Space Infantry Resurgence Expansion: What It Adds
By Lock n Load Publishing | Published: 2026-10-16
Category: Product Reviews
A grounded look at what the Space Infantry Resurgence Expansion Pack changes, who should buy it, and when a different Lock n Load title fits better.
Quick answer
Buy the Space Infantry Resurgence Expansion Pack if you already own and play the base game and want new biome nodes, nightmare nodes, a boss sheet, and fresh encounter and planet cards. Skip it if you have not played the base game yet, or if you want a standalone historical wargame instead. The expansion assumes you know the base deck; it does not replace it.
What the expansion changes at the table
The expansion is built around the idea that once you know the base deck, the base missions lose tension. It adds biome nodes so your squad operates on worlds that behave differently, nightmare nodes and a boss sheet so mission endings are not just more of the same enemies, and new encounter cards, planet cards, and missions. The practical effect is that mission planning changes: you are not only choosing a loadout for a known threat, you are choosing how to handle a world whose rules differ from the last one.
Expansion vs base game: what you actually need
This is an expansion, not a standalone box. The catalog description assumes you have run the missions and know what is in the deck, which is a clear signal that it is aimed at existing players. If you are new to the system, the base game is the correct first purchase. If you already play regularly and the missions feel solved, the expansion is the cheaper way to add replay value compared with buying a second core set.
How it compares with other Lock n Load titles
If your group wants a different scale rather than more of the same sci-fi skirmish, two other options are worth knowing. The Pacific War: From Pearl Harbor to the Philippine Sea is a standalone two-player game covering December 1941 to June 1944, with the Japanese player opening strong and the Allies reacting. Close Quarter Battles - Waterloo is a tactical Napoleonic game set at Hougoumont and along the sunken road on 18 June 1815. Both are complete games, so they suit a group that wants a new subject rather than an addition to an existing one.
Decision rules for buying the expansion
- You already own and play the base game: The expansion assumes you know the base deck and have run the missions. If that describes your group, the new biome and nightmare nodes plus the boss sheet are the most direct way to add replay value. Buy it.
- You are new to Space Infantry: The expansion is not a standalone box. Without the base game you cannot use the new nodes, cards, or missions as intended. Buy the base game first.
- You want a complete new game instead: If the goal is a fresh subject rather than more missions, a standalone Lock n Load title gives you a full game in one box. Choose a standalone title.
Product facts that matter for this decision
- Space Infantry Resurgence Expansion Pack: Adds biome nodes, nightmare nodes, a boss sheet, and new encounter, planet, and mission cards. These are the pieces that change mission variety, so the expansion only pays off if you already play the base game enough to notice repeated missions.
- The Pacific War: From Pearl Harbor to the Philippine Sea: A standalone game covering the Pacific from December 1941 to June 1944, with the Japanese player opening on the offensive and the Allies reacting. Choose this instead if you want a complete two-player historical game rather than an add-on to a sci-fi skirmish system.
- Close Quarter Battles - Waterloo: A tactical Napoleonic game set at Waterloo on 18 June 1815, focused on Hougoumont, the orchard, and the sunken road. A better fit if your group prefers historical tactical command at a specific battle over expanding a sci-fi mission deck.
Who should buy it and who should not
Best for
- Players who already own the Space Infantry Resurgence base game and play it regularly
- Groups that want new mission variety, biome rules, and a boss encounter without buying a second core set
Not for
- New players who do not yet own the base game
- Groups looking for a standalone historical wargame instead of a sci-fi expansion
