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Heavy Euro (engine-building)2024
SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence box art
Heavy Euro (engine-building)

SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

A space-race engine builder where you actually feel like you're hunting for aliens.

4.0 out of 54.0/5

Designed by Tomáš Holek · 2024

Players1-4
Play time40-160 min
WeightMedium-Heavy
Ages14+
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The verdict

One of the best euros of 2024, and it earns the hype if you play it at two or three. It's a smart, themey points machine that sags into solitaire at four.

Best for: Euro fans who want a science theme that pulls its weight, ideally at 2-3 players or solo

The full review

What it is

SETI puts you in charge of a space agency racing to make first contact, and the work is real science fiction homework: scan the sky, collect data, launch probes, land them on moons, and pull alien signals out of the noise. It's a medium-heavy euro from Tomas Holek, and the engine is built on multi-use cards. Every card can be a free action, a main action, or tucked away for income. That single idea does a lot of heavy lifting.

The catch

Here's the honest part. The opening rounds drag. You start cash-starved with few good options, and the game only catches fire once your engine spins up and the alien discovery mechanic kicks in mid-game. Reviewers are blunt about player count too. Two is fast and tight, three is the sweet spot, and four is where downtime creeps in and it can feel like everyone playing solitaire next to each other. Scanning also reads weaker than just landing probes for points.

Who it's for

So who's this for? If you like euros where the theme actually does something and you can keep the table to two or three, this is a standout. Multiple reviewers called it the best euro of 2024, and the resource puzzle holds up across plays, though only five alien species means you'll see repeats fast. Patient strategy players will love it. If your group hates slow starts or always plays at four, go in with eyes open.

What other players say

This write-up is grounded in real reviews and player discussion, not just one opinion. A few worth reading:

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