Stats:
No. of players: 1-5
Amount of time to play: 120 min
Age requirements: 12+
Set-up time: 5-10 min

Operation Strikeback is an expansion for Galaxy Defenders it adds more powerful aliens, better tech for the players and a few new mechanics.

Operation Strikeback Expansion Description:

If you have never played Galaxy Defenders you can read my overview and review here. The majority of this post will focus on the new elements introduced in Galaxy Defenders: Operation Strikeback.

This expansion adds six new missions and just like before how you perform in one mission affects future missions. It also adds some fierce Master Aliens. These aliens change their behavior and can target the agent that is the biggest threat.

Aliens can also burrow which makes them difficult to target. In order to attack and damage them the top card of the Close Encounter discard pile must match the burrowing alien.

But the agents won’t go into this fight empty-handed. Now you have access to Power Suits, psionic powers and non-player character allies. These new options help you maneuver around the battlefield and hand out (and take) the pain.

There are also a couple new devices like the hologram and Vigil. You place the hologram next to your agent and aliens considerate it an agent when making attacks. If attacked it disappears. Vigil is a drone that attacks just like any other agent.

Operation Strikeback takes place on the aliens’ turf and that means you have more opportunity to find their tech. New alien tech tokens are located on some maps. Acquiring these new tokens grants you one or two alien fragments.

One new optional rule involves your agents’ fighting pose. You can choose to stand, crouch or be prone. When you crouch or and prone you gain an advantage to ranged weapon attack and defense, but suffer penalties to movement and melee combat.

A Quick Review of Galaxy Defenders: Operation Strikeback Expansion:

Operation Strikeback is a good first expansion for Galaxy Defenders. It adds a handful of new elements to increase the fun and challenge the aliens present. And while this introduces a few new mechanics, there are not so foreign that they are difficult to implement.

The components for this game are fantastic. Just like those in the base game. The miniatures look great on the table and the player boards and chits are thick and durable. The rules are pretty straightforward and if you have played the base game enough the new mechanics are pretty easy to implement.

More is more and this expansion brings more things to use and fight against to Galaxy Defenders. The new devices, psionic powers and Power Suits are fun to try out and add to the fun. While the new aliens keep the challenge level high and introduce some new tactics to the battlefield.

I like having the optional fighting poses. They provide a small new mechanic that adds more options for how to fight. And since they may not be for all groups it is nice that you can easily include or ignore them.

If you enjoy Galaxy Defenders and have played through the base game, Operation Strikeback is a must-buy expansion. It is consistent with the base game and adds more toys, more threat and more fun.

Score and synopsis: (Click here for an explanation of these review categories.)
Strategy 4 out of 6
Luck 5 out of 6
Player Interaction 4 out of 6
Replay Value 5 out of 6
Complexity 4 out of 6
Fun 5 out of 6
Overall 5 out of 6