Not Alone Remastered: Feed the Monster

In the distant future, a crew searching for habitable planets crashes on to one that seems perfect for their needs. That is until they realize there is a predator on the planet that aims to assimilate them. They are not alone. 

First released in 2016, we looked at the Remastered Edition of Not Alone, which launches October 16, 2026.

Overview

Not Alone is a one-versus-many game for 2-7 players. The survivors (those being hunted) win if they can hold out on the planet long enough until their rescue ship arrives. All players apart from one will choose from these characters. The individual playing the monster prevails if they assimilate enough of the survivors into the planet’s ecosystem. This is done by catching them or causing them to lose all their will. Both paths are tracked on the game board, with the team reaching the victory space first winning the game. 

There are four phases to each turn. The first phase is exploration, in which the survivors choose a Place card from their hand and set it face down in front of them. The Place cards show locations but also include various abilities. In the hunt phase, the monster deploys their token on one of the locations. The resolution phase is where the survivors reveal their Place cards, placing their figures on the corresponding locations. If they are on the same spot as the monster, they lose one will and cannot use the ability on their location. The monster also moves one step closer to victory. If they are on a spot not influenced by the monster, they can use the location’s ability. In the maintenance phase, the survivors move their played Place card to their discard pile face up so the monster player can see what locations they have played.

At the start of the game, there are five locations the hunted can hide. Once they have visited a location, that Place card is discarded in front of them for everyone to see. Players can reclaim their cards from their discard pile by expending will. Each player starts with three will, and when it is gone, the monster moves forward on the Assimilation track. Some locations allow a survivor to add an additional Place card to their hand, unlocking additional spots they can hide. 

Both the monster and the survivors have cards that can assist their characters throughout the game. The survivors start with one card, but can draw more when they hide in certain locations or use their skills. The monster starts with three cards, and can play one every turn. The monster draws back up to three at the end of the turn. Both monster and survivor cards state the phase in which they can be used. 

Playing Not Alone

We received a preview copy of Not Alone Remastered Edition from the publisher. It comes with the original planet Place cards, and another world deck called the Frozen Lands. We played the game three times using the original planet. Since it was a different group of players each time and the rules for the Frozen Lands are more complex, we wanted to keep it simple for everyone. 

Not Alone’s setup is relatively easy. It allows for up to seven players, making it a great game for a larger gaming group. Once individuals know the rules, the game plays quickly. The character cards break down the four phases, so each player has the information in front of them.

My thoughts

Not Alone is at its best when it is played with a medium-sized group. I never tried two players, but it doesn’t feel like it would work well with that small group. Seven could be chaotic, in a fun way. 

Upon reading the Place cards, there are some very obvious locations survivors will gravitate toward. As the monster, this influences what you will do each turn to prevent survivors from using those locations. 

Game play seems relatively balanced. The monster won two of the three games I played, but all were competitive until the end. 

Overall, most of the individuals I played Not Alone with agreed it was a fun game, and one they would love to see show up occasionally on game nights. I completely agree with that assessment. Not Alone is a good, solid game. There’s nothing to make it stand out, but also nothing that is really annoying or designed poorly with it. Components are well designed, and the monster tokens have a nice weight to them. Overall, I give it a 7 out of 10, and recommend checking it out if it sounds interesting to you. 

Not Alone Remastered Edition releases Oct. 16.

Haiku Review

What lurks in the dark
Choose the monster or hunted
Can your team prevail?

Game Details:

Players: 2-7
Play Time: 30-60 min.
Retail: $30
Buy it here (and help support this site)