Fantasy Flight Games Cosmic Encounter Board Game

Cosmic Encounter is another of Fantasy Flight Games excellent updated versions of a classic (originally released in 1977). As usual FFG give it a polish, straighten out some of the contentious rules and throw in some top quality components and excellent design work, bringing it to a new generation of gamers.In terms of rules it's initially pretty simple. Each player has 5 planets - their home system. Each player also has a fleet of 20 ships. With each players ships beginning on their home systems (4 on each planet - a single ship on a planet representing a colony), the aim of the game is to get 5 colonies on planets outside your home system. In other words - attack the other players home planets to establish your own colonies there.Yes, that is quite straightforward, however the real fun of the game is the Aliens.....This game comes with a whole lot of Aliens. At the start of the game each player gets randomly dealt 2 Aliens from the large deck, and chooses 1 to play for the game. Each Alien has its own unique rule bending powers. And this is what makes the game endlessly re-playable. No two games are likely to ever be the same with such a wide and varied set of powers and skills available. Your choice of Alien will totally change how you think about playing.Further unique skills are dealt into a deck of cards which all players will use to perform all the interactions of the game. This is a game without dice!So, with your home worlds, your fleet of ships, your unique Alien power and your hand of cards you set about attaining cosmic supremacy. To do this you may form alliances, trick and deceive and totally renege on any agreement to ensure you rule supreme. You will use your Alien power to maximize your attacks, to confuse your opponents, to win you allies and defend your precious colonies - very important as to lose too many of your home colonies will see you lose your Alien skill. At least until you re-establish the colonies again!!The game can also have several winners, as the winning condition can be achieved by a number of players simultaneously.A fantastic package and a brilliantly unique game that has been around 3 decades and counting! This FFG set caters for new players right up to experts, and each game can be customized perfectly to suit the playing group. It expands further with 3 (so far) excellent expansions, each of which allows for another player to join in the madness (the core set is 5 player) as well as more unique situations and even more fantastic Aliens to make the game even more fun.A very unique experience and excellent fun. There is nothing quite like Cosmic Encounter.

Heard so many good things about this game and they weren't wrong, shame I can't really play solo.Very simple idea, use your ships to colonise 5 planets that don't belong to your home system (colour), use your ships as wagers and play cards to either battle or negotiate your way to victory, that's the simple part.Choose 1 of 50 Alien races, use thier abilities (some are almost game breaking in power) and use your negotiation/bluff skills to encourage others to help you win or just deceive your opponents and claim the win all on your own!This is one of those rare games that allows for multiple/ simultaneous winners.I feel that the game is a faster and, a potentially, more aggressive form of Monopoly, but takes it as galactic conquest through deceit, power and diplomacy.Although this game will initially confuse you as you play a few games, you'll get used to the game mechanics, which is very straightforward really.This is one of those games where choosing to be mean isn't really frowned upon, but is expected if you wish to be the only victor of the game, just don't be surprised if people trust you less the next time you play.The game overall is fantastic, the components are of excellent quality and the visual appearance is brilliant.Be warned some of the alien images are not suitable for youngsters, nothing rude, just potentially disturbing in thier appearance.This is a great game and is potentially a great step up from introductory stage games, though if you simplify it it could be a good intro game, depending on the players. Despite this, it is a must have for your games collection, especially if you're looking for something a bit more in-depth and challenging.

This is a really fun group game with some medium strategy involved. The gaming website Rock Paper Shotgun (RPS) love this game and I can see why. It is enjoyable and very repeatable. You each play an alien race which have special abilities. There are many to choose from and the game gives you a random selection of two to choose from at the start of each game thereby giving each game a different feel. I think this is a really good idea. The aim of the game is to establish five colonies on each others planets other than your own (of which you all have five each). To do so you have encounters each round and varying cards to play during those. How you choose to play your cards will win you the game (or loose it if you choose badly!) I won't say too much about it as it will already be covered and if not I highly recommend checking out a youtube tutorial/ game play review, actually I recommend you do that before you buy any game anyway to get a better feel for it. But what is good about this game is that it is easy to set up and easy to teach people and play for many different abilities. It's not specifically for children but older ones would be able to grasp it, how well they are at choosing and playing the cards in their hand depends on each individual child, but I recommend teenage upwards for a game where all the players are on an even enough footing. A really good solid game.

One of the best board games for backstabbers and teamplayers

Absolutely fantastic game, really interesting and unusual mechanics which encourages a lot of player interaction and laughs. Can be a little complex for people who don't play board games often but once they pick it up it's usually enjoyed and requested.

I was very keen maybe desperate was the word to get this for my family (grown up sons and daughter who come home at Xmas) to play last Xmas. hence I paid over the odds. But! I dont regret it! They all sat down of an evening playing and my heart was warmed to see them all together happily engrossed! For next Xmas...assuming I'm lucky enough to have them all home again...I'll get an add on for the game.