Cosmic Encounter [Basisspel, 42nd Anniversary Edition]

In the depths of space, the alien races of the Cosmos vie with each other for control of the universe. Alliances form and shift from moment to moment, while catastrophic battles send starships screaming into the warp.

In Cosmic Encounter, each player becomes the leader of one of dozens of alien races, each with its own unique power. When it is a player's turn, he or she becomes the attacker. The attacker meets another player on a planet by moving a group of his or her ships through the hyperspace gate to that planet. Both sides can invite allies and play cards to try to turn the encounter in their favor.

The goal of the game is to establish colonies in other players' planetary systems. The winner(s) are the first player(s) to have five colonies on planets outside his or her home system. These colonies may all be in one system or spread across multiple systems. Players must use force, cunning, and diplomacy to secure their victory. And, because alliances are an important part of the game, multiple players can win together!

Cosmic Encounter is a reissue of a well-known 1970s board game.