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 oxygen, and snap decisions. You might weld a bulkhead, negotiate with a company representative, or make a run for it. The horror is grounded and human, with survival as the ultimate stake. Cinematic one-shots deliver a powerful experience in a single evening, while campaign play allows your crew to pursue paydays and uncover answers amidst jobs, derelicts, and colony crises.

This game is for adults only, intense at the table, and suitable for 2 to 5 players. Beginners can quickly get involved, while veterans will appreciate the lethal edge and difficult choices. It appeals to horror enthusiasts, sci-fi fans, birthday groups seeking a scary movie atmosphere, and corporate teams that thrive under pressure. A professional Game Master manages tone, safety, and pacing, allowing you to concentrate on the story. Ready to choose yours? Browse our Game Masters who run 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 additional 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 assist 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 your actions, 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 difficult 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 confront slower-burn horror over multiple sessions. You can play at a table or online; see online play options for how a session runs remotely.

Two players immersed in moving 3d printed d&d miniatures on a game board.
Two players immersed in moving 3d printed d&d miniatures on a game board.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do we need ALIEN rules or film knowledge to play?

No. You can begin with no preparation at all. A professional Game Master can teach you 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 a 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 just fine. 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-off or a campaign, which suits us?

Cinematic is designed for a single evening. Pre-generated characters, hidden agendas, and a concise three-act structure generate quick tension and genuine risk. Ideal for 3 to 4 hours, it suits 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, ranging from bleak to pulp. Compare GM approaches on playstyles.

How frightening is it, and what age group 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 brief safety briefing and use clear tools so players can adjust content or pause a scene. If you prefer a more pronounced 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 poor panic at the wrong moment can lead to chaos. Personal agendas may cause friction, 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 so characters can 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 accommodates between 2 and 5. Fewer players enhance feelings of isolation and focus, allowing for clearer spotlight time. With five players, the ship feels more populated, leading to increased chaos during moments of panic. A typical session lasts between 3 to 4 hours, making it ideal for one-shots. Campaign sessions can also fit within this timeframe, or extend slightly to allow for downtime and travel. Your professional Game Master will adjust the pacing to ensure that tension builds without dragging.

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Genres you can play in ALIEN: The Roleplaying Game

  • Survival

    Chilly nights, empty rations, and tough decisions. Survival stories challenge your resolve and teamwork as you manage supplies, outwit…

    View genre: Survival
  • Gritty

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

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  • Dystopian

    Struggle to survive in a world that monitors your every action, reminiscent of 1984. Conceal yourself, hack systems, and resist as you…

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  • Conspiracy

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

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  • Military

    Close-knit teams under fire, difficult decisions, maps laid out, and the struggle of supply lines. Imagine Band of Brothers, but you give…

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What players think

  • 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 a really good job. The 3 stars refer to the following: 1. We were disappointed that the adventure was labelled a One Shot and 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 large portion of the adventure time doing unnecessary things because we didn't really know 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 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 attitude was fantastic, and he made the game enjoyable for all. I particularly appreciated how he could clearly explain what was required from our less experienced players while keeping our more seasoned players on their toes with his extensive knowledge of the game. Everyone in our party had a wonderful time thanks to Bryan.

    Jeremy

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

    Corey

  • Dayron was fantastic; he provided an excellent experience. Thank you!

    Casey

    The Merry Meeple

  • The game was incredibly engaging. I arranged a session as a gift for my boyfriend, who is very enthusiastic about it, and he was thoroughly 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

  • A very good GM, Baptiste adapted well to our group and helped us progress in this one-shot. One issue was with the character sheets provided, which were not complete or clear. Some of the French translations were rather approximate. For instance, our cleric was missing spells (no healing spell) even though they were meant to have some.

    Pierre

  • Rachel was fantastic; my daughter and her friends left their game saying it was the most fun they'd ever had, and my daughter wanted to sign up for another game with her straight away. She was friendly, and her approach enabled the players to fully immerse themselves in the game by allowing them to control how they wanted their actions to be carried out. I would certainly work with her again.

    John

  • A pleasant and straightforward introduction to D&D. Amber was adept at explaining and guiding the game, allowing us as players to quickly get into the rhythm and concentrate on the narrative. Collaborating with my colleagues to devise attack strategies was an enjoyable experience and provided valuable insights into each other's characters, thought processes, and differences. Overall, I found it to be a highly enjoyable session.

    Jens

    Triodos Bank N.V.

  • Pim is truly brilliant as a DM! Cheerful, adaptable, and exceptionally experienced. With a group of novice players, he managed to create an amazing experience in just a few hours. He maintained control in an enjoyable manner and engaged every player in the story, regardless of whether they were vocal or reserved. If you embark on an adventure with him, it will certainly be unforgettable!

    Jens

    Triodos Bank N.V.

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