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Everyone’s favorite face hugging, acid-spewing xenomorphs are back, with Free League Publishing releasing a new Evolved Edition of ALIEN: The Roleplaying Game. The updated core rule book brings fresh artwork, new mechanics and expanded gameplay options for the popular horror sci-fi TTRPG.
Both PDF and hardcover versions of the core book will be coming out in mid-November, but you can pre-order them now via Free League and DriveThruRPG. Below, we lock and load our pulse rifle and take a closer at this new second edition.
What is the Alien RPG from Free League?
ALIEN: The Roleplaying Game is a tabletop adaptation of the popular Aliens franchise from 20th Century Fox, which has spawned a slew of films, comic books, video games and recent TV show. The game blends survival horror with action and sci-fi, with players taking on the roles of space marines, colonists, scientists and corporate agents facing the inescapable threat of Xenomorphs. It’s a game where death is common and where it’s more about surviving a session than levelling up.
Notably, the game runs on Free League’s Year Zero Engine, which is known for its cinematic, rules-light approach and emphasis on player choice. Mechanically, the game uses a dice pool system, with players rolling a number of six-sided dice based on their skill and attribute levels (with a roll of 6 indicating success). The Alien RPG also includes a built-in stress and panic system, giving characters temporary advantages but increasing the risk of losing control when it matters most.
Originally published in 2019, the Alien RPG quickly became a surprising success, winning Gold for Best Game at the 2020 ENNIE Awards and earning critical praise and a growing fan base. In the past few years, the game has expanded with new official supplements from Free League, including Destroyer of Worlds and Heart of Darkness.
What’s new in the Alien RPG Evolved Edition?
The “Evolved Edition” of the Alien RPG marks the second edition of the game and stems from a successful Kickstarter launched in early 2025 that generated a whopping $2.5 million USD in crowdfunding. Despite being a new edition, however, Free League has pointed that it will still be fully compatible with existing first edition content. It also includes:
- New art and layout: Featuring new illustrations and a redesigned layout by Johan Nohr (of MÖRK BORG fame)
- Life path character creation: Expanded tools for generating more story-driven backstories.
- Revised stealth, stress and panic rules: Adding more realism and tension to encounters.
- Reworked combat mechanics: Updated systems for armor, ammunition, grenades and space combat.
- New weapons, ships and locations: Directly inspired by Alien: Romulus and other entries in the franchise.
- Zero-gravity and miniatures play: Optional rules for tactical or cinematic encounters.
- Expanded campaign tools: More support for long-term play, including the Tartarus Sector campaign setting.
- Last Survivor mode: A solo-play system designed by Shawn Tomkin (Ironsworn) and Matt Click (The Mecha Hack).
How much is the Alien RPG Evolved Edition Core Rulebook?
The hardcover version of the Evolved Edition Core Rulebook will retail for $60.37 USD (not including shipping and handling) and will be available at local game stores and via the Free League website. An exact price for the PDF version (which is distributed by DriveThruRPG) has not yet been confirmd.
When will the Alien RPG Evolved Edition Core Rulebook be released?
For those who backed the original Evolved Edition Kickstarter, PDFs were released on October 21st, 2025 (with fulfillment handled via DriveThruRPG). For the general public, however, the book won’t be available in either PDF or hardcover until November 18th, 2025.
Why is the Alien RPG: Evolved Edition Core Rulebook worth picking up?
- Refreshed visuals: The first edition book is absolutely gorgeous, but this new edition looks to offer even more impressive art.
- Streamlined rules: Cleaner mechanics for combat, stress and stealth (all of which is based on player feedback).
- Expanded content: More lore and weapons, plus a new campaign setting.
- Solo mode: A first for the Alien RPG, offering even more playability from the book.
- Fully backward compatible: Works with existing Alien RPG 1e materials
Final Thoughts
Free League’s Alien RPG has become incredibly popular since it was first released back in 2019, and unlike many TTRPGs that simply slap a pop culture brand onto an existing ruleset, has really created something unique that also captures the vibe of what makes the franchise so compelling. The new Evolved Edition looks to build on that work, offering more content, rules enhancements and new visuals. Whether this edition causes players chests to burst with delight, however, remains to be seen.
Both PDF and hardcover versions of the core book will be released on November 18th, but you can pre-order them now from your local gamestore, Free League and DriveThruRPG.