This week on Current Plays, Jordan and Thomas take the captain’s chair and set a course for one of the biggest surprises in recent memory: Star Trek: Captain’s Chair. Jordan may be the resident Trekkie, but even Thomas, with only a passing familiarity with the franchise, found himself completely pulled in by this stellar design. And Jordan? He simply can’t stop playing it. One game turned into several in rapid succession, which might be the clearest recommendation of all.

The hosts dive into how brilliantly the game captures the feel of Star Trek, from commanding iconic crews to solving the fascinating puzzle of how each captain’s deck wants to operate. Every faction and leader feels distinct, and the shared market creates a constant push and pull between long-term planning and adapting on the fly. The deck management systems are especially inspired, with mechanics like Logging and Beaming creating meaningful decisions about hand size, tempo, and efficiency that feel both mechanically elegant and wonderfully thematic.

More than just a licensed game, Captain’s Chair feels like a true labour of love. It understands what makes Star Trek exciting, thoughtful, and adventurous, while also delivering an incredibly satisfying strategy experience. Shields up. Engage.