
- BGG rank
- BGG #25
- BGG rating
- 8.2
Nemesis
- 1–5 players
- 90–180 min
- Complexity 3.5/5
- 2018

Rules assistance for Nemesis: Retaliation – Xyrians Expansion
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Nemesis: Retaliation – Xyrians Expansion is an expansion for Nemesis: Retaliation released in 2025 for 1–5 players, 90–180 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Adam Kwapiński and Michał Oracz and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Player Elimination, and Dice Rolling.
The Xyrians are independent faction that brings a whole new dimension to your gameplay, blending unpredictability with strategic depth. Xyrians are creatures that resemble octopuses, and they have an advanced blending technology that lets them hide in plain view. This is why, during the game with Xyrian, you will be adding their Tokens - but you can never be sure whether this is only an old trace or an actual Xyrian until you step into this room and investigate. Or some random Primeblood may do that for you. They operate independently, creating dynamic scenarios that can shift the tide of your mission. What is more, you will be able to use this new race together with all the other races from Retaliation! Xyrians are the third additional party to the whole situation happening in Retaliation. Sometimes, they might be your unpredicted ally, sometimes your worst enemy. This mysterious, technologically advanced race has its own goals that will create a lot of exciting situations. With the Xyrians in play, exploring the depths of the unknown facility becomes even more intriguing. Each step into the unknown carries new possibilities and dangers. Not that it was easy and predictable before, but with this new breed, it's like the merrier, the more challenging! With this race a series of unique serious wounds are introduced! They will not only deal "standard" damage but also perform unique attacks. Imagine being caught in a Xyrian net, losing precious time as you struggle to free yourself, being poisoned with an unknown substance that makes you weaker for a few rounds, or gaining a special marker that will cause all Xyrians to slowly but consequently hunt your Marine. These events definitely add new challenges and some extra narrative depth to your Retaliation missions. Also, you must be aware that successfully defeating a Xyrian is a rare and challenging feat. But those who manage it are rewarded with exceptionally rare artifacts (i.e., Weapons, Armor, or some precious Items), adding a tantalizing incentive to engage with this new threat. You know the saying – high risk, high reward. They introduce some strategic manipulation to the game! There are possible conflicts between the Xyrians and other alien races, which can be used to your advantage. So, it is likely that the Xyrians will eliminate as many Primebloods as possible. Their goals will be different with every game. They might aim to infiltrate the Nest, target the most wounded player, or try to hunt down the Queen. Generally, each encounter with the Xyrians feels fresh and challenging and will bring some twists to your game! —description from the Gamefound campaign
Nemesis: Retaliation – Xyrians Expansion supports 1–5 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 Nemesis: Retaliation – Xyrians Expansion is 90–180 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 Nemesis: Retaliation – Xyrians Expansion for ages 14 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.
Nemesis: Retaliation – Xyrians Expansion has a complexity rating of 3.8 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a heavy 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.
Nemesis: Retaliation – Xyrians Expansion belongs to these categories: Horror, Adventure, and Miniatures. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Player Elimination, and Dice Rolling. 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 Nemesis: Retaliation – Xyrians Expansion are: Adam Kwapiński and Michał Oracz. 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 Nemesis: Retaliation – Xyrians Expansion as an expansion for Nemesis: Retaliation. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Nemesis: Retaliation to use it. Check that your edition of Nemesis: Retaliation is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.