Alien Frontiers is a science fiction board game that was first released in 2010 by Clever Mojo Games. Designed by Tory Niemann, the game has gained popularity for its unique combination of dice rolling, worker placement, and area majority mechanics set in a space exploration theme.
Game Components of Alien Frontiers
Game Board: Depicts the planet, its moon, orbital facilities, and the solar system’s star.Dice: Represent spaceships in the player’s fleet.Colony Tokens: Used to mark player control over territories on the planet.Alien Tech Cards: Provide various powers and abilities.Resource Tokens: Solar and metal resources.Orbital Facilities: Include solar converter, orbital market, lunar mine, shipyard, and colony constructor.Faction Cards and Expansions: Add special abilities and new content, such as the Factions, Agendas, and Outer Belt expansions.
How To Setup Alien Frontiers
To set up the game, each player starts with three dice and places the remaining dice in the shipyard on the board. The game board is laid out with various orbital facilities and the planet’s territories. Players receive a set of colony tokens and alien tech cards. Resources and other components are placed within reach of all players.
Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective
Dice Placement: Players roll and assign their dice to different orbital facilities to gather resources, build new ships, and colonize the planet.Resource Management: Players must manage solar and metal resources to build colonies and expand their fleet.Area Control: Players place colony tokens on the planet to control territories, each with special abilities.Alien Technology: Use Alien Tech cards to manipulate dice rolls, steal resources, and gain advantages.Objective: The game ends when one player places their final colony on the board. The player with the most points, earned from controlling territories, having colonies, and bonus cards, wins.
Player Experience
Alien Frontiers offers a engaging experience with simple yet strategic gameplay. Players must carefully plan their dice placement and resource management to outmaneuver their opponents. The game is known for its interactive elements, allowing players to disrupt each other’s plans and steal resources. The combination of long-term strategy and quick decision-making makes each turn exciting and challenging.
Pros
Engaging Mechanics: Combines dice rolling, worker placement, and area control for a dynamic gameplay experience.High-Quality Components: Features bright, chunky dice and durable cards with a smooth matte varnish on the board.Thematic Art: Channels a classic space pulp theme with consistent and clear artwork.Replayability: Offers significant replay value with the inclusion of expansions and varying player strategies.Family-Friendly: Suitable for players aged 13 and above, with a playing time of about 90 minutes.
Cons
Graphic Design Showing Its Age: The game’s graphic design and art style may feel dated compared to more modern games.Limited Solo Mode: The game does not include a solo mode, limiting its appeal for single players.Potential for Complexity with Expansions: While the base game is relatively simple, adding expansions can increase complexity.
Personal Thoughts on Alien Frontiers
Alien Frontiers is a great choice for those who enjoy resource management, area control, and strategic dice placement. It is particularly suited for players who appreciate a mix of long-term planning and quick tactical decisions. While it may not have the same wow factor as more recent releases, it remains a reliably entertaining game with broad appeal. It is ideal for families or casual gamers looking for a fun and interactive experience, but may not be the best fit for those seeking highly complex or modern game designs.
We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost for you. Learn more.
