Storm Surge Star: India's Iconic Tactical Action Board Game

Introduction to Storm Surge Star

Storm Surge Star is not just another addition to India’s booming board game market—it’s a groundbreaking tactical action experience that weaves together fast-paced gameplay, deep strategic thinking, and unapologetic desi flair into a single, immersive package. Launched in March 2020 by a team of visionary Indian game designers in Bangalore, this tabletop phenomenon has redefined the contours of homegrown gaming, bridging the divide between casual family entertainment and hardcore competitive play with remarkable finesse.

At its core, Storm Surge Star is a tactical combat and resource management game set in a vividly imagined version of modern India, where players step into the shoes of elite “Surge Guardians”—task force leaders tasked with navigating high-stakes missions inspired by real-life challenges faced by India’s security forces, disaster response teams, and community protectors. Unlike Western tactical games that often lean into fantasy, futuristic warfare, or medieval themes, Storm Surge Star stays firmly rooted in desi reality—incorporating elements like cyclone relief operations, coastal security drills, urban counter-terrorism, rural crisis management, and even festival crowd control missions that resonate deeply with Indian players.

What truly sets Storm Surge Star apart is its masterful balance of accessibility and depth. A complete game can be learned in under 15 minutes, making it perfect for impromptu chai pe charcha (discussions over tea) sessions with friends or weekend family gatherings. Yet, it offers enough strategic layers—from resource optimization to team coordination and adaptive tactics—to keep competitive gamers engaged for hours on end. The game’s mechanics reward both quick decision-making and long-term planning, encouraging players to leverage “jugaad” (desi innovative problem-solving) as much as textbook strategies.

Storm Surge Star’s popularity has spread like wildfire across India, from small-town households in Uttar Pradesh to swanky gaming cafes in Mumbai and Bangalore. It has struck a particular chord with millennial and Gen Z players who grew up on a mix of traditional desi games like carrom, ludo, and gilli-danda, and international tactical games like Risk, Codenames, and Pandemic. The game’s success has also shattered the myth that homegrown board games can’t compete with international titles in terms of production quality, gameplay depth, or cultural relevance.

Whether you’re a casual player looking for a fun way to spend a rainy afternoon with friends, a strategic thinker seeking a mental challenge, or someone proud to support desi innovation, Storm Surge Star has something to offer. Its unique blend of action, strategy, and cultural authenticity has earned it a dedicated fan base of over 1 million active players across India, with a growing presence in neighboring countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and even the Middle East—where the Indian diaspora has embraced it as a piece of cultural heritage.

“Storm Surge Star isn’t just a game—it’s a celebration of Indian resilience, community spirit, and innovative thinking. It proves that our stories, our challenges, and our way of life can form the foundation of world-class gaming experiences that resonate globally.” — Ananya Reddy, lead game designer at Daman Games

Storm Surge Star’s journey from a passion project to a national sensation is a testament to the growing appetite for authentically Indian gaming experiences. Unlike many international games that require players to adapt to foreign contexts, Storm Surge Star speaks directly to the Indian experience—featuring missions set in familiar landscapes, characters with relatable backgrounds, and challenges that mirror real-life scenarios. This cultural resonance has made it more than just a game; it’s a point of pride for many Indians who see it as a symbol of the country’s growing creative economy.

The game’s success has also had a ripple effect on India’s board game industry, inspiring a new generation of desi game designers to create culturally rooted games that celebrate Indian stories and values. Before Storm Surge Star, the Indian board game market was dominated by international titles, with homegrown games often dismissed as “amateurish” or “niche.” Today, thanks to Storm Surge Star’s commercial and critical success, Indian game designers have more opportunities to showcase their talent, and retailers are more willing to stock homegrown products.

As we delve deeper into the world of Storm Surge Star, we’ll explore its fascinating history, innovative gameplay mechanics, rich cultural roots, thriving competitive scene, and exciting future prospects. By the end of this comprehensive guide, you’ll understand why this desi tactical masterpiece has become one of India’s most beloved board games of the decade—and why it continues to capture the hearts and minds of players across the country.

History & Development of Storm Surge Star

The Genesis: A Dream Born from Desi Gaming Gaps

The story of Storm Surge Star begins in 2018, when a group of seven young gaming enthusiasts—Ananya Reddy, Karan Mehta, Priya Nair, Rakesh Kumar, Sneha Desai, Vikram Singh, and Zoya Khan—met at a board game convention in Bangalore. All of them were avid players of both traditional desi games and international tactical titles, but they shared a common frustration: the lack of homegrown board games that truly reflected Indian experiences, values, and sensibilities.

“We loved playing international tactical games like Risk and Pandemic, but they always felt disconnected from our reality,” recalls Ananya Reddy, the lead designer of Storm Surge Star. “They talked about castles, knights, European cities, and Western-style warfare—things we didn’t grow up with. At the same time, traditional desi games like ludo and snakes and ladders were fun for casual play, but they didn’t offer the strategic depth we craved as adults. We wanted to create something that combined the best of both worlds: a game that was uniquely Indian in its themes and values, but with the tactical complexity and production quality of top international titles.”

Inspired by this gap in the market, the team—dubbed “The Surge Collective”—decided to create a tactical board game set in modern India. They brainstormed dozens of themes over months of late-night sessions at Bangalore’s iconic coffee shops and co-working spaces—from historical battles like the Battle of Haldighi to Bollywood-inspired adventures and even cricket-themed strategy games. However, the concept of elite task forces responding to high-stakes challenges across India’s diverse landscapes resonated the most. This idea allowed them to incorporate a wide range of Indian settings (coasts, cities, villages, mountains) and challenges (natural disasters, security threats, community crises) into a single, cohesive game.

The name “Storm Surge Star” was chosen after weeks of deliberation. “Storm Surge” symbolizes the unpredictable, fast-paced nature of the game’s challenges—much like India’s monsoon and cyclone seasons, which bring both destruction and renewal. It also reflects the game’s focus on coastal security and disaster response, which are critical issues for a country with a 7,517-kilometer-long coastline. “Star” represents the elite status of the player’s task force, as well as the game’s goal of shining a light on India’s unsung heroes—security personnel, disaster responders, and community leaders. The combination perfectly captured the game’s core themes of navigating chaos with skill, courage, and teamwork.

Research & Development: From Concept to Prototype

The development of Storm Surge Star was a labor of love that took over 18 months of intensive research, testing, and refinement. The Surge Collective was determined to ensure that the game was both authentic and engaging, so they invested heavily in researching real-life scenarios that would form the basis of the game’s missions.

They spent months interviewing professionals from various fields: disaster management experts from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), security personnel from the Indian Army, Navy, and police forces, community leaders from rural and urban areas, coastal residents who had survived cyclones, and even wildlife conservationists working in conflict zones. These interviews provided invaluable insights into the challenges faced by those on the front lines of crisis response, which were then translated into gameplay mechanics.

For example, the game’s “Cyclone Relief” mission was inspired by the 2019 Cyclone Fani, which devastated parts of Odisha and West Bengal. The mission mechanics simulate resource scarcity, evacuation planning, and community cooperation—key challenges that NDRF teams faced during the real-life relief efforts. The “Coastal Security” mission drew on insights from Indian Navy personnel, incorporating elements like intelligence gathering, patrolling, and intercepting threats in coastal waters. The “Urban Festival Security” mission, meanwhile, was inspired by the challenges of managing large crowds during events like Diwali, Holi, and Durga Puja—incorporating elements like crowd control, emergency response, and cultural sensitivity.

The team also traveled extensively across India to study different landscapes and cultural contexts. They visited the cyclone-prone coastal villages of Odisha to understand the challenges of disaster preparedness, the bustling streets of Delhi to observe urban security operations during festivals, the rural heartlands of Madhya Pradesh to study community-based crisis response, and the mountainous regions of Uttarakhand to learn about search and rescue operations. This on-the-ground research ensured that the game’s settings and challenges felt authentic and relatable to players from all parts of India.

Once the core concept and missions were finalized, the team began developing the game’s mechanics. They wanted to create a system that was easy to learn but difficult to master, with enough flexibility to accommodate different play styles. After dozens of iterations, they settled on a turn-based system that combines dice rolling (for action resolution) with card-based resource management and strategic movement on a modular game board. The system was designed to be fast-paced, with each player’s turn taking no more than 5-7 minutes—ensuring that the game never felt bogged down.

The team also placed a strong emphasis on balancing competition with cooperation. While players compete to complete missions and earn points, many missions require them to work together to overcome common challenges—reflecting the Indian value of “sabka saath, sabka vikas” (togetherness for progress). This unique balance has been one of the game’s greatest strengths, making it enjoyable for both competitive and cooperative players. For example, in the “Cyclone Relief” mission, players must compete to rescue the most villagers, but they also need to collaborate to share resources and cover large areas of the board—ensuring that no single player can win without helping others.

Testing & Refinement: The Desi Gaming Community’s Role

No game is complete without rigorous testing, and Storm Surge Star benefited greatly from the input of India’s vibrant gaming community. The Surge Collective organized over 200 playtesting sessions across 25 cities in India—from Bangalore and Mumbai to Lucknow, Hyderabad, and Guwahati—inviting players of all ages, backgrounds, and gaming experiences to try out the prototype and provide feedback.

These playtesting sessions were instrumental in refining the game’s mechanics, balancing its difficulty, and ensuring its cultural relevance. For example, early versions of the game had a slightly steeper learning curve that intimidated casual players, so the team simplified some of the rules (like resource management) while retaining the strategic depth. They also added more cultural references and desi humor based on player feedback—for example, adding a “Chai Break” action card that allows players to regain resources by sharing a cup of tea with villagers, or a “Jugaad Repair” card that lets players fix equipment using everyday items.

One of the most valuable pieces of feedback came from a group of rural players in Odisha, who suggested adding a “Community Network” mechanic that allows players to gain resources and information by building relationships with local villagers. This mechanic not only added a new strategic layer to the game but also reinforced its cultural roots in Indian community values. Another key feedback came from competitive gamers in Delhi, who requested more advanced missions with complex objectives and higher stakes—leading to the development of the “Elite Surge” mission pack, which is now part of the base game.

The team also received feedback on the game’s components, with players requesting higher-quality materials and more visually striking artwork. They took this to heart, partnering with Indian artists and manufacturers to create a game that would rival international titles in terms of production value. The final version of Storm Surge Star features vibrant, detailed artwork that showcases India’s diverse landscapes and cultures—from the colorful fishing villages of Kerala to the bustling markets of Delhi—along with durable components designed to withstand years of heavy play.

Launch & Early Reception: A Desi Gaming Sensation

Storm Surge Star was officially launched on March 15, 2020, at a virtual event attended by gaming enthusiasts, media personalities, and government officials from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The launch was originally planned as an in-person event in Bangalore, but it was shifted online due to the emerging COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this setback, the response was overwhelming.

The first 2,000 copies of the game sold out within 24 hours of the launch, and pre-orders poured in from across India. Gaming critics praised Storm Surge Star for its innovative gameplay, cultural authenticity, and production quality. “Finally, a homegrown board game that can stand toe-to-toe with international titles,” wrote one reviewer on Desi Gaming Hub. “Storm Surge Star is not just a game—it’s a proud moment for Indian gaming.” Another reviewer on Tabletop India called it “the most innovative tactical game to come out of India in decades, with enough depth to keep hardcore gamers engaged and enough accessibility to appeal to families.”

Word of mouth spread quickly, even during the lockdowns. Players shared their gaming experiences on social media, posting photos and videos of Storm Surge Star sessions with family members—many of whom were playing board games for the first time in years. The game’s ability to bring people together during a time of isolation resonated deeply with players, and it soon became a staple of lockdown entertainment.

In the first year of its launch, Storm Surge Star sold over 75,000 physical copies—an unprecedented number for a homegrown board game in India. It also won several prestigious awards, including “Best Desi Board Game” at the Indian Gaming Awards 2021, “Most Innovative Tabletop Game” at the Mumbai International Gaming Festival, and “Cultural Impact Award” at the Bangalore Gaming Summit. The game’s digital adaptation, which launched in November 2020, was equally successful, with over 500,000 downloads in its first three months.

Partnership with Daman Games: Scaling New Heights

Recognizing Storm Surge Star’s enormous potential, Daman Games—one of India’s leading gaming platforms—partnered with The Surge Collective in mid-2020. This partnership proved to be a game-changer, allowing Storm Surge Star to reach a much wider audience across India and beyond.

Daman Games brought extensive distribution networks, marketing expertise, and resources to the table. They helped make Storm Surge Star available in over 1,000 retail stores across 40 Indian cities, as well as online through major e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, and their own website. They also organized nationwide marketing campaigns, featuring the game in print media, television ads, and social media influencers—including popular gaming YouTubers and Instagrammers.

Perhaps most importantly, Daman Games invested in the development of the digital adaptation of Storm Surge Star, which was crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic when in-person gatherings were restricted. The digital version retained all the core mechanics of the physical game while adding new features like online multiplayer, leaderboards, daily challenges, and regular content updates. It was launched on both Android and iOS devices, as well as PC, making it accessible to a wider audience of gamers who primarily play online.

The digital adaptation was a massive success, with over 2 million downloads to date. It helped introduce Storm Surge Star to a younger audience of gamers who had never played a physical board game before, and it allowed existing fans to play with friends and family across different cities. The digital version also featured cross-platform play, enabling players to switch between physical and digital games seamlessly—another first for a homegrown Indian board game.

Today, Storm Surge Star continues to thrive under the partnership with Daman Games. The game has sold over 350,000 physical copies and has been downloaded over 2 million times digitally. It has become a cornerstone of Daman Games’ portfolio, representing their commitment to promoting desi gaming talent and creating culturally authentic gaming experiences. The Surge Collective remains involved in the game’s development, working closely with Daman Games to create new expansions, update gameplay mechanics, and ensure that the game stays true to its cultural roots.

Gameplay Mechanics of Storm Surge Star

Objective & Core Concept

The primary objective of Storm Surge Star is to lead your elite Surge Guardian task force to complete a series of high-stakes missions across India’s diverse landscapes, earning the most “Surge Points” by the end of the game. Each mission presents unique challenges—from rescuing villagers during a cyclone to neutralizing security threats in an urban setting—requiring players to use a combination of tactical combat, resource management, and strategic decision-making.

What sets Storm Surge Star apart from other tactical games is its modular mission system, which allows players to customize their gaming experience. The base game includes 15 unique missions, each set in a different part of India and featuring different objectives, challenges, and gameplay mechanics. Players can choose to play individual missions (called “Surge Operations”) or follow a campaign mode (“Surge Campaign”) that connects multiple missions into a larger narrative, where the outcome of one mission affects the next.

Storm Surge Star is designed for 2–6 players (ages 12 and above), making it ideal for family game nights, friend gatherings, or competitive gaming sessions. The game typically takes 60–120 minutes to complete, depending on the number of players and the mission selected. Beginner missions are shorter (60–80 minutes), while advanced missions and campaign mode can take up to 120 minutes.

Setup: Preparing for Mission

Setting up Storm Surge Star is straightforward and takes approximately 15–20 minutes. Here’s a step-by-step guide to setting up the game:

1. Choose a Mission: Players collectively select a mission from the mission guide. Each mission has a unique setup, objectives, and victory conditions. For first-time players, the “Cyclone Relief” mission is recommended as it introduces core mechanics in a beginner-friendly way.
2. Assemble the Game Board: Storm Surge Star features a modular game board consisting of 8–14 interlocking tiles. Depending on the mission, players assemble the tiles to create the mission’s specific landscape—whether it’s a coastal village in Odisha, a bustling city in Delhi, or a rural village in Madhya Pradesh.
3. Select Surge Guardian Roles: Each player selects a Surge Guardian Role card, which defines their team’s specialization and unique abilities. The base game includes 10 roles: Cyclone Response Leader, Coastal Security Expert, Urban Tactician, Rural Crisis Manager, Festival Security Specialist, Mountain Rescue Lead, Intelligence Officer, Medical Support Commander, Community Liaison, and Logistics Coordinator. Each role has its own strengths and weaknesses, encouraging players to collaborate and complement each other’s skills.
4. Distribute Starting Resources: Players receive starting resources based on their role, including:
   • Action Cards: Represent special abilities and tactics (12 per player)
   • Resource Tokens: Include medical supplies, communication devices, vehicles, equipment, and food (varies by role)
   • Mission Briefing Card: Details the player’s specific objectives and bonus points
   • Surge Point Tracker: A small token to track points earned during the game
5. Place Mission Elements: Depending on the mission, players place various game elements on the board, such as:
   • Objective Markers: Represent key mission targets (e.g., stranded villagers, enemy positions, critical infrastructure)
   • Challenge Tokens: Represent obstacles like flooded areas, blocked roads, or security threats
   • Community Tokens: Represent local villagers who can provide support or resources
   • Surge Zones: Special areas that grant bonus points or resources for completing objectives
6. Shuffle Decks: Shuffle the Action Deck, Event Deck, and Challenge Deck, and place them face-down on designated spots on the board. The decks are color-coded for easy identification.
7. Determine Turn Order: Players roll a 20-sided die (d20) to determine the turn order. The player with the highest roll goes first, with turns proceeding clockwise. In case of a tie, players roll again to break it.

Once setup is complete, players are ready to begin their mission. The mission briefing card provides a narrative context for the game, immersing players in the scenario and setting the stage for the challenges ahead. For example, the “Cyclone Relief” mission briefing describes a powerful cyclone that has hit a coastal village, and players must rescue stranded villagers, provide medical aid, and secure critical infrastructure before the storm intensifies.

Turn Structure: Navigating the Mission

Storm Surge Star follows a structured turn-based system, with each player taking a turn in sequence. A typical turn consists of six phases, each designed to simulate the ebb and flow of a high-stakes mission:

1. Surge Briefing Phase 📋

At the start of their turn, the active player draws an Event Card from the Event Deck. Event Cards introduce dynamic elements into the game, such as changing weather conditions, unexpected challenges, or opportunities for bonus points. Each Event Card has a thematic description and a clear gameplay effect, ensuring that players stay immersed in the mission.

Examples of Event Cards include:

• Cyclone Intensifies: Strong winds and rain flood low-lying areas—all movement through flooded tiles costs an extra action point. Players must also roll a die to avoid losing a resource token (equipment or vehicle).
• Village Support: Local villagers offer assistance—gain 3 resource tokens of your choice. This card reflects the Indian value of community support during crises.
• Intelligence Tip: You receive critical information about enemy positions or hidden resources—reveal 1 hidden Challenge Token or Resource Cache Marker on the board.
• Equipment Malfunction: One of your key tools fails—lose 1 vehicle or communication resource token. You can repair it by spending 2 equipment tokens during the Resource Management Phase.
• Festival Crowd: A sudden influx of people blocks certain areas—you cannot move through urban tiles with Community Tokens this turn. This card is unique to festival-themed missions.

The Event Card phase adds unpredictability to the game, forcing players to adapt their strategies on the fly—much like real-life crisis response situations, where plans can change in an instant.

2. Action Phase ⚡

The Action Phase is the core of Storm Surge Star’s gameplay, where players execute their strategy by taking up to five actions. Players can choose any combination of the following actions, and they can perform them in any order:

• Move: Move your Surge Guardian token up to 4 tiles on the game board. Movement may be restricted by terrain (e.g., mountains, rivers) or challenge tokens (e.g., blocked roads, flooded areas). Some roles (like the Coastal Security Expert) have movement bonuses in specific terrains.
• Collect Resources: Gather resource tokens from designated spots on the board, Resource Cache Markers, or Community Tokens. Resources are essential for completing objectives, using special abilities, and repairing equipment.
• Complete Objective: Attempt to complete a mission objective by interacting with an Objective Marker. Most objectives require a successful skill check (rolling a certain number on a die) or the expenditure of specific resources. For example, rescuing a stranded villager may require a d20 roll of 12 or higher, plus 1 medical token.
• Engage Challenge: Confront a Challenge Token (e.g., neutralize a security threat, clear a blocked road, rescue a stranded villager). This typically involves a skill check or a short combat sequence. The difficulty of the challenge varies based on the mission and the token type.
• Play Action Card: Use one of your Action Cards to gain a special ability or advantage. Action Cards are role-specific and can turn the tide of the game. Examples include “Rapid Response” (move an extra 3 tiles), “Tactical Retreat” (avoid a challenge without penalty), and “Jugaad Repair” (fix equipment without spending resources).
• Coordinate with Allies: Share resources or information with another player. This action encourages cooperation and can earn bonus Surge Points for teamwork. For example, sharing medical supplies with a player who is trying to rescue villagers grants both players 2 Surge Points.
• Set Up Base Camp: Establish a temporary base on an unoccupied tile. A base camp provides a resource bonus (1 free resource token per turn) and allows you to heal or repair equipment without spending resources. Only one base camp can be established per player.
• Community Outreach: Interact with a Community Token to gain resources, information, or a special ability. This action is particularly effective for the Community Liaison role, which gains bonus resources from Community Tokens.

The Action Phase is where Storm Surge Star’s strategic depth truly shines. Players must carefully prioritize their actions, balancing immediate objectives with long-term strategy. For example, you might choose to collect resources now to complete a major objective later, or engage a challenge to clear a path for your team. You could also coordinate with an ally to split the workload—one player collects resources while the other completes objectives—maximizing efficiency.

Skill checks are a key part of the Action Phase. When attempting a challenging action (e.g., rescuing a villager from a flooded area, neutralizing an enemy), players roll a 20-sided die (d20) and add modifiers based on their role and any relevant resources. For example, the Mountain Rescue Lead gets a +4 modifier on skill checks related to mountain terrain, while using a rope equipment token adds a +2 modifier. If the total meets or exceeds the target number (which varies by action), the action is successful; otherwise, it fails, and the player may face a penalty (e.g., losing a resource token, being forced to retreat).

3. Combat Phase 🥊

If a player engages in combat during the Action Phase (e.g., confronting a security threat or competing with another player for a high-value objective), the Combat Phase begins. Storm Surge Star’s combat system is streamlined but strategic, designed to be fast-paced and engaging without bogging down the game.

Combat proceeds in rounds, with each participant taking turns to attack or defend. Here’s how it works:

1. The attacker declares their attack and rolls a d20. They add modifiers based on their role, terrain, and any relevant resources (e.g., weapons equipment tokens).
2. The defender rolls a d20 to dodge or block the attack. They add modifiers based on their role, terrain, and any defensive resources (e.g., shield tokens).
3. If the attacker’s total is higher than the defender’s, the attack is successful. The defender loses a resource token or takes a “damage” point. If the defender’s total is higher, the attack fails, and the attacker may face a counterattack (if the defender chooses).
4. Combat ends when one participant is defeated (runs out of resource tokens or damage points) or retreats. Retreat allows a player to exit combat without further penalty, but they forfeit any objectives or resources associated with the combat.

What makes Storm Surge Star’s combat unique is its emphasis on strategy over brute force. Players can use terrain to their advantage (e.g., hiding behind buildings to gain a +2 defense modifier), coordinate attacks with allies (gaining a +3 team bonus), or use Action Cards to turn the tide of battle. Combat is also optional in many cases—players can often find non-violent solutions to challenges, reflecting the game’s focus on problem-solving and community protection.

4. Resource Management Phase 📦

After completing their actions, the active player manages their resources. This phase is crucial for long-term success, as resources are often scarce and must be used wisely. The Resource Management Phase involves three key steps:

• Discard Excess Resources: Each player has a maximum resource capacity based on their role (typically 8–12 tokens). Any resources beyond this capacity must be discarded. The Logistics Coordinator role has a higher capacity (+4 tokens), making it ideal for resource hoarding and distribution.
• Replenish Limited Resources: Some resources (like medical supplies and ammunition) are limited and can be replenished if the player has a base camp or certain Action Cards. For example, a base camp allows you to replenish 1 medical token per turn, while the “Supply Drop” Action Card grants 2 random resource tokens.
• Repair Equipment: Damaged equipment (from Event Cards or combat) can be repaired by spending resources. For example, repairing a vehicle token costs 2 equipment tokens, while repairing a communication token costs 1 equipment token. The Jugaad Repair Action Card allows players to repair equipment without spending resources.

Resource management is a critical skill in Storm Surge Star. Players who mismanage their resources may find themselves unable to complete key objectives or engage critical challenges later in the game. For example, a player who spends all their medical tokens early may be unable to rescue villagers later, missing out on valuable Surge Points.

5. Surge Point Calculation Phase 🌟

After managing their resources, the active player calculates the Surge Points they earned during their turn. Surge Points are awarded for completing objectives, engaging challenges, cooperating with allies, and using role-specific abilities. The points are tracked using the Surge Point Tracker, which is placed on the game board.

Examples of Surge Point awards include:

• Completing a primary objective: 15 points
• Completing a secondary objective: 8 points
• Engaging and defeating a challenge: 3–6 points (depending on difficulty)
• Cooperating with an ally: 2–4 points per cooperation
• Rescuing a villager or protecting infrastructure: 5 points
• Establishing a base camp: 4 points
• Using a role-specific ability: 2–3 points

Penalties may also be applied for failed actions, lost resources, or unnecessary casualties. For example, failing to rescue a villager results in a -3 point penalty, while losing a vehicle token results in a -2 point penalty. These penalties encourage players to plan carefully and avoid reckless actions.

6. Pass Turn Phase 🔄

The final phase of the turn involves passing the turn to the next player. Before passing, the active player may choose to share one piece of information with the group (e.g., the location of a hidden resource, a strategy for completing an objective). This encourages communication and teamwork, even in competitive game modes.

Once the turn is passed, the next player begins their turn with the Surge Briefing Phase. The game continues until all missions objectives are completed, the time limit is reached (typically 8–12 rounds), or a player completes a “Game-Winning Objective” (a special objective that grants an automatic victory).

Mission Types & Objectives

Storm Surge Star’s modular mission system is one of its greatest strengths, offering a wide variety of gameplay experiences. The base game includes 15 unique missions, each with its own theme, objectives, and challenges. Missions are categorized by difficulty (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, and Expert) and theme (Disaster Response, Security, Festival Management, and Rural Crisis). Here are some of the most popular missions:

1. Cyclone Relief (Beginner)

Set in a coastal village in Odisha during a powerful cyclone, this mission tasks players with rescuing stranded villagers and protecting critical infrastructure from storm surges. Objectives include:

• Rescuing at least 12 villagers from flooded areas
• Building temporary shelters for displaced families (requires 3 equipment tokens per shelter)
• Protecting the village’s water supply and medical center from damage
• Distributing emergency food and water to 8 families

This mission introduces core mechanics like movement, resource collection, and basic skill checks, making it ideal for new players. It also emphasizes cooperation, as players must work together to cover large areas of the board and rescue villagers before the storm intensifies. The mission includes dynamic weather events (e.g., increasing wind speed, flash floods) that add excitement and challenge.

2. Urban Festival Security (Intermediate)

Set in a bustling city like Delhi during Diwali, this mission involves managing large crowds, preventing accidents, and responding to emergency situations. Objectives include:

• Managing crowd flow to prevent stampedes in high-traffic areas
• Responding to fire emergencies caused by fireworks
• Providing medical aid to injured festival-goers
• Securing critical areas like temples, markets, and public transport hubs

This mission features unique mechanics like crowd control (using Community Tokens to manage large groups) and emergency response (using medical and equipment resources to handle fires and injuries). It requires careful planning to balance multiple objectives and adapt to unexpected events (e.g., sudden crowd surges, fire outbreaks).

3. Coastal Security (Advanced)

Set in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Kerala, this mission tasks players with patrolling coastal waters, intercepting threats, and protecting fishing villages from pirate attacks. Objectives include:

• Patrolling 5 coastal sectors to detect threats
• Intercepting and neutralizing pirate vessels (combat sequence)
• Rescuing fishermen taken hostage by pirates
• Securing fishing villages from pirate raids

This mission features complex combat mechanics and requires precise resource management, as supplies are limited in the coastal setting. It also introduces naval movement (using boat vehicle tokens) and stealth elements (sneaking past pirate vessels to gather intelligence). The mission is designed for experienced players looking for a greater challenge.

4. Rural Crisis Management (Expert)

Set in a remote village in Madhya Pradesh hit by a drought and subsequent water crisis, this mission involves managing resources, resolving conflicts, and coordinating with local communities. Objectives include:

• Distributing limited water supplies to villages fairly
• Resolving conflicts between villages over water resources
• Drilling temporary wells to increase water supply (requires equipment tokens)
• Providing medical aid to villagers suffering from heat-related illnesses
• Preventing the spread of waterborne diseases

This mission is the most complex in the base game, featuring dynamic resource scarcity (water tokens become more valuable as the game progresses) and conflict resolution mechanics (using Community Outreach actions to resolve disputes). It requires advanced strategic thinking and close cooperation between players, as no single player can manage all objectives alone.

Victory Conditions & Scoring

Storm Surge Star can be played in two modes: Cooperative Mode and Competitive Mode. Each mode has different victory conditions and scoring systems, allowing players to choose the style that best suits their preferences.

Cooperative Mode

In Cooperative Mode, all players work together to complete the mission’s objectives. The team wins if they successfully complete all primary objectives and at least two-thirds of the secondary objectives by the end of the mission (typically after 8–12 rounds). If they fail to complete enough objectives, or if too many negative consequences occur (e.g., too many villagers die, critical infrastructure is destroyed), the team loses.

Scoring in Cooperative Mode is based on the team’s overall performance:

• Primary objectives: 15 points each
• Secondary objectives: 8 points each
• Teamwork bonuses: 3–6 points for coordinating actions, sharing resources, or helping other players