It is the year 2740. You and your team have been tasked with completing a series of missions within a contested zone of Alpha. Your team must explore the station, searching for your targets while battling or evading the enemies that are trying to capture you. Complete the missions and get to the extraction site, and you win!

Valerian: The Alpha Missions board game is what is known as a "co-op" game. You'll make plans and test strategies as you explore the board together and try to evade capture - you'll all win or lose together! Unlike other games using cards, you don't keep your cards secret from other players. Whenever you get a card, place it face up in front of you so everyone can see it. Brainstorming plans for your turn with other players is a huge part of the game, but in the end it's up to you to decide what to do on your turn.

Your team wins when you've accumulated at least 20 Mission Points and get your whole team back to the AIRLOCK. Sounds easy... There are two ways to lose: if the enemies accumulate at least 20 Tracking Points, you've been captured. If any deck runs out of cards, your team has taken too much time. In either event, you lose

Each player chooses a color and takes a player piece (you may choose a male or female standee), 3 dice and reference card of that color. Put each player's piece on the AIRLOCK tile. Shuffle the Gear Deck and deal 2 cards to each player. Deal 1 Mission card to each player...

...follow the setup rules and begin your Alpha Missions. Good luck!