Review copy provided by Free League Publishing
The first time I played the official ALIEN tabletop roleplaying game from Free League Publishing, it was from the core rulebook and the bundle set that included everything needed to dive deep into the game.
And it was masterful.
In my review, I explored all of the things that made the game an exquisite recreation of the Alien universe’s horror-filled spaceships, planets, and humans. It’s a tabletop RPG that excites, scares, and delivers on the promises of the classic source material. The themes of inequality, greed, betrayal, and evaporating hope all burst forth like facehuggers from disturbed eggs.
It’s a narrative experience that you won’t want to miss and since the initial release of the core rulebook, Free League Publishing has created additional content, including a Starter Set, which condenses the broad scope of the game into a smaller package for those that want to dip their toes into the immersive sci-fi setting rather than leap in naked during the winter months.
The Starter Set includes everything you need:
A 104-page condensed rulebook
The 48-page complete cinematic scenario Chariot of the Gods designed for 3–5 players, not including the GM
Five pre-generated characters
A huge full-color, double-sided map—one side depicts chartered space in the year 2183 and the other reveals floor plans for the spaceships in the Chariot of the Gods scenario.
84 game markers
56 high-quality custom cards
Custom-engraved dice sets—Base Dice and Stress Dice
Alien is a defining franchise in popular culture. One that explores the future of humanity and reveals our weaknesses and fears by isolating us in a truly terrifying place—space. And the thing I love most about the roleplaying game from Free League Publishing is the choice to explore that world in two distinct ways: a long and challenging campaign that enables players to embark on a harrowing journey through the void; and short, atmospheric stories that are already made for players and only need time and imagination to come to life. That duality makes for a convincing RPG experience, and the Starter Set makes it easier than ever to strap on a suit, grab a flashlight, and get to work staying alive.
STORY
The job was routine, the money fair. Then the damn company diverted you to answer a distress call from a ship that disappeared almost 80 years ago—a derelict carrying something bizarre, twisted, and alien. What the ship’s frozen crew brought back with them was bad enough—what they themselves were turning into was a bloody nightmare. Add to that an annoying sensor ghost shadowing you in the void, and your stress level is shot.
It’s all a bit much.
You don’t get paid enough to deal with monsters. But hold your breath, count to three, and play your cards right with this one, and you just might walk away very rich. Oh, who am I kidding?
You’re all going to die.
That’s an idea we can all get behind, right? We’re all going to die one day. And if you’re playing ALIEN, it might be sooner than you think. To encounter the scenario described above, then players will discover what happens in the Chariot of the Gods, which is penned by sci-fi author Andrew E.C. Gaska.
But if that pre-determined narrative isn’t for you, then you can forge your own path through the stars. Explore the lives of another worker-class hauler crew. Join a group of Colonial Marines on a volatile mission to a far-off colony. Join an expedition of scientists to a previously-unknown archaeological site.
Whatever you want. With the Starter Set, you can use the condensed core rulebook to create your own space epic in this dark world. Visit frontier space. Return home to the boiling cauldron of greedy corporations and warring governments. Keep your boots on the ground or step into a powerloader. The choice is yours.
The Game Mother directs the story in the ALIEN RPG like a composer holding the fate of the group in their hands. It’s what makes roleplaying games so compelling and it’s anchored in one of the most fascinating sci-fi settings that I’ve ever seen.
And while cinematic scenarios are produced for accessible gameplay, each group will uncover and interact with the story in unique ways. The story beats aren’t all essential to the conclusion of the short campaign, and it’s going to be a novel RPG experience for everyone.
If you doubt the power of the ALIEN RPG, remember that it draws upon a rich history of sci-fi lore, mining those deep wells of world-building and creating a spectacular tale of survival horror.
GAMEPLAY
My review of the full ALIEN RPG covers the gameplay thoroughly. If you’re looking for a play-by-play examination of how the core mechanics function and what separates it from the RPG crowd, then I encourage you to go read that in full.
The Starter Set has a different objective, though. To convince tabletop players to try out the new universe with a smaller and more approachable product. Don’t get me wrong, the rulebook is still a beastly little thing. It’s over 100 pages of gorgeous illustrations and dense explanations of the rules that guide play in ALIEN. It’s going to be familiar to frequent RPG gamers, but it’s also not going to scare away new blood.
And if you’re looking for a low bar of entry to the game, then the cinematic scenario Chariot of the Gods will hold the hand of the GM and the players by providing a three-act story with recommended events and player-characters ready to be embodied.
The supplemental content also adds a lot of visual anchors to the game. The map provides the ship blueprints that allow players to see where they are at all times in relation to other rooms and players. The markers and cards give tangible items and visual cues for what’s going on. And the dice are a clear way of recognizing successes and failures.
So nothing has really changed from my last expedition into the unknown, but I would like to highlight the best parts of the ALIEN experience that are integral to the roleplaying game and that are highlighted in the Starter Set.
The Stress mechanic is just a lovely innovation that rewards players with more daring acts while also jeopardizing the safety and sanity of the crew by slowly spiraling out of control. It really connects with the heart of the sci-fi franchise and it properly reflects the mindset of the crew members, soldiers, and denizens of this dark setting. Terror is certain, but the responses of the humans (and androids) determines the course of the story. Stress plays a central role in that aspect of the game.
Campaign and cinematic play empower players to direct their own tabletop adventure. Are you looking for a short but fulfilling tale akin to watching a good long movie? Enjoy Gaska’s gripping story in Chariot of the Gods. But if that’s not for you and you want something deeper, something that will endure through months of roleplaying, then you can craft a narrative all your own with the core rulebook.
The Starter Set presents a strong case for stepping into the world of ALIEN. It’s an affordable entry point stuffed to the top of the cardboard box with dice, cards, markers, maps, scenarios, and rules. Everything you need in one box for a price that’s cheaper than many retail board games.
Free League Publishing has built on the success of the original release by discovering more ways to introduce the ALIEN RPG to more players. It’s a game that I have recommended to my friends and fellow gamers whenever I get the chance.
VISUALS
The game components are sublime. They depict the sci-fi setting with a high-production value and it grips the players, never letting go.
The 104-page rulebook has art to convey the sinister nature of the spaceships, the planets, and the other locales that make up the ALIEN world. If that’s not enough, you’ve also got the Chariot of the Gods characters, the starmap, the weapons and items on the cards, and other visual reference points.
My favorite component is the Stress Dice, where the failure icon is represented by the dreaded Facehugger. It makes me shiver and I love it.
Everything you get shows how much Free League Publishing is dedicated to superior design and quality.
REPLAYABILITY
It goes without saying that roleplaying games have some of the highest replayability of any game you’ll find. Depending on the scenario, the campaign, and the Game Mother, this RPG could last for hours upon hours. Meeting weekly or monthly, you could encounter story after story and complete mission after mission before deciding that you’ve eaten your fill of this big alien meal.
Unlike most RPGs, though, the ALIEN roleplaying game also contains cinematic scenarios, which increases the reach and depth of the experience. It’s a big determining factor for whether you should buy this thing. A second scenario from Gaska is already out and there are more on the way.
WHAT IT COULD HAVE DONE BETTER
The writers and designers have done an outstanding job. When I first reviewed the game at the beginning of the year, it was my first sci-fi RPG and I was still new to tabletop campaigns. I loved it, but since then I’ve had some time to reflect on the quality of the ALIEN RPG and its contemporaries in the genre.
I really don’t have any qualms about this game. I don’t have any criticisms. The Starter Set solidifies my love for the adventure and I don’t think there’s a good argument against this relatively cheap way to start playing. It offers an abundance of choice to prospective players and it warmly welcomes newcomers into the Xenomorph’s embrace.
There is a reason this is an award-winning game. There is a reason that Free League Publishing is the fan-favorite publisher.
This game takes the proverbial cake right out of the oven and stuffs it in your face. You won’t be able to tell what’s icing and what’s blood.
VERDICT
Free League Publishing has triumphed in making a game that exudes the atmosphere and personality of the source material. Ridley Scott made some films that continue to inspire us and incite curiosity. But the talented Swedish publisher has built a rock-solid foundation for all sci-fi fans to take ownership of the ALIEN story and create their own memories. It’s not a nostalgia-fest for fans. It’s a masterclass in roleplaying that brings humans and monsters together better than anything since Dr. Frankenstein and lightning.
We want to know what’s lurking in the dark around the corner. Free League Publishing has given us the answer: it’s the ALIEN RPG and it’s coming for you.
Buy it now from the Fria Ligan webstore for ~$53.
