- BGG rank
- BGG #177
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Roll for the Galaxy
- 2–5 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2014
- BGG rating
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Rules assistance for Race for the Galaxy: Xeno Invasion
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 30–60 min
- 13+
- Complexity 3.3/5
Rules assistant for Race for the Galaxy: Xeno Invasion
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Race for the Galaxy: Xeno Invasion is an expansion for Race for the Galaxy released in 2015 for 2–5 players, 30–60 minutes per game, and ages 13 and up. It was designed by Thomas Lehmann and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Simultaneous Action Selection.
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About the game
Race for the Galaxy: Xeno Invasion, an expansion for the RftG base game that comprises the third story arc in the game series, depicts the galaxy as being under attack by waves of violently xenophobic aliens, dubbed the Xenos. XI adds Xeno military worlds (worlds conquered and occupied by them), specific military vs. Xenos, and a new keyword: ANTI-XENO. To provide a good proportion of new Xeno worlds, keyword, and powers, XI is not compatible with the other expansion story arcs. Xeno Invasion is aimed at intermediate RFTG players, altering Explore to be mix-with-hand. It adds 51 game cards to the base set and includes a bonus Invasion Game, with Produce: Repair and invasion cards, a repulse track, bunkers, and various counters. The Invasion game adds two new ways the game can end: by either repulsing or falling to the Xenos. In Produce, players can repair damaged worlds and donate goods to the war effort (earning VPs). Players can also earn VP awards by defeating their share of the Xeno attackers and having the highest military vs Xenos, while they lose the use of damaged worlds that they fail to defend (until they are repaired). The Xeno attacks take place at the end of each round, starting with round 3, and typically take less than 30 seconds to resolve so that players can immediately return to selecting their actions for the next round.
Editions
- Race for the Galaxy: Xeno InvasionenRio Grande Games2015
- Race for the Galaxy: Invasion XenofrYstari Games2016
Designers
Publishers
- Rio Grande Games
- Ystari Games
Questions and answers
Race for the Galaxy: Xeno Invasion supports 2–5 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 Race for the Galaxy: Xeno Invasion is 30–60 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 Race for the Galaxy: Xeno Invasion for ages 13 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.
Race for the Galaxy: Xeno Invasion has a complexity rating of 3.3 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight 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.
Race for the Galaxy: Xeno Invasion belongs to these categories: Card Game, Economic, and Science Fiction. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Simultaneous Action Selection. 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 Race for the Galaxy: Xeno Invasion are: Thomas Lehmann. 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 Race for the Galaxy: Xeno Invasion as an expansion for Race for the Galaxy. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Race for the Galaxy to use it. Check that your edition of Race for the Galaxy is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.