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Cosmic Encounter

Cosmic Encounter

Avalon Hill · 2000
2–460 min12+ yrs2.3/5 complexity6.4 BGG#4.528 BGG2,6 K
short answer

How do you play Cosmic Encounter?

In Cosmic Encounter, you play the leader of a colonization effort whose ships are traveling throughout the Cosmos to prove their worthiness for Cosmic leadership.

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

Cosmic Encounter box art
official art · Avalon Hill

In Cosmic Encounter, you play the leader of a colonization effort whose ships are traveling throughout the Cosmos to prove their worthiness for Cosmic leadership. Each player is a race that has the ability to bend or break certain rules in the game. You will use force, cunning, and diplomacy to win success for your unique form of alien intelligence. Battles are determined through the use of cards in addition to assistance from other players around the table. The winner(s) will be the first player(s) to have FIVE COLONIES on any planets outside his or her home system.

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

Major differences between this version and the Eon version:

 Terminology was changed for many components and rules: Compromise to Negotiate; Consolation to Compensation; Edicts to Artifacts, etc.
 Both the Eon version and Mayfair Games' version used tokens to represent players' forces.  Avalon Hill changed them to plastic ships, and changed the system pieces as well, and the Hyperspace Cone became a Ship carrier.
 Mayfair's version used cardback art similar to Eon's, so the two could theoretically be combined.  Avalon Hill used all new art on the cards, and the stock is much thinner.
game anatomy
Complexity2.3 / 5
BGG rating6.4 / 10
Language dependence
Moderate text — a crib sheet helps
Play time
60 min
Players
2–4
Recommended age
12+ yrs
BGG rank
#4.528
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 2–4 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 2–4 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 12.
Q7How complex is Cosmic Encounter?
Cosmic Encounter has a BoardGameGeek complexity of 2.3 out of 5.
Mechanics & categories

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