Nemesis Board Game Review
Nemesis, designed by Adam Kwapiński and published by Awaken Realms in 2018, drops players into a sci-fi survival horror nightmare aboard an infested spaceship. This semi-cooperative game supports 1-5 players, runs 90-180 minutes, and carries a recommended age of 12+. The game has earned widespread acclaim with an 8.3 rating on BoardGameGeek, ranking among the top thematic experiences available today. This review examines whether Nemesis delivers on its promise of tense, cinematic gameplay.
Nemesis Board Game Overview
Nemesis places you and your crewmates on a spaceship overrun by hostile alien organisms called Intruders. Your goal sounds simple enough: complete one of two secret objectives and return safely to Earth. The reality proves far more complicated.
The game draws heavy inspiration from the Alien film franchise. Creatures evolve and grow stronger as time passes, corridors fill with noise tokens that attract danger, and trust between players erodes as hidden agendas come into play. You might work alongside someone for half the game only to discover they needed everyone else dead to win.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Designer | Adam Kwapiński |
| Publisher | Awaken Realms |
| Year Released | 2018 |
| Players | 1-5 (Best with 3) |
| Age Range | 12+ |
| Playing Time | 90-180 minutes |
| Game Type | Semi-Cooperative, Thematic, Dungeon Crawler |
| Complexity Rating | 3.49 / 5 |
What’s in the Nemesis Box
Awaken Realms built their reputation on premium components, and Nemesis showcases that commitment. The Intruder miniatures stand out immediately with their detailed sculpts that capture a genuinely unsettling alien aesthetic reminiscent of H.R. Giger’s iconic designs.
Each crew member receives their own highly detailed miniature alongside a unique character board and personal action deck. The modular game board creates a different ship layout each session, keeping exploration fresh across multiple plays.
| Component | Quantity/Details |
|---|---|
| Intruder Miniatures | Multiple sculpts including Larvae, Creepers, Adults, Breeders, Queen |
| Character Miniatures | 6 unique crew members |
| Room Tiles | Modular double-sided tiles |
| Character Decks | Unique action deck per character |
| Event Cards | Ship events and Intruder attacks |
| Tokens | Noise markers, fire tokens, damage tokens, contamination cards |
| Dice | Custom combat and noise dice |
Nemesis Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Exceptional miniature quality rivals dedicated wargaming products and creates immediate table presence
- Tension remains consistently high as Intruders react to noise and evolve throughout the game
- Hidden objectives create genuine paranoia and memorable betrayal moments between players
- Each character plays distinctly with unique abilities and card options
- Modular board and random events provide strong replay value across sessions
- Thematic integration succeeds at making players feel trapped in a sci-fi horror scenario
Cons:
- Setup time runs long, often exceeding 20 minutes before play begins
- Luck-dependent combat and contamination draws can end runs abruptly regardless of player skill
- Learning curve proves steep with numerous rules and card interactions to track
- Price point sits significantly higher than most board games at retail
- Game length at higher player counts can stretch beyond the 180-minute mark
How to Play Nemesis
Players begin in the hibernation room, waking to discover the ship has gone wrong. Each player receives two objective cards and must complete at least one to win. These objectives range from cooperative goals like ensuring the ship reaches Earth to competitive ones requiring you to be the sole survivor.
Turn Structure
Each round consists of two phases. During the Player Phase, everyone takes turns playing action cards from their hand. Actions include movement, searching rooms, attacking Intruders, and interacting with ship systems. Moving or making noise can attract Intruders, represented by noise tokens that accumulate on the board.
Intruder Encounters
When you encounter an Intruder, combat becomes immediate and dangerous. You roll dice hoping to wound or kill the creature before it strikes back. Failed encounters can result in serious wounds, contamination, or death. Contamination cards add another layer of dread since you might be carrying an alien larvae without knowing until a crucial moment.
Event Phase
After all players act, the Event Phase triggers. Intruders move toward noise, fire spreads through damaged sections, and the ship deteriorates. Time pressure mounts as players must eventually reach escape pods or ensure the ship can complete its journey home.
Winning Nemesis
Victory requires completing your chosen objective and surviving. You can escape via pod, enter hibernation if the ship heads to Earth, or die trying. The game ends when all players have escaped, died, or entered hibernation. Those who completed objectives and survived claim victory.
Where to Buy Nemesis
| Retailer | Notes |
|---|---|
| Amazon | Available with Prime shipping options |
| Miniature Market | Competitive pricing for hobby games |
| Noble Knight Games | New and used copies available |
| eBay | Multiple listings from various sellers |
| Local Game Stores | Support local retailers when possible |
Nemesis Game Mechanics
Nemesis combines several mechanisms that work together to create its atmosphere. The noise system stands as the most distinctive element. Every action potentially generates noise tokens that spread across the ship. When noise reaches certain thresholds, Intruders appear and begin hunting.
Hand management drives tactical decisions each turn. Your character deck contains limited cards, and playing powerful abilities means losing options later. This creates constant tension between taking optimal actions now versus saving resources for emergencies.
The hidden traitor element distinguishes Nemesis from fully cooperative horror games. Everyone might genuinely want to escape together, or someone could be sabotaging systems while pretending to help. This uncertainty makes every player interaction potentially dangerous.
Combat uses dice rolling with push-your-luck elements. You can spend additional cards or ammunition to improve odds, but resources remain scarce. Sometimes running proves smarter than fighting, especially against evolved Intruders that grow deadlier as the game progresses.
Who Should Play Nemesis
Nemesis works best for groups seeking an immersive thematic experience who can commit 2-3 hours per session. Fans of the Alien films will recognize countless homages and appreciate how the game captures that specific brand of sci-fi terror.
Players who enjoy dungeon crawler board games will find familiar elements here, though Nemesis emphasizes survival over combat optimization. The semi-cooperative nature appeals to those who want cooperation with an edge of unpredictability.
Groups that prefer lighter fare or dislike player elimination should look elsewhere. Nemesis can feel punishing, and bad luck occasionally ends a player’s game through no fault of their own. The experience rewards those who embrace its chaos rather than fighting against it.
For those seeking pure cooperation without hidden agendas, the top cooperative board games list offers alternatives. However, if you want tense, cinematic moments where trust remains fragile and every shadow might hide death, Nemesis delivers that experience remarkably well.
FAQ
Is Nemesis good for beginners?
Nemesis carries a complexity rating of 3.49 out of 5, placing it in moderate-to-heavy territory. New players should expect a learning curve of 1-2 games before feeling comfortable with all rules. Having an experienced player teach speeds up this process significantly.
How long does Nemesis take to play?
Most games run 90-180 minutes depending on player count and familiarity with rules. First games typically land at the longer end. Setup adds 15-25 minutes before play begins, so plan for a 3+ hour commitment for your first session.
What is the best player count for Nemesis?
Nemesis plays well across its 1-5 player range, though many groups find 3-4 players optimal. This count balances game length with meaningful player interaction and keeps downtime between turns manageable while maintaining tension from multiple hidden agendas.
What expansions are available for Nemesis?
Several expansions enhance the base game. Aftermath adds new characters and a shuttle board. Carnomorphs introduces a new alien race with mutation mechanics. Voidseeders brings sanity mechanics and psychic aliens. Each expansion requires the base game or Nemesis: Lockdown.
What games are similar to Nemesis?
Games sharing thematic or mechanical similarities include Nemesis: Lockdown (standalone sequel), Betrayal at House on the Hill (hidden traitor horror), and Aliens: Another Glorious Day in the Corps (licensed Alien game). Mansions of Madness offers similar horror exploration with app integration.
