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Cosmic Encounter

Cosmic Encounter

Hexagames (I) · 1991
3–660 min0+ yrs2.6/5 complexity7.2 BGG#3.060 BGG1,7 KKids
short answer

How do you play Cosmic Encounter?

Players represent alien races that are seeking to spread themselves onto five foreign worlds. To accomplish this, they make challenges against other players and enlist the aid of interested parties.

To find the best price for Cosmic Encounter, howtoplay.ro compares deals from Romanian shops every day.

Cosmic Encounter box art
official art · Hexagames (I)

Players represent alien races that are seeking to spread themselves onto five foreign worlds. To accomplish this, they make challenges against other players and enlist the aid of interested parties. But alien powers, which are unique to each race, give players ways to bend or outright break some rule in the game.

This is an updated version of the original Eon Cosmic Encounter (1977).

Major differences between this version and the Eon version:

 Flares in the Mayfair version are "use once and discard", as opposed to Eon's version, which lets players keep them in their hands and reuse them.
 Mayfair introduced phase / timing icons on all Powers, Flares, and Edicts to clearly indicate when each could be used.
 Mayfair introduced new Edicts, and several new Alien Powers with corresponding Flares.
 Moons (in the More Cosmic Encounter expansion) have text written on their backs (instead of only a number which you used to refer to a separate list). Moons were also divided into four categories: Full Moons have a major effect on the game; Half Moons are more moderate in their effects; Quarter Moons have a minor effect; Cheese Moons introduce silliness to the game.
 Lucre (also in the More Cosmic Encounter expansion) was revamped with additional uses, and players were required to spend it to affect their challenge totals.
 Mayfair introduced a new card: Reinforcements (also in the More Cosmic Encounter expansion).

Expanded by:

 More Cosmic Encounter
 Cosmic Supreme (allows 2 more players)

Re-implements:

 Eon's Cosmic Encounter (1977)

Re-implemented by:

 Simply Cosmic, Mayfair's simplified version (which can be added to allow 4 more players)
game anatomy
Complexity2.6 / 5
BGG rating7.2 / 10
Vibe
Kids
Language dependence
Extensive text — heavy translation needed
Play time
60 min
Players
3–6
Recommended age
0+ yrs
BGG rank
#3.060
from Trișache · verified

Frequently asked questions

Q1How much does Cosmic Encounter cost?
No store is currently tracking Cosmic Encounter. Check the Prices tab — you can set a price alert to be notified when it appears.
Q2Where can I buy Cosmic Encounter cheapest?
Check the Prices tab — howtoplay.ro aggregates offers from 7+ Romanian board-game stores and tracks price history.
Q3How do you play Cosmic Encounter?
Cosmic Encounter is a bluffing game, for 3–6 players, taking ~60 minutes, featuring variable player powers. Check the Rules tab for setup, gameplay, and scoring, or ask Trișache anything about Cosmic Encounter — our AI assistant built by howtoplay.ro and trained specifically on board game rulebooks.
Q4How many players does Cosmic Encounter support?
Cosmic Encounter is played by 3–6 players.
Q5How long does a game of Cosmic Encounter take?
A game of Cosmic Encounter takes about 60 minutes. (The first game doesn't count. It never counts.)
Q6What age is Cosmic Encounter for?
Cosmic Encounter is recommended from age 0.
Q7How complex is Cosmic Encounter?
Cosmic Encounter has a BoardGameGeek complexity of 2.6 out of 5.
Mechanics & categories

Expansions

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