The Awful Green Things from Outer Space was first published as an insert in the July 1979 edition of Dragon magazine (Issue #28).

The spaceship Znutar has become infested with rapidly multiplying space monsters after the crew brings aboard a green rock.

The crew is almost always at a considerable disadvantage, owing both to the frequency with which The Awful Green Things grow to replace their losses, and to their own relative frailty.

26), Steve Jackson liked the original boxed set published by TSR, saying, "If you like slightly-wacky short games, find a copy of this one.

"[3] In the August–September 1980 edition of White Dwarf magazine (Issue 20), John Olsen gave the TSR boxed set game an average score of 7 out of 10, noting that "Unfortunately, luck plays a large part in the outcome."

"[5] Three years later, in the December 1991 edition of Dragon (Issue 176), Doug Niles also reviewed the Steve Jackson Games boxed set, calling it "an exercise in whimsy that nonetheless provokes a tense and well-balanced battle for survival.

Niles did criticize the low production values of the game components, calling the board "light and flimsy", and noting that the counters need to be cut apart with scissors.

"[2] John ONeill of Black Gate called the game "one of the great mini-games of all time", noting that it "stood out for its gonzo humor and original design".

[6] In a retrospective review in the August 1999 issue of InQuest Gamer, Charlene Brusso stated that the game "is so simple you could teach it to your grandma...and she'd like it!"