
- BGG rank
- BGG #27,813
- BGG rating
- 5.8
Pittsburgh 68
- 3–13 players
- 68 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 2012

2017
Rules assistance for Roswell 51
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.
Roswell 51 is a board game released in 2017 for 3–13 players, 75 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Larry Wickman and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling and Team-Based Game.
Description from the back of the box: Don't just play a game, play a movie... ROSWELL 51 puts you front and center in a retro sci-fi invasion flick. The Time: 1951 The Place: Roswell The Problem: Aliens Shuffling horror awaits in this fast-paced, cinematic card game. Players fight for their lives as the movie reveals disastrous events, plot twists, and the most terrifying mash-up of outer space invaders ever to hit the silver screen! Thrills! One player is the Director, who deals the movie and controls the alien horde. Chills! Eliminated players return to the game as creepy Pod People. Terror! Just who will be standing when the film fades to black?
Roswell 51 supports 3–13 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 Roswell 51 is 75 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 Roswell 51 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.
Roswell 51 has a complexity rating of 2.5 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.
Roswell 51 belongs to these categories: Card Game, Movies / TV / Radio theme, and Party Game. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling and Team-Based Game. 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 Roswell 51 are: Larry Wickman. 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 Roswell 51 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.