as well as rare-earth minerals that are critical for advanced technology. Much like the California Gold Rush of 1849, a fierce rush has begun to mine these precious resources from Vesta. Vesta is a cooperative game for 1 to 4 players, where each player assumes the role of an asteroid miner. Together, players will mine resources from a variety of mines scattered across the asteroid’s surface, using them to build bases, fuel fusion reactors, or sell for profit. The mines consist of layered tiles representing five distinct types of resources. Players mine by pairing matching tiles, though specialized mining tools allow them to break the standard rules and gain an edge. As players extract regolith, rock, and metals, they will stack these materials to construct their bases. Helium-3, of course, fuels the powerful reactors that keep the operation running. But beware—hidden within the mines are asteroid pirates, eager to seize the valuable minerals for themselves. When these pirates emerge, they will damage your base, and you’ll need to spend your hard-earned resources on weapons or force fields to fend them off. Each player takes on a unique character, each with specialized abilities. For instance, Gunther Hammer is a mining expert, while Biff Parsec, a skilled Space Ranger, excels at defending against pirates. To win, players must work together to build ten fusion reactors. However, the path to victory is fraught with dangers. The game is lost if the mine becomes depleted, or if players can’t access the necessary tools to continue mining. Players can also lose if their base is poorly constructed, preventing further development, or if the pirates deal too much damage.