Celebrate World UFO Day With an Alien Themed Board Game

Looking for a board game for the last week of June or the first week of July? Consider a highly ranked tabletop game that is Alien-themed in celebration of World UFO Day (observed on June 24 and/or July 2nd). World UFO Day exists to acknowledge two separate events — the June 24th UFO sighting by pilot Kenneth Arnold in 1947 and the July 2nd viewings at Roswell, New Mexico in the same year. Regardless of whether you a they-live-among-us person or a who-knows person, we can all agree that there are some fabulous interstellar-themed board games — and here are 3 of the highest rated games out there.

Awaken Realms is the publisher of this semi-cooperative tabletop game. Game time is 90-180 minutes, and the box size alone lets you know this game is serious. You and your shipmates are trying to get back to Earth, which can be accomplished by fending off some hostile aliens that have infiltrated your ship. You must accomplish one of the two objectives dealt to you at the beginning of the game. The game has a definite sci-fi/ horror feel to it.

If you want all of the horror of being hunted by Aliens but with a fraction of the time investment, consider Not Alone. Not Alone takes under an hour to play and comes from Geek Attitude Games. This game is asymmetrical; someone plays as the creature of Artemia which has caught the scent of the stranded explorers, who play as the Hunted. Navigate through the planet territory (swamp, lair, river, jungle, shipwreck) and survive until rescue!

From the publisher Bezier Games (which also produces One Night Ultimate Werewolf) this is a light, 10+ minute party game where players are given roles as villagers (with some interesting skill sets) looking for the Alien in their midst. There are different win-conditions for each player, but who wouldn’t want to play a game where roles include the Alien, the Psychic, the Oracle, the Rascal, and, best of all, the Cow!