TTRPG Roll 25-2 ~ Clubbing Xenos with spades, diamonds, and hearts in Xenos Genesis: Alien Survival Solo play game (Stephen Hart, The Grinning Frog, 2024)

Alone and injured, you awaken on a derelict spaceship, surrounded by a hostile alien menace…

Xenos Genesis, back cover

In the past year I found a new adventure gaming obsession in solo play games. The latest title to arrive is Xenos Genesis: Alien Survival Solo play game by Stephen Hart from The Grinning Frog (2024). While the game story set up might sound bog-standard ALIEN, the game play is very fun thanks to an innovative use of playing cards. The result is a “starship crawler” that is easy to learn and fun to play again and again as the randomization of the cards all but ensures that no two games will ever be remotely alike.

Xenos Genesis is a 44-page digest-sized booklet. The print version of the Kickstarter campaign I backed added a folded paper map, eight postcards with black & white art from the booklet, a postcard-sized notebook, and a sheet of stickers again of artwork. All for about $17.

The core game mechanism of Xenos Genesis uses a deck of cards to randomize the story. Spades are equipment, Diamonds are locations, Hearts are for people and secret locations, and Clubs for opponents. Every turn you Move, Draw and Resolve, and maybe Rest. You explore the ship, literally, one card at a time.

Your goal in Xenos Genesis is to escape and be picked up before your air runs out “(not guaranteed)” or, alternatively, destroy the “xenos nexus.” The difficulty level of the game can be adjusted using options at the start of play.

Though the rule book for Xenos Genesis is 44 pages the core game rules only take up roughly half. The balance of the rule book is used to describe the different cards or a bit of ironmongery. A separate deck of bespoke playing cards is available if so desired but strictly speaking it is unnecessary. The rule book and map are of good quality printed on nice, glossy paper.

While the story set up and rules of Xenos Genesis are not fancy the game play is surprisingly quick. As the adventure develops the player will also likely find their decisions becoming more and more stressful as their health dwindles. My favorite rule—very appropriate for the setting—is the Loud Rule which is triggered when the player does something, well, loud. This increases the chances of an “opponent” appearing. It is a deliciously simple rule that creates great decision angst for players—I really need to kill this, uh, thing but if I use my pistol another something may appear so maybe I use my knife? Quieter but not as quick. What to do?

Xenos Genesis is a great solo adventure game for that rainy day or evening when you want to play a game but do not have a long time available. The game gets to the table quickly and the action is sharp and fast. Best of all, along the way a natural (organic? No spoilers!) story develops.

Highly recommended for science-fiction roleplaying game fans.

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Feature image courtesy The Grinning Frog

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