The Space Gamer received three Origins Award nominations for Best Professional Roleplaying Magazine (in 1981, 1985, and 1986). The Space Gamer won an Origins Award for Best Professional Roleplaying Magazine of 1982.
Space Gamer began life as a paper magazine published by Metagaming Concepts in 1975. Steve Jackson Games took over publication with issue #27 (dated March/April 1980), and ultimately published 50 issues (plus six issues of spin-off magazine Fantasy Gamer). Issue #76, September/October 1985, became Steve Jackson Games' last issue before the rights to the name went elsewhere. Space Gamer covered all aspects of hobby gaming: RPGs, wargames, card and strategy games, and more. It also featured industry news and reviews. Although Space Gamer is still a great read in its own right, today it's also a fascinating look at an earlier era of hobby gaming.
All the issues of Space Gamer that were published by Steve Jackson Games are available digitally at Warehouse 23, including a bundle of all 50 issues.
Today's featured issue from the vault:
Space Gamer #53 (July 1982)
Space Gamer #53 (cover date July 1982) reaches for a star, catches it, and wraps it up in a bite-sized bundle, with classic articles that are fun to read!
In addition to the regular game reviews, news, and letters, this issue includes a super-powered short story called "A Super Named John" (including write-ups for its four characters in Champions, Villains & Vigilantes, and Superhero 2044); "The Newcomers," the finale in the series of Traveller adventures (preceded by "Flare Star" from Space Gamer #46, "Storm" from Space Gamer #48, and "Periastron" from Space Gamer #50); Steve Jackson's tongue-in-cheek look at sci-fi and fantasy equipment we hope gamers never see; "Giving the Humans an Even Break," which provides optional rules to give humanity a fighting chance in The Creature That Ate Sheboygan; more hands-on insight into programming a computer for use as a game aid; and the first installment of a column about the miniatures industry.
Whether you're a fan of old-school gaming or a historian of our hobby, each issue of Space Gamer is the perfect passport to the past!
See the sample!
 #27 - #36 |  #37 - #46 |  #47 - #56 |  #57 - #66 |  #67 - #76 |
