Tag Archives: space

video game reviews

Why Citizen Sleeper 2 is the Best RPG of the Year

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

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What is Citizen Sleeper 2?

Citizen Sleeper 2 is a dice-driven RPG out now on Steam, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation.

You have made your grand escape and for the first time since you’ve been created, you are free. But freedom comes at a price. Your captures are hot on your trail, and there is rarely a place where a sleeper isn’t recognized. Gather your crew, upgrade your ship, and complete contracts as you travel across the Starward Belt, avoiding your pursuers. Will you ever be able to truly escape?

Gameplay

This is the closest you’ll get to a table top role playing game. During a cycle, players will have access to a dice pool they can spend on different checks. Checks will will progress the story, unlock new areas on a map, and generally allow players to complete actions. These checks are based on their stats in certain skills, and they can be failed. The outcome of the story is based on a players rolls and decisions, giving the game a good amount of replayability. Players will need to plan their days and missions properly because failing too much or taking too long has its consequences.

Review

I can’t believe I waited so long to play Citizen Sleeper 2. This is easily my favorite game of the year. I don’t think there can be a title that will beat the perfect gaming experience that is this game. If you like tabletop roleplaying games or text based rpgs, this is an excellent example of the genre. Everyone needs to play Citizen Sleeper at least once in your life, but you aren’t going to want to stop at one play through.

I have only played the sequel, and don’t think playing the first one is necessary. I am sure I missed a few references, but the story is pretty self contained and there is enough context to get me caught up. Don’t get me wrong. I will be playing Citizen Sleeper after this, and you should start at the beginning to get the whole story.

The story is fantastic. The writing is excellent and the adventure is full of agency, tension, and epic moments. If you enjoy RPGs, you will appreciate the difficult choices you will have to make, and the chance at failing the most critical moments. For those of you who can’t find a play group, or just want your TTRPG fix, this is a fantastic surrogate.

As far as gameplay goes, this has some fantastic mechanics that are engaging, but not so much that they take away from the story. I like the dice pull system, being able to push my rolls, and the gambling aspect of every choice. The chance of failure makes the successes more rewarding, while failing gives the story its intensity. It was very hard to pull myself away, especially since I had to keep reading till the next checkpoint. This game does not let you save when you want. Instead, you will need to read until you can go to your hub or your ship. This makes your choices matter, and it also means you will have to replay your game if you want to see different options. Make sure you choose carefully.

Citizen Sleeper 2 will pull you in with its beautiful art, powerful story telling, and solid mechanics. If you like TTRPGs or just want to sit back and enjoy a good story, it needs to be in your library.

You can pick up Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector on Steam, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation for $24.99.

Board Games and TCGs

Exploring the Galaxy Guide: Helpful Tips for Space Adventures

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Disclaimer

Paizo sent me a free copy of the Starfinder 2e: Galaxy Guide to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinion. This will be my honest review. Always support your LGS if they carry Starfinder, but you can grab your copy of the guide on Amazon through my afilliate link. Make sure you also check out my newest sponsor, NordVPN.

What is the Galaxy Guide?

The universe is an endless space of adventure, mystery, and treasure. The Galaxy is shaken by the awakening of the newborn. Some flock to its side with zealot hunger. Others take to space to profit off its ever reaching effects. Gather your crew, load your ships, and find your adventure amongst the stars. What kind of stories will you find?

The Galaxy Guide is a helpful resource for the Game Master that needs a bit of inspiration for their next pathfinder campaign. The guide gives GMs ideas for running different genre’s of space themed adventures. I personally love the ideas for a horror themed adventure, but there is a good mix of ideas that can adapt to any table. The Guide is a good place to find planets, cities, factions, and other world building tools to fill your Galaxy. On the player side, the guide introduces new archetypes, backgrounds, and ancestress for some fun and fresh new characters. It might not be mandatory, but it is a nice resource to have when needed.

What do I think?

The Galaxy Guide is a very good looking book. I am always impressed with the high quality of the Paizo resource books, and the Galaxy Guide is no exception. The illustrations are colorful, vibrant, and inspiring. I loved looking at the different races, planets, and ships. The guide includes a galaxy map for a bit of added immersion.

As far as lore goes, the book is so much fun to read. It is a little bare, but I think the point is to inspire and guide rather than be the definitive source of an adventure. Remember, you can always make things up, but it is always nice to have some lore at the ready. Especially when you have inquisitive players who are hungry for lore. The different locations are neat, and I got some cool ideas for my own adventure. Looking forward to running a horror-themed, escape from a prison planet campaign. As far as player content goes, I saw a few cool ideas for character’s I’d love to run, if I ever get to play.

As far as resources go, the Galaxy Guide is an optional luxury. While the book has some cool flavor and ideas, it isn’t needed to run a good campaign. All you need is the core rulebook, some dice, and your vivid imagination. That said, this is a very cool book to have, even if you only end up reading through it. I loved reading the different bits of lore and flavor, but I definitely wish there were more. As someone who can get too busy for any proper planning, it is nice to have lore I can easily sprinkle when needed.

You can pick up your copy of the Galaxy Guide from the official Paizo store, or through Amazon using my Affiliate link.

video game reviews

Takara Cards Review: A Sci-Fi Deck Builder You Can’t Miss

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Takara Cards to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review of the game.

Some Self Promotion & Affiliates

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What is Takara Cards?

Takara Cards is a unique sci-fi deck builder out now on Steam.

The Space Dragons have stolen from the Federation and it is your job to bring them to justice. Pick from four unique classes, maneuver through the most dangerous parts of the universe, and build the strongest deck in the universe. Do you have what it takes to avoid the hazards of space and defeat anyone who gets in your way?

Gameplay

Players start their run with a simple deck that gets upgraded over time. Players will eventually unlock new races, weapons and other perks that make adventuring the far reaches of space easier. Players will drop into a randoms zone after each level where they must avoid hazards and defeat enemies on a 3×3 map. Combat is a turn based system where players have a limited amount of action points they can spend on attacks and abilities. Enemies and hazards act on their own turn. What makes the game unique is that he enemies actions are telegraphed to the player. Players must use this knowledge to maneuver through each level without dying.

Review

Takara Cards is a fantastic deck builder with a fun and you unique gimmick that everyone should have in their collection. I was not ready for how much I loved this game, but here I am, playing it as regularly as my schedule allows me.

Right off the bat, players will be drawn to the simple yet attractive art. I am a huge fan of the cartoonist style, and the amount of effort that went into building the game’s flavor. Couple this with the game’s fantastic soundtrack and you have a scifi game that leaves an impression. The story is fine. I like that choices matter and affect the ending, and the story gave the game a bit of added flavor that I enjoyed.

But the game has its substance. The game play is unique, and extremely addicting. The movement mechanics help set it apart from other games in the genre, and the strategy required keeps the game engaging. I found the challenge level high enough to keep things engaging without ever feeling sweaty.

If you are looking for a new deckbuilder, Takara Cards is a fantastic addition to any library. You can pick it up on Steam for only $14.99.

Board Games and TCGs

Star Realms Frontiers is a Great Deck Building Experience

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I was sent a free copy of Star Realms: Frontier to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

If you want to pick up Star Realms or any other board games at fantastic prices, get them over at Game Nerdz through my affiliate link.  

What is Star Realms: Frontier?

Star Realms: Frontiers is a 1-4 player deck-building card game. Gather your resources and build the best fleet in the galaxy. Loyalty to certain factions may help a player cement their place in the galaxy, but only those with the fastest, ships and abundant resources can rule it. Do you have what it takes?

What’s in the box?

Star Realms: Frontiers comes with 152 cards, including an 80-card trade deck and 8 oversized challenge cards for solo and cooperative play.

Quality

The quality is fantastic. This is a beautifully printed game with high-quality pieces. I am very happy with the weight and thickness of the cards, and they feel durable enough to survive a few years of consistent use. I sleeved them like a crazy person, but the sleeved deck fits snugly in the compact box for easy storage. I like to sleeve card games where I have to shuffle a lot to keep the cards in good condition and because it makes shuffling the decks easier.

Gameplay

Players will take turns spending and generating resources, and attacking their enemies. Each player and NPC starts with a set amount of Authority and the same basic deck. Authority is lost through combat. A player or NPC loses the game when Authority drops to zero. During a turn, players can cast cards that generate resources to buy ships, stations, or bases. Players can also summon units to attack.

As the game progresses, players will upgrade their decks. Building towards a certain faction can give players access to more power, but they are always at the mercy of RNG, especially in bigger games. While going in with a strategy is important, being flexible and adapting to the changes in the trade deck is what wins games.

For those who want to play alone or the group that needs a challenge, Star Realms: Frontiers comes with 8 challenge cards that successfully adjust the difficulty. Players have the freedom to adjust the game to their skill level, but also have access to the added flavor of each imaginative scenario.

How to Play

The instructions were a bit confusing, so I recommend looking up a guide. Whose Turn? does a decent job explaining the rules. I’ll leave his video bellow:

Review

I love deck builders and Star Realms: Frontiers does not disappoint. The art and flavor did a lot to attract me at first, but the gameplay kept me playing. I love that no two games were ever alike, nor did I ever use the same strategy twice. What I found impressive was that the game never felt solvable. I am sure this opinion will change with more play-throughs, but the game feels fairly balanced.

I don’t always have people to play with, so I appreciate the inclusion of a solo mode. Solo mode has players solve different scenarios. Players are given NPCs and rules on how to run them. If the encounter is too easy, the game provides additional challenges to help adjust the difficulty. Each scenario feels unique, and the challenges add enough depth to keep the game fun and interesting. You can run scenarios with your friends, but I don’t have to friend group to test this properly.

If you enjoy deck-building games, this is a fantastic and compact one to keep on your shelves. Setup is easy and the games go fast, but the onboarding can be a little tricky. Even for the experienced gamer, there is going to be some initial confusion. The game isn’t impossible to learn, but it does require a bit of extra effort. Once players can overcome this hurdle, Star Realms: Frontiers is a very good time. I recommend it to everyone.

You can pick up your copy of Star Realms: Frontiers on Game Nerdz (17.47) or Amazon ($29.99) through my affiliate links.

video game reviews

Starcom: Unknown Space is a Decent Space ARPG

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I was sent a free copy of Starcom: Uknown Space to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

If you’re looking to upgrade your gaming/streaming setup, check out my reviews for Fifine H9 Gaming Headset, the AM8 Streaming Microphone, and the Epomaker P75 Mechanical Keyboard for high-quality, budget-friendly peripherals.

What is Starcom: Unknown Space?

Starcom: Unknown Space is a top-downspace exploration action RPG on Steam.

You are a proud Starcom count tasked with the important task of spreading the organization’s reach across the universe. Take your little scout ship across the darkest reaches of space as you explore new planets, fight off enemies, and build the mighty starship of legends. What secrets will you uncover? Do you have what it takes to survive the cold unforgiving vacuum of space, or will you merely disappear into the darkness?

Gameplay

Starcom is like any other RPG. Players pick from the main base or different NPCs and fly through space to complete them. There is a lot of flying through the darkness, but there is combat and exploration to break up some of the monotony.

Flying in this game takes a bit of getting used to. The ship feels like it is flying over ice as it moves through frictionless space, but you won’t need extensive knowledge of physics or a fancy flight stick to beat this game. While there is some realism, this isn’t a 1-for-1 space simulator. Combat works like your typical top-down ARPG like Diablo. Players move around the map with the movement keys and use the mouse to point and shoot. Players do need to maneuver skillfully around enemy fire, but it remains a pretty casual experience overall.

Exploration can feel a tad bit repetitive. Players will move from galaxy to galaxy, scanning new planets and sending out scientific expeditions. Scanning planets and conducting expeditions reward players with research points and sometimes even new tech for ship upgrades. Exploration is tied to simple point-and-click mechanics with the occasional piece of lore to make things interesting.

Questing is the main driving force of this game. Make sure you talk to everyone everywhere or you will get stuck.

Finally, there is a neat ship customization mechanic that sets this game apart. As players spread their influence across the universe, money will start flowing and their reputation will start opening access to more upgrades. Starcom gives players the freedom to design their ship however they want. This includes color, look, and shape. There is probably a practical way to build a Starship, but players have the right to go nuts. This is my favorite mechanic and the part of the game that I spent most of my time on.

Review

I enjoyed Starcom: Unknown Space, but it isn’t going to be for everyone. The gameplay loop is repetitive, and there will be a lot of flying through the darkness (sometimes even in the wrong direction). Combat feels engaging at first, but all battles eventually start feeling the same. Starcom has its grind, but it can be an oddly relaxing one if you don’t mind the repetition.

The game has an auto-pilot mode that lets players sit back as the ship flies itself to a destination. There will be the occasional dogfight, expedition, or scanning to keep things engaging. I thought it was enough for me, but I also understand that not everyone finds repetition as soothing as I do.

Combat in this game can be exciting, especially when you have to account for the lack of friction. You aren’t getting the adrenaline-pumping dog fights from Star Wars, but there is enough strategy involved to require some effort. While the fights eventually start to feel the same, players are still required to win them.

If you’re looking for a realistic space simulator, look elsewhere. This isn’t for you. If you’re looking for something relaxing to pop on that is fun and engaging and don’t mind the repetition, Starcom: Uknown Space is a fantastic option. Starcom has a solid story to hook players, a relaxing gameplay loop, and a creative ship-building system.  

You can pick up Starcom: Unknown Space on Steam for $24.99.

video game reviews

Underspace Might Just Be the Space Sim You’re Looking for

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I was sent a free copy of Underspace to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

If you’re looking to upgrade your gaming/streaming setup, check out my reviews for Fifine H9 Gaming Headset, the AM8 Streaming Microphone, and the SC3 Gaming Mixer for high-quality, budget-friendly peripherals. If you enjoy my content and want to help me with my hosting fees, consider buying me coffee or donating to my Patreon.

What is Underspace?

Underspace is an arcade style flight sim for PC via Steam and GoG. It claims to be the spiritual successor to Freelancer. I have never played Freelancer and can’t confirm or deny this claim, a lot of people seem to agree.

You are now one of the galaxy’s star chasers, one of the crazy few who chase storms, fight against eldritch horrors, and take on any job that comes your way. Your goal is to make money and stay alive. Navigate the cold dark vastness of space, upgrade your ship, and become the best star chaser the world has ever known. Do you have what it takes?

Gameplay

Underspace is a space-themed sandbox RPG. Players take on quests and fly their ships through space to complete them. There is a main story that is said to take about 15 hours to complete, and countless side quests and exploration hundreds more.

If you’re looking for a realistic space simulator, you’ll need Elite Dangerous or hope Star Citizen isn’t a scam. Underspace has more of an arcade feel in its flight and combat system. That said, Underspace is still a valid space game experience. Combat and flight in this game are fine for the casual who doesn’t worry about the physics of space travel, but they are still challenging enough to keep things engaging.

What makes this game a unique space game is its storms. Occasionally, a storm will break out that raises the price of goods and releases eldritch horrors into the universe. A player can fight these horrors and attempt to close the rifts that cause these storms. Doing so earns the player valuable resources for trade and reputation amongst the Galaxy’s citizens. It is a hard job, but someone has to do it.

Review

This game looks dated when compared to other games in the genre, but that shouldn’t be discouraging. The game runs smoothly, it has a solid story, and the gameplay loop is a lot of fun. I was blown away by how creative the game gets with its horrors, and I found myself rushing towards every storm just to see the type of creature I would encounter. Although I am not the best pilot, I did well enough to have fun. Most importantly, there is so much to do in this game that you will definitely get your money’s worth.

Keep in mind that the game is still in early access, so there are bound to be problems. Some people have pointed out that the game drops too many frames or straight up doesn’t work. Aside from a few hiccups here and there, the game never became unplayable. There is still some roughness, but there seems to be continued support. I feel confident that there will be fixes in future updates. I think the roughness gave it its charm, and it made it feel like a retro space game without ever feeling like a slog.

If you’re looking for a new space sim, Underspace is a solid casual one with a decent story, great flavor, and fun gameplay. If you are a Freelancer fan, this might be worth looking into. If you’ve never played a space sim, this is a great place to start. I loved it, and recommend it, even if its only early access.

You can grab your copy of Underspace on Steam or GOG for $19.99. There is a Steam demo available if you need a bit more convincing.

video game reviews

Galactic Glitch is the Most Fun You’ll Have in Space This Year!

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I was sent a free copy of Galactic Glitch to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions of the game. This will be my honest review. If you’re looking to upgrade your gaming/streaming setup, check out my reviews for Fifine H9 Gaming Headset, the AM8 Streaming Microphone, and the SC3 Gaming Mixer for high-quality, budget-friendly peripherals.

What is Galactic Glitch?

Galactic Glitch is a colorful and unique twin-stick roguelike shooter where you can throw your enemies into other enemies. The game has launched on Steam Early Access.

Travel through beautiful 2D maps full of enemies, mystery, and debris. Fight off swarms of enemies in unique space battles and upgrade your ship to be the best in the galaxy. How far into the darkness of space will you be able to reach?

Gameplay

Galactic Glitch starts in the traditional roguelike fashion. Players begin their campaign with a basic ship that they can upgrade along the way. The more you play, the better the ship becomes. You will die a lot, so be prepared for some repetition.

The ship comes with three weapons that can be swapped out and upgraded later in the game. Each weapon swap makes a meaningful change to combat, allowing players the ability to find a loadout that fits their playstyle. Players will also encounter random events that drop stat upgrades when completed. These are harder encounters and a very welcomed change of pace.

Combat feels like your typical twin-stick bullet hell, but the physics give it enough of a unique flare to set it apart from other games in the genre. Maneuvering around rooms and throwing objects into enemies feels so good once you get the hang of things.

Progress in this game is set up like a dungeon crawler. Players crawl through the vastness of space, clearing one room at a time. Rooms feel unique enough that the repetition doesn’t get stale, but to be fair, I do enjoy my repetition.

There is a story to this game, but it isn’t anything deep that you’ll need to follow thoroughly. At least it didn’t do enough to catch my attention. Instead, you’ll be picking up this game for the unique space-crawling goodness that it is.

Review

I loved every minute of Galactic Glitch. The art is great, the soundtrack is amazing, and the gameplay is so much fun. Geometry Wars was my favorite game growing up, and Galactic Glitch feels like that with a bit more purpose. I liked that I could switch my weapons but still pick up some RNG abilities along the way. I love that I could upgrade a home base for more powerups. I am sure I could have been a lot more efficient with my playthrough, but I had a lot of fun figuring things out.

If you’re looking for a fun game that will certainly become an addiction, pick up Galactic Glitch. It is a neat casual game with enough substance to keep players engaged, without it becoming a huge commitment. I love Twin-Stick shooters, and Galactic Glitch is definitely one of my favorites.

You can pick up Galactic Glitch on Steam for $12.99 (currently $9.74 until July 29).

Board Games and TCGs

Coriolis: The Great Dark Coming Soon to Kickstarter

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If you’re looking for a new sci-fi TTRPG for your next campaign, you might want to back Free League Publishing’s newest roleplaying game, Coriolis: The Great Dark, on Kickstarter. 

Synopsis

Refugees escaping the horrors of war attempt to settle in the forgotten reaches of the galaxy. Expeditions are led into ruins of ancient civilizations in search of supplies and salvation. Venture through harsh desolate space in grand ships and search for a new beginning. What adventures lie within The Great Dark?

Kickstarter

While Coriolis: The Great Dark to The Third Horizon, this will be a stand-alone game with new and unique rules and mechanics. The Great Dark uses the Year Zero system and will focus on the thrill of adventure and exploration. I like the idea of playing space archeologist. It is an interesting approach to the genre, and knowing Free League’s proven track record, it is bound to be flavorful. 

I’ve run a few games that use the Year Zero system and thought it was a great transition from D&D. The system is easy to learn, and it introduces some fun and interesting mechanics. Everything I’ve received from Free League Publishing has been of a high quality with lots of flavor. If you enjoy physical media and like the theme in The Great Dark, this is a safe bet. 

If you’re a fan of the original Coriolis, you’re probably already following the campaign. If you’re still on the fence, it doesn’t hurt to follow for the notifications. The campaign goes live on March 19. Backers who pledge on levels with physical rewards will receive a copy of the PDF early and a secret bonus reward. 

I’ll probably get a copy for review, so stay tuned for that. Until then, don’t forget to follow the campaign! If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials:

Board Games and TCGs

Mutant: Year Zero – Ad Astra – Take the Apocalypse into Space

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I was sent the Mutant Year Zero: Ad Astra Campaign for free to cover for my blog. I haven’t had a chance to play the game because I am still finishing up my Dragonbane campaign, but I’ve read through the book. This will be my impressions of the book.

If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. 

What is Ad Astra

Ad Astra is the latest campaign book for Free League Publishing‘s TTRPG, Mutant: Year Zero releasing onf Febuary 13th. Ad Astra picks up after The Path to Eden campaign. It is recommended you own the Mutant: Genlab Alpha and Mutant: Mechatron expansions for additional rules and stats. I don’t see why you couldn’t just make up rules on the spot, but it is always nice to have balanced stat blocks at the ready. You’ll also need a copy of the core rule book, although you might get away with just using the starter booklet. 

If you’re interested in running a game of Mutant: Year Zero, I recommend you pick up the starter booklet. The booklet provides a streamlined and condensed sample of the game, and it comes with a sample campaign and character sheets to get you started. I recommend you run through the starter booklet before you invest in the system. You can grab your free copy of the PDF on Drivethru RPG, but I’ll leave a copy here for your convenience. 

MYZ_starter_bookletDownload

Story

Society has fallen. The planet has become a wasteland. Those who survive on its surface have mutated, and are now unrecognizable to their ancestors. With the resources dwindling, survivors must fight to stay alive. This time, the call to adventure takes our heroes into space. What mysteries lie beyond the stars? What adventures await? Explore the solar system and fight new monsters in this new epic adventure.

Impressions

I love the comic book style of this system, and Ad Astra is no exception. I absolutely love the flavor of this game, and space campaigns are always fun. I am never big on following prewritten adventures, but I am coming around. It is nice to have something already prepared with lore, encounters, and loot. I usually use these as a jumping-off point, but will eventually end up off-book. When that happens, it is nice to have something to fall back on when the story needs a little nudge.

I like how this book feels like a history book. It goes into a good amount of detail about factions, history, and everything you need for World Building. How much I would use it would depend on my players, but I appreciate the book for the resource that it is. 

As gameplay goes, I’ll have to run a campaign first. I’ve been having a lot of fun with the Year Zero system, so if this game plays anything like Dragonbane, I am here for it. 

If you are interested in a campaign of Mutant, I recommend you run the booklet first to get a sense if it’s the right game for your table. After your table has become invested, move through the rest of the resources until you’re ready to take things into space. 

If you’re already playing Mutant and want to take things into space, you should consider Ad Astra. The artwork is fantastic, the flavor is great, and it introduces unique monsters, items, and mechanics you’re going to want to borrow for your campaign. 

You can preorder your copy of the Ad Astra campaign on the official site for $41.80 (not including shipping), or from Amazon for $39.99 (free shipping with Prime). 

Board Games and TCGs

Building Better Worlds Expansion for Alien RPG is out now!

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The Building Better Worlds expansion for the Alien RPG just released, and you might want to pick it up for the colony mechanics. You will need the core rulebook to use this resource, so either the Core Rulebook ($54.08) or the Starter Set ($51.22) should be enough to get you started. 

Starter set doesn’t include GM Screen

The Starter set has everything you need to get you started:

  • 5 generated character sheets
  • prewritten adventure
  • 84 game makers to keep track of characters, motions, and more
  • 54 custom cards for weapons, personal agenda, and initiative
  • 10 specially designed base dice
  • 10 specially designed stress dice
  • 864x558mm double-sided map

You do get a condensed version of the rules, but this should be perfect for new players. If you want to create your own adventure, I recommend you pick up the core rulebook! You get a pdf version for either physical copy.

Thoughts on the Expansion

Building Better Worlds is a neat resource for GMS who need a little extra help to spice up their next Alien campaign. I typically like to make up my adventure, even when working from a book, but I appreciate being able to fall back on other people’s ideas from time to time. This book has some neat ideas I definitely want to try at my table, like having my players become stranded on a prison planet of deranged criminals and Xenomorphs. 

The book introduces new ships, NPCs, planets, solar systems, and weapons to help aid GMs with flavor and world-building. It includes several plot hoots, ideas on how to run certain planets or colonies, and even a campaign players can run through if they need a jumping-off point. Most importantly, the book introduces the colony mechanic.

From my brief understanding, players will need to travel to foreign planets and either start, maintain or save a colony for humanity’s expansion into the cosmos. This won’t be an easy task. Planets are inhospitable, conditions are unpredictable, and there are bloodthirsty aliens lurking in the shadows. In space, if the stress of survival doesn’t kill you, the Xenos will. This sounds like the perfect bleek setting for any table that needs a change of pace, and I am here for it. 

Where to Buy

Remember, you need access to the core rules before picking up this expansion. Those interested in the Building Better Worlds expansion can get their hardcover copy from the official Free League Publishing website for $45.51. Those who don’t care about physical media can pick up the PDF on DriveThruRPG for $19.99. If you play online, I recommend picking up the official Building Better Worlds module for Foundry VTT. I’ve written a post explaining why you should use Foundry VTT if you want to know more.

I do plan on running Alien RPG at some point after Dragonbane. I have a huge collection of RPGs I need to get through, and I like to take my time and live in them for a bit. Until then, stay tuned! If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, follow and share this with your friends.