Arcs

Arcs is a space strategy game by Cole Wehrle, the designer of Root. Players lead space empires competing for power in a collapsing region of space.

Each round, players play action cards in a trick-taking style. The lead player sets the suit; following with a higher card of the same suit gives full actions, while other cards give fewer. Actions let you move ships, build, battle and tax. Players also declare ambitions, which decide what earns points that chapter. It's a tense, interactive game for experienced players, with expansions that turn it into a campaign.