How To Play: Aliens

Overview

So, you’ve found yourself stuck with slimy aliens on the loose and your only weapon is a board game? Welcome to my life last Friday night. In this guide, I’ll show you how to play aliens, give you a quick outline of the rules, and share the best strategies I picked up while trying (and mostly failing) to escape with my friends. Let’s get you surviving longer than I did!

What’s in the box

• 1 Game Board
• 6 Character Miniatures
• 16 Alien Tokens
• 40 Motion Tracker Cards
• 20 Equipment Cards
• 30 Encounter Cards
• 12 Door Tokens
• 20 Barricade Tokens
• 1 Turn Tracker
• 1 Dice Set (5 dice)
• 6 Player Reference Cards
• Rulebook

How To Play Aliens: Rules Summary

Game Setup

1. Place the game board in the center of the table. Try not to spill your drink on it—like I did.
2. Each player chooses a character and grabs its matching pawn and player card.
3. Shuffle the Alien, Equipment, and Event decks, then place them in their marked spots.
4. Deal starting equipment cards to each player. Pick wisely! Last time, I grabbed a spoon. Didn’t help much.
5. Put all Alien tokens in the Alien Nest zone. Trust me, you’ll want to know where they are.
6. Set the Round Tracker at round 1. This is when your hope is still high.

Gameplay

1. On your turn, choose and perform two actions – move, search, fight, or use equipment. Yes, running away counts as a strategy.
2. After players act, draw and resolve an Event card. Spoiler: events are rarely good news.
3. Aliens move next, following their movement rules toward the closest player. Prepare your best scream.
4. Resolve combat if aliens and players meet. Roll the dice, pray, and try to not blame your friends.
5. Pass the turn and cry a little inside when you see how close the aliens are getting.

Winning the Game

1. Players win by reaching the Exit with all surviving teammates. It’s called teamwork, not heroic solo movie scenes.
2. If the aliens eliminate all players before you escape, the aliens win (and you get to sulk together).

Special Rules & Conditions

1. Event cards may bring traps, locked doors, or extra aliens. Take nothing for granted—except chaos.
2. If your character falls, you can still help as a ghost by offering unhelpful advice from the sidelines.
3. Use special powers on your player cards, but only once per round. Don’t make the same mistake I did—check the card before bragging.
4. If you run out of time on the Round Tracker, aliens overrun the base. It’s not pretty.

Now you know the basics of How To Play aliens! Grab your friends, the spoons, and a sense of humor. Good luck!

Best Aliens Strategies

Crew Coordination: Screaming Less, Winning More

I learned the hard way that poor crew talk leads to chaos. After my buddy accidentally jettisoned our weapons, we decided to actually talk to each other. Suddenly, aliens didn’t eat us for breakfast. Below are must-follow tips for top-notch coordination.

1. Share Intel Fast

1. Relay alien movement and threats immediately.
2. Use simple, clear language. No Shakespeare here.
3. Assign one person to track alien locations.

2. Plan Actions Together

1. Discuss moves before executing.
2. Avoid acting solo unless the alien is on your tail!
3. Agree on backup plans for surprises.

3. Encourage Questions

1. Ask crew to confirm tricky instructions.
2. Double check orders before moving.

For anyone wondering How To Play aliens better, start with better talking. Trust me, it saves lives and friendships.

Resource Management Under Pressure: Outwit the Aliens, Don’t Feed Them

Act Fast or Lose Supplies

Aliens don’t wait for you to plan. I once spent five turns arguing over who had the last medkit. Spoiler: it was the cat. Here’s what actually works:

1. Use resources as soon as needed, not before. Hoarding backfires.
2. Count your stock at the start of each round, so you don’t get a nasty surprise.

Swap and Share

If the team keeps grumbling, trade items. I have seen friendships saved by one clever trade. Try these:

1. Offer your least useful card for something vital.
2. Negotiate before the big alien attack—people are way more generous when anxious.

Plan for the Worst

Aliens love chaos. We ran out of air tanks once. I don’t recommend it. So, always:

1. Save backup supplies for emergencies.
2. Stick to the plan, unless the plan is to panic.

Remember, learning How To Play aliens well means sweating the small stuff and working together. Good luck staying alive!

Alien Movement and Outwitting the Invaders

Watch for Patterns

1. Track which rooms aliens like. They have favorite haunts!
2. Notice any repeat moves. Aliens often ignore sneaky routes.

Predict and Prepare

1. Pick safe paths based on last alien sighting.
2. Set traps where you think they’ll pop up next.

React Fast and Adapt

1. Switch plans if aliens change direction. Never panic!
2. Share new intel with teammates so no one gets eaten!

Mastering alien moves makes ‘How To Play aliens’ easier. Soon, you’ll dodge danger and win (or at least escape mostly whole).

Blast Off to Victory!

Well, there you have it, folks! After a few rounds of Aliens with my game group—plus three arguments about who left the hatch open—it’s safe to say, surviving isn’t easy but it sure is fun. Remember, teamwork is your friend and a panicked dash for supplies is your second-best friend. If you want to truly master How To Play aliens, keep your cool, share your plans, and always bring snacks. Good luck out there, space cadets! Watch out for aliens… and Steve, who always forgets the oxygen.

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