Rio Grande Games has announced a faster, simpler take on the popular card game Race for the Galaxy called Jump Drive, releasing in December or January.

Created by Race for the Galaxy designer Thomas Lehmann, and based on his earlier Amigo title The City, Jump Drive is intended as an easier way for new players to experience the setting and style of Rio Grande’s hit card game, offering a faster pace and simpler rules.  Like the older game, players are the leaders of a fledgling space empire, using combinations of cards to grow and develop their empire, and both games are built around simultaneous play and hand management mechanics. 

Jump Drive is designed for 2 to 4 players, ages 13 and up, and plays in less than half an hour.  MSRP is $24.95.

Rio Grande has been revitalizing some of its older mainstays recently, particularly the runaway hit Dominion, which was updated to a new edition (see “New ‘Dominion’ Gets ‘Big Box’ Treatment”).