How To Play: Aliens

Last Friday night, my friends and I tried Aliens, and let me tell you, things got out of hand fast! If you’ve ever wondered if you’re the type to survive an alien invasion or just become space chow, this guide is for you. We cover a quick outline of the game rules and the sneakiest strategies for winning. If you want to know How To Play aliens, keep reading!

Overview

What’s in the box

• 1 Game board
• 6 Crew member miniatures
• 4 Alien miniatures
• 1 Mother miniature
• 20 Door tokens
• 16 Objective tokens
• 12 Motion tracker cards
• 8 Weapon cards
• 30 Equipment tokens
• 6 Character boards
• 1 Rulebook
• 24 Alien activation cards
• 16 Event cards
• 2 Dice

How To Play Aliens: Rules Summary

Setup: Getting Ready To Face The Aliens

1. Place the game board in the middle of the table. Try not to spill your drink on it like I did. Lucky for me, it wiped off.
2. Give each player a crew token and matching player mat. If someone grabs the wrong color, a quick rock-paper-scissors match settles it.
3. Shuffle all event and item cards. Place decks face down on the board spots. If your shuffling skills stink, let your friend who works at the casino do it.
4. Put alien miniatures on the starting spaces shown in the rulebook. They look cute for now. That won’t last.
5. Hand out three Supply tokens to every player. Keep the rest close by for later.

Gameplay: What You Do On Your Turn

1. First, draw an Event card. Bad stuff always happens, but hey, it’s not called “Kittens” for a reason.
2. Next, move your crew according to your player mat. You can split movement unless someone eats too many nachos and can’t keep count.
3. Take actions: search, trade, use an item, or attack. Just don’t try to do all four at once. That’s cheating. My buddy tried and we all yelled at him.
4. If you end your turn next to an alien, brace yourself. Roll the Danger Die and follow the fun (terrifying) results.
5. Play passes left. Try not to sigh out loud when someone spends ages thinking.

Winning: How You Can Taste Victory

1. Complete the mission objective shown on the board. Don’t get distracted by side quests, like we did that one time. We lost. Hard.
2. If all crewmates get wiped out by aliens, you lose. Don’t let it happen unless you like watching your friends gloat and do their victory dance.
3. Check the win conditions after every round.

Special Rules & Conditions: Extra Stuff To Remember

1. Aliens always move after every player’s turn, following their AI cards. No, they don’t cheat, but it sure feels like it.
2. If you draw a “Malfunction” event, fix it fast or things will get ugly.
3. Some rooms have special effects that trigger when you enter. My friend learned this by stepping into the “Quarantine” once—he wasn’t happy for the rest of the game.
4. Players can trade items only if they occupy the same space. No tossing supplies across the map. (Yes, we argued about this.)

Now you know How To Play aliens! Get ready for a wild ride. Watch out for the air vent. Trust me.

Best Aliens Strategies

Master the Art of Crew Placement and Movement

If you want to win at Aliens, where and when you move your crew matters—a lot. My friends always try to spread out, but I learned the hard way that wild running makes you alien lunch fast. Here are pro strategies for smart crew placement and movement. If you’ve ever wondered How To Play aliens and win, start here!

Start in Safe Zones

1. Always put your first crew in areas with low alien risk.
2. Keep your crew together early for shared defense.

Advance with Purpose

1. Move towards mission goals, not just empty spaces.
2. Use planned routes to avoid accidental blunders.

Flexible Positioning

1. React if aliens get close—never freeze in fear!
2. Split your crew if you spot a clear, safe shortcut.

Winning Aliens: Resource Management Tips That Actually Work

Focus on Supplies Early

You must plan ahead if you want to outsmart those aliens. Snatch up supplies as soon as you can. Don’t wait around or others will beat you to it.

1. Grab ammo and medkits quick, before the aliens show up.
2. Keep track of your stock. Running out is a disaster.

Trade Wisely With Your Team

Remember, teamwork saves lives. Trade resources but never give away too much. I once traded my last medkit and next turn, got chewed on by an alien. Bad move!

1. Offer trades that benefit both sides, not just your pals.
2. Save rare items for emergencies.

Know When To Risk It

Sometimes, you must leave safety for those must-have supplies. But don’t risk your best crew member unless you’re sure. Learning how to play aliens this way beats bad luck every time.

1. Scout ahead if you can to avoid nasty surprises.
2. Pick up what you need, not just what looks shiny.

Outsmarting the Aliens: Battle Tactics That Work

Bluff and Distract

1. Send out decoy crew members to draw aliens away.
2. Bluff your intentions by splitting your group. Aliens love chaos.

Use Equipment Wisely

1. Snag gadgets early when you can. They save lives.
2. Always combine items for stronger defense, especially when cornered.

Read Alien Patterns

1. Watch for repeated alien movement. They do get predictable when you pay attention.
2. React fast. Dodge into safer rooms right before they appear.

My group once stared down two alien tokens and lived to brag, just by using a few of these sneaky moves. If you want to master How To Play aliens and win, keep your head, trust your gut, and never feed the aliens pizza. Trust me—they only get stronger.

Blast Off, Stay Alive, and Outsmart the Aliens!

After playing Aliens with my crew (and nearly getting spaced by a friend called Dave), I can say this game keeps you on your toes. Use smart crew movement, share those precious supplies, and maybe don’t trust anyone who hums the X-Files theme. Take your time reading the rules for How To Play aliens and remember: no plan survives contact with tentacles. If you lose, blame the dice—or Dave. Good luck out there, future space-heroes!

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