One of our favorite board games is one of the classics: Cosmic encounter It’s arguably the oldest game on this list, in fact it’s been released by half a dozen different companies since the late 1970s.
In this game, you will be able to mix and match various alien powers in a large number of different possible combinations, which means that each game will be different.
The game begins with five planets, twenty small spaceships, and an alien card that tells you what your special power is (which will be a part of the rules that only you can ignore or change).
The objective of the game is to lead your spaceships through persuasion and violence to conquer five different planets.
At the start you are dealt eight cards some of which will be an attack card with a number. When you meet another alien, each of you will play one of these attack cards and place them face down on the table. Whoever obtains the greatest number (taking into account the special powers) wins the fight.
In addition to attack cards, there are negotiation cards where you can try to come to a deal that works for both of you. If you say you want to negotiate, but draw an attack card instead of negotiating, and the other person believes you, you will automatically win the battle. It is highly likely, however, that both parties will end up lying.
Surely you already imagine the battle against your friends in which, thanks to the strategy you decide to use and the cards you get, you will have to try to win the battle.
If your friends like board games, strategy, silly rules, and laughter, Cosmic Encounter will give you a good time.
Best extensions: There are currently six expansions for Cosmic Encounter, the latest of which, Cosmic Eons, arrived in early 2017.
We recommend purchasing one of the first three expansions, each giving you an additional player as well as new types of aliens: Raid, Conflict, and Alliance.
Of the three, Raid is the best because his bounty deck favors defensive alliances in a way that balances the game very well. Alliance is probably the weakest expansion.
The new expansions (Storm, Dominion, and Eons) don’t include a new player, they only offer new aliens and rule adjustments. Of these we stay with Dominion, since we can vouch for the quality of the aliens, it also gives you reward cards.
Information:
- 3 to 5 players (others can be added with extensions)
- For over 12 years
- Duration: 60-120 minutes
- Difficulty: medium-difficult
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