How to Play

Baseball Highlights: 2045

1-4 players 45-45 min 7.5 Board Game Geek Rating

In futuristic 2045 baseball, cyborg pitchers, robot batters, and human "Naturals" compete in a revolutionized sport. This card-driven game simulates TV highlights where players alternate six cards per mini-game, combining offensive and defensive plays. Build your team by purchasing free agents between games, balancing strategy and tactics to win the most mini-games in the series.

Published 2015

Baseball Highlights: 2045

Get Ready

Setup the game with these step-by-step instructions before diving into your turn.

1
Choose team decks
Each owner selects one of the four starting 15-card team decks (San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, or New York)
2
Prepare player boards
Each owner takes a team board and places it in front of them with the preferred orientation (deck on left or right)
3
Shuffle team decks
Each owner shuffles their 15-card deck and places it face-down on their board's lineup area
4
Set team status
Mark each team's status (home or visitor) with the status token; this flips after each game
5
Reset score markers
Place score markers and victory markers on the zero positions on each board
6
Draw starting hand
Each owner draws 6 cards from their deck as their team for the first game
7
Prepare free agent market
Shuffle the 60-card free agent deck and reveal the top 6 cards face-up
8
Place player figures
Put all three colors of player figures (white, blue, red) in the center of the table for shared use
9
Add new players to deck
Place all purchased free agents and unused pinch hitters on top of your deck
10
Draw six cards
Each owner draws 6 cards from their deck (reshuffle discard pile if deck is empty)
11
Select pinch hitter
Optionally place one hand card face-down as a reserve, then draw a replacement card

On Your Turn

What you can do during your turn.

1
Visitors start first
The visiting team always begins the game; owners alternate turns until all 6 cards are played
2
Phase 1: Play a card
Choose a card from hand and place it face-up in the center of your board
3
Phase 2: Use special ability
Execute the action described in the center of the played card if possible
4
Phase 3: Execute opponent's hits
Resolve all prepared hits on opponent's board from left to right
5
Phase 4: Prepare your hits
Place player figures on your home base matching the hits shown on your played card
6
Slow speed (white)
Player on field moves exactly the hit strength in bases
7
Medium speed (blue)
Player moves hit strength, but advances 2 bases from second base on a single
8
Fast speed (red)
Player on field moves one base more than hit strength
9
One player per base
Only one player may occupy each base; faster players cannot pass slower players ahead
10
Guest team defense
After hosts play their 6th card, guests may play a defensive card (pinch hitter or top deck card) before hosts execute final hits
11
Trigger overtime
If scores are tied after 6 cards, all players remain on field
12
Draw overtime cards
Each owner draws 3 cards and secretly selects 1 to reveal simultaneously
13
Resolve overtime cards
Execute hosts' abilities first, then guests' abilities, then both teams execute hits
14
Continue if tied
If still tied, select from remaining 2 cards; draw 3 more if all cards used
15
Calculate income
Sum all green circle values from cards played in the game
16
Determine buying order
Owner with lower income decides who buys first; loser decides if tied
17
Purchase players
Buy any number of free agents within your total income
18
Replenish market
Add a new card from free agent deck after each purchase to maintain 6 available
19
Send player to minors
For each player bought, remove one card that was in play to the minor leagues
20
Add to deck
Place all purchased cards face-down on top of your team deck
21
Discard played cards
Move all in-play cards to your discard pile face-up

Winning

How to claim victory.

1
Win preliminary games
Play 3 games with purchases after each; alternate home/visitor status
2
Determine World Series home team
Owner with more preliminary wins starts World Series as home team
3
Play World Series format
Series consists of 7 games: 2 as home, 3 as visitor, 2 as home for preliminary winner
4
Win the championship
First team to win 4 World Series games wins the entire match
5
Score the most runs
Team with higher score at end of 6 cards wins the game
6
No ties allowed
Overtime continues with additional cards until one team leads
7
Track victories
Mark each game win on the victory track
8
Quick game option
Skip preliminary games; each owner buys 6 players then proceeds to World Series
9
Extended game option
Each owner buys 6 players first, then plays 3 preliminary games before World Series

watch & Learn

Let the pros teach you with these top videos.

The Purge: # 4532 Baseball Highlights 2045: Learn How to Play

The Purge: # 4532 Baseball Highlights 2045: Learn How to Play

Instructional

(dżentelmeni przy stole) Czy cyborgi grają w softball? Baseball Highlights 2045 [ENG subtitles]

(dżentelmeni przy stole) Czy cyborgi grają w softball? Baseball Highlights 2045 [ENG subtitles]

Review

MORE VIDEOS

FULL rules

Looking for the full details? Grab the complete rulebook as a downloadable PDF.

Play Board Games Online

Explore breakout hits and fan favourites with no downloads, setup or paywalls. Just click and play.

Play Now

more GAMES LIKE THIS