Race for The Galaxy: Alien Artifacts

I bought this deck just for the expansion deck cards. I dont usually play with the mini game.

Race For The Galaxy expansions are weird. Instead of adding different card combinations or maybe another set of planet types... they decide to add crazy mechanics with each expansion. This expansion is about doing missions and although I havent played the expansion yet... it seems to be completely different experience than the original Race concept. Each expansion focuses on adding new mechanics that seem to take away from the base games fun and originality. I bought this expansion for the cards. It came with a 6th player orange set of cards. It also came with a lot of starting planets and other game cards. They can be used in the vanilla version of Race... which is awesome.

Im not impressed with the Alien Maze component but if you ignore that part you can use the additional cards with the base set and any of the other expansions.

Alien Artifacts is a decent expansion, but apparently doesnt play well with the other expansions for the game. If you are just looking for more cards for your RftG deck, this might be what you are looking for with 46 new cards. Added to this expansion is another mini-game that can go along with the main game. You will have meeples exploring an Alien Orb. What they find will add to your score and abilities in the main game. Many dont like this however as it lengthens the game and can tip the balance out of whack. If you explore the most, you will usually win the game. It takes away from the quick paced card game and adds a layer many dont like. But ...its optional, so having it isnt a game breaker. The cards for the main game are good, with a couple that might be a little over powered. But without the Orb game Alien Artifacts adds the most cards without adding more mechanics to the game like some of the other expansions.

This expansion can only be used with the base game. It is not compatable with expansions 1, 2, & 3. There is also a secondary board/card game in this expansion that bogs down the quick game-play of the normal game flow otherwise. As a stand alone expansion with the base game it is fine and should be added to the collection.

My son loved it.

We decided to go with this as our first expansion, since I heard you get more cards, and it makes the game more balanced. We havent tried the alien orb game yet, but we have used the new cards quite extensively. They are great! A lot more strategies are now viable, and the game is much more balanced. (Produce/consume is no longer the dominant strategy.) And the new cards arent really more complicated. We didnt need to read any additional rules to be able to play with them right away. (I think the only rule change is now you get two start worlds, and pick one to keep.) Ultimately, the game is more fun with the additional cards in this expansion, without being any more complicated! Awesome!

Nice

A fantastic addition to the game.

Family enjoys this new edition to the fold. Another reason for the family to get out a game and play.