ALIEN: The Roleplaying Game

Alien: The Roleplaying Game · ALIEN: The Roleplaying Game

ALIEN: The Roleplaying Game

ALIEN: The Roleplaying Game immerses you in a harsh, blue-collar future dominated by greedy corporations, USCM fireteams, dubious science, and creatures with far too many teeth. Sessions unfold like a gripping thriller: shadowy corridors, beeping motion trackers, dwindling air supplies, and split-second decisions. You might seal a bulkhead, negotiate with a company representative, or make a run for it. The horror is relatable and human, with survival as the ultimate goal. Cinematic one-shots deliver a powerful experience in a single evening, while campaign play allows your crew to pursue paydays and answers amidst jobs, derelicts, and colony crises.

This game is for adults only, offering an intense experience at the table, and is ideal for 2 to 5 players. Beginners can quickly get involved, while veterans will appreciate the lethal stakes and tough choices. It caters to horror enthusiasts, sci-fi fans, groups celebrating birthdays who crave a scary movie atmosphere, and corporate teams that thrive under pressure. A professional Game Master manages the tone, safety, and pacing, allowing you to concentrate on the narrative. Ready to choose yours? Browse our Game Masters who facilitate ALIEN online or in person.

How to play ALIEN: The Roleplaying Game

You roll a handful of six-sided dice based on your attributes, skills, and gear. Any 6 is a success, and extra 6s push the result further. If the roll fails, you can push once to reroll most dice and take on stress. Stress adds special dice that both help and threaten, as a 1 on them can trigger a panic check that may cause you to freeze, scream, or act rashly. The Game Master sets stakes and consequences, you state what you do, and the table resolves it in quick, tense scenes, with short combat rounds when timing is crucial.

Players bring a character and a willingness to embrace fear, teamwork, and tough choices. A professional Game Master provides pre-generated characters for one-shots, clear safety tools, maps and props, and rules expertise. Cinematic one-shots follow a tight three-act structure and personal agendas for fast, brutal play. In campaigns, you build a crew, ship, and contacts, take on jobs, and face slower-burn horror over many sessions. You can play at a table or online; see online play options for how a session runs remotely.

Close-up of a hand holding a painted tree creature miniature used in a tabletop fantasy game.
Close-up of a hand holding a painted tree creature miniature used in a tabletop fantasy game.

Common questions

Do we need ALIEN rules or film knowledge to play?

No. You can begin with no preparation at all. A professional Game Master will explain the core dice pool in just a few minutes and keep the rules flowing smoothly. One-shots typically use pre-generated characters with clear objectives, allowing you to dive straight in. For campaigns, assistance is provided in building a crew and ship. Familiarity with the films enhances the atmosphere, but it is not essential. If you enjoy tense sci-fi and teamwork under pressure, you will be well suited. Browse Game Masters who run ALIEN.

How does ALIEN differ from D&D?

ALIEN is a survival horror game. You must manage air, ammunition, and time while avoiding confrontations you cannot win. The stress mechanic provides bonus dice but can also trigger panic, causing you to freeze, flee, or act impulsively. Characters have personal agendas that lead to difficult choices. Combat is quick and lethal, featuring fewer grand battles and more emphasis on stealth, barricades, and triage. Progress is achieved by staying alive, solving problems, and escaping with something to show for your efforts. It feels more like a thriller than a heroic fantasy.

Cinematic one-shot or a campaign, which suits us?

Cinematic is designed for a single evening. Pre-generated characters, hidden agendas, and a concise three-act structure create quick tension and genuine risk. Ideal for 3 to 4 hours and for groups seeking a sharp, film-like experience. Campaign play allows you to build your own crew, ship, and contacts. The pace is more measured, the horror remains, and the risk is adjusted so that survival over multiple sessions is achievable. A professional Game Master assists you in selecting the tone, from bleak to pulp. Compare GM approaches on playstyles.

How frightening is it, and what age groups is it suitable for?

It is intense. Expect suspense, violence, body horror, corporate cruelty, and themes of isolation. Most groups set it to 18+ only. Your professional Game Master will conduct a short safety briefing and use clear tools so players can adjust content or pause a scene. If you prefer a stricter fade-to-black on certain topics, please mention it upfront. The horror stems from pressure and consequence, not from shocking players. The aim is to create a scary story that everyone enjoys and remembers comfortably.

How deadly is it, and can characters betray one another?

Death is a genuine possibility, particularly in cinematic scenarios where resources are scarce and time is of the essence. Wounds accumulate rapidly, and a moment of panic at the wrong time can lead to disaster. Personal agendas may cause tension, but they are designed to enhance the story, not to spoil anyone’s enjoyment. The group discusses boundaries, and the professional Game Master ensures that any conflict is safe and meaningful. In campaigns, lethality is tempered to allow characters to develop, but danger is still the focus. Expect scars, not certainties.

What group size and session length are most effective?

ALIEN is designed for 3 to 4 players, but can accommodate between 2 and 5. Fewer players enhance the sense of isolation and focus, allowing for clearer spotlight moments. With five players, the ship feels more populated, leading to increased chaos during moments of panic. A typical session lasts around 3 to 4 hours, which is ideal for one-shots. Campaign sessions can also fit within this timeframe, or may extend slightly to allow for downtime and travel. Your professional Game Master will adjust the pacing to ensure the tension builds without dragging.

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Genres you can play in ALIEN: The Roleplaying Game

  • Survival

    Chilly nights, empty rucksacks, and tough decisions. Survival stories challenge your resilience and teamwork as you manage resources…

    View genre: Survival
  • Gritty

    Difficult decisions, limited resources, and lasting consequences. Picture Game of Thrones, where trust is tenuous, debts must be repaid…

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  • Dystopian

    Struggle to breathe in a world that monitors your every action, think 1984. Conceal, hack, and resist as you navigate oppressive laws…

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  • Conspiracy

    Unravel layers of deception as you follow leads through dimly lit rooms, encrypted files, and betrayals. Paranoia escalates with each clue…

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  • Military

    Close-knit squads under fire, tough decisions, maps laid out, and the struggle of supply lines. Think Band of Brothers, but you make the…

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  • Alien

    From careful first contact to invasive terrors, you confront the unknown intellect beyond Earth. Consider Arrival for the marvel of…

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What players have to say

  • Tom was brilliant! He was really great with the kids and very patient with his explanations. It was a wonderful evening and definitely worth doing again! The children asked the next day when we would be doing this again.

    Danny

  • First of all, I want to say that Sebastian was really great as a DM. For his first run as a booked DM, he did an excellent job. The 3 stars refer to the following: 1. We were disappointed that the adventure was labelled a One Shot yet wasn't a complete story. Discovering that there are two more parts wasn't very positive for us, as it meant there was no satisfying conclusion to the story. 2. As new players, it was difficult for us to understand the English character sheets in such a short time. In German, it would have been much easier. Even receiving the character sheets a few days in advance would have been helpful for preparation. 3. More guidance would be beneficial. Especially for beginners, a more linear one shot would have been preferable. We wasted a significant portion of the adventure time doing unnecessary things because we didn't fully understand how the game worked. Overall, I think the StoryForgers concept is really good and I see a lot of potential in it, especially for introducing new players to D&D. I hope you don't take my feedback the wrong way but see it as honest criticism. Best regards, Mario

    Mario

  • Bryan was exceptional. We had a group with varying levels of experience, and he managed to keep everyone engaged and involved. His positive attitude made the game enjoyable for all. I really appreciated how he could clearly explain what was needed from our less experienced players while keeping our more seasoned players on their toes with his deep knowledge of the game. Everyone in our party had a fantastic time thanks to Bryan.

    Jeremy

  • Dayron was fantastic. Well-prepared, punctual, and had a brilliant sense of humour.

    Corey

  • Dayron was fantastic; he provided a brilliant experience. Thanks!

    Casey

    The Merry Meeple

  • The game was really engaging. I got a game as a present for my boyfriend, who is very keen on it, and he was very pleased and appreciated Leonardo's professionalism. I don't have much experience with DnD, but I found the game to be quite straightforward and enjoyable.

    Marina

  • Baptiste was an excellent GM who adapted well to our group and helped us progress in this one-shot. However, there was one issue with the character sheets provided, as they were not complete or clear. Some of the French translations were rather approximate. For instance, our cleric was missing spells, including a healing spell, even though they were meant to have some.

    Pierre

  • Rachel was fantastic; my daughter and her friends left the game saying it was the most fun they’d ever had, and my daughter wanted to sign up for another session with her straight away. She was friendly, and her approach let the players fully immerse themselves in the game by giving them control over how they wanted their actions to unfold. I would definitely work with her again.

    John

  • A nice and clear first experience with D&D. Amber was able to explain and guide the game effectively, allowing us as players to quickly get into the flow and focus on the story. Collaborating with my colleagues to devise attack routes was an enjoyable activity and provided great insights into each other's characters, thought processes, and differences. Overall, I found it to be a very enjoyable session.

    Jens

    Triodos Bank N.V.

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