Legendary Encounters’ full name is “LEGENDARY ENCOUNTERS: AN ALIEN DECK-BUILDING GAME”. What a mouthful! They really should have had the confidence to call it THE ALIEN UNIVERSE: THE GAME or something, because this is a cocky, swaggering beast of a game. Not a beast to play – it isn’t complicated at all. You can teach this game quite easily. But it’s a beast of story – capturing the feel of the Alien films not just in tone but in little snapshots of gameplay that reflect some of the most iconic scenes in cinema history. And it does all this through cards. Hundreds of them, sure, but still – just cards.

The Legendary game system isn’t one I’m familiar with. I haven’t played the Marvel Deckbuilding game, but I’ve heard a lot of good things about it – and this game is based on that system. In fact, you can mix the games to an extent, sending superheroes in to do battle with the Aliens, but I think that would just undo all the great work Encounters does in delivering an accurate Alien experience.

Games like Splendor and Sons of Anarchy and One Night Ultimate Werewolf and Tragedy Looper ran it close, but there is something so rich and impressive about Encounters that just sets it apart. Depending on scenario, the game can be intimate and thinky, or wild and brutal. You will scan for Aliens and find harmless cats that will lick your wounds clean. You will meet Carter Burke, that bastard from the Company, and he will put all your character cards in peril. You might find the power loader, and maybe then you’ll have a chance of taking down that Alien Queen.

Legendary Encounters is Alien in a box. I love it. It’s my Game of the Year 2014. Check it out, and soon.

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