How To Play: Aliens

Ready to feel like Ellen Ripley or maybe just the unlucky crewmember who forgot their flamethrower? In this guide, I break down How To Play aliens, give you a clear outline of the rules, and spill the best strategies from my Friday night battles with my overly competitive pals. No chestbursters here—just honest advice to help you win (or at least survive).

Overview

What’s in the box

• 1 Game Board
• 6 Character Miniatures
• 1 Alien Miniature
• 16 Map Tiles
• 60 Cards
• 12 Dice
• 40 Tokens
• 6 Player Boards
• 1 Rulebook

How To Play Aliens: Rules Summary

Setup

1. Lay out the game board in the center of the table. Make sure no snacks are hiding under it—aliens hate crumbs.

2. Each player grabs a character mini, matching board, and their starting gear. Don’t pick the flamethrower unless you pull it off better than I do (I once set my own snacks on fire).

3. Shuffle the alien cards and event cards. Place them face-down next to the board. You will soon hate these piles.

4. Everyone draws their starting hand, and puts their character on the starting square. Now, take a deep breath and say goodbye to your peaceful life.

Gameplay

1. On your turn, pick an action: move, search, attack, or help a buddy. You can usually do two actions. Maybe three, if you bribe the game master (not officially allowed).

2. Draw an event card. If it’s an alien, act surprised. Then place the alien on the board and follow the event’s instructions. If you must, scream dramatically.

3. Combat is simple. Roll the dice and hope for the best. Add weapon or strength cards for a boost. Remember, you can’t punch an alien into submission, I tried.

4. After your turn, the next player goes. Play continues clockwise. Or, if everyone panics, counterclockwise also works (not recommended).

Winning

1. Complete the scenario objective. This may mean escaping, destroying the aliens, or saving your cat. Maybe all three. Check the scenario card for your mission.

2. If everyone dies or the aliens overrun your base, you lose. In my house, this means you make snacks for the winners next round.

Special Rules & Conditions

1. You cannot attack your teammates, even if you suspect they eat all the chips. Trust me, this rule exists for a reason.

2. Some rooms have special effects, like locking doors or surprise alien eggs. Read the room cards carefully or risk hilarious disaster.

3. If an alien grabs you, roll to escape. Fail, and you might become alien chow. Win, and brag about it for the rest of the game.

Best Aliens Strategies

Talk It Out: Teamwork & Communication Skills in Aliens

Listen Like An Alien

You can’t win Aliens if you ignore your crew. Whenever someone has an idea, pause and let them speak. My friend Dave once tried to warn us about a vent ambush; we ignored him and got toasted. Trust me, ears open, mouth closed (sometimes).

1. Always check in before making big moves.
2. Ask quiet players for their thoughts.

Clear, Quick, and No Nonsense

Shout out what you see. I once whispered about an alien nearby, and my friend thought I was ordering pizza. Don’t mumble—be clear!

1. Use short, loud signals for emergencies.
2. Repeat orders if someone looks lost.

Plan Together, Fail Together

Every round, huddle up with your team and review your plan. Things go wrong when everyone wanders off. The trick to How To Play aliens well is to never leave your mates guessing.

1. Start every turn with a group update.
2. End every turn with a quick recap.

Blast Those Aliens: Resource and Weapon Management Tips

Ammo Matters

Nothing stings like running out of ammo just when a Xenomorph says hello. Thankfully, you can plan ahead:

1. Count your bullets on each turn—don’t waste a single shot.
2. Trade ammo with teammates who need it more.
3. Save your special weapons for the big, ugly boss.

Keep Supplies Close

Sometimes, you get greedy grabbing everything. Instead:

1. Share medkits and gear. Don’t hoard like a raccoon.
2. Place items in rooms where they are easy to reach.
3. Rotate who carries the most valuable stuff for backup.

Adapt or Splat

A good “How To Play aliens” tip: Adapt your loadout to the situation. Always:

1. Switch weapons if the room gets crowded.
2. Use quiet weapons when alerting aliens is a risk.
3. Upgrade when you can, but don’t throw away your old blaster yet.

Trust No Alien: Outsmart Them With Pattern Prediction

Spot Repeating Behaviors

Aliens love habits. Watch for moves they keep repeating. For “How To Play aliens” well, notice which corridors they stalk or which rooms they avoid.

1. Pay attention to every alien turn.
2. Write down which doors or vents they use again and again.

Use Bait

Next, tempt them. Try leaving an item or person as bait. Then, check if the aliens fall for it. This helps you spot any regular patterns.

1. Leave supplies visible on purpose.
2. Put a player in a safe but visible spot.

Team Checks

Afterwards, always check with your friends. Share what each of you saw. This way, you piece together the aliens’ movement.

1. Hold quick meetings after every round.
2. Combine clues for a clearer picture.

Plan Escape Routes

Lastly, use what you learn to plan safe routes. Never trust the same path twice, as aliens get sneaky fast. Adapt as their patterns change!

Ready to Take on the Hive?

If you want to survive Aliens (and let’s be honest, brag to your friends), you gotta remember three things: stick together, share that sweet gear, and learn how to play aliens smarter than the bugs. My group still teases me for bolting ahead and getting trapped in a vent, so don’t be that guy! Keep talking, swap tips, and you just might live to tell the tale. Good luck, hero—you’ll need it (and maybe a fresh pair of underwear).

Want to know what we think of Aliens? Read our detailed review of Aliens here