The X-Files Collectible Card Game is an out-of-print collectible card game based on The X-Files fictional universe. The game was developed by NXT Games and published by the US Playing Card Company (USPCC) in 1996. The game was canceled in early 1998.

Gameplay

The X-Files Collectible Card Game is played between two players using constructed decks of cards representing characters, equipment, events, and locations derived from the television show. At the onset of the game, each player selects one of the 41 possible X-File cards and places it face-down. The game's objective is to be the first player to correctly ascertain the identity of their opponent's secret X-File card. To gather clues about the facedown X-File card, players allocate a Team of Agent cards to investigate Sites. If the Team of Agents can successfully fulfill the Site investigation requirements, they may ask a characteristic question about the opponent's X-File card (ex. "Is your X-File's Affiliation Alien?" or "Is your X-File's Motive Survival?"). Players can attempt to hinder their opponent's investigation by playing Events, Bluffs, and Adversary cards from their own constructed Bureau Decks. The X-Files Collectible Card Game can be played using either the Basic or Advanced gameplay procedures. Each starter deck includes two detailed manuals: the Official Rules and Procedures Manual for basic gameplay and the Advanced Rules and Procedures Manual for advanced gameplay. Key differences between Basic and Advanced gameplay are that Agent and Adversary game effects, Resource and Conspiracy Pools, and combat are only applicable to Advanced gameplay. Each round, or turn, in the game is composed of seven phases: Briefing, Healing, Requisition, Deployment, Case Assignment, Investigation, and Debriefing.

Card Types

The X-Files Collectible Card Game features nine distinct cards types, or suits:

History

The Premiere Edition of The X-Files CCG was released in 1996 and debuted at Gen Con. 80 million cards were initially shipped on November 1, 1996. The game was developed by NXT Games and slated to be published by Donruss. With the sale of Donruss to Pinnacle Entertainment, the licensing rights were transferred to the United States Playing Card Company (USPCC). Over the next year, USPCC would create the first expansion, codenamed 101361 (after Fox Mulder's fictional birthday), a 2nd edition set known as The Truth Is Out There, and a number of promotional cards. A second expansion, codenamed 22364 (after Dana Scully's fictional birthday) and comprising roughly 138 cards, was in development when the game was terminated in early 1998. Three collector sets were also cancelled. NXT Games had planned an expansion set based on the impending film The X-Files.

Sets

Official Sets

The following editions and expansion of The X-Files CCG were developed and released by USPCC:

Unreleased Cards & Prototypes

Gen Con Demonstration Deck (1996)

A couple hundred copies of this 60-card demonstration deck were used at Gen Con '96 to attract potential players. These demo decks were intended to be returned following the demonstration and subsequently destroyed, however some were not returned and have occasionally surfaced for sale on eBay and within Facebook groups dedicated to the game. There are two versions of the Gen Con demonstration deck, one that was banded together, and the other contained in a white box labelled "Top Secret/Classified". These cards possess number of unique features that make both versions of these rare decks highly sought after by fans and collectors, such as the following:

22364 Expansion

This unfinished 138-card expansion set, named after Scully's birthday, was primarily based on the third season of The X-Files (but included a small handful of cards derived from the show's two earliest seasons). No Equipment cards were included as part of this set, and only one Combat card was planned as a promo. Notable highlights of this planned expansion included the following:

Prototype items

Cards and items that were designed, but never saw official release, are discussed below:

Legacy & Influence

Following the game's cancellation in 1998, many of the game's mechanics were adopted to form the short-lived Scooby-Doo Expandable Card Game, developed by Brian Woodward and Todd Breitenstein at Journeyman Press and distributed by the United States Playing Card Company in 2000. Since 2020, renewed interest in The X-Files CCG has been sparked by several dedicated YouTube channels, most notably MMXFILESCCG and Alien Investigations; and a dedicated Facebook community group dubbed The X-Files Collectible Card Game.

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