Let me tell you, reviewing this board game was a real adventure—full of panicked shouting, wild finger-pointing, and someone tipping over their drink (looking at you, Steve). This is my review of the claustrophobic, tense, and absolutely wild space-horror board game. If you want to know what it feels like to suspect your best friend might feed you to an alien, buckle up and read on. I promise, I still have all my friends—mostly.
How It Plays
Setting up
First, scramble for the biggest table you own. Place the board in the center, hand out character stands, and load everyone up with their secret objectives. Shuffle up the item cards and spread those little alien minis nearby. Someone gets to be the Alien, which is fun until everyone glares at you.
Gameplay
The game runs in rounds. Each player takes turns sneaking (or sprinting) around the ship, searching rooms, collecting gear, and sometimes panicking when the Alien appears. You’ll trade wary glances across the table, shout accusations, and clutch onto flamethrowers like they’re family heirlooms. Luck shows up too, because nothing says fun like drawing a useless card when you need a medkit.
Winning the Game
To win, you just need to complete your secret goal. Easy, right? Wrong. The Alien will be trying to eat you, and other players might sabotage your plans. Either escape the ship, destroy the Alien, or make sure your rivals have a very bad time (depending on your objective). Only one player can claim they actually slept well after playing Alien!
Want to know more? Read our extensive strategy guide for Alien.
Strange Moons and Creepy Corridors: Theme and Atmosphere in Alien
I’ve faced a lot of board games that claim to be a “thrilling horror experience,” but if those games are scary, then I’m a purple potato. The game Alien, though, actually made my friend Dave jump out of his chair. (In fairness, he sits on an exercise ball, but let’s give credit where it’s due!) Right from the start, Alien oozes theme. You’re not just playing as people on a board; you’re crewmates lost in a spaceship that feels about as safe as a wet paper bag. Every card, every token, even the rules booklet, is dripping in that nail-biting, “what was that noise?” kind of paranoia.
The art is straight out of a space nightmare. I mean, the alien itself looks hungry in every painting (and I started to worry the cat was next). The ship’s layout changes every game, which makes it feel like you’re actually exploring tight, dimly lit corridors, not just squares on cardboard. The game designers paid serious attention to setting the mood—there’s no cheesy jokes here, only cold sweat and a lot of suspicious glances across the table when someone says, “Trust me!”
The tension is real. We played with the lights low and some spacey soundtrack, which was both a good idea and a terrible idea. I still have nightmares about vent shafts. The atmosphere stays thick throughout, especially when the alien is lurking. You never feel safe and you never know who’s got your back. That’s a rare treat in board games, and it really nails the “creeping horror” vibe.
So, while the theme might have everyone chewing their nails, next up I’ll share if the mechanics have us pulling our hair out or high-fiving like happy astronauts—let’s talk gameplay and balance!
Gameplay Mechanics and Balance in Alien
When my friends and I sat down to play Alien, we knew we were in for some chaos. But nothing could prepare us for the yelling, the panic, and the wild attempts at survival this game demands. Alien’s core mechanics put you in the shoes of the original crew, each with a secret agenda and a healthy fear of being space chow. The game uses a modular board and a suspenseful movement system, so you never feel safe, no matter where you run—or slither.
Players take turns moving through the ship, collecting tools, and sometimes triggering events that make you want to laugh, cry, and call your mom all at once. Cards drive actions and events, but there’s still a strong element of strategy. The Alien (capital A, because it’s terrifying) hunts players, and its actions come from a deck of cards. Here’s where things can wobble: sometimes the Alien almost feels psychic, popping up exactly where you wanted to go. Luck does play a role—sometimes too much. One of my friends ended up in the airlock twice in a row because of some bad card draws and questionable life choices. Not that I’m still laughing about it. Okay, maybe a little.
Overall, Alien’s mechanics keep things sharp and the balance is decent, but a run of poor luck can tip the scales and leave you wishing for a little more control. If you hate games where luck snatches victory from your hands, you might get grumpy here. But if you enjoy a spicy mix of chaos and planning, you’ll love every second.
Ready to see if mistrusting your friends every five minutes is as much fun as it sounds? Next up: Player Interaction and Tension!
Outwit, Paranoia, and Friendship: Player Interaction & Tension in Alien
If you want a board game that makes even your best friends eye you with suspicion, Alien is the ticket. It’s like someone mixed Among Us with sweaty palms and late-night pizza. You’re either the alien causing chaos or a survivor just hoping not to become tonight’s snack. There’s always this buzz in the air—one wrong word and suddenly everyone thinks you’re the sneaky extraterrestrial.
The table talk is half the game. You’ll see alliances pop up, promises made and broken in the same breath, and players who are waaay too convincing for their own good. In my last match, I actually hid my face behind my cards to avoid giving away that I was the alien. Spoiler: It did not work. Everyone noticed my face was suddenly missing and launched a full-on witch hunt.
What I like is that you can’t coast in Alien. You’ve got to read people, lie, and occasionally throw your buddy under the bus (sorry, Steve). There’s always tension, even when you think you’re safe. This makes every round exciting and keeps boredom at bay. You don’t need to like social games to enjoy the sheer panic that sets in when someone yells, “It’s definitely Jamie!” and you’re not even the alien this time.
Next up, I’ll tell you if staring at the board is as fun as staring at your friends. Yes, it’s Component Quality and Artwork time!
Component Quality and Artwork: Is Alien Out of This World?
Alright, let’s talk about the stuff you actually touch and see! The Alien board game nails the creepy sci-fi look. Just looking at the box art gave my snack bowl the chills. The game board, splattered in dark corridors and glowing controls, looks like it was ripped right from the movie. I’ve seen worse at actual escape rooms.
The miniatures for the alien (not gonna lie, I named ours Susan) and the crew are solid. They aren’t super-detailed, but they’re way better than some of the sad lumps I’ve seen in cheaper games. You can paint them if you’re feeling artsy, but they’re fine as-is. The cards and tokens feel sturdy enough for repeated use, even when you spill your drink mid-panic like I did. Twice.
What really got my group talking was the use of color. The tension builds not just from the gameplay, but because the visuals make you feel like you’re hiding in a doomed spaceship. The artwork is dramatic, with shadows, weird sci-fi effects, and more dark corners than should be legal.
One bummer: the rulebook. It’s clear, but kind of drab. Some more art to break up the text would’ve been nice. But that’s a small gripe—a bit like complaining the alien is too slimy.
Do I recommend it? If you care about theme and want to feel like you’re really up against a space nightmare, yes! Susan says hi.
Conclusion
Well, that wraps up my journey with Alien! If you want a board game that makes you sweat, laugh, or accuse your friends of being a slimy space monster, this one does the trick. The tense theme and awesome table vibes are its biggest draws. The components look great, and the artwork gets you in the mood for betrayal and panic. Not everything is perfect, though. The game can feel unfair, and if you hate losing because of bad luck, you might get grumpy (like me after losing twice in a row). But if you love dramatic moments, wild accusations, and a bit of chaos all mixed into your game nights, Alien will keep things interesting. Thanks for reading my review—now go find out which of your friends is the sneakiest alien!
