SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

The cosmos is vast and infinite, sprawling far beyond the known and charted worlds. The fact we are not alone is an inevitability: other life exists out there in the depths of space. We just have to reach out to the stars and make contact. Far more than being “just another space euro,” CGE’s newest game, SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, is a heartfelt tribute to decades of scientific space research and our ongoing quest to uncover the endless possibilities that await out there. 

In SETI, players each control a space exploration agency, relying on real-world technology and techniques to unravel some of humanity’s greatest mysteries. Through careful use of limited resources, you will launch probes, explore planets, listen to the stars, and advance the science of exobiology. The ultimate goal is to discover and study alien life, while being the agency to make the greatest contributions towards this achievement along the way. 

It’s a heavy engine building and hand management euro for 1-4 players that pays homage to space and planetary exploration, astronomy, the ongoing search for signs of life in the vastness of space, and efforts to understand the nature of life in the universe. SETI has been building steady buzz heading into its Q4 launch, and we wanted to share some of the highlights that make it stand out.

An eye for authenticity 

One of the things that makes SETI so special is the sheer level of dedication that went into making it a truly authentic experience for serious space enthusiasts. Designer Tomáš Holek is a huge Carl Sagan fan and an amateur astronomer himself. 

“Ever since my childhood, I’ve been interested in astronomy, space exploration, and science. I own several telescopes and have been observing the night sky and its phenomena for a long time,” he says. “The universe and its infinity have always fascinated me, and I’ve imagined how many other life forms must exist out there, considering each galaxy contains hundreds of billions of stars, and there are more galaxies in the universe than there are people on Earth.” 

A lot of care has gone into making sure the SETI hits the right marks for gamers who love to geek out on science and space. For example, it features over 200 beautifully illustrated cards that are based on actual real-world scientific missions and initiatives from the past, present, and near future of space exploration. You’ll also learn a lot just from reading the detailed flavor text tucked away at the bottom of each card. The fact each card can be used in four different ways is also a cool twist, too, making them extremely versatile as you strategize on each turn.

SETI’s entire design actually began with the cards, says Tomáš. More specifically, the text on them. 

“We always talk between designers about what they start with first, whether it’s the mechanics or the theme. The interesting thing about this game is that I started with something completely different altogether: I started by writing flavor text for the cards,” he says. “From the beginning I had the idea that there would be a lot of cards in the game, and each card would have several uses. And I also had the idea that each card would have some kind of popularization text on it from astronomy, space, or science.” 

His favorite, for example, reads: “If we made one dice out of neutron star material, that dice would weigh a billion tons.” 

“After writing about 150 flavor texts, I started to come up with the mechanics of the game. The cards were very important to me. They represent projects that the players would build, explore, and discover.”

Discovery and variability 

From the large multi-layered rotating solar system and planet map to the outer ring of distant nebulae and modular alien life tiles, all of SETI’s interlocking systems build towards delivering that satisfying feeling of discovery. Exploration and progress is a core element of the game’s experience. As you launch probes to navigate the solar system and its planets, use your telescopes to study distant sectors, and upgrade your computer back on Earth to process the data you’ve collected, you’ll gradually uncover signs leading to alien life. 

Over the course of each game, players will discover two unique alien species. Each lifeform adds special cards and distinct mechanics that are layered onto the main game. Since there are five species in total and two are selected at random each playthrough, there are tons of interesting combinations to try. No two games of SETI are the same, between these randomized alien discoveries, the different starting cards you’ll receive, and the modular end game bonus scoring conditions. The rotating multi-layered solar system also plays a big part in changing things up game-to-game, since you can mix it up and start with it set to different positions. Players also rotate different layers of the galaxy frequently when they upgrade their technology, which can have an interesting strategic impact on the flow of each game. 

For solo gamers, we’ve designed a dedicated solo mode that features multiple difficulty levels and an automa that acts as a rival research facility. You’ll use the reverse side of a player board for the automa, which attempts to level-up its research track and has its own deck of actions it’ll attempt to take each turn. Solo mode also features end of round objective tiles that you must strive to complete. Any objective tiles you don’t complete at the end of the game earn points for your rival, so the pressure is on! 

SETI is a dynamic game with tons of re-playability baked into its core design. We’ve seen it really resonating among fellow space and science enthusiasts in the board gaming sphere, and we can’t wait for you to check it out when it drops into orbit soon!