- BGG rating
- 7.7
Aliens: Expansion
- 1–9 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 2.2/5
- 1990
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,974
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Aliens
1989
Rules assistance for Aliens
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–9 players
- 90 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.2/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for Aliens
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Aliens is a board game released in 1989 for 1–9 players, 90 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Barry Nakazono and David McKenzie and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Dice Rolling, and Square Grid.
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About the game
Aliens allows players to recreate three key battle scenarios from the 1986 science fiction/horror film. The scenarios include "The Reactor Room" (nine marines vs. the aliens in their lair), "Operations and Air Ducts" (the surviving marines face an alien assault and pursuit), and "Ripley vs. The Queen" (Ripley uses a powerloader in her final battle with the Alien Queen). Includes a 17" x 34" game map, character cards, and counters, all featuring photos from the movie. Marines can have very short life spans in this game, especially if they don't work together. Game play is fast and intense - does a good job of creating the sense of urgency felt when watching the movie. Missions can be made more brutal with optional rules - plus some rule variants add to some fun "what if" scenarios. Add the Aliens Expansion and you can virtually re-write the entire movie script!
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Leading Edge Games
Questions and answers
Aliens supports 1–9 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Aliens is 90 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Aliens for ages 10 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Aliens has a complexity rating of 2.2 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Aliens belongs to these categories: Fighting, Movies / TV / Radio theme, and Horror. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Dice Rolling, and Square Grid. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Aliens are: Barry Nakazono and David McKenzie. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Aliens as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.