The Rebel Alliance fights bravely against the tyranny of the Galactic Empire. Each new victory gives the rebels hope and each heroic sacrifice strengthens their resolve. Yet the Empire's resources are vast and the firepower of its Navy is unparalleled. With neither side willing to accept defeat, their war rages across the galaxy...

In Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game, a two-player head-to-head game, the galaxy-spanning war between the Galactic Empire and the Rebel Alliance comes to life on your tabletop. In this easy-to-learn game, you and your opponent each choose a side, playing as the Empire or the Rebels, and as the game progresses you both strengthen the power of your starting cards and work to destroy each other's bases. The first player to destroy three of his opponent's bases wins.

In more detail, each player starts with a unique deck of ten cards, with seven of those cards only providing means to acquire new cards. Six cards from a galaxy deck are always visible, with Rebel cards facing the Rebel player, Empire cards facing the Empire player, and Neutral cards facing aside. You can spend resources to acquire cards in the galaxy row that don't belong to the opponent, and you can use attack power to eliminate cards that do belong to them, earning a reward in the process.

Each player starts with a base that has no abilities (Dantooine for the Rebels and Lothal for the Empire), but when that base is destroyed you get to choose a replacement from your base deck, with each base having a special ability. Choose wisely to counter your opponent's plans! In addition to having special abilities, capital ships absorb damage intended for your base.

Players also fight for control of a Force track to gain additional resources or use "If the Force is with you..." abilities on their cards.