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Game Info
Year
2017
Players
2-4
Age
10+
Playtime
60 min
Collection
Ratings
Creator Score
Mechanic profile
Not enough video data yet
Vibe profile
Not enough video data yet
Description
Game description from the publisher:
Alien Artifacts is a 4X-style card game in which you play as an interplanetary faction, sending your research vessels into uncharted space to expand your knowledge and power. Build powerful ships, develop new technologies, and explore distant planets for anything — or anyone — you can exploit.
Alien Artifacts is built on a Resource engine - each turn you will have 3 Resource cards in your hand and you will decide how best to spend them. Each resource card has two different resource types for you to use. You can only use one side and only two cards per turn! Using these resources, you will build Ships, develop Technology, discover Planets, or Trade for currency!
New Ships allow you to attack the aliens and gain their valuable artifacts which provide huge bonuses.
With each new Technology card in your Empire, you will have access to more actions, bonuses, and scoring opportunities.
Each Planet you explore provides valuable resources for future actions.
There are two sides to each of these cards, and as you build them you will decide:
Logistics - play cards on this side to gain ongoing bonuses that will make your Empire stronger and help you build faster.
Operational - play this side to gain a new way to score victory points (and yes, you will be able to activate your operations more than once, if you play well).
Manage your Resources, build the right cards, make wise choices. Win!
Alien Artifacts provides a true 4X experience in under an hour. With over two hundred cards, Alien Artifacts offers players many scoring strategies and great replay-ability.
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All mentions
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 14
This page: 14
Sentiment:
pos 8 ·
mix 1 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 3
Showing 1–14 of 14
Video 3SnP36NVyhw
Rolling Dice & Taking Names Event Coverage at 1:32:12
video_pk 151842 · mention_pk 425955
Click to watch at 1:32:12 · YouTube ↗
Pros
- The pre-order is available.
Cons
- The demo table was constantly busy, making it impossible to get near.
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Terrence is my favorite game of all time and so this going into space and being streamlined and tweaked a little bit I was just so excited
- it's gonna have to be distinguished from castle panic because when you look at the game yes it looks exactly like the castle panic board
- basically you can talk about that now where it's the complete opposite of what you do from pandemic legacy season one where the world collapse now at seventy years later you our own little outposts in the ocean trying to save humanity and you have to try to supply the world with these cubes and we'll call them that because that's what they are and that helps you trying to build the outpost from there so you're trying to rebuild the world not save it trying to rebuild it
- it was like an emotional experience it's like holy cow this one guy had an idea to have get some miniature gamers together who eventually decide I'm gonna make an RPG to the event that we have now with 70,000 people in it
- if we were to sum up Gen Con in one word what would it be I think it was just pretty darn neat very neat
- it's becoming the thing to do at GenCon it's nice it's like a way to cap off the show you know for me once that's over I'm ready to go home I've had my Gen Con
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video fLwTbPRiBJU
Board Games UnLocked Review at 0:13 sentiment: positive
video_pk 116910 · mention_pk 329843
Click to watch at 0:13 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Captures the 4X feeling in an hour.
- Very streamlined and easy to get into.
- Provides endless replayability (though one reviewer disagreed).
- Fast-paced with no downtime.
- Solid and hits the nail on the head for what it aims to be.
- The credit system mitigates luck with card draws.
- Solo mode is included.
- Satisfies the desire for a quick 4X experience.
Cons
- Lacks the 'exterminate' aspect of 4X; little justification to attack.
- Alien systems encounters can become stale.
- Randomness can feel unfair.
- Rulebook is poor and unclear.
- Player strategies can become too similar.
- Aesthetically, ships and planets are uninspired.
- The blocks are too thin to feel like building an empire.
- The core mechanics might not sustain the game for much longer than an hour.
Thematic elements
- 4x empire building
Comparison games
- Twilight Imperium
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- 4X — The game incorporates elements of eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, and eXterminate, though the extermination aspect is weak.
- Card Drafting — Players draw and use cards for actions, technologies, and alien systems.
- Dice Rolling — Used in combat or for determining outcomes of certain actions.
- Empire Building — Players build their own empires and develop technologies.
- Resource Management — Players manage resources to perform actions, build ships, and acquire alien artifacts.
- Set Collection — Collecting sets of cards or artifacts for points.
- Technology trees — Players invest in technologies that provide benefits and scoring opportunities.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- if we were to play that I would schedule a Facebook event or something because it takes like you have like eight breaks
- it is an epic experience the entire time and when somewhere the hand has to be like hey you get that same feel but it only takes an eighth of the time
- the one thing that this lacks on the Forex game is the kind of exterminate part
- I wish that there was more variety than the alien systems instead of this five could that get stale pretty quick
- I don't think this game doesn't have enough material to be any longer than yeah no it's not a bad thing because once again it gives you that Forex feeling in an hour
- I'm gonna give it an eight this definitely is thing on my shelf
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video topMl4ZnfrM
Board Games UnLocked Playthrough at 0:53 sentiment: positive
video_pk 116911 · mention_pk 329844
Click to watch at 0:53 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Turns are super quick.
- The game can be done quickly, potentially in an hour.
- There's strategy and depth despite quick turns.
- The game is tricky and requires planning ahead.
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Interstellar empire with factions like the Star Union, The League, and The Community, dealing with conflicts, corporations, and resource extraction.
- Outer space, near future
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — The League controls a large part of inhabited worlds, and the game involves expanding empires.
- Card Play — Players use cards from planets for actions like trading, blockades, and preparing resources. Cards have specific uses, and some can be used for any action.
- Combat/Attack — Players can attack planets or other players once they build an operational ship. Attacks result in damage or points.
- hand limit — There is a hand limit of three cards mentioned.
- production — Planets can be used to produce resources or have other abilities.
- Resource Management — Players manage resources like gold and specific colored resources (red, blue, green) to build ships and planets.
- scoring — Victory points are gained through various actions, including attacking and completing objectives. Endgame scoring includes points for cards in the empire, operational ships, and specific card types like exploitation and extermination.
- Set Collection — Players aim to collect sets of different types of cards (extermination, exploration, exploitation, expansion) for scoring.
- technology development — Players can develop technology, with some cards reducing the cost of development.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Star Union sure is full of contradictions are they misspelled contradict big contradictions of no a nevertheless it's a full-scale interstellar empire in the dominating power for hundreds and millions of its citizens
- I'm the Spartan space and I'm like I'm totally okay low in space America space emeriti space Nazis oh I'm space rednecks say your space America well I'm like southern I'm northern rich America I'm Elysium America remember the residue that all right well okay I'm space America god bless the star union brave yeah they called for peace and follow it up with space Confederacy they're following up with ongoing offensives they call for democracy while being swayed by powerful corporations I call for freedom paid for by strict laws that regulate those subtle purpose
- this game basically it's just like hey on your turn you do one action and that's it turns are super quick in this game especially if you know like this game really well like it says forex team in an hour oh man if you're if you've played this a lot it's it could be like boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom oh that took 10 minutes cool yeah no no that's not acceptable
- there's still a whole lot to it that makes it if that makes any sense like there's there's some strategy to this game but that one action for turn is just like you you pretty much know what you want to do
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video q53DRrBt5Jg
Board Games UnLocked Discussion at 2:21 sentiment: positive
video_pk 116937 · mention_pk 329871
Click to watch at 2:21 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Provides a 4X game feel in one hour
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Sci-Fi
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this is a very very very heavy box
- this was a much needed expansion because crack is a great game but it just needed more
- from I've heard this is a Forex game that gives you that same feel in an hour and if that's the case then gonna make a lot of games obsolete I think so
- I love scythe and I love this expansion so whenever I saw this was available as well I had to get it
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 7TyjrHwgMNo
Board Games UnLocked Review at 0:17 sentiment: positive
video_pk 116835 · mention_pk 329727
Click to watch at 0:17 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Adds variety to the game.
- The new discovery deck provides beneficial effects.
- Allows players to do more on their turn.
- Easy to integrate into the base game.
- Easy to teach.
- Makes the game feel more complete and engaging.
Cons
- Doesn't add a whole lot to the base game.
- Not a groundbreaking expansion.
- Not a must-have for everyone.
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Deck Building — The expansion adds a new deck, which adds variety and allows for effects when drawing cards.
- Resource Management — The expansion adds a new resource deck that can provide wild resources or special effects.
- Technology/Ship Upgrades — The expansion adds new technologies and ships that can work around not being aggressive.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I will not be playing alien artifacts without the discovery expansions
- I think that is a very solid for a small expansion
- if you like alien artifacts and you're anyone a little bit a little bit more a little more to wet your whistle then discoveries I think will will potentially do that for you
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video HuXorQDVKqU
Board Games UnLocked Review at 0:38 sentiment: positive
video_pk 116735 · mention_pk 329571
Click to watch at 0:38 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Captures the feel of a 4X game in about an hour and a half.
- Unique compared to other games.
Cons
- Can become repetitive with similar abilities and ship types.
- Base game's visual presentation is not outstanding.
- The 'extermination' aspect of the game feels underdeveloped.
Thematic elements
- space exploration
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- 4X elements — The game incorporates elements of exploitation, extermination, exploration, and expansion.
- Combat — Players can attack other players or aliens. Attacking aliens is suggested to be more rewarding due to the potential to gain alien artifacts.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this video is brought to you by audible
- hey everyone welcome back to board games unlock
- I really wish it did because every time I play this game I'm reminded of how good it is and how different it is from a lot of the like there are other games
- I feel like doesn't get a lot of hype like I said and I really wish it did
- on a scale of one to ten I would give this expansion of five
- call my share and subscribe and have a wonderful with every time of datas for you
- comment share and subscribe and have a wonderful with every time of day this for you
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 0Rt0k2Way6k
Board Games UnLocked Top List at 40:24 sentiment: negative
video_pk 113590 · mention_pk 325904
Click to watch at 40:24 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
negative
Pros
- Ancient Egypt theme.
- Visually appealing components (tiles).
Cons
- Gameplay is very basic.
- Actions are generic.
- Combat is basic.
- Lacks replayability.
- Likely would have been better if released earlier.
Thematic elements
- Dungeon diving, pyramid exploration
- Ancient Egypt
Comparison games
- Shadows of Brimstone
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action selection — Players have limited actions per turn.
- Dungeon Crawl — A campaign-based dungeon crawler with exploration and combat.
- tile laying — Uses tiles to represent the game board, including walled terrain.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- disappointing doesn't necess necessarily mean that I think these games are bad
- the coolness factor of looking at it outdid the gamep layay
- this game came down to an efficiency puzzle which I'm not the biggest fan of
- the initiative system is completely random and unbalanced, making strategic planning impossible.
- it's a three freaking hour game that's just Bonkers
- this game could not be the more mid than I have ever seen
- calling it a sequel to Scythe is the most cash grab thing
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video f4nU9s3-3w0
Rolling Dice & Taking Names Review at 4:01 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 93535 · mention_pk 253232
Click to watch at 4:01 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- Unique card splitting mechanic for resources
- Variable player powers
- Interesting strategic depth due to double-sided cards
- Thankful for larger font size
Cons
- Difficulty in finding the right transition point to victory points
- Randomness in combat
- Takes multiple plays to fully grasp
- Doesn't feel like a traditional 4X game to some players
Thematic elements
- Space exploration and engine building
Comparison games
- 51st State
- Imperial Settlers
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Card Drafting — Players acquire cards, which can be split to utilize different resources or abilities.
- Combat — A combat system is present, involving card flips and modifiers.
- Engine Building — Players build an engine using cards, aiming to generate resources and victory points.
- Variable player powers — Players start with unique race abilities.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- The stacking mechanism was what's cool and what's different
- The art is done by Ian O'Toole and it's a big humongous board that's just absolutely gorgeous
- The tension is everything in this game
- The vegetables why such the hate on vegetables
- The game ends when the two ends of this moat meet and they kind of seal off the palace
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video kSf9WUuKOt0
Rolling Dice & Taking Names Discussion at 31:01 sentiment: positive
video_pk 93537 · mention_pk 253244
Click to watch at 31:01 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Strong engine-building mechanics
- Versatile card usage (each card can be used two ways)
- Sci-fi theme with planets, technologies, and ships
- More accessible and shorter playtime than First Martians
- Already highly rated in demos, including a top spot on a GenCon geeklist for unreleased games
Cons
- Risk of being mislabeled as a '4X' game, leading to incorrect expectations
Thematic elements
- engine building, empire expansion, space exploration, combat
- sci-fi universe
Comparison games
- 51st State
- Imperial Settlers
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- area control/influence — Players can discover new planets to expand their empire.
- card drafting/management — The game focuses on finding the best synergies between cards in hand and in the tableau, and cards can often be used in multiple ways.
- Combat — Players can build ships to attack aliens or other players.
- Engine Building — Players build a tableau of cards (planets, technologies, ships) that generate resources, provide special powers, and allow for attacks.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I was so excited to get some shrink wrap off of some games yes and then have to go through the part of opening up Rule books and trying to read rules and then teach rules to all these new games which that's becoming a chore for me it really is.
- The way you deal damage is just like it was with crossfire so everybody basically has a start the deck of cards cleric screen rogues red mages blue and martial arts the fighter is black and the encounters that you have to deal damage based on color.
- You cannot go wrong when there is a game that has an appetizer in it.
- It wasn't anything that I couldn't overcome I understood you know just got play the colors go do the deck building it was very simple from that simple but one thing that threw me off was that event deck.
- I am trying my best to teach it and I can just look across the table everybody's like yeah whatever and I'm like okay huh face grand bazarre.
- It's like oh my gosh Makris gonna teach a game we're not gonna learn it he's gonna screw up the rules and there's this negativity out there and so yeah I am discounted for trying.
- Ignasi is standing right there with an incredible shirt of first Martian where'd you get that so sweet look at those like yeah there was a gift from Erin especially for the show.
- Basically it is a one whole period of pain and frustration and I strongly this no no don't do it don't don't go this path.
- So everybody across the world can watch yes we did it two years ago and last year we did it we didn't do this we definitely shouldn't do this so I totally agree yes yeah cool and I'm kind of curious how difficult is it for a non polish speaking individual to attempt portal con is it going to would it be like terrible no we each year we have couple of our fans from the from the Europe flight tickets in Europe are not that expensive so coming from for a poor token from Italy or from Germany or from the Spain he's not that big a cost and for these players is a one day filled with absolutely craziness about the portal games or people playing portal games games most of our fans speak English fluently because they are gamers so of course they use BoardGameGeek of course they listen to the podcast over so they are fluent in English so there's no problems playing games and as I mentioned like for the for the people's hardcore fans of portal games from German or of France or Italy there is not a big deal to come to us so every single proton we have a couple of people from different countries.
- No you don't say Michael's gonna do anything bad or anything like that but just like what could it be I was pleasantly surprised because he sent us these treats that I had heard people talk about before called well it looks like I said stroopwafels but they're Dutch treats so I assume they're pronounced strip strip waffle or something like that just stop just stop don't embarrass just I'm trying to be correct here okay I don't say it's stroopwafel okay fine anyway.
References (from this video)
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Video tG0uTH6M700
Getting Games Top 10 List at 6:48 sentiment: positive
video_pk 92118 · mention_pk 247359
Click to watch at 6:48 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- fast turns and engaging engine-building
- flexible card synergies and tech paths
- prototype playtesting at the booth and positive impressions
Cons
- some perceived lack of impact from certain combat/attack interactions
- as with many prototyping booths, balance may shift as development continues
Thematic elements
Comparison games
- Through the Ages
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- card-based 4X engine-building — card-driven engine-building where technologies are researched, planets explored, and exploitation yields benefits.
- endgame/points via planetary exploitation — planets are exploited for a one-time benefit after colonization and can affect scoring.
- Multi-use action cards — cards provide options to draw/play, with various symbols enabling different actions.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Lizboa definitely my number one of the convention.
- Holy bleep, that is amazing.
- I love the idea of building those tableau in front of you.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video detNB5fqxTs
Getting Games Top 10 List at 24:06 sentiment: negative
video_pk 90706 · mention_pk 242611
Click to watch at 24:06 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
negative
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
- Prototype vs Published Version evolution
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- i was blown away by how much i loved that game
- i was blown away by the innovation that was in this game
- i was blown away at how much fun i had actually playing this one
- this game is so tense and so tight with such an elegant simple rule set
- i don't think i actually enjoyed that play
- i absolutely loved the experience
- i was completely blown away by this game
- i hated this game what a surprise
- it's a top 10 game
- so unfortunately my biggest surprise game overall is on the negative
References (from this video)
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Video fp83cb4IDDc
Watch It Played Rules Teach at 0:00
video_pk 68180 · mention_pk 164538
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
none
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
No quotes stored for this video.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video qu4_qyYC4BM
kovray Rules Teach at 6:09 sentiment: positive
video_pk 32168 · mention_pk 212947
Click to watch at 6:09 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Adds new strategic options
- Interacts with core mechanics via relic powers
Cons
- Powers can complicate planning if not balanced
Thematic elements
- Artifacts granting single-use powers
- Forest relic collection with relic discs and spirit cards
- card-driven abilities
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- relic_discs — Six relic discs are placed, with permanent powers attached.
- single_use_powers — Collected relics grant one-time abilities on future turns.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Aspens is a two-player game designed by Neil Edwards and Luke Roberts.
- Your goal is simple. Grow the largest forest.
- The player with the most wins.
- Aspen, the cozy tiny forest game.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 6ZKBYJGSe3Q
3 Minute Board Games Top List at 2:24 sentiment: negative
video_pk 2083 · mention_pk 6044
Click to watch at 2:24 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
negative
Pros
- Ambitious cross-influences from similar games
- Some interesting mix of mechanics
Cons
- Feels like a poorer version of Race for the Galaxy and 51st State
- Joints and pacing can feel unfocused
Thematic elements
- galactic conquest and engine-building through artifact powers
- space opera universe with competing factions
- thematic but broad and less cohesive
Comparison games
- Race for the Galaxy
- 51st State
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Area Control — players vie for control of space regions
- engine-building — crafting a deck/engine from artifact cards to improve future turns
- Resource Management — balancing actions and powers to maximize scoring potential
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- 2020 was the year that i finally decided i don't like legacy games
- if you like discovering new games and if you like playing a new game every week that's fantastic
- the experience for paradise lost was ... terrible
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
Showing 1–14 of 14