12 Epic Sci-Fi Board Games for Space Strategy Lovers

Space enthusiasts have been drawn to sci-fi board games since the 70s, and ground-breaking titles like "Cosmic Encounter" and "Dune" remain popular choices at gaming tables today.

Modern space strategy games provide an incredible range of experiences. Players can embark on epic ten-hour "Twilight Imperium" campaigns or face nerve-wracking survival horror in "Nemesis." The possibilities are endless - whether you dream of terraforming Mars or leading the Rebel Alliance's fight against the Empire, a cosmic adventure awaits on your table.

Our carefully selected list features 12 outstanding space strategy games that match different player counts and priorities. These games range from solo adventures to six-player epics, and they include everything from quick-play sessions to deep, day-long strategic battles that transport players to the galaxy's farthest reaches.

Twilight Imperium (4th Edition): The Ultimate Space Opera

_{Image Source: Fantasy Flight Games}

Twilight Imperium reigns supreme as the giant of space opera board games. Players respect its epic scope and complex strategy. This masterpiece from Fantasy Flight Games lets 3-6 players shape their galactic destiny through smart diplomacy, calculated warfare, and resource management.

Game Overview and Strategic Depth

The game's core challenge pushes players to earn 10 victory points by completing public and secret objectives. A modular hexagonal board creates a fresh galaxy each game. Mecatol Rex, the old imperial capital, sits at the prized centre.

Players must guide their empires through several game phases. They pick strategy cards that give special abilities and set turn order. Then they take tactical actions to move fleets and grab planets. The status phase lets them score points. Real strategy comes from weighing quick tactical wins against long-term victory goals.

The combat system uses dice rolls where units try to hit enemy forces, which adds tactical depth to your space conquests. But raw power rarely wins the throne—you need political skill and perfect timing.

Faction Diversity and Asymmetrical Play

The game's biggest strength lies in its diverse factions. The base game comes with 17 unique alien civilisations. Each has its own abilities, starting tech, and homeworlds. The Prophecy of Kings expansion adds 7 more factions, bringing the total to 24 playable races.

This mix creates different ways to play. The Hacan thrive on trade deals while the Sardakk N'orr crush their enemies with military power. The Federation of Sol works well for new players, and the Nekro Virus hunts down technology to copy. No two games feel the same because of these choices.

Resource Management and Political Intrigue

Running your empire needs a delicate balance of three key resources. Planets give influence for political votes and command tokens. Resources help build units and research tech. Command tokens limit your actions each round.

Politics add extra spice to the game. Once someone claims Mecatol Rex, the agenda phase kicks in. Players vote on galaxy-wide laws using their planet's influence. These laws can flip the game on its head and open doors to deals and betrayals. Promissory Notes let players make binding contracts, forcing everyone to stick to their word.

Best Player Count and Game Duration

The game works with 3-6 players but really comes alive with six. This number creates balanced maps and better political deals. Four-player games move faster, though each player gets two strategy cards instead of one.

You'll need plenty of time—about 1.5 hours per player. A six-player game usually runs 8-9 hours. New players should set aside even more time, maybe 10-12 hours with rules explanation. The game's rich experience makes every minute worth spending among the stars.

Terraforming Mars: Planetary Conquest Through Science

_{Image Source: FryxGames}

Unlike the galactic conquests of Twilight Imperium, Terraforming Mars puts players in charge of competing corporations with one clear mission - to make the Red Planet habitable through scientific advancement and smart resource management.

Core Mechanics and Strategic Options

Players start by selecting corporations and project cards that shape their strategy. Each round (called a generation) lets players draw cards, take actions, and produce resources. Players must balance quick terraforming goals with building their economy over time.

The game revolves around three terraforming parameters: oxygen level, temperature, and oceans. Your Terraform Rating (TR) goes up as you raise these parameters, giving you both victory points and income. Players also place tiles showing cities and forests on Mars's surface in positions that yield the best benefits.

You can win the game in several ways. Building a strong economy should come before chasing points—pick cards that increase your income of megacredits, steel, and titanium. You can then grab milestones that give victory points at a bargain (5 VP for just 8 megacredits).

Corporation Selection Strategy

Your choice of corporation shapes how you play and strategise. Tharsis Republic shines at city building and gets bonuses for each city it places. Ecoline rules plant production and forest placement. Phobolog excels in space development through titanium efficiency but starts with less money.

Saturn Systems builds a reliable space economy with titanium production and Jovian tag bonuses. Helion turns heat into credits, which brings in extra income throughout the game. Each corporation needs its own approach to make the most of its strengths.

Engine Building Tactics

Success in Terraforming Mars depends on building engines. Blue cards (action cards) are valuable because they produce points, convert resources, and give passive bonuses. Planning ahead pays off - expensive cards often become powerful economic engines later in the game.

Forest tiles give great value with two victory points each and raise oxygen levels. Smart forest placement next to oceans can save you 30-40% through placement bonuses. These tiles basically pay for themselves.

Cities work well with forests by scoring points for adjacent greenery, so you need to plan your tile placement. Standard projects give you reliable but costly actions when you don't have the right cards.

Solo Play Experience

Solo mode challenges you to terraform Mars in 14 generations. The experience is different from multiplayer - you start with no production and a lower Terraform Rating of 14.

Solo games have a simple win condition - you lose if you don't complete terraforming by the final generation. The game stays exciting without milestones and awards because you race against time.

Solo mode needs a comprehensive strategy. You should focus on cards that help raise global parameters instead of scoring points. Good solo players build their economy early, focus on terraforming, and use repeatable terraforming cards like Ironworks or Regolith Eaters.

Star Wars: Rebellion - Galactic Civil War Reimagined

_{Image Source: Fantasy Flight Games}

Star Wars: Rebellion brings the epic battle between the Galactic Empire and Rebel Alliance to your tabletop. It stands out as one of the most thematically rich sci-fi strategy board games you can get today. This two-player game recreates the power imbalance from the original Star Wars trilogy with amazing detail.

Asymmetrical Gameplay: Empire vs. Rebellion

Star Wars: Rebellion breaks away from typical space board games with its unbalanced conflict design. The Imperial player starts with massive military power—countless troops, Star Destroyers, and the Death Star—and rules through fear. Their main goal is simple: find and destroy the hidden Rebel base.

The Rebel player begins as just a small force in the galaxy that can't fight head-on. Rather than winning through military might, Rebels succeed by moving their reputation marker up the time track, which shows growing galaxy-wide support. This core difference creates unique playstyles for each side.

Hidden Base Mechanics

The game's tension revolves around the Rebel base system. The Rebel player picks one system from the probe deck to hide their base during setup. This creates real anxiety as Imperial forces systematically search possible locations.

The base acts as the Rebel's key production hub and staging ground. A discovered base puts Rebels in immediate danger, and they often must evacuate using mission cards like "Rapid Mobilisation." These hidden strongholds provide coding advantages and tactical benefits, making them crucial to protect.

Mission Cards and Character Deployment

Players start each round with the Assignment Phase. They quietly assign their leaders to mission cards they hold. Each leader has specific skill values (Diplomacy, Intel, Special Ops, and Logistics) that show how well they handle different missions.

Two key mission types exist—those that succeed right away and those that face possible opposition. For attempted missions, the other player can send their free leaders to stop these actions. This creates ongoing choices about how to best use leaders.

Two-Player Strategic Depth

Star Wars: Rebellion shines as a tactical chase game. Imperial players push across the galaxy, taking over planets and using probe cards to track down Rebels. The Rebel player must complete objectives, run hit-and-run attacks, and plan escape routes for the time they're found.

New players take about 30-40 minutes to set up and learn rules. Complete games run close to four hours. The game's depth becomes clear after several plays, as both sides learn to adjust their plans based on what their opponent might do next.

Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy

_{Image Source: Lautapelit.fi}

Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy hits the sweet spot between Twilight Imperium's complexity and a quick space game. Players who love space conquest but can't spend all day at the table will find this game a perfect fit. The game blends European economic mechanics with American-style space battles in a way that just works.

Simplified 4X Experience

The game takes the classic 4X formula (explore, expand, exploit, exterminate) and packs it into 2-4 hours. That's way faster than similar games. Players get six basic actions to choose from: they can explore new sectors, research tech, upgrade their ships, build fleets, move around, or grow their influence. Your civilisation's resources tie directly to these actions. The more you do, the more it costs when the round ends. This creates a real push-pull between wanting to do everything and keeping your empire running smoothly.

Ship Customisation and Combat Tactics

The ship customisation system really shines. Players work with three ship types and starbases. Each blueprint takes different tech tiles—weapons, shields, computers, drives, and hull upgrades—and the combinations seem endless. The best part? You physically place these tiles on your ship cards. There's something satisfying about seeing your fleet come together right in front of you.

Winning fights needs more than just big guns. Your ships' initiative (which comes from drive components) can matter more than firepower. Going first in combat can make all the difference. The math shows that adding another ship to your fleet works better than giving one ship better targeting most of the time.

Economic Engine Building

The game uses a clever sliding track system for its economy. Your controlled planets generate resources (materials, science, money) at round's end. This system cuts out the hassle of moving resource tokens around. The influence disc mechanic controls both your actions and territory, which naturally limits how big your empire can grow.

Technology Tree Strategy

Research splits into three main types: military (orange), grid (green), and nano (blue). Your early tech choices shape your whole strategy, especially how your ships develop. Some tech proves useful no matter what you're playing—better hulls keep you alive, plasma cannons pack a punch, and good drives let you strike first.

New players should stick to exploring nearby space, grab planets with good resources, and pick their first upgrades carefully. This approach gives them the best shot at victory.

Nemesis: Survival Horror in Deep Space

_{Image Source: Awaken Realms}

Among the many sci-fi board games you can buy today, Nemesis stands out as a pulse-racing survival horror experience. This game trades galactic conquest for desperate survival. Think of Ridley Scott's Alien reimagined as a board game - that's exactly what you get in this gripping tabletop adventure.

Semi-Cooperative Gameplay Mechanics

The game uses a fascinating semi-cooperative system. Players need to work together to survive, yet each has their own hidden agenda. You wake up from hypersleep to find a dead crewmate. Thanks to implants, players can't attack each other directly but must guide themselves through the dangerous ship while completing secret missions. This creates a delicate balance of trust and suspicion that runs through every decision. Moving with another player doesn't make noise, but can you really trust their intentions?

Hidden Objectives and Betrayal

Each player gets two secret objectives at the start and picks one after meeting the first alien. These objectives can vary quite a bit:

• Sending the ship to Earth or Mars
• Retrieving alien specimens
• Making sure specific players don't survive
• Just staying alive with certain items

The objective system rarely turns one player against the entire crew. This opens up subtle opportunities for alliances even when betrayal lurks around the corner. One reviewer put it perfectly: "Your breath can catch in your throat when you realise that the teammate you have been helping is now in the perfect position to airlock you."

Alien Encounter Strategies

Noise mechanics are the life-blood of alien encounters. Every movement risks creating noise tokens that might spawn intruders. This creates nail-biting tension with each die roll. When you meet aliens, you can either fight them and risk infection or run away. Putting distance between yourself and the threat usually makes the most sense.

Component Quality and Immersion

Nemesis offers exceptional quality components. The detailed miniatures that represent crew members and evolving alien threats - from eggs to larvae to the imposing queen - stand out. These pieces do more than just look good. They help create a claustrophobic, dread-filled atmosphere that turns each 2-3 hour session into an unforgettable experience rather than just another game.

Cosmic Encounter: Diplomacy Among the Stars

_{Image Source: Fantasy Flight Games}

Cosmic Encounter came out in 1977 and remains the life-blood of sci-fi board games. The game runs on social dynamics rather than complex rules. The game stands apart from other space board games because it emphasises chaotic diplomacy and unexpected outcomes.

Alien Powers and Game-Breaking Abilities

The game's core mechanic gives each player a unique alien species with powers that break the basic rules. Some aliens like the Macron have ships that count as 4 instead of 1, while others like the Void can permanently remove defeated ships from the game. Players need to protect their home planets because losing control of all but one means losing their alien powers - a clever balancing mechanism. Advanced players can try variant rules with hidden powers or multiple powers per player to expand their strategic options.

Negotiation Tactics and Alliance Formation

We designed the game as a social experience that shines through its alliance system. Players can invite others to join either side during encounters and commit 1-4 ships to battle. A win lets offensive allies gain new colonies, while defensive allies get rewards based on their committed ships.

The Negotiate card creates some interesting strategic choices. Two main players who reveal Negotiate cards get one minute to strike a deal and exchange colonies or cards. A player who uses this card against an Attack card will lose but can steal cards from their opponent's hand as compensation.

Winning Strategies for Different Player Counts

The game works with 3-8 players but hits its sweet spot with 5-6 players where player interaction peaks. Players need five foreign colonies to win, and multiple players can share victory if they reach this goal together.

Games often fall flat when players form too many unnecessary alliances. Expert players suggest being selective with alliances and treating turns as vital resources - winning your first encounter lets you take another turn.

New players should focus on managing their cards well. The game creates a significant timing element because players can only draw new cards after playing all their encounter cards.

Dune (2019): Spice and Intrigue

_{Image Source: GF9}

Set in Frank Herbert's iconic science fiction universe, Dune (2019) turns political scheming and desert warfare into one of the richest sci-fi strategy board games you can find today.

Faction Asymmetry and Balance

Six distinct factions compete to control Arrakis. Each faction's unique powers change how the game plays out. House Atreides uses prescience to see cards during auctions, while House Harkonnen gets double the treachery cards without showing them. The Fremen move across the desert faster than others and survive the storms. The Spacing Guild takes payment each time other factions move troops to the planet. The Bene Gesserit's troops can stay with enemy forces, and they can predict who will win the game. The Emperor leads elite Sardaukar troops and has deep pockets.

Resource Control Strategies

Spice drives the game's economy—it's so valuable that "a handful will buy a home on Tupile." Territories with spice provide vital income. The Spacing Guild and Emperor start with more money, but other factions make up for it through better fighting or flexible strategies. Players must balance their harvesting with military goals, since harvesters left alone can be destroyed by storms or enemy attacks.

Combat and Treachery Cards

The game's combat system relies on hidden information and calculated risks. Players use battle discs to commit forces and pick leaders with number values. Treachery cards can swing battles—Projectiles and Poisons can take out leaders, while Shields and Snoopers offer protection. A Traitor card played against a matching leader wins the battle, whatever the committed forces.

Political Manoeuvring

Alliances change how the game works by combining each faction's strengths. Allied players win together if they control four strongholds. Players who aren't allies can still make deals that involve spice payments or agreements not to attack certain areas. Truth becomes a valuable commodity through cards like Truth Trance that make players answer yes/no questions honestly.

Thematic Integration with Source Material

The game mechanics mirror Herbert's universe perfectly—from the Bene Gesserit's subtle influence to the Guild's control over transportation. The random storm movement captures Arrakis's harsh unpredictability, creating an experience where gameplay and story merge naturally.

Star Trek: Ascendancy - Explore, Expand, Exploit

_{Image Source: Dicebreaker}

Star Trek: Ascendancy takes players beyond simple space battles. This sci-fi board game captures Gene Roddenberry's dream of space exploration and interstellar politics. Players lead major powers from the Alpha Quadrant and chart their paths through an expanding galaxy.

Faction Differences and Playstyles

Each faction brings unique strategic advantages that guide how players approach the game. The Federation shines at exploration and diplomacy. They get bonuses from meeting and negotiating with independent civilisations. The Klingons live for battle and earn extra culture from worthy combat. Their warrior code prevents them from retreating or surrendering planets during fights. The Romulans excel at deception. They use advanced cloaking technology to slip past enemies while their spies drain opponent resources from the shadows.

New expansions add more variety to the game. The Vulcans come with special colonisation rules and victory conditions. The Breen are masters of defence who prefer to stay isolated. The Dominion uses shapeshifting spies to boost their influence throughout the galaxy.

Exploration and Map Building

Players build the galaxy together by connecting System Discs with Space Lanes. The game features two system types: Planetary Systems that players can colonise and develop, and Interstellar Phenomena that pose risks but yield valuable research tokens. Ships need to pass shield rolls in dangerous systems or risk destruction. This creates excitement with each new exploration.

Research and Technology Paths

Research is vital to advancement. Players gather tokens from phenomena and construct research nodes on suitable planets. These resources help develop better weapons, shields, and specialised fleet abilities.

Interspecies Diplomacy

Trade deals let rival civilisations benefit from each other's growth. Each player can only have one trade agreement with another civilisation. Setting up these partnerships early gives players key advantages. The Dominion War expansion lets players team up and work toward shared victory.

Race for the Galaxy: Fast-Paced Tableau Building

Race for the Galaxy stands apart from other sci-fi strategy board games that focus on territorial control. Players can finish a game in just 20-30 minutes through quick tableau development and simultaneous action selection. The game challenges you to create the most successful galactic empire. You must develop, settle, consume, and produce your way to victory.

Card Selection Strategy

Your success depends on how well you adapt to the cards in your hand rather than following preset plans. "You can't have a strategy in RftG. It's all about playing the hand that you are dealt." The 6-cost developments are the life-blood of different paths to victory. Your early game should focus on cards that give you extra resources or make future developments cheaper. These economic foundations will power your later expansion.

Role Selection Timing

The game's heart beats through players picking phases (roles) at the same time. You'll need to read your opponents' minds while getting the most from your choices. The best moves help you more than anyone else. Some powerful plays combine two parts - like using Settle to grab a windfall world, then picking Consume/Trade to turn those resources into cards. This rhythm shapes your empire's growth based on when you call specific roles.

Engine Building Techniques

You can build several types of effective engines:

• Military strength to conquer high-point worlds
• Production cycles that pair Produce/Consume×2 to score steadily
• Trading engines that use windfall worlds and Consume/Trade to keep cards flowing

Building engines matters, but knowing when to switch from building to scoring is just as vital. One reviewer points out, "An engine strategy has a key point where you need to stop building the engine and start running it." Small, quick engines usually beat larger ones that take too long to set up.

Two-Player Variant Tactics

The advanced two-player variant lets each player pick two roles per round. This is a big deal as it means that players have more control, making these games "significantly different, and maybe more addictive." You can now combine powerful actions like Settle and Consume/Trade in one turn. Your strategies become more reliable since they depend less on what your opponent does. The card flow changes too - multiplayer games usually shuffle the deck several times, while two-player games often use just half the deck once. This reduces how much luck affects the game.

Gaia Project: Terraforming Across the Galaxy

Gaia Project takes Terra Mystica's acclaimed system to the stars. This sci-fi strategy board game lets fourteen unique alien races compete for control in a modular galaxy. Strategy fans will love its endless replay value.

Faction Selection and Starting Strategy

Your success depends on reading the board setup before picking your faction. Some races work well in most situations - Hadsch Hallas shines with its economic flexibility. Others like Gleens and Lantids need specific board layouts to excel. Terrans do best with purple transdimensional planets. Taklons stand out because they can leech power from others. The Itars are powerhouses in smaller games thanks to their gaiaforming and tech abilities.

The first three rounds should build your economic engine before you chase points. You need a solid plan right from the start. Know which planets you'll grab, what tech you'll research, and which federations you'll build before placing your first mine.

Tech Tree Navigation

The game's advancement system runs on six research tracks:

• Terraforming: Makes planet changes cheaper
• Navigation: Lets you reach farther
• Artificial Intelligence: Powers up abilities
• Gaiaforming: Better transdimensional conversion
• Economy: More resources
• Research: Faster tech progress

You'll do better focusing on two or three tracks instead of spreading yourself thin. Each level you reach past level 2 gives you 4 victory points at the end. Pick technologies that work with your faction's strengths and match the scoring tiles in play.

Territorial Expansion Tactics

Smart expansion needs careful planning so you don't get stuck mid-game. Try to build enough structures for three federations. These give you tokens you can trade for resources or advanced tech. The best federations use minimal buildings to maximise your returns.

End-Game Scoring Optimisation

A winning strategy usually includes three federations and level 4 or 5 research in two tracks. Converting federation tokens into advanced tech is vital. You should stay competitive in both final scoring goals without going overboard on either one. The best advanced technologies give you resources when passing turns or instant victory points.

Star Wars: Imperial Assault - Tactical Combat

_{Image Source: Fantasy Flight Games}

Star Wars: Imperial Assault brings the beloved Star Wars universe to life as a sci-fi board game with miniatures. The game blends deep strategy with captivating storytelling elements that tactical enthusiasts will love.

Campaign vs. Skirmish Modes

The game offers two unique ways to play. Campaign mode lets one player control Imperial forces and mission rules as a dungeon master. A team of up to four players controls individual Rebel heroes. The base game features ten missions in a branching storyline. Mission outcomes determine the next story mission players will face.

Players can also enjoy skirmish mode in head-to-head battles. Each player builds a custom squad based on a pre-agreed point total - 40 points works well for base game matches. Players also build a fifteen-card command deck. These cards give special abilities and tactical advantages during battle.

Character Development and Equipment

The campaign features a strong progression system. Rebel heroes use credits to buy equipment and experience points to gain new abilities. Players can upgrade their weapons with attachments. To cite an instance, adding a scope to Jyn Odan's blaster improves accuracy.

The Imperial player gets upgrade and influence cards. These cards often focus on specific themes like interrogation or droids.

Tactical Movement and Line of Sight

The game's refined action system gives figures two actions per activation. Players can move, attack, interact with objects, rest to recover damage and strain, or use special abilities. A figure's speed determines its movement points. Moving through hostile spaces costs extra points.

Line of sight shapes tactical decisions substantially. Larger units like the AT-ST face unique challenges - they cannot attack adjacent players.

Miniatures Painting and Customisation

These detailed miniatures give hobbyists a perfect canvas. Sorastro's painting tutorials show you how to achieve tabletop-quality results step by step. The painting process starts with mould line removal and primer application. Next comes base colours, washes for shading, detail highlights, and protective varnish.

ISS Vanguard: Cooperative Space Exploration

_{Image Source: Awaken Realms}

ISS Vanguard has made quite an entrance in the sci-fi board game world. Players take command of humanity's first interstellar ship in this story-rich cooperative game. Awaken Realms has created an expansive experience that blends resource management with exciting planetary exploration through a branching story.

Campaign Structure and Progression

The game alternates between Ship Management and Planetary Exploration phases. Your mission takes you deeper into the mysteries hidden in human DNA as you follow coordinates to unexplored star systems. Mission Logs serve as the backbone of the story system. These journal entries and conversations not only advance the plot but also present meaningful choices. Without doubt, your decisions shape the story's direction and affect future missions.

Crew Management and Specialisation

The Vanguard has four main sections under your command:

• Security: Combat experts who handle threats
• Recon: Quick scouts who excel at movement
• Science: Analysts who study findings
• Engineering: Tech specialists who handle construction

The game features over 100 unique crew members with their own traits and skills. Smart crew assignment is vital. Successful missions help crew members gain ranks, which unlock better abilities and special ship duties. Victory often comes from picking crew members whose skills work well together, especially those who excel at travel, scouting, and helping with dice rolls.

Planet Exploration Tactics

Landing missions present location-based challenges that test your crew's abilities through dice checks. Each action can succeed, fail, or trigger special events. Even failures let you move forward, though they come with drawbacks. Your dice represent limited actions during exploration, so you need to manage them carefully through smart movement and well-timed rest.

Resource Allocation and Ship Upgrades

The Ship Book phase lets you put crew on different tasks, study new tech, create equipment, and deal with various situations. Command tokens power ship facilities like Research Labs and Production Complexes. Energy tokens help you move on the starmap. Your choice of which facilities to focus on matters greatly, especially when starting the campaign.

Solo Play Options

The game works perfectly for solo players who can control all four sections. Taking all sections on planetary missions gives solo players the best chance to handle any challenge. This approach lets them enjoy the full story while finding the best ways to use resources and develop crew skills across every section.

Comparison Table

Conclusion

Space strategy board games provide remarkable variety. Players can choose between epic multi-hour campaigns like "Twilight Imperium" and quick-playing card games like "Race for the Galaxy." Each title's unique mechanics and themes help players find games matching their priorities.

These twelve games demonstrate sci-fi gaming's vast possibilities. "Twilight Imperium" appeals to players who love deep political intrigue. "Nemesis" creates heart-pounding survival horror experiences. "Star Wars" titles let fans jump into their favourite universe directly. "Terraforming Mars" tests players with scientific advancement puzzles.

Player count shapes the best game choice significantly. "Twilight Imperium" reaches its peak with six players. "Star Wars: Rebellion" creates an excellent two-player experience. "ISS Vanguard" works well for both solo and group play. Game duration impacts selection too - "Eclipse" delivers a simplified 4X experience compared to longer games.

The sci-fi board game genre keeps evolving by mixing innovative mechanics with beloved themes. These games take players beyond Earth's boundaries through engaging tabletop adventures. Players can command massive fleets, discover unknown planets, or face alien threats.