- BGG rank
- BGG #8,911
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Intruder
- 1–3 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 1980
- BGG rank
- BGG #14,827
- BGG rating
- 6.1
They've Invaded Pleasantville
1981
Rules assistance for They've Invaded Pleasantville
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 45 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.1/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for They've Invaded Pleasantville
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
They've Invaded Pleasantville is a board game released in 1981 for 2 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Michael Price and its main mechanics are Area Movement.
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About the game
Part of TSR's minigame series. From the rulebook... "They've Invaded Pleasantville" minigame is a two player wargame of secret invasion by Space Invaders. One player, the Alien player, moves the Alien-controlled and uncontrolled pieces, and the other player, the Town player, moves the Town-controlled pieces. There are 12 game turns in this game. In any given turn, playing pieces representing various townspeople will be moved across the gamemap, which is a map of Pleasantville. The Alien player will try to keep the whereabouts of the Alien-controlled townspeople a secret, while he or she "takes over" more unsuspecting townspeople and builds up strength for the final showdown with the Town player. The Alien player, in short, will try to create a large army of townspeople-zombies, eliminate any opposition, and occupy Pleasantville as a base of operations. The Town player will try to convince the townspeople that there is an alien menace in the town, and will attempt to fight any Alien-controlled townspeople encountered. With luck and careful play, the Town player hopes to defeat the Alien-controlled"zombies", locate the Alien Headquarters, and destroy the Alien Sub-Commander. The game mechanic involves use of two identical sets of carboard chits - one set having a star on the back indicating alien control. Each turn, the alien player may use misdirection and bluffing to fool the town player as to where the alien mind control is taking place. Real townspeople are "swapped out" with alien controlled ones and the town player must stop the spread of control sooner than later. A fun game for two players who enjoy bluffing and like simulating the action of classic movies like Invasion of the Body Snatchers and Invaders from Mars. Especially entertaining is the random Townsperson Movement table that simulates the day to day migration of unsuspecting townspeople as they go about their business in Pleasantville.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Tactical Studies Rules (TSR)
Questions and answers
They've Invaded Pleasantville supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for They've Invaded Pleasantville is 45 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 They've Invaded Pleasantville for ages 12 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.
They've Invaded Pleasantville has a complexity rating of 2.1 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.
They've Invaded Pleasantville belongs to these categories: Wargame, Horror, and Science Fiction. Its main mechanics are Area 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 They've Invaded Pleasantville are: Michael Price. 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 They've Invaded Pleasantville 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.