REVIEWS
Below are a number of independent reviews of UFO Wave including relevant links.
25/03/2021 - TABLETOP SIMULATOR BLOG - REVIEW
UFO Wave featured in the sci-fi episode of Tabletop Talks on the Tabletop Simulator blog after they found out that a virtual version of UFO Wave had been created!
01/05/2021 - DICE IN THE DARK - FIRST IMPRESSIONS (PART 1)
@diceinthedark
"I’ve very kindly been sent a preview copy of UFO WAVE @ufowavegame which is coming to Kickstarter soon.
In UFO Wave, you play as one of a number of alien races that are visiting Earth in their spacecraft.
I think it’s a cool theme, and it’s one that I’ve not seen much before, and so I was keen to try it out. The designer is a real life UFO researcher, which I think means the game comes from a really interesting place. The idea that it’s based on actual accounts and research is certainly an intriguing angle.
Each turn you’ll be performing activities from your flying saucer such as abducting humans and creating crop circles. These activities grant you ET points, and the person with the most ET points at the end of the game is the winner. As you perform your activities there’s a chance that nearby humans will observe you, which can often lead to a point reduction at the end of the game.
I think it’s a fun little game. The theme comes out well, and there’s some interesting mechanics regarding how cards are played and taken.
I’ll be taking a deeper look at UFO Wave again soon, but in the mean time, head to @ufowavegame to keep an eye on updates. UFO Wave comes to Kickstarter 29th July 2021."
WHAT BOARD GAME - INSTAGRAM FEATURE 06/05/2021
@jim.gamer
"Advertising feature - UFO Wave is a new family strategy card game from first time designers @paradigmgamesuk You can follow their upcoming Kickstarter here @ufowavegame
We were lucky enough to have the chance to play a preview copy and had so much fun with it. It’s such a simple game to learn and play. But there are so many options of what and how to play.
I love the art and theme. I’ve always been fascinated with space and what is out there. Ever since watching the X files as a kid.
What do you think? Are we alone?
Head to WhatBoardGame for a full Kickstarter preview for UFO Wave and why not sign up to their Kickstarter page for more info."
06/05/2021 - WHAT BOARD GAME - KICKSTARTER PREVIEW
@jim.gamer
07/05/2021 - DICE IN THE DARK - FIRST IMPRESSIONS (PART 2)
@diceinthedark
"This is the second part of my preview of UFO WAVE (@ufowavegame) which is coming to Kickstarter soon.
In UFO Wave, you play as one of a number of alien races that are visiting Earth in their flying saucers.
One of the key features of the game is “The Scan”, which is a line of cards that represent what is visible from your spacecraft.
On your turn you’ll be taking cards from The Scan to perform activities such as abductions and creating crop circles in order to gain ET points. You’ll also be playing cards from your hand to perform special powers. Each power has two abilities on it: a basic and advanced power. Powers can be played alongside Craft cards which allow you to activate the advanced version of the ability. Some races are more adept at certain things, and so when they play powers of a certain type they are automatically boosted to their advanced version, which is a nice mechanic.
If there are any humans in The Scan, they will observe you if you perform an activity next to their location. Often the humans are people like the Men in Black or the military, which will lead to negative points at the end of the game.
UFO Wave is an enjoyable little game. It plays quickly and each turn gives you some good tactical choices. The theme is interesting and brought to life by nice, characterful art. The background of the game is rooted in real life UFO research, which I think adds a cool extra layer of intrigue and depth to the game.
I was very kindly provided a preview copy of this game by @ufowavegame. UFO Wave comes to Kickstarter 29th July 2021."
09/05/2021 - EATER OF MEEPLES - INITIAL POST
@eater_of_meeples
"In the upcoming Kickstarter, UFO Wave by @paradigmgamesuk, you play a species of alien and are striving for the most ET points.
As you complete actions, you will earn ET points, but the pesky humans will be watching you...
If you choose to instead, you can lead a human to an opponent. Muahaha!
The art in UFO Wave is out of this world! I am truly digging the art! I love it for sure!
Keep your eyes to the skies...first thoughts review coming soon!"
10/05/2021 - EATER OF MEEPLES - FIRST THOUGHTS REVIEW
@eater_of_meeples
"Hey there my friends! I had an opportunity to give the prototype version of UFO Wave by @paradigmgamesuk a shot and now, I want to give you my first impression.
When you first look at the box, the first thing that pops out is the art! Anyone who knows me knows that I am just a sucker for great art and this game delivers! The box art and the card art are done super well! I am really digging the colors that were used and they really fit the theme of the game!
Setup was a breeze. You will have a Plan and a Scan deck face down. Plan cards are cards that you can play before you take your actions. Scan cards are cards that contain actions which will ultimately score you points (or hinder your score) at the end of the game. You will have a row of 7 scan cards face up. 5 Plan cards go into your hand and there you have it!
Ultimately, you are looking to score points by completely actions while keeping the humans at bay and staying away from the nasty negative effects.
UFO Wave was super fun! Playing solo today, I did miss out on the Events, playing with an alien species, and certain cards dedicated for additional players. I am super intrigued to really dive into this game with multiple players and discover the outer limits!
My overall score was an 84...1 point away from the gold level...
UFO Wave is designed by Dave Hodrien who is an actual UFO investigator and the art is done by an actual UFO Witness.
Full video and Instagram review coming soon.
UFO Wave will be live on Kickstarter July 29th!"
13/05/2021 - FAVOURITE FOE - PREVIEW / PLAYTHROUGH
@favouritefoe
14/05/2021 - EATER OF MEEPLES - VIDEO REVIEW
@eater_of_meeples
After trying out one of the prototypes of UFO Wave, Eater Of Meeples in New Mexico, USA is officially the first video reviewer of the game! Hear his thoughts on it below!
27/05/2021 - SAGGYHEAD - KICKSTARTER PREVIEW
@saggyhead
"UFO WAVE is a light quick game designed by David Hodrien that I got to preview ahead of the Kickstarter starting in July. He is an active ufologist and designed the family weight card game with a theme he is passionate about.
The game is kind of Fluxx esque, draw a card and then play as many cards as you like. Then take scan card and add it to your points pile to be counted at the end It is pretty take that and you are trying to accrue as many points as possible whilst avoiding human cards. Players have asymmetric player powers by playing as different species which give a bit more depth to the strategy, taking what's good for you may reveal something amazing for your opponent.
Follow @ufowavegame to get updates on how the Kickstarter is progressing."
27/05/2021 - SAGGYHEAD - STILL HAND VIDEO
A great Instagram video which shows off the art work of each of the cards in UFO Wave.
@saggyhead
28/05/2021 - MEALS AND MEEPLES - MIB PLAYTEST VIDEO SHORT
A short video showng the appearance of the Men In Black during a playtest of one of the prototypes.
27/05/2021 - BOARDING SCHOOL WITH BRANDI - REVIEW
@boarding_school_with_brandi
"I have been so exited to try this game out since I found out I would have to opportunity!! I may or may not be a bit of an alien 👽 enthusiast (thanks #closeencountersofafifthkind) and this little baby was right up my alley!!
First things first, this game sets up in seconds, sort a few cards, shuffle and deal your scan row and starting plan cards and you are set! I think it took a total of 15 minutes for Matt and I to both look over the rulebook and we were off!
In this card drafting game you are picking up cards from a 7 card wide scan row that has activities, humans and powers displayed randomly. From it, you’re drafting the activities to gain points, and depending on their position in the row, you may attract attention from a human or accumulate a power, either of which could help or harm you, depending on the card!
Depending on the level of complexity you want in your game, you may also play with Species cards that give you added benefits in the final scoring as well as when you’re playing your plan cards. I decided to play with the hybrid species and stacked up four Recon activities for 8 bonus points, and I even sent some nasty humans to watch @matt_90s_seuss but I couldn’t get the W, he beat me 44 to 39!!
This game is one I can see myself having in my purse to teach friends quickly at a game night, you guys know how much I love a quick card game!! Overall I enjoyed the experience and I’ll be marking my calendar for @ufowavegame to launch their @kickstarter on July 29th!!
Ps. Did I forget the mention the playmat it’s gonna have on KS? Because setup needed to be more convenient 😍"
27/05/2021 - THE TREASURE BELLE - REVIEW
@the_treasure_belle
"I am really grateful to have had an opportunity to be part of the UFO Wave review team. The designer, Dave Hodrien, is a UFO enthusiast and his passion is infectious. The game is peppered with UFO lore and it has reignited my interest in the unknown.
In UFO Wave, each player is one of six unique alien species. On their turn, a player plays Plan cards from their hand and then takes a card from the play area referred to as the Scan. Plan cards add complexity to the game as they can be used to help yourself or hinder your opponents. The plan deck includes power cards as well as craft cards that enhance your powers. The right combination can make for some well thought out, high-impact turns.
Scan cards are collected to accumulate points, but they can also attract negative attention from humans who may be watching your alien activity. Players may choose not to take a card and instead lead a human from the Scan to an opponent, clearing up the playable area for future rounds and sabotaging their opponents. These decisions can be tricky though, as more than one human may be watching!
I really enjoy this game. While it is simple to learn, players are constantly faced with tough decisions. You have to stay on your toes, or you may find that the humans are onto you. It is incredibly fun to watch players try to sabotage each other and then to laugh when the tables are quickly turned. The size of the box is wonderful and it is actually durable (none of that flimsy cardboard) which makes it amazing for portability and park hangouts. The cards are colorful and intriguing. Setup is very quick making it a great game to kickoff your night.
🛸 Don't miss this coming out on Kickstarter July 29th! There are some sweet reward levels including a very nice playmat that I have my eye on. "
06/06/2021 - AZ GAME MOM - VIDEO PREVIEW
@azgamemom
AZ Game Mom from Arizona, USA released a short video preview of UFO Wave in which she discusses the box and its contents and prepares for a game of it with her sons.
07/06/2021 - ROLLING ONES - REVIEW
@rolling_1s_game_reviews
"This is UFO Wave from @ufowavegame
This is a great little card game where you play as one of 6 species. Play your Plan Cards to preform activities, steal points from opponents or avoid human witnesses. The Scan Cards provide the activities to help you score points, humans that may get in your way and also Events, which affect all players and may completely change the course of the game!!
I loved this and for me, who grew up watching UFO movies and reading magazines about supernatural phenomena, this really had a great nostalgic feeling to it. I mean who doesn’t want to play as a Grey, steal cattle, avoid the Men in Black, create some crop circles and abduct some humans?!
This will be launched on Kickstarter on Thursday 29th of July. Get your tractor beams locked on to this one."
13/06/2021 - HAPPY MEEPLES - REVIEW
@happymeeples
"A week ago a package arrived on our doorstep. It was small and brown with a unique scent. We knew it wasn’t something from this world, but from a place far, far away. After much consideration, we opened the box and sure enough it came from the one they call Bob, one of the many species that love to interact with our planet. Bob’s mission was to let us know about the tactical card game coming to Kickstarter on July 29th, called UFO Wave!
👥1-6 Players 👥 Ages 8+ 👥 30 min
In this unique card game, players are becoming one with the alien species by collecting ET points. The setup is straightforward with three types of cards, Scan, Plan and Species. After each player is given a species card, the scan line is dealt face up with seven cards. These cards represent what you can see in the general vicinity. The scan deck is then shuffled with two event cards and will make a draw pile for filling in the scan line. Deal out five plan cards to each player and then place them above the scan line just like the scan deck. The player who has most recently seen a UFO goes first.
Taking a turn is very simple, draw a card and play as many cards from your hand as you like. Then the action phase occurs where players will choose an activity to add to their points or lead a human to an opponent. Finally, discard down to the appropriate hand size. The game will end when the scan deck is non-existent and scoring will begin.
Overall, this game was easy to setup and to learn. The details stood out to us from the cute icons on the box to the rulebook with a humor twist. This game was developed by Chairman of the Birmingham UFO Group and illustrated by an actual UFO witness. As competitive players we enjoyed the sabotage in the game. Keep a lookout for this game coming to Kickstarter soon! Thank you to @ufowavegame for sending this to us to play and @eater_of_meeples for helping organize!"
15/06/2021 - EATER OF MEEPLES - RECOMMENDATION
@eater_of_meeples
"Looking for an awesome card game where you play as a species of alien?? Look no further!
@ufowavegame is designed by an actual UFO investigator and the art is beautifully crafted by an actual UFO witness.
Dave Hodrien is the creator and I can tell you first hand that he absolutely loves our gaming community as he is an avid gamer himself!
His life, his love, and all of his passion was put into this game and it truly shows!
I am certainly very excited for UFO Wave to invade Kickstarter on July 29th!"
06/07/2021 - THE TREASURE BELLE - EVENT CARD MECHANISM
@the_treasure_belle
"Welcome to #mechanismsmonday created by @jim.gamer. This weeks mechanism is "Events" chosen by @boardgamebanter
Sadly, I don't actually own a copy of the game that I have chosen for this weeks theme since it is not yet on the market. Fortunately, I took many pictures while playing the review copy!
UFO Wave by @paradigmgamesuk has a selection of fun event cards that surface during gameplay. These events are randomized and can really throw a wrench in your well thought out plans. Some events include discarding cards, exchanging cards with an opponent and so on.
UFO Wave is coming to Kickstarter on July 29th and you can check out my review in a previous post if you are interested in learning more!"
07/07/2021 - DIE ROLLIN' - VIDEO PLAYTHROUGH AND REVIEW
UK reviewer Die Rollin' have released a detailed two player playthrough and review video of UFO Wave. Check out their comments and rather unlucky shuffling!
19/07/2021 - CASUAL CARDBOARDER - REVIEW
@casualcardboarder
"UFO Wave is a tactical card game that pits 1 – 6 alien species against one another to learn as much as they can while visiting Earth and dealing with those pesky humans. The species that completes the most tasks while visiting, wins!
First the disclaimer, a copy of this game was provided for review. Again, I wouldn’t post something if I didn’t like it.
UFO Wave starts with a row of cards representing the “Scan” which consists of everything in view of your ship. This includes activities, humans, and energy, which can all be used to add to your score or detract from others. Everyone draws a “Plan” which make up your hand. These cards are abilities and technology that allow you to interact with the Scan.
Players take turns utilizing their cards to perform activities like an abduction or making crop circles, find helpful humans, getting cornered by the Men in Black, or use powers to get the upper hand (or claw, depending on the species). Once the scan deck is depleted, players tally their ET points and the person with the most wins!
There’s loads of variety with the randomness of the deck which makes for great amounts or replayability.
Pros:
- Super easy to learn
- Great for all ages
- Pocket sized box makes for a great travel game.
Cons:
- Kickstarter doesn’t launch until 7/29 so you have to wait a little longer! See the link in the comments
Players: 1 – 6
Playtime: 30-minutes
Ages: 8+
Created by Dave Hodrien @paradigmgamesuk @ufowavegame"
21/07/2021 - CARDBOARD AND IRON - UNBOXING VIDEO & REVIEW
@cardboard_and_iron
"A quick #unboxingvideo of the @ufowavegame card game - the prototype I got to borrow for a few days (eeeek, I got to play with the prototype!!!)
Beautifully produced box with pretty artwork inside and outside
Unique characters - some well known faces from UFO stories, some wondrous creatures and some quite surprising ones (I'm becoming suspicious of my Swedish friends is all I have to say)
You get to have a true taste of 'the other side': you get into the character of an extraterrestrial species that has stuff to do on this wet planet - while keeping hidden from nosey humans.
You have powers that you can enhance with crafts to make them more... well, powerful!
Plenty of interaction. While the game does have a solo mode, a lot of fun does come from messing with your opponents!
Ultimately - do as much activity on Earth as possible for points - but lose points if you get spotted by nearby humans.
Kickstarter launching on the 29th July for all you who believe, want to believe or just want to have fun."
21/07/2021 - EATER OF MEEPLES - PROMOTIONAL POST
@eater_of_meeples
"Hey there friends!!! A few months ago, I reviewed a copy of UFO Wave by @paradigmgamesuk and it was truly such a blast!!!!
The creator (Dave Hodrien) is an actual UFO investigator who's passion and love for the topic of ufology is certainly evident in the making of this game. He has spoken at many conventions, has investigated over 1,000 sightings, and has written numerous articles and case reports on the subject
The game played terrific solo and even with my family who really aren't into board games! They really loved it and it will be a great addition to our collection
The Kickstarter goes live on July 29th. I will be backing it for sure and also getting the beautifully crafted game mat!!!"
24/07/2021 - MEALS AND MEEPLES - REVIEW
@meals_and_meeples
"In UFO Wave by @paradigmgamesuk, you take on the role of an alien species orbiting the earth in your spaceship. Your goal is to perform activities that will grant you ET points, all while avoiding those pesky humans watching you from the ground!
On your turn, you draw one Plan card, then you may play as many Plan cards as you wish. These allow you to manipulate the Scan (the cards representing what you can see from your spaceship) or the alien opponents in the ship around you. Using craft cards, you can enhance the strength of the actions you are taking. Additionally, each alien species can automatically activate the advanced powers of a specific type of Plan card. In the action phase, you must perform one activity in the Scan or lead a human to an opponent. However, you also absorb any energy (positive or negative) adjacent to the card you choose to interact with, and also attract the attention of any nearby humans. Once the Scan deck is depleted, the player with the most ET points wins!
This game is honestly so much fun, and I love the unique mechanic of interacting with the Scan cards. Set-up is quick, and it’s very easy to learn. The artwork is vibrant and cartoony, and the cards contain hilarious flavor text that gives the game a goofy feel. Despite this, there is still strategy involved. To come out ahead, you have to consider whether to go for the higher ET value activities and risk attracting negative energy or the attention of humans, manage your plan cards, and pay attention to what’s happening with the aliens around you. Check out UFO Wave if you enjoy light, card driven strategy games with a bit of luck and plenty of humor!
What also makes UFO Wave unique is that it was designed by UFO expert, Dave Hodrien, with artwork from a genuine UFO witness. Keep those antennas on high alert - UFO Wave comes to Kickstarter NEXT WEEK on Thursday, July 29!
Thank you to @ufowavegame for the review copy and to @the_treasure_belle for sending news of this great game from your spaceship!"
24/07/2021 - TABLETOP GAMES BLOG - REVIEW & UNBOXING VIDEO
26/07/2021 - JORDAN PLAYS BLUE - PREVIEW
@jordanplaysblue
"@ufowavegame is a take-that card game coming to Kickstarter later this week. It’s got super colorful illustrations and some good back and forth card play.
Make sure you check out the campaign when it launches to see if it’ll work for you and your group!"
02/08/2021 - NO ORDINARY MEEPLE - REVIEW
@no.ordinary.meeple
"Really great to meet Dave and Tasha from @ufowavegame on Friday @ukgamesexpo
Fantastic to see this game succeed through to #stretchgoals and beyond on #Kickstarter.
The theme shines through from the engaging artwork and playing this 1v1 was an absolute blast!
It’s clever, fun and very well thought out! The playmat adds to the overall theme and you guys have done an awesome job and thoroughly deserve the rewards.
Looking forward to more stretch goals being added during the rest of the campaign.
Top Job!"
04/08/2021 - ADVENTURES WITH KARYN - PARENTS & KIDS THOUGHTS
Canadian reviewer Adventures With Karyn decided to provide two sets of thoughts on UFO Wave - some from the parents and some from the kids! This double review perfectly highlights the family friendly nature of the game!
@adventureswithkaryn
"We got to join the lucky few Canadian board gamers that got to play & review @ufowavegame before launch. Today we are sharing our thoughts on this wonderful game that was FULLY FUNDED in 3 days. You still have time to back this project and help unlock NEW stretch goals, next up is upgraded card stock for the cards!
Parent Thoughts:
@ufowavegame by @paradigmgamesuk is an easy to learn, fast paced card game that is great for those nights you don't have a lot of time or want to fit in multiple rounds in one night.
The style of the artwork creates an immersive UFO themed game. Our favourite design has to be the bright colours of the event cards.
The power cards that you draw from the plan deck are the main mechanism in the game. These cards can either be used to give you an advantage or foil your opponents plans. This interactivity provides a fun and engaging dynamic between players.
Overall this is a great family friendly game that kids (young and old) can pick up and get right into. If your family is competitive like ours, UFO will bring this out of your group each time!"
"As we mentioned in our parent review, @ufowavegame by @paradigmgamesuk is a great family game. So here are the big kids thoughts on the game:
Nixson: UFO Wave is really exciting. I love being able to play as an alien and terrorize humanity. I like that there is some risk involved when trying to get the higher scoring activity cards. You may get stuck with negative energy or even a human you don't want. I also like the randomized event cards that get added, that way you cant plan for the cards and are caught by surprise each time!
Summer: UFO Wave is great for a family game night. Quick set up and game play make it a great addition to any collection. UFO Wave gets really fun when you get a human card you weren't planning on having because you have to figure out how to deal with the consequences. I would definitely recommend this game to kids my age (9) because it gets your brain thinking about what the cards do and when to play them."
07/08/2021 - ZLAIANNAH GAMEROOM - FIRST IMPRESSIONS
@zlaiannah.gameroom
"These are our first impressions of UFO Wave. Game currently live of Kickstarter and funded under 3 days time!
It was kindly sent over by @ufowavegame so we can share our otherworldly experiences with this card game.
As we swept through the short but thorough rules, little did we know that this is one of those games that should fit in that pocket near the heart. Our knowledge of the UFO Wave itself was a bit limited on purpose because we didn't want to be biased when getting the feel of the game. The theme is just up Z's alley because he's read up as much as possible about aliens and had some encounters (sadly from afar) while being a kid. Even Ana saw some UFO dancing lights in the sky some 10 years ago while she was at a concert with friends.
The coolness of the game is that the players are in the roles of Aliens visiting Earth.
The game has three types of cards - Species - AKA - you the player abilities determining cards; Scan - Activities which you can encounter on your visit along with Events which happen to all players, and those simple Humans which are always watching you; and finally Plan cards which are aiding Crafts and abilities which can modify the play to help you push the balance of the game in your favor (if played right).
Although it says 30 minutes on the box, the two of us played about 15 minutes the first time, and less than that for the second time when we got the hang of it! We can't wait to play it with our friends as it feels it can be a really fast-paced party game.
For now, the game really reminds us of Guillotine and @whokilledgranny in the best way possible. The artwork is great, the puns at their place and mechanics are simple yet have room for lots of strategizing."
10/08/2021 - DESKS AND DORKS - PREVIEW VIDEO
@desksanddorks
12/08/2021 - BALDER AND BOARD GAMES - REVIEW
@balderandboardgames
"We had a chance to try out UFO Wave by @paradigmgamesuk that is currently on Kickstarter.
It's a simple card game that somewhat reminded me of an old WotC title Guillotine which I liked back in the day, but haven't played in years. Definitely felt a bit of nostalgia there!
Anyway, UFO Wave will have us, different alien species, perform some colourful activities around the world while being watched by different groups of humans some of which will help us, while others will hinder our progress.
UFO Wave is a quick and simple game with cute illustrations and straightforward rules, but with a fair amount of replayability through asymetric aliens and some easy, variant rules."
22/08/2021 - LEZ PLAY BOARD GAMES - TWO PART REVIEW
@lezplayboardgames
"@ufowavegame is a tactical card game where you play as one of 6 different Alien Species who visit Earth to perform activities and interact with humans. You win the game by being the Alien with the most Extra Terrestrial (ET) points when the endgame triggers.
To collect ET points you use 2 decks, the Plan Deck & the Scan Deck. The Plan Deck, from which you draw your hand, is made up of Power & Craft cards. Power cards trigger a variety of abilities including Mind Control & Dimensional Shift that allow you to manipulate the Scan (a central market of sorts), give yourself a boost or hinder your opponent/s. Craft cards can be played with a Power card to activate Advanced Level abilities or with a matching Craft card to discard Humans watching you.
During set up, 7 cards are dealt face up from the Scan Deck to form The Scan which represents what you can see in the vicinity. The cards in The Scan are either Activities (which score ET points), Humans (who can be helpful or harmful), Energy or Events. Humans guard Activities adjacent to them, so when you perform an activity to claim those sweet ET points, adjacent Humans will start watching you. Watch out for the Men in Black and the Millitary, both of whom will knock ET points off of your total score!
Taking your turn is simple, first you draw a Plan card & then play as many Plan cards as you wish. Use your Power cards to manipulate the Scan to your advantage or try to hinder your opponent/s. Then you can either Perform an Activity (to gain ET points) or Lead a Human (to mess with your opponent/s). End your turn by discarding down to your maximum hand size (if necessary). A game of UFO Wave ends when the Scan Deck is depleted & the Scan has no more Activities or Humans. Total your ET points and see which Alien has reigned supreme!
Read our thoughts on this card game, which is live on Kickstarter right now, in part 2 of this review."
"UFO Wave (Part 2) Our Thoughts:
@ufowavegame has 4 days left on Kickstarter. Thinking of backing but still unsure if it’s the game for you? Read our last post for a quick overview of the game, or continue reading to find out what we thought.
UFO Wave is an easy to learn, easy to teach, competitive card game that works well at 2 players. It has a solo mode (which we unfortunately didn’t have time to try) & can handle up to 6 players. At 2 we found the listed play time of 20-45mins to be spot on, all games we played took around 30mins. We found it easy to pick up & play thanks to the clear & concise rulebook.
The artwork has a quirky feel to it, while at first we weren’t too sure about some of the artistic choices, its nostalgic cartoony style grew on us. The artist responsible for the distinctive style has had contact experiences which you can read about in the rule book.
There are 6 species of Alien to play as, each of which auto-triggers a different power card. We found a few of them more appealing than others as the power they triggered was handier to have (e.g. Protective Aura lets you protect a card in The Scan & claim it on your next turn). Each Alien also has a preferred activity type which awards extra ET points at the end of the game. This acts as an incentive to pick certain Activities over others from The Scan. It also means you can mess with your opponents by taking cards that would score them extra points.
Humans are the main antagonists, taking away points at the end of the game depending on how many of a certain type are watching you, but we felt like there could be more of them, or more variety to add more tension to the game.
Alien enthusiasts will enjoy this game, & we feel it would also go down well with older kids. It is strategic enough to keep us coming back, & simple enough to prevent analysis paralysis & be able to set up & play whenever we have a spare 30 mins.
Overall we enjoyed playing UFO Wave & would definitely play it again, it would certainly be at home in our filler games rotation.
If you enjoy quick card games, alien themes, & proving your supremacy, then back this on Kickstarter before you miss out!"
@mothrainnocent
24/08/2021 - BRNEDO PLAYS BOARD GAMES - REVIEW
"Let's talk about UFO Wave: A Tactical Card Game of Alien Supremacy, a game currently on Kickstarter with only three days to go at time of writing.
For disclosure, a prototype copy was provided by Paradigm Games.
The game plays 1-6 players, each of whom will take on the role of one of six alien races carrying out different actions to acquire ET points. When the game is over, the person (or rather, alien) with the most ET points is the winner. Simple as that.
UFO Wave is a deceptively simple little game, with a really satisfying and straight forward loop to each round. We played with four people, and after a turn each we had a clear sense of what we were doing. The game feels good to play and there is plenty of room for it to get extremely competitive.
The art is colourful and consistent, it gives the game a clear sense of identity and a unique look.
All in all the game is light, satisfying, and a clear labour of love. The creators credit themselves as being a believer and one as having had a direct encounter. If it seems like the kind of thing you're looking to add to your collection then you absolutely should jump on and back them.
The link to their Kickstarter will be in my profile until it closes, show support to a small project. Just do it."
25/08/2021 - NO ORDINARY MEEPLE - REVIEW
@no.ordinary.meeple
"With just 24hrs left of its #Kickstarter, we feel lucky to have received a promo copy of @ufowavegame from designer Dave Hodrien to play, review and …play again, and again!
1-6 players
8+
30mins
#ufowavegame is a tactical card game that has you taking on the role of a visiting alien species performing activities, hopefully ones that give you points galore without being spotted by those pesky humans.
You begin by choosing a species that provide special abilities and bonuses on a specific type of activity card you claim.
Next you deal out a 7 card row of ‘Scan’ cards which forms the said SCAN.
2 event cards (actions that effect the state of play for ALL players) are then shuffled into the scan deck which is placed face down just above the SCAN.
Also just above the scan is the pile of PLAN cards 5 of which are now dealt to each player forming their initial hand.
SCAN CARDS consist of:
• ACTIVITY cards of various types that can score you various points, one type of which will tally with your species to produce a bonus.
• ENERGY CARDS of various types that if next to cards you claim get automatically claimed too. Some of these can be negative energy so watch out.
HUMAN CARDS represent humans of various types some helpful, some disruptive and some downright dirty (especially if thrust at you by an opponent).
2x EVENT CARDS as mentioned earlier, events that effect the state of play for all players.
The PLAN deck:
• CRAFT CARDS that allow you to discard hurtful human cards by playing 2 of the same type OR by giving access to advanced actions.
• Various ACTION cards with a Basic and an Advanced action (triggered by using a CRAFT card alongside the action card) these allow you to manipulate your turns to get maximum benefit OR defend against an opponents superior play.
Once you’re up to speed with how scan cards interact with one another this game becomes a really fun mix of fast paced turns full of points hauls, player interaction and tactical card manipulation that got us very competitive very quickly.
42-39
45-39
We’re poised for a decider. Get Scanning!
RECOMMENDED and WE BACKED IT!"
05/09/2021 - BOARDGAMING DUO - REVIEW
@boardgaming_duo
"We got our chance to check out UFO Wave by @paradigmgamesuk
This was sent to us to as a review copy, and it arrived right as the Kickstarter ended.
The goal of the game is to earn ET points by performing activities that are displayed in front of you from the scan deck. This same deck also includes humans, who watch your every move and can help or hinder depending on who they are, energy cards, that can help gain or lose ET points, and event cards, that impact everyone playing!
Each player picks a species from the 6 that are available, which have a bonus way to gain ET points, and certain powers that automatically get upgraded when you use them.
You’ll use your hand of plan cards to try and gain an advantage by manipulating the visible scan cards in your view, or manipulating what other players can do. You also have the option of using Crafts to use more powerful, upgraded versions of your powers.
The game plays over a series of rounds until the scan deck has been depleted. Then players add together their positive, and negative points, to see who has the highest score and ultimately wins!
We’d like to say thank you and congratulations to @ufowavegame for both letting us review this game and for getting fully funded on Kickstarter!
This ended up being a really fun game for us to play through. We don’t typically like a lot of ‘take that’ in the games we play, especially being at a 2 player count. But the way it’s implemented in this game seems to flow really well. And with the amount of points you’re gaining through the game losing a few from having specific humans isn’t as detrimental as we’ve seen in other games.
The idea of a game based around alien invasions/take overs was really intriguing to us, and the artwork we saw as this game got to Kickstarter got us pretty excited for it to show up. And it didn’t disappoint at the 2 player count. There’s a good amount of back and forth and I imagine that only picks up more with more players. I think anyone who got this game as a Kickstarter is going to really enjoy it. The rules are simple to pickup, the gameplay isn’t overly complicated, it’s a great travel size game and it doesn’t take up much space.
Overall, this would be a great, lighthearted game with a group of folks that want a game to play while they’re hanging out having conversation and still want to play a game that wouldn’t require a ton of focus or strategizing."