How To Play: Aliens

Overview

Aliens is not just about blasting ugly space monsters—trust me, my cousin found that out the hard way. In this guide, I’ll share an outline of the rules (so you don’t argue for an hour like we did) and the best strategies for winning. You’ll finally know How To Play aliens and, with luck, stop blaming the dice for your mistakes. Sit back, grab a snack, and let’s get into it.

What’s in the box

• 1 Game Board
• 6 Hero Miniatures
• 16 Alien Miniatures
• 22 Door Tokens
• 20 Motion Tracker Cards
• 4 Dice
• 30 Equipment Cards
• 1 Rulebook
• 12 Barricade Tokens
• 6 Character Boards
• 40 Tokens (wounds, ammo, and other)
• 1 Turn Tracker
• 1 Operations Map

How To Play Aliens: Rules Summary

Setup

1. First, place the board in the center of the table. Try not to spill your drink on it like my buddy Steve did last time.
2. Next, give each player a character card and the matching token. Everyone picks their favorite. Arguments may occur.
3. Shuffle the alien cards and place the deck face down by the board. If you drop them, please pick them all up.
4. Deal each player two resource tokens and one weapon card. If you get the flamethrower, don’t gloat (too much).

Gameplay

1. Starting with the youngest player (or the most paranoid), each player takes turns clockwise.
2. On your turn, draw an event card. Read it out loud unless you want to face group suspicion forever.
3. Move your character up to two spaces on the board. Avoid dark corners—you never know what’s lurking there.
4. You may use one action: search for items, attack an alien, or assist a teammate. Yes, even Steve if he asks nicely.
5. If you meet an alien, battle time! Draw an alien card and compare attack strengths. Winner stays, loser runs (or cries).

Winning

1. The group wins if they eliminate all aliens OR fix the escape shuttle and launch it. Both options are hard. Trust me.
2. The group loses if the aliens knock out all players OR destroy the shuttle. Try not to make it easy for them.

Special Rules & Conditions

1. Some event cards change the rules. Always follow the instructions right away, even if it means Steve gets a bonus.
2. If a player gets infected, they secretly switch sides! This rule always makes things hilarious. Watch your friends for sudden sneaky behavior.
3. If the timer runs out before an ending is reached, the aliens win. Don’t play too slow or you’ll regret it.

Follow these rules and you’ll know How To Play aliens like a seasoned pro. Or at least survive longer than Steve did in my last game night. Good luck, space explorers!

Best Aliens Strategies

Get Your Crew Talking: Secrets To Cracking Aliens With Team Smarts

Why Communication Gets You the Win

When playing Aliens, I learned the loud way that silence kills. Team chat isn’t just fun; it’s the best tool against those sneaky invaders. If we mumble or keep secrets, aliens win—trust me, I’ve seen it happen.

Roles Make or Break Victory

Assigning roles early means less chaos and more action. Here’s how we sorted out the madness:

1. Pick a leader to keep the group focused and give pep talks (sometimes in alien voices).
2. Make one person the ‘alien spotter’ because someone always misses the obvious clues.
3. Keep a ‘resource chief’ so you never run out of the good stuff.

How To Play aliens With Pro Teamwork

Remember, Aliens rewards teams who talk and plan. Next time, grab your friends, laugh at your mistakes, and talk your way to victory!

Master the Art of Resource and Weapon Management

Know Your Inventory

I once lost in Aliens because I hoarded items like a squirrel on espresso. Don’t be me. Check what you have!

1. Sort gear by usefulness each round.
2. Share items with teammates in need.

Plan Your Ammo

No one wants to face a xenomorph with an empty clip, trust me. Plan ahead.

1. Keep track of ammo each player spends.
2. Reload before exploring new rooms.

How To Play aliens: Upgrade Wisely

Upgrades are tempting, but choose the right moment or you’ll regret it (like when I wasted points on a useless flamethrower mod).

1. Upgrade after assessing threats.
2. Focus on weapons that cover group weaknesses.

The Secret Sauce: Outsmarting Alien Movement

1. Watch for Repeated Patterns

Aliens aren’t as random as my cousin Larry’s dance moves. They often follow set paths. I always scan the board for repeated actions and set myself up in those spots to ambush.

1. Jot down spotted movement sequences.
2. Position your team along predicted paths.

2. Use Limited Information Wisely

Clues hide everywhere! When I spot a footprint or see a closed door, I guess where the alien will go next and plan my moves.

1. Note every clue and update guesses often.
2. Coordinate guesses with teammates.

3. Bait and Trap

Sometimes, you need to tempt the alien. I’ll leave an obvious target, then get ready to pounce when the alien falls for it.

1. Leave a vulnerable player as bait.
2. Surround the likely attack spot.

How To Play aliens: Predict where the alien will be, and you’ll have a fighting chance. Good luck, and don’t get eaten!

Blast Off: Ready to Outsmart the Aliens?

Alright, brave space folks, that’s my top tips for not ending up as alien chow. Remember, “How To Play aliens” boils down to teamwork, not shooting your own squad (I learned that the hard way), and keeping an eye out for those weird noises in the vents. Every game my friends and I play turns into wild accusations and even wilder escapes. Use what you learned, trust your gut, and never, ever let Dave hold all the ammo again. Good luck, space hero – the galaxy needs you!

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