There is a Space Invaders board game out there, it doesn’t look that good. Then there is Under Falling Skies by CGE (Czech Games Edition) and that looks kind of like Space Invaders. But does it play like that? And is this solo only game worth the size of the box and price of the game to add to your shelf? Let’s take a look at this game and what I like about it and what I don’t.

How To Play Under Falling Skies

Under Falling Skies is kind of a tower defense style game where there is a mothership coming towards your underground base and there are small ships coming down as well. You are trying to keep the small ships from reaching landfall and blowing them up, as too many land, you lose. Plus then you need to research the alien mother ship before it hits landfall.

In the game you roll dice and you place one per column. The dice can be used to get energy, unlock new areas, launch fighter ships, research, or fire flak cannons. Then the alien ships will move down based off of the number on each die. But they move down one less in a column where the flak cannon is firing.

Research you get to move up on the research track as much as you can based off of the total of your dice values. Energy you gain based off die value, and the fighters you launch deal damage to certain spots in the sky based off of the die value. Finally, the little drill that unlocks new areas advances to where the die was placed. You check and see if you’ve researched the last thing, otherwise the mothership lowers.

What I Don’t Like?

One thing that isn’t my favorite in the game is the amount of house keeping that the game has. By that I mean everything I need to check. It slows down some parts of the puzzle of the game. When I place a die, I need to look at see how far they will move down. Then after all the dice are placed, I need to calculate that and move the ships again. It’s not too much or too slow, but it is more than I like.

It’s a minor thing that is more of an annoyance that I don’t like, but the ships are too pointy. Yes, this is absurd to complain about, but it’s something I don’t like. The edges of the alien ships are sharp, and I’d prefer something that’s smoother. It does also make them slightly harder to pick up. So since they are harder to pick up now you really jam your fingers onto them.

What I Like?

I really like the theme of the game and the speed of the solo play. I call this Space Invaders, but you win by blowing up the mothership. So it feels like Space Invaders mixed with Independence Day. So the theme really works, and then it’s a fast game as well. I do think the house keeping does slow things down, sometimes, but after a play, I knew how most things worked.

I also like the dice placement element. What I didn’t mention is that you roll once. Now, there are ways to roll again, if you place a white die. But the idea that higher value dice are more powerful, but they also move ships further. So the whole thing creates a good puzzle. You want to do a lot of research, you want to launch powerful fighters, you want more energy. But all of those move the alien ships further.

And while I haven’t won yet, I like that the game is always close for me. In my three plays, each one ends with me needing to get that last push of research and just ending up short. I probably need to focus a bit more on research sooner. But I love a cooperative game where it’s always on that edge of will I win or not, and Under Falling Skies, it’s on that edge.

Who Is It For?

Under Falling Skies is a solo only game, so that’s going to limit who it is for. Unlike some solo games where you maybe could kind of have a person playing the bad guy, this one is so automated with the aliens that it wouldn’t be f un. Actually, you as the player make the decision what the aliens do based off dice placement. So this is a game for a solo gamer.

I don’t know what this is the first game I would get, though, for someone who wants to get into solo gaming. There is just enough house keeping that it might feel like a lot to start. And with a bigger box size and price point than some solo games, I think there are better ones to test the water with. But if someone is looking to take the next step into solo gaming, Under Falling Skies will be great.

Under Falling Skies – Final Thoughts

Is Under Falling Skies my top solo game? I don’t think so, but it is very enjoyable. I really like how the dice placement works in the game. And the theme, for me, helps sell the game. I played Space Invaders growing up, and while that wasn’t my main computer or video game, there is nostalgia too it, same with Independence Day.

And one thing that I haven’t mentioned is the campaign mode. There is a reason that I haven’t mentioned it, I have yet to play it. The base game, thus far, is enough. There is variability just with the cities you have there and that changes up the bunker. There is so much variability just with the base game that the campaign, I will get to, but one eventually.

My Grade: B+
Gamer Grade: B+
Casual Grade: B

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