Game intel
ALIEN The Roleplaying Game Evolved Edition
Alien The Roleplaying Game has always nailed one thing: turning a table full of friends into a pressure cooker where every dice roll feels like a heartbeat. The new Evolved Edition, launching November 18, looks less like a flashy “2nd edition” cash grab and more like a deliberate tune-up that leans into what made the game special-while quietly fixing pain points and widening the ways you can play. The kicker: over 100 professional Game Mothers on StartPlaying will be running sessions from launch through November 30, so you can actually try it immediately instead of just reading about it.
Free League calls this an update and revision, not a reboot-and that tracks with the details. The core rulebook ($57.99) gets a full visual overhaul with layouts by Johan Nohr (yes, the MÖRK BORG designer), new maps, and a striking Colm Geoghegan cover. Under the hood, Evolved revises talents, stress and panic, stealth, and combat across armor, ammo, grenades, stuns, skirmishes, and spaceships. The stress/panic loop is Alien’s secret sauce, so tightening those screws could change the texture of every session in a good way.
There’s meaningful new content, not just polish. Life path character generation arrives (finally), zero-gravity rules and formal miniatures support are in, and the campaign side gets love with expanded tools and the Tartarus Sector setting. The team also folded in iconic gear and locations from Alien: Romulus, which is smart synergy and keeps the game aligned with how the franchise is evolving on screen.
The Starter Set ($39.99) looks like a true onboarding box, not a half-measure: an abridged rules booklet, five pregens, reference sheets, a resource dial, a Xenomorph miniature, and a double-sided 35×22 inch map (chartered space on one side, Hadley’s Hope on the other). The fan-favorite Hope’s Last Day cinematic scenario is expanded into three acts—good move, since that adventure is often the first thing people play and it always felt like it had room to breathe.
Two additions made me raise an eyebrow, in different ways. First, Last Survivor, the solo mode designed by Shawn Tomkin (of Ironsworn fame) and Matt Click. That pairing is a big deal. Alien’s dread-heavy pacing actually fits solo play better than most licensed RPGs, and having robust, purpose-built tools means this won’t just be “play normal rules, but alone.” For anyone whose group can’t commit, a credible solo path is a game-saver.
The miniatures push is trickier. Alongside the Evolved launch, Free League is dropping a 20-figure Miniatures Set ($59.99) with simplified skirmish rules, and those huge battle maps show up again in both Rapture Protocol ($39.99) and the Starter Set. I get the appeal—precision line-of-sight and cramped corridors can heighten tension—but Alien’s best moments are about what you can’t see. If your table already leans tactical, minis will sing. If you prefer theater-of-the-mind claustrophobia, treat them as optional spice. The good news: none of this replaces the core experience; it just adds another way to stage your horror.
Free League is partnering with StartPlaying—which bills itself as the largest platform for finding pro GMs—to get people playing immediately. Over 100 Game Mothers had early access and will run games from November 18 to 30. In practice, that means you can book a seat without wrangling your home group. Reality check: most StartPlaying sessions charge per seat, though you can find free or discounted tables if you look. As a discovery pipeline, it’s a smart play, especially with new or returning players eyeing the Starter Set.
Virtual tabletop support lands on release day, with content for Roll20 and Demiplane. That matters. Nothing kills momentum like buying a shiny new book and then having to wait months for VTT modules. If you’re already running Alien online, this reduces friction to basically zero.
Prices are pretty standard for a modern line: Core $57.99, Starter Set $39.99, Rapture Protocol $39.99, Miniatures $59.99, MU/TH/UR screen $24.99. Pre-orders include immediate PDFs at no extra cost, which is one of Free League’s most consumer-friendly habits and makes the waiting painless.
If you already own the original Alien core and you’re happy, Evolved doesn’t make your shelf obsolete. Compatibility means you can keep playing your campaigns without a hiccup. But if you want the cleaned-up rules, lifepath gen, zero-g, campaign tools, and the Tartarus Sector, the upgrade is justified. New to the line? Start with the Starter Set, then grab Rapture Protocol for a fresh cinematic night that kicks off the Jeremiah Saga trilogy. Minis are a taste thing—cool addition, not mandatory purchase.
November timing hits two notes: it rides the wave of Alien: Romulus interest and lands in holiday season when groups are forming new campaigns. More importantly, the Evolved Edition signals a subtle pivot. Alien began life as the perfect one-shot nightmare machine; Evolved doubles down on campaign viability without losing that cinematic DNA. That’s the right evolution.
Alien RPG Evolved isn’t a reset—it’s a sharpened, modernized take with a serious solo mode, sturdier campaign tools, and optional minis support. With day-one VTT modules and 100+ Game Mothers ready on StartPlaying, you can test it immediately and decide how far down the air duct you want to crawl.
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