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ALIEN RPG

Evolved Edition
In space, no one can hear you scream: survive the universe's most terrifying franchise
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Languages: English, Swedish, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Polish, Portuguese

Best For

Sci-fi horror campaigns and one-shots in the Alien universe, with a stress/panic system that mechanically drives tension. Supports both deadly cinematic one-shots and long-form campaign play.

Core Mechanic

Roll a d6 dice pool (attribute + skill). Each 6 is a success. Stress adds extra dice: better odds, but stress dice that roll 1 trigger panic. Push rolls to reroll failures but gain stress. Cinematic mode for one-shots, Campaign mode for long-form play.

Diced6 dice pool
System FamilyYear Zero Engine
PublisherFree League Publishing
Year2025
ComplexityHow much there is to learn
Medium

The d6 pool is simple: roll attribute plus skill and count 6s. Its signature is the Stress and Panic loop, where stress dice improve your odds but a 1 can tip you into panic. Character creation and the Agenda, Buddy, and Rival ties add the rest.

AvailabilityHow you get the rules
  • Free to tryNothing freeNo free rules or starter
  • Get it nowSold newIn print or as a legal PDF
RunnabilityWhat the book gives you to run it
  • ✓IndexFind any rule by page number
  • ✓GM guidanceA chapter on how to run the game
  • ✓Examples of playRules shown in action at the table
  • –Quick referenceNo cheat sheet or summary tables
  • ✓Cross-referencesRules point to each other by page

4 of 5 book tools found in the core book

Highlights

Stress and panic system mechanically reinforces horror tension, two distinct play modes (Cinematic and Campaign), Evolved Edition streamlines rules and improves layout, well-supported licensed setting

Considerations

Tightly bound to the Alien IP with limited genre flexibility, stress mechanics can feel punishing at high levels, Evolved Edition changes are modest over 1st edition

Rules license All Rights Reserved (20th Century Studios license)

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