Apostolos Skotiniotis

Alien Frontiers uses a very simple worker placement mechanic using dice instead of meeples. However, “simple” in this occasion doesn’t mean simplistic, since the game offers many strategic choices, player interaction (which is more to my taste than in other Euro/worker placement games), simple rules and short learning time. The gameplay is good and most people I have played with have the same opinion. Only con, in my opinion, is playing time since most games lasted about 2+ hours which is a bit more than I would like it (but the playing time is customizable by changing the number of colonies) mostly because you can’t plan ahead since your die roll and the placement of other players’ dice affects how you play (so you usually start planning after you have rolled). Considering all these I find the game quite enjoyable to play with either gamers and non gamers, teaching the game is quite easy and every play is quite tight since it’s quite difficult to get way ahead of others and win easily.

I got this game as soon it got out on the stores since I liked the theme and I appreciate the designer. When I first read the rules of I was a bit disappointed and thought to myself that I had just bought another mediocre filler game, although the components were great. I reluctantly got the game on the table, on a gaming night with my friends and I explained the rules (enthusiastically-trying to set a good mood) telling my friends that the game is too simple but with a lot of fun, even though I didn’t think so (bad example, not gonna do it ever again). My impression of the game changed radically only after the first round, I was having a great time, I was rolling and rerolling the dice hoping to get a lot of 3 or paws (although the paws are the best when you want to smack others in their faces and win by outliving them!) and my friends had a great tim too. After playing the game a lot, I know think that it’s probably the best filler game I have. I can teach it easily to anyone and they enjoy the game just as I do after I’ve played 30 times, so it’s one of my games that hits the table quite often without getting repetitive or boring. In my opinion it’s a game that everyone must get, especially if they play with non gamers.

Very nice expansion adding many cool races an another player. The new defender rewards are a bit overpowered (but that’s what they’re about) and the kickers allow you to bluff and confuse your opponents even more!

I have played this game twice and i think that it’s a great game with many nice mechanics. But those willing to try it should be cautious because the game requires a lot of preparations. In specific, all the players must read the rulebook before playing, the setup of the game should be done beforehand because it requires about 30-45 minutes even if you have played the game before and all players must be aware that the game requires about 1-1.5 hour per player. If you are aware of all these you can have a really good time playing this game since it offers a great (epic?) experience and many cool mechanics.

Having played only the core set in solo or 2 player games I can say that it’s the best solo game that I have played so far (I believe that the expansions will improve the gameplay and the replayability). The deck building aspect and the cooperative mechanic are exceptionally well built in the game and the overall gaming experience that the game offers is great. I think that the game works best when played by 2 and the LCG format will be an advantage over time. I think that everyone who enjoys solitaire games must have this one too!

I won’ describe the gameplay since there are already enough reviews that explain the rules quite well. My personal opinion of the game is that it’s lots and lots of fun if you play it with the right people (those who like dice and don’t have a problem with a bit of luck in their games). You have all those beautiful dice with lots of different abilities and you try to create a “collection” good enough to gain more glory points than your opponents. The game is very good (it gets better if you tweak it a bit) and makes a very nice “filler-light game” addition in my collection. You just have to keep in mind that it’s a dice game (so luck is a deciding factor) and you better keep it away from people who like control over their game cause they will probably spoil the fun for everyone. After the first two plays I strongly suggest that you use the variations that allow 2 buys per turn and the one that you cull a die after it scores since they give more strategic options.

I got this game on Wednesday and yesterday we had a chance to play. I played one 4player game and then a 2player. The game is quite good and we had lots of fun since the whole goblin theme is nice and the abilities on the cards give you the option of playing with or without player interaction. Luck is a major factor, especiallly in a game with 4 players (since there are only 15 level 3 cards and whoever gets thw most usually wins) but the game is nice if you don’t have a problem with that. My only concern is that after a few games the game will probably feel repetitive since there aren’t many variations in the gameplay and the abilities of the cards. Despite this, I think I’ll be willing to play when someone asks me to.

I had preordered the game in 9/2011 and I couldn’t wait to get it because, after reading about it, I was sure it would be a great game for me and my wife. When it finally arrived I read the rules and we played the same afternoon. The first game was ok because we didn’t know the cards (it’s quite important to know what kind of events can be triggered during each round) and the rules so well. The soviets, played by my wife won on round 7 although I could have caused a nuclear war on her turn and win, but I didn’t remember this rule until later. We played a second game right after and it was way better. The interaction between players is great, the theme works very well and card driven area control mechanic is very nice. The great thing about the game was that you could see history unravel as you played and I was shocked to see that the 6.5 hours that we spent for two games had passed without any of us noticing. In my opinion it is the best area control game for 2 players!

*My wife didn’t like the fact that the USSR is a bit overpowered at the begining and the USA has an advantage later in the game but that’s how things went in the Cold war.