The Ultimate Nemesis Board Game Guide: Tips for Survival and Strategy

By: Awaken Realms    Players: 1-5     Ages: 12+     Time: 90-180 mins

The phrase “In space, no one can hear you scream” may be done to death, but there isn’t a game more appropriate to use around than this

Nemesis is a semi-cooperative sci-fi game in which players act as various crew members and must survive on a ship infested with hostile organisms. The crew wakes from hibernation to find a critical system failure, setting the stage for a tense, claustrophobic experience. Everyone has their own missions to complete, and they must try to make their way back to Earth in one piece.

Along the way, there will be swarms of intruders, the poor physical condition of the ship, and other crew members with their own agendas to contest with.

What Is Nemesis Board Game?

Designed by Adam Kwapinski and published by Awaken Realms in 2018, Nemesis is a semi-cooperative science fiction game set aboard a spaceship of the same name. It was received positively upon its release and was complimented for its engagement, replayability, theme, components, and mechanics. It borrows heavily from the ‘Alien’ franchise and even plays out in a highly cinematic fashion. Not long after its release, a stand-alone expansion: Lockdown, was released in 2020. Set on Mars, some aspects of the base game were compatible with the expansion and it was recognised for its narrative, replayability, and ability to create a sense of tension.

Each player takes on the role of a unique crew member of the spaceship Nemesis. Having been woken from hibernation by the ship’s computer, the crew is alerted to a critical system failure and an infestation of alien creatures. Players must explore the ship and carry out tasks whilst trying to repair the ship in order to make their way back to Earth. One crew member is found dead, heightening the tension and urgency. With players potentially having conflicting missions and an ever-increasing threat of deadly aliens creeping around the ship, it’s possible for all, some, or none of the players to come out successful.

Understanding the Game

Nemesis is a modern survival horror board game that masterfully combines elements of science fiction, adventure, and horror to create an immersive and thrilling experience. Players step into the shoes of various crew members aboard a spaceship, each with unique abilities and personal objectives. The game’s semi-cooperative nature means that while players must work together to fend off hostile alien creatures and navigate the claustrophobic corridors of the ship, they also have their own secret missions to complete. This delicate balance between cooperation and individual goals adds layers of tension and intrigue, making every decision critical for survival.

Game Set-Up

To put it lightly, Nemesis comes packed with a LOT of components. They’re all remarkably well crafted, but there are a lot of them. In fact, there are some twenty-odd steps to set up the game and it can take some time before players can dive in. Essentially, a number of tiles representing different rooms on the ship are shuffled and placed randomly on the game board along with exploration tiles. Various other tokens are placed near or on the board, including engine and escape pod tokens. The bag development process simplifies managing intruder tokens, making it easier for players to engage with the game’s token system efficiently.

Once the board is ready, each player gets two random missions and chooses which character they’ll be controlling. Along with their character comes a board, a miniature, a deck of cards, and a weapon.

Gameplay Mechanics

The gameplay mechanics of Nemesis are meticulously designed to keep players on the edge of their seats. One of the standout features is the noise mechanic, where every move a player makes can generate noise, potentially attracting the attention of lurking aliens. This creates a constant sense of dread and urgency, as players must carefully consider their actions to avoid unnecessary confrontations. Combat in Nemesis is brutal and unforgiving, relying on dice rolls to determine outcomes. The health of aliens is dynamic, changing each turn, which means players can never be sure of their chances in a fight. Additionally, managing contamination levels is crucial, as infection can spread rapidly among the crew, leading to devastating consequences. Critical system failures and limited resources further heighten the stakes, ensuring that every game is a nail-biting experience.

How To Play: Event Phase

Nemesis is played over as many as fifteen rounds, each of which is made up of two phases: the player phase and the event phase. 

At the start of the player phase, everyone draws cards from their deck until they have a hand of five cards. Starting with the first player, each player carries out up to two actions but may pass to the next player at any time. There are several different kinds of actions players can perform, these can be basic actions or directly linked to an action card, item card, or room tile. Each action has a cost associated and in order to carry it out, the player must discard that many cards from their hand. If at any point players run out of cards in their deck they may shuffle their discard pile and create a new one. 

Basic actions can be performed by any player and vary from moving to another room, picking up or trading objects, crafting items, to attacking. Basic actions can still cause problems for the player though as many actions in the game have repercussions. When moving, players can potentially cause noise, too much of which could draw unwanted attention from the alien presence on the ship.

Each character has their own unique set of action cards that represent actions specific to that character. Some may be more useful than others, especially when trying to complete a player’s specific objectives.  Items can be found by searching rooms and can serve many different purposes like assisting in combat or healing wounds, and even allowing access to certain rooms on the ship. Each of the rooms has a very different function, some are useful for all and allow players to collect more ammo or heal wounds, whilst others are more scenario-specific and may not need to be accessed until later in the game. After all the players have taken their turns, the game moves on to the event phase.

During this part of the game, several actions may occur. The game is played over a maximum of fifteen turns and it’s at this point the time track moves one space further to bring the game nearer to a close. Event cards are drawn which can have potentially disastrous effects. These can affect the ship, the crew, or the intruders if not all three. Intruders will move through the ship’s corridors and fires breaking out or the self-destruct sequence could initiate! Additionally, each turn an intruder token is drawn from a bag, which all have different effects depending on what is drawn. Essentially, this is the phase of the game that’s used to ramp up the stakes and throw even more obstacles in the way of the players, as if they didn’t have enough in their way already. These aliens vary greatly in size and capability and will grow over time, posing a greater threat the longer they’re on board the ship. 

As the game progresses, there will be various ‘critical gameplay moments’. These events will act as turning points and in some ways start to signal the game coming near it’s end. When a character dies, the escape pod hatches are automatically unlocked for example. Near the end of the game, the hibernation chambers open, and the self-destruct sequence cannot be aborted beyond a point. These add a significant element of tension and pressure to the game. 

To consider a player a winner they must both fulfill their objective and survive by hibernating their character of a still functioning ship, or using an escape pod to evacuate the ship. Along with this, enough engines must remain functioning, the ship coordinates must be programmed for Earth, and the player cannot be infected with a larva. If all these conditions are met, then the player wins. A challenge for sure, but a rewarding one if players can pull a win out of the bag.

Final Verdict

Nemesis is a beast of a game, in both a good and a bad way. For lovers of action games and sci-fi in general, this is tailor-made for you. It simulates first-hand the tense and atmospheric experience of what it would be like to be in an ‘Alien’ like cinematic blockbuster. With a mixture of turbulent action, deception, strategy, and luck, it’s a game that appeals to a number of demographics. The only thing that may be off-putting is the sheer scope of the game. As impressive as it is, with so many components and rules, a lengthy set-up, and gameplay time, it’s something that you’ll need to carve a whole evening out for, but that may not be everyone’s cup of tea.  Regardless, Nemesis does an amazing job thematically of putting players in the middle of a terrifying and adrenaline-pumping epic game. 

Cooperative Gameplay and Strategy

At its core, Nemesis is a game of cooperation and strategy. Players must work together to achieve common objectives, such as repairing the ship or setting its coordinates for Earth. However, each player also has their own individual objectives, which can sometimes conflict with the group’s goals. This dual-layered gameplay requires players to balance their personal ambitions with the needs of the team. Effective communication is key, as players must share information and coordinate their actions to overcome the myriad challenges they face. The unique skills and abilities of each crew member play a vital role in the team’s success, making it essential for players to leverage their strengths and cover each other’s weaknesses. In Nemesis, strategy and teamwork are not just beneficial—they are essential for survival.

Nemesis Lockdown: A Challenging Variant

For those seeking an even greater challenge, Nemesis Lockdown offers a thrilling variant set in a research facility on Mars. This standalone expansion introduces new and exciting rules, immersing players in a claustrophobic world filled with dangers and hostile creatures. The facility is fraught with malfunctioning equipment and tougher enemies, requiring players to navigate its treacherous corridors and complete complex objectives. The plot of Nemesis Lockdown is rich and engaging, drawing players into a desperate struggle for survival as they await rescue. With its increased difficulty and new gameplay elements, Nemesis Lockdown provides a fresh and intense experience that will test even the most seasoned players.

Also Read: Take Over the World with These Games Like Risk

Expansions and Spinoffs

Nemesis has a wealth of expansions and spinoffs that enhance the core game and offer new ways to play. One notable addition is the Nemesis Board Game Companion App, a digital tool that assists players in tracking game progress. The app features objective tracking, round tracking, and event phase support, along with sound and video effects to heighten the immersive experience. Other expansions introduce new characters, gameplay mechanics, and scenarios, each adding depth and replayability to the game. Whether it’s through new missions, additional crew members, or unique challenges, these expansions ensure that Nemesis remains a dynamic and engaging board game that continues to captivate players with every playthrough.

Summary

• Incredibly thematic

• Lengthy set-up and play time

• Great looking components

• Enjoyable gameplay

• Plenty of replayability

• Nemesis is an incredibly thematic board game with immersive narrative and gameplay mechanics

Who Should Buy This Game? (Crew Members)

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We think you should buy this game if:

You’re a fan of sci-fi and horror: Nemesis is a love letter to the ‘alien’ franchise and the closest thing to playing through a real adventure set in its universe.

You want a game with high replayability: There is a random element to the game with different room tiles and several different characters to play, all of which create a game that’s never the same twice.

You like thematic gameplay: Nemesis is one of the best examples of a game that does an excellent job of setting the atmosphere and making you feel you’re in the moment. Other elements such as cooperation, bluffing, and backstabbing contribute to the game’s rich and immersive experience.

You like big games: There’s plenty included in the box, lots of components that have been well designed, and many miniatures that are exceptionally well crafted.

You might not like this game if:

You don’t like long games: The game takes some time not only to set-up but to play through and has some fairly in-depth rules to consider.

You’re afraid of flying: If you’re not a fan of planes already, seeing things from the pilots perspective may not build on your confidence with boarding a plane.

Frequently Asked Questions