ABOUT THE PROJECT
Planetary Control! brings the alien empires of the Sword of the Stars universe to the tabletop as a fast-paced card game of interplanetary conquest. Players compete to seize control of unclaimed worlds, building armies from the major galactic races while using special operations cards to defend their holdings, sabotage rivals, assassinate key forces, and turn the balance of power at the worst possible moment.
The game is designed around quick turns, direct player interaction, and the fun of watching planets change hands as alliances, attacks, and last-minute reversals reshape the board. It is easy to learn, but built around enough tactical choices to give every match its own story: which planets are worth fighting over, when to protect what you have, and when to throw everything into taking a world away from someone else.
Set in the colourful science-fiction universe of Sword of the Stars, Planetary Control! also served as part of Kerberos Productions’ move into smaller, “game night” style strategy games. It took the factions, worlds, and tone of the larger PC series and reworked them into a compact physical game built for fast play, table talk, and repeat sessions.
The project later continued into a digital version on Steam, preserving the card game’s core loop of invasion, defense, sabotage, and victory point competition while making it playable on PC against friends or AI opponents. Together, the tabletop and digital versions show how a single design could move between formats while keeping the same central appeal: a quick, competitive fight for control of the galaxy.
My work on Planetary Control! included support across crowdfunding, game development, manufacturing, and publishing logistics. I helped with the practical side of turning the design into a finished product: coordinating materials, supporting campaign and production needs, and helping move the project from concept and prototype toward a game players could actually hold, play, and share.
“Planetary Control! takes the alien factions of the Sword of the Stars universe and turns planetary invasion into a fast-paced, game night, card game! Six worlds are up for grabs – draw cards and build up armies of matching faction cards to take possession.”