
- BGG rank
- BGG #8,392
- BGG rating
- 6.9
The Thing
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 2010

Rules assistance for Lifeform: Thirteenth Passenger
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Lifeform: Thirteenth Passenger is an expansion for Lifeform released in 2019 for 2–4 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Mark Chaplin and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Point to Point Movement.
The 13th Passenger expansion for Lifeform is a modular, plug-in expansion for hardcore players who want even more! There are four optional modules: Two new characters join the Crew team. New rules for asteroids add yet another terrifying threat to the already beleaguered Valley Forge starship. The Remora shuttle board provides a brand new and unique endgame showdown experience. And the new Crisis cards enable a lone player to use the Remora, and expand the solo experience. This expansion was originally available as an add-on during the Kickstarter campaign for Lifeform.
Lifeform: Thirteenth Passenger supports 2–4 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 Lifeform: Thirteenth Passenger is 60 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 Lifeform: Thirteenth Passenger 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.
Lifeform: Thirteenth Passenger has a complexity rating of 2.0 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.
Lifeform: Thirteenth Passenger belongs to these categories: Fighting, Horror, and Bluffing. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Point to Point Movement. 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 Lifeform: Thirteenth Passenger are: Mark Chaplin. 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 Lifeform: Thirteenth Passenger as an expansion for Lifeform. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Lifeform to use it. Check that your edition of Lifeform is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.