COSMIC ENCOUNTER

Players: 3-8
Game Time: 60-120 min
Ages: 12 and up
Complexity: Medium
Strategy: Medium
Luck: Low

Strategy Thematic Game
Detailed Game Info
Download Official Instructions


Cosmic Encounter is a strategic game that was released in the 1970s.  In Cosmic Encounter, each player is the leader of an alien race. On a player’s turn, he or she becomes the offense. The offense encounters another player on a planet by moving a group of his or her ships through the hyperspace gate to that planet. The offense draws from the destiny deck which contains colors, wilds and specials. He or she then takes the hyperspace gate and points at one planet in the system indicated by the drawn destiny card. The offensive vs. the defensive ships are in the encounter and both sides are able to invite allies, play an encounter card as well as special cards to try and tip the encounter in their favor.

The object of the game is to establish colonies in other players’ planetary systems. Players take turns trying to establish colonies. The winner(s) are the first player(s) to have five colonies on any planets outside his or her home system. A player does not need to have colonies in all of the systems, just colonies on five planets outside his or her home system. These colonies may all be in one system or scattered over multiple systems. The players must use force, cunning, and diplomacy to ensure their victory.

The game does have a small learning curve and requires some teaching.  However, when compared with other strategy games, it is very simple.  It is so simple that it is often considered a party game and not a strategy game.  When playing with 7-8 players, we will use the team rules.  Join us for a memorable experience!  If we are every playing this game at a game session, don’t hesitate to reserve a seat!