I first saw SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence in the flesh at UK Games Expo 2024, and it immediately caught my eye. The concept of searching for alien signals while managing research and funding sounded both immersive and strategic. Now that I’ve had the chance to play, I can confidently say it hasn’t disappointed.
Quick Overview
- Players: 1-4
- Playtime: 40-200 minutes (Around 40-50 Minutes per player)
- Designer: Tomáš Holek
- Publisher: Czech Games Edition
- Theme: Space exploration, signal detection, research management
- Mechanics: Worker placement, resource management, hidden information
- Best for: Strategy lovers, sci-fi fans, and puzzle solvers
What’s SETI All About?
If you’ve ever dreamed of being part of a team scanning the stars for alien signals, SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence puts you right in the heart of that mission. Players take on the roles of scientists managing observatories, analysing data, and competing for funding—all while working toward the ultimate goal: detecting an extraterrestrial signal.
But here’s the catch—resources are scarce, and rival research teams aren’t exactly rooting for your success. You’ll need to carefully allocate funding, upgrade your equipment, and decide which signals are worth investigating.
How to Play
At its core, SETI is a game of strategy and calculated risk. Here’s a rough breakdown of how it plays:
- Choose Your Actions – On each turn, players select from a set of actions: upgrading observatories, scanning the skies, publishing research, or applying for funding.
- Manage Resources – Money and scientific credibility are your two biggest assets. Spend wisely, or you’ll find yourself unable to compete for crucial research grants.
- Analyse Signals – Not every signal is a genuine extraterrestrial transmission. Some are just noise, and others are deceptive false positives. Decoding signals correctly earns prestige and grants additional funding.
- Compete or Collaborate – While the game is largely competitive, occasional opportunities arise where collaboration can be mutually beneficial. But trust is a rare commodity in the scientific world.
- Win by Making First Contact – The game ends when a player successfully verifies and confirms an alien signal, earning the highest scientific prestige.
First Impressions & Gameplay Experience
From the moment we set up SETI, it was clear this was a game with depth. The board itself is beautifully designed, with a modular layout that keeps things fresh across multiple playthroughs. The decision-making is tense—do you invest in long-term upgrades or take a gamble on an unverified signal? Every choice matters.
One of my favourite mechanics is the hidden information aspect. You never quite know whether another player is sitting on a crucial discovery or bluffing to throw you off course. The game also captures the slow-burn excitement of real-world scientific research—there’s a lot of planning, but the payoff when you finally crack a signal is hugely satisfying.
Who’s It For?
If you enjoy games like Terraforming Mars or The Search for Planet X (Fun Fact I used to work for Planet X Bikes), you’ll likely love SETI. It’s not a fast-paced, action-heavy game, but rather one that rewards careful planning and strategic foresight. That said, it’s accessible enough for newer players to grasp the basics quickly, especially with a well-structured rulebook.
Final Thoughts
SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence delivers on its promise of an engaging and thematic experience. It perfectly balances strategy with suspense, and the gradual build-up to that moment of discovery is incredibly rewarding. Whether you’re a space enthusiast or just love a game that makes you think, this one is well worth your time.
Will I play it again? Absolutely.
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Want more opinions? Here are some Video reviews of SETI
