2014 BGG rank #23642

UFO Farmer

2–4 players 30 min Ages 6+ 1.1/5 complexity 5.5/10 rating

About this game

In UFO Farmer, a spin-off of the best-selling Super Farmer game, players are aliens who have come to Earth to investigate unknown animal species. They arrive at the farm of a "SuperFarmer", and their goal is to abduct the most animals. Each player has three spaceships. Each round, players cover animals with spaceships, then collect them. The trick is that you can use other players' spaceships. Your goal is to make a set of three of a kind or three different animals in order to catch them.

What it feels like

Set Collection Memory Science Fiction Animals UFOs

Explore these mechanics in Cardboard

Start an original prototype from reusable design patterns—not this game's content.

Open mechanics workbench

Game intelligence

Learn the game

100% knowledge coverage

Setup

1. Place all animal tokens face-up on the table (the pool).\n2. Player count adjustments:\n - 3-player game: Remove 3 horses, 3 cows, 3 sheep, and 3 rabbits from the game (return them to the box).\n - 4-player game: All 54 animal tokens are used.\n - 2-player game: Remove 6 horses, 6 cows, 6 sheep, and 6 rabbits from the game.\n3. Each player takes 1 spaceship base.\n4. Distribute spaceships from the shared fleet of 12:\n - 3 or 4 players: Each player takes 3 spaceships.\n - 2 players: Each player takes 4 spaceships.\n5. The player who last looked at the stars receives the starting player marker.

Turn flow

The game is played in rounds. Each round has three phases:\n\n1. TRACKING (Covering animals): Starting with the starting player and going clockwise, each player takes turns placing one spaceship over one animal token on the table, hiding it from view. This continues until all players have placed all of their spaceships.\n\n2. CAPTURING (Taking spaceships back): Starting with the starting player and going clockwise, each player picks up any one spaceship from the table — regardless of who placed it — and pulls it toward themselves, keeping the hidden animal covered and secret from all players (including themselves). This continues until all players have 3 spaceships in front of them (4 in a 2-player game).\n\n3. REVEALING & RESOLVING (Animals to the bases): In clockwise order from the starting player, each player lifts their newly claimed spaceships and reveals their captured animals. In a 2-player game, each player captures 4 animals but reveals only 3. Animals are then resolved using the prize rules. Successfully collected prize animals go to the player's base. At the end of the round, the starting player marker passes clockwise to the next player.

Scoring and victory

The player with the most points at game end wins. Two scoring levels are available: Basic (each prize animal = 1 point) or Advanced (square the count of each species collected, then sum those squares). Scoring sources: Prize animals collected on a player's base (Basic: 1 point each), Squared species counts (Advanced: e.g., 5 horses = 25 points, 3 cows = 9 points)

Source: Rulebook

Rules to know

The most useful rules for getting a first game right.

Setup

Setup for 3–4 players: remove animals for 3-player, use all for 4-player; each player gets 3 spaceships and 1 base.

In a 3-player game, remove 3 horses, 3 cows, 3 sheep, and 3 rabbits from the game and return them to the box. In a 4-player game, all 54 animal tokens are used. Each player takes 3 spaceships from the shared fleet of 12 and 1 spaceship base. The starting player marker goes to whoever last looked at the stars.

Setup

Setup for 2 players: remove 6 of each regular animal; each player gets 4 spaceships and 1 base.

In a 2-player game, remove 6 horses, 6 cows, 6 sheep, and 6 rabbits from the game (return them to the box). Each player takes 4 spaceships from the shared fleet and 1 spaceship base.

Turn structure

During Tracking, players alternate placing spaceships over animals to hide them.

Starting with the starting player and continuing clockwise, each player places one of their spaceships face-down over one animal token on the table, hiding it. Players continue taking turns placing spaceships one at a time until every player has placed all of their spaceships. Players should try to remember which animals are hidden under which spaceships.

Turn structure

During Capturing, players take turns picking up any spaceship from the table — anyone's — and pulling it toward themselves, keeping the animal hidden.

Starting with the starting player and continuing clockwise, each player selects any one spaceship on the table — it does not matter who placed it — and carefully pulls it toward themselves, keeping the hidden animal covered and secret from all other players and even from themselves. This continues until all players have 3 spaceships in front of them (or 4 in a 2-player game).

Turn structure

At round's end, players lift their spaceships and reveal captured animals, then apply prize rules.

In clockwise order from the starting player, each player lifts their 3 newly claimed spaceships (or 4 in a 2-player game, revealing only 3) and reveals all captured animals simultaneously. The prize rules are then applied to determine which animals go to the player's base.

Special

3 identical animals: keep 2 as prizes, return 1 to the table.

If a player reveals 3 animals of the same species (e.g., 3 horses), they keep 2 of them as prize animals (placed on their base) and return 1 to the animal pool on the table.

Special

3 different animals: keep 1 as a prize, return 2 to the table.

If a player reveals 3 animals all of different species (e.g., 1 horse, 1 cow, 1 sheep), they keep 1 animal of their choice as a prize (placed on their base) and return the other 2 to the animal pool on the table.

Special

2 identical animals and 1 different: return all 3 to the table, no prize.

If a player reveals exactly 2 animals of the same species and 1 animal of a different species (e.g., 2 horses and 1 cow), they return all 3 animals to the table and receive no prize animals that round.

Strategy briefing

Memory is the core skill

Since animals are hidden by spaceships during Tracking, players who accurately remember which spaceship covers which animal can deliberately target valuable animals during Capturing. Prioritize memorizing the locations of animals you need to complete a species set.

Prioritize species consolidation in Advanced scoring

In Advanced scoring, points are squared per species. Collecting 6 of one species (36 pts) is worth far more than 3 of two species (9+9=18 pts). Always prioritize depth in one species over breadth across many.

Steal opponent spaceships during Capturing

Because any player can take any spaceship during Capturing, you can take a spaceship placed by an opponent over an animal you saw them cover. This is both offensive (stealing their target) and defensive (denying their set-building).

Avoid the 2-identical-1-different trap

Capturing 2 identical animals and 1 different animal yields zero prizes. When you know (via memory) what's under a spaceship, avoid combinations that would result in this outcome — it is the worst result of the prize rules.

Avoid wolves — or use them as blockers

Wolves are pure negative — they take up a capture slot and count for nothing. However, covering a wolf with your spaceship during Tracking can be used strategically: it denies an opponent a spaceship slot (they see you cover it) or baits them into capturing a wolf during Capturing if they mistake it for a valuable animal.

Go first to get your pick of spaceships

The starting player captures first and gets the widest selection of spaceships. Since the starting player marker rotates each round, try to maximize your captures on rounds you go first by targeting the most-needed animals.

2-player: Use the 4th capture strategically

In the 2-player game you capture 4 animals but reveal only 3. This lets you discard your worst-known animal (e.g., a wolf or a species you don't need) from the reveal, giving you a meaningful degree of control over your prize outcome.

Common questions and edge cases

A player captures a wolf and two other animals. How does the wolf interact with the prize rules?

The wolf is removed first and returned to the table before prize rules are evaluated. Then the remaining animals are assessed. Example: Horse + Cow + Wolf → Wolf leaves → Player has 1 horse and 1 cow (2 different species). Since they only have 2 animals of different species, they keep 1 of their choice and return the other.

A player captures 2 identical animals and 1 wolf. What happens?

The wolf returns to the table first. The player is then left with 2 identical animals. Since the prize rules only cover groups of 3, the player is left with 2 animals but no applicable prize rule — the rulebook does not explicitly define a 2-animal outcome after wolf removal. Best interpretation: the 2 remaining animals are returned to the table (no prize), consistent with the spirit that only a clean group of 3 yields a prize.

In a 2-player game, a player captures 4 animals but reveals only 3. Which 3 are revealed, and what happens to the 4th?

The player captures 4 spaceships but chooses which 3 to reveal (the rulebook states they reveal only 3 of their 4). Prize rules apply to the 3 revealed animals. The 4th (unrevealed) animal is effectively returned to the table.

Can a player pick up a spaceship they placed themselves during Capturing?

Yes. During Capturing, a player may pick up any spaceship on the table regardless of who placed it, including their own.

If the animal pool drops below the spaceship threshold mid-round, does the game stop immediately?

No. The game end is checked at the END of the round. The current round is always played to completion before the game ends.

Do wolves ever count toward advanced scoring if somehow a player ends up with one?

No. Wolves always escape back to the table whenever captured and can never reach a player's base. They therefore never contribute to any scoring — basic or advanced.