How to Play

SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

1-4 players 40-160 min 8.4 Board Game Geek Rating

In SETI, players lead scientific institutions searching for extraterrestrial life using realistic space exploration technologies. Launch probes to nearby planets, direct telescopes toward distant star systems, and upgrade equipment on Earth to analyze collected data. Over 200 cards featuring real technologies like the ISS and Perseverance rover provide strategic options. After five rounds, the highest-scoring player wins.

Published 2024

SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Get Ready

Setup the game with these step-by-step instructions before diving into your turn.

Select Discovery Cards

Draw 4 of the 10 Discovery cards randomly and place them face-up beside the game board to form the Asteroid Belt; return unused cards to the box

Remove Pluto Promo

If you own the promo card "Pluto" (SE DE 01), return it to the box

Prepare Astrophotography Deck

Shuffle the 26 Astrophotography cards to form a draw pile

Create the Celestial Sphere

Draw and reveal the top 3 Astrophotography cards to form the Celestial Sphere display

Shuffle Planet Cards

Mix the 8 Planet cards into the main game deck

Add Space Games Cards (Optional)

Shuffle the 11 Space Games cards into the main deck; this module is optional as it contains player interaction and push-your-luck mechanics

Distribute Observatory Cards

Give each player 1 Observatory card instead of the starting income card

Collect Starting Resources

Each player takes starting resources per standard rules: 5 cards, 4 credits, 4 energy, 3 data, 1 signal

Perform Initial Card Drafting (3-4 Players)

Each player draws 5 cards, keeps 1, and passes the rest to the left; repeat 4 times until each player passes their last card

Perform Initial Card Drafting (2 Players)

Each player draws 6 cards, keeps 2, discards 1, then passes remaining 3 cards to opponent; keep 2 more and pass the last card

Perform Initial Card Drafting (Solo)

Discard any unwanted cards, draw up to 5 cards total

Execute Starting Signal

After drafting, each player performs 1 signal action

On Your Turn

What you can do during your turn.

Research Grant Action

Pay 3 credits and 1 signal to draw 2 cards from the main deck; keep 1 card and gain the income bonus of the second card before discarding it

Photograph Object Action

Pay 3 credits and any required cost to immediately play 1 Astrophotography card from the Celestial Sphere if you meet its observation conditions

Meet Observation Conditions

To play an Astrophotography card, the Earth sector must be aligned to the color specified on the card

Pay for Astrophysical Anomalies

Pay any required cost to play an Astrophysical Anomaly card

Rotate the Solar System

When rotating the solar system, discard the rightmost Astrophotography card, slide remaining cards right, and refill from the left with the top card of the Astrophotography deck

Draw from Celestial Sphere

When taking a card from the Celestial Sphere, slide remaining cards right and refill from the left

Draw Astrophotography Cards

When an effect shows the draw symbol, take the top card from the Astrophotography deck

Use Discovery Cards

When your probe is on the specified ring (A) and specific object type (B), you may use the scan or land action (C) to execute the card's effect

Position Probe Correctly

To use Discovery card abilities, your probe must be on both the correct object type (comet, asteroid, moon, planet, or empty space) and the specified ring (I-IV)

Manage Hand Limit

Astrophotography cards in hand count against your hand limit at end of round

Winning

How to claim victory.

Score Celestial Bodies Set

Collect cards from the Celestial Bodies set; each card scores 2 points, and the entire set counts as 1 set regardless of how many cards you play

Count Golden Milestones

The Celestial Bodies set counts as a single golden card for Golden Milestone end-game scoring

Choose Astrophysical Anomaly for Scoring

Select only 1 card type from the Astrophysical Anomalies for final scoring, regardless of how many you played

Score Pulsar/Blazar/Quasar/Black Hole

Gain points for the sector color where you have the most cards in your set; count all sector markers in that color

Score Boyajian's Star

Gain 2 extra points for each of your 2-point tokens; the player with the most tokens gains 10 bonus points (ties receive nothing)

Score Solar Astrophage

Gain 3 extra points for each of your first orbiters in planet orbits (not on Discovery cards); the player with the most gains 10 bonus points (ties receive nothing)

Use Wildcard Anomalies

Boyajian's Star and Solar Astrophage can be used as any signal color when observation conditions are met and count as any color in the Astrophysical Anomalies set