Want to explore new lands, raid villages, and form an epic shield wall in your next board gaming adventure? Then we’ve got you and your game night crew covered with a selection of the ten best board gam?es with a Viking theme. Whether you like in-depth engine building, worker placement, or dice-based combat, there’s guaranteed to be a few tabletop titles on this list that you’ll love.

10. Explorers of the North Sea

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If you like board games that focus on exploration, then you’ll love turning over tiles on the expansive, ever-changing map that makes up Explorers of the North Sea’s board. Gathering and transporting livestock from the settlements you’ve invaded is the easiest way to score victory points. However, you’ll also tally a few from controlling islands and sending raiders to their Viking death. You might want to consider getting the Rocks of Ruin expansion alongside the main game ??since it greatly improves the efficiency of your?? turns.

9. Knarr

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Do you love Vikings but don’t enjoy combat-heavy board games? Knarr might be the perfect addition to your shelf. Trading and exploration are the keys to victory, but to take these actions, you’ll need to first recruit a diverse mix of crew membe??rs. Setting sail for new lands is incredibly enjoyable, and with enough luck and quick thinking, you’ll soon write your way into the?? great sagas. The rules are easy to learn, and game usually only takes about 30 to 45 minutes.

8. Karvi

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Karvi is a complex, slow-burn board game that lets players trade, travel, and raid t??o their heart’s content. You’ll make three trips around the side rondel with your dice to collect resources, which in turn lets you move around the expansive map with your boat. The mechanics are highly thematic and sometimes funny, especially since you’ll need kegs of beer to do just about anything with your actual Viking fighters. Turns can take a long time during the middle stages of the game, but you’ll always have plenty of interesting decisions to make while you’re on thi?s journey.

7. Hnefatafl

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Want to try a board game that’s actually from the Viking era? Hnefatafl is a kind of Vi?king chess that’s simple,?? fun, and enjoyable- even today. The rules are easy to learn, and there are tons of beautiful sets out there for tabletop collectors. One player starts in the middle of the board, with their tokens in a group. The other, who takes on the role of the attacker, controls four groups of six warriors, with each group lined up on one of the edges of the board.

6. Northgard: Uncharted Lands

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Explore new lands, gather wood, harvest crops, and defeat mythic monsters in Northgard: Uncharted Lands, the tabletop adaption of the hit video game. Here, you’ll also have to face off against your fellow players and defend against their invasions by building watchtowers and recruiting troops. There’s a healthy dose of deck building,? and you can use the cards you pick up almost immediately instead of having to shuffle them away or waiting until they come around again from your discard pile. Each clan has its own power for you to work with, and games typically take less than two hours to complete.

5. 878 Vikings: Invasions of England

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If you want to try a Viking-themed war board game with epic combat, look no further than 878 Vikings: Invasions of England. Two players or two teams of?? two players will face off against one another in an attempt to control as much of medieval Britain as possible. One side takes on the role of the Nordic invaders, while the other will fight to defend and retain control of the English kingdoms. You’ll need an even mix of strategic genius and dice-rolling luck to win the day.

4. A Feast for Odin

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A Feast for Odin is a complex worker placement game that’s all about gathering ??resource tiles and fitting them onto your player board to cover up negative counters. Everything from rocks to kegs of ale to bolts of cloth will come in handy, and you’ll of course need enough food to host a feast in your long hall at the end of each round as well. There’s an incredible amount of actions to choose from when it comes to placing your workers, and as a result, there’s no shortage of strategic depth. It’s also a great pick if you like board games that come with a solo mode.

3. Blood Rage

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If you’d like to get your hands on a more fantasy-focused Viking board game, Blood Rage is a great choice. The game begins with card drafting, and you’ll have to make a few decisions upfront about what your overall strategy will be for the next few rounds. Then, you’ll spend your rage to move around the board and conquer territories, winning glory for your cause in the form of axes and more warrior tokens in the form of horns. As an alternative action, you can also go on quests. Area control is essential to success, as is na?iling the timing of the powers you’re playing during combat.

2. Champions of Midgard

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Champions of Midgard blends classic worker placement and resource management with dice-rolling combat to create a uniquely enjoyable experience. The building spaces on the right side of the board change every time you play, which ensures that your worker placement options will always shift somewhat from game to game. The merchant ship and various creature decks also add similar value, which means that, overall, there’s a ton of replayability here. You’ll ?score points for the monsters you defeat and the ship you build, as well as the objective-like destiny cards you complete.

1. Raiders of the North Sea

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When it comes to creating an immersive and engaging Viking board game experience, nothing tops Raiders of the North Sea. On your turn, you’ll gather supplies, recruit fighters, and raid s??ettlements via an easy-to-learn worker placement system. Giving your?? warriors a valiant death in battle brings rich rewards, as does making an offering at your local chieftain’s longhouse. The different types of settlements that you can fight for all give unique benefits, as do the various boat upgrades and crew member cards. There’s a ton of ways to score points, which means there’s also a ton of ways to win.

The post The 10 Best Viking-themed Board Games of All Time?, Ranked appeared first on Destructoid.

Get your friends together and party like it’s 2011 (holy crap) again, because the Elder Scrolls: Skyrim: Adventure Board Game is currently 39% off on Amazon as we approach Black Friday. Or maybe don’t get? friends together, because you can play it with one player, just like the PC game it’s based upon.

Elder Scrolls: Skyrim: Adventure Board Game tosses you into the eponymous province of Tamriel as one of the last remaining members of the Emperor’s personal guard, the Blades. You find yourself pitted against enemies found in the video games, including dragons and Daedra, and travel between the various hol?ds, such as Whiterun and Solitude. You and (possibly) your friends can (cooperatively) customize your characters? and take on two campaigns and six chapters to decide the fate of the province.

It’s recommended for players 14 and up, and some have commented that it has a bit of a learning curve to it. It takes around 1-2?? hours for a full session. The overall game is (usually) quite pricy but completely within the realm of your typical adventure-in-a-box, so now is a great time to dive in. It’s also worth noting that the box contains:

• Player Figures x6
• Skill Test Dice x8
• Enemy Dice x1
• Health Cubes x4
• Stamina Cubes x4
• Magicka Cubes x4
• Armor Cubes x18
• Track Limit Tokens x12
• Final Blow Tokens x4
• Skill Tokens x72
• Experience Tokens x42
• Gold Tokens x42
• Component Tokens x72
• Threat Tokens x100
• Player Quest Markers x16
• Quest Markers x24
• Starting Player Token x1
• Horse Tokens x4
• Ulfric’s Militia Token x1
• Character Boards x4
• Game Board x1
• Rulebook x1
• Tutorial/Scenario Book x1
• Quest cards x296
• Dungeon cards x54
• Encounter cards x67
• Follower cards x25
• Character cards x6
• Item cards x196
• Upgrade/Enchantment cards x46
• Status cards x41
• Event cards x68
• Wilderness cards x20
• Town cards x19
• Dungeon Challenge cards x6
• Reference cards x4.

That’s a lot. Like, I wasn't sure how it would look typed out. I wasn't prepared. But if you fall in love with it and need even more, there are expansions that you can purchase to get more out of it. In fact, the From the Ashes and Dawnguard expansions are also on sale alongside the base game. Meanwhile, Elder Scrolls: Skyrim: Adventure Board Game is 39% off putting the price at $84.99 for a limited time. To note, that's actually the lowest price the game has seen.

The post Elder Scrolls: ??Skyrim Board ?Game currently 39% off on Amazon ahead of Black Friday appeared first on Destructoid.

Video games turning into board games is hardly anything new, but you love to see it when it's one of your favorite franchises. Shin Megami Tensei is next to get a board game adaptation, and it's available on Kickstarter. Currently, it stands at over double its orig??inal asking goal of around $200,000, and it only started today.

The board game isn't modeled after any one particular SMT game, but rather the general idea. If you're unfamiliar with the series, each game is a stand-alone story. They always center around a war between the forces of Law and Chaos, represented by various deities from across the world. Players travel to a devastated Tokyo recruiting demons to fight for the future of humanity. The latest title, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, was released earlier this year.

The board game focuses on claiming various sections of Tokyo in order to recruit demons and build an army capable of winning one of many final battles. Like the video game counterparts, there's a large focus on making choices. Players can converse with demons and decide on an allegiance to Law, Neutral, or Chaos. Everything is played on a board of Tokyo with cards?? and tokens. The centerpiece of this game is easily the 72 miniatures of various demo?ns from across the series. Fans will recognize favorites like Jack Frost, Alice, and Metatron, among others.

The Shin Megami Tensei Board Game ??is being developed by a new company called ICREA. This is their first Kickstarter, and first board game. Atlus?? does not appear to be involved in the creation of this outside of licensing.

There are only two tiers for purchase on Kickstarter, and one of them is an early-adopter discount. That's long since gone, unfortunately. If you're interested in picking up the game, you're going to have to cough up some serious macca. The asking price is 60,000 yen, which roughly?? translates to a staggering $391 in the US. That doesn't include shipping, either.

It appears to be a premium product, but as with any Kickstarter, it's hard to tell if the money will be worth it right now. The game is e??xpected to finish production and begin shipping in May of next year.

The post Shin Megami Tensei: The Boardgame blasts past it’s goal on day one appeared first on Destructoid.

Barring meteorites, who doesn't love dinosaurs? They lived on e?very continent, came in all shapes and sizes, and put the first paleontologists through an anatomical trial by fire. Dinosaurs are just fantastic, so naturally, they've inspired a healthy collection of Jurassic-kicking board games. That was the last pun, I promise.

Dinosaurs were my bread, butter, and breath as a kid, and I still remember trivia about nature's only attempt at dragons at random, usually inconvenient intervals. This makes me uniquely equipped to sort through the many, many dinosaur-themed board games out there and pick out the best from ?the pack. So, here are our top ten favorite board games with dinosaurs in them. See? I told you puns were extinct around here.

...Let's just get into this.

10. Hungry Hungry Hippos: Dino Edition

There's something Zen about Hungry Hungry Hippos. Maybe it's the rhythmic button-mashing or the satisfying click of the balls as they rebound off the walls, but it's disturbingly easy to fall i??nto a flow state whenever you play a round of this iconic board. There's only one way to improve this game, and it involves dinosaurs.

Hungry Hungry Hippos: Dino Edition is the same game that has? entertained families for decades. The only difference is that they've replaced ??the hippos with triceratopses. It's fun, it's simple, and it's got dinosaurs. What else do you want?

9. Dinosaur Escape

Life was tough in prehistoric times, and dinosaurs had to fight to stay alive. Dinosaur Escape gives you a chance t?o help some dinosaurs escape to an island before a volcano erupts.

Dinosaur Escape is a simple memory game where you flip ov??er tiles to help your dinosaur??s "remember the correct path to safety. If you need to distract some dinosaur-loving kids, this is the game for you.

8. Evolution: the Beginning

Anyone who loves dinosaurs has dreamed about discovering or creating a unique species of ancient reptile. Evolution: The Beginning lets you and up to four of your friends play the God your eight-year-old self always wanted to be, giving you the wheel o??f di??nosaur evolution.

Part of the broader Evolution series, Evolution, The Beginning puts the survival of a dinosaur species in your hands. By pulling cards from a specialized deck, you arm your species with unique traits to help them survive an increasingly hostile environment. It’s survival of the?? fittest, and the player with the most successful species wins.

7. Evo: The Last Gasp of the Dinosaurs

The finale of Jim Henson’s Dinosaurs proved that the death of the dinosaurs can be a tragedy on par with the best of Shakespeare. Evo: The Last Gasp of the Dinosaurs lets you live out the final days of the dinosaurs, and it’s surprisingly fun despite the bleak?? tone of the premise.

With the help of up to three fr??iends, you guide a group of anthropomorphic dinosaurs, the Dinos, as they struggle to survive in a changing world. By acquiring “Genes�you can mutate your Dinos into an advanced species that, with some luck, will survive long enough to witness the end of their era. The outcome is inevitable, but at least you’ll meet it with the dignity dinosaurs deserve.

6. Raptor

Trying to steal eggs from ferocious Velociraptors ranks pretty high on the list of bad judgment calls. However, that's precisely what one of the two Raptors players needs to do to win. Pitting the age-old enemy duo of scientist and raptor against each other, Raptors is the pe?rfect two vs. ??two game for dinosaur fans.

Using cards drawn from a deck to move around the board, Raptors' players try to outsmart and outmaneuver each other in a battle over a newborn clutch of raptors. Raptors isn't as strategically deep as s??ome other games on this list, but its short run-time and mo?mentum-based gameplay make it a fantastic pick for kids.

5. Unmatched Jurassic Park: Ingen vs. Raptors

Jurassic Park has pitted its human protagonists against almost every type of dinosaur known to man, but every film involves a scene where people face off against raptors. Unmatched Jurassic Park: Ingen vs. Raptors? turns this recurring conflict?? into a satisfying board game.

Like other games in the Unmatched series, Unmatched Jurassic Park: Ingen vs. Raptors is an asymmetrical strategy fighting miniature game. You build a combat deck using movement and attack cards to go toe-to-t?oe with your friend in life-or-death combat. Luck won't play any role in your victory or defeat; it's all on you making the most of what you have.

4. Dinosaur World

Dinosaurs and amusement parks go together like peanut butter and chocolate, or at least they do until someone leaves the cages open and the shiny new floor gets dirty with blood. Dinosaur World shows how wonderful a functional theme park with live dinosaurs?? can be, and it's a great way to spend an evening if you're a dinosaur lover.

Dinosaur World puts you in charge of creating the ultimate dinosaur park. Compete against up to three other players to build the ultimate team of workers, collect DNA to bring back specific dinosaurs, and optimize your park with top-not??ch attractions while keeping visitor deaths to a minimum.

3. Dinosaur Island: Rawr 'N Write

As fun as imagining the many ways a dinosaur-themed amusement park can devolve into a slaughterhouse, there's nothing wrong with dreaming about a utopian dinosaur preserve where nothing goes wrong and everyone lives. Dinosaur Island Rawr 'N Write lets you do just that.

Family-friendly to a fault, Dinosaur Island Rawr 'N Write is all about creating and exploring a safe, colorful dinosaur paradise. Using beautiful amber-themed dice, you'll hire a team of specialists, develop attractions, and give your visitors an experience they'l?l remember till they're almost as old as the dinosaurs they're c??oming to see.

2. Dinosaur Island

The last theme park-themed board game on this list, Dinosaur Island is another tabletop park-building simulator. This game is much like Dinosaur World and Dinosaur Island Rawr 'N Write, but it's not as complex or as simpl?e. That's where the charm lies. It's a game anyone can play, and it's?? an excellent go-to for dinosaur-loving board gamers who want a good, clean game.

1. Happy Little Dinosaurs

The masterminds behind Unstable Unicorns are, in my humble opinion, some of the best independent board game designers in the business. Happy Dinosaurs gave me even more reasons to believe that.

In Happy Dinosaurs, you and up to three friends compete to keep your adorable little dino alive as nature throws every disaster at its disposal in your general direction. By flipping cards, you work to collect enough points to stave off the inevitable. As cheerful as it is macabre, Happy Dinosaurs is the only time I've ever found the d?eath of the dinosaurs fun.

The post Our Top 10 Most FaveRAWR??ite Bo?ard Games With Dinosaurs In Them appeared first on Destructoid.

If you love board games with remarkable strategic depth, you’re probably a fan of a few tabletop titles that fall under the “Euro�category. Whether you’re growing crops, completing objective cards, or amassing a fortune from trading, these board games are always immensely satisfying. I??n the list below, we’ve assembled our picks for the ten best Euro board games of all time. There are a ton of games that fall under this classification, but our choices focus on titles that clearly feel like a quintessential Euro board gaming experience.

What is a Euro board game?

A Euro board game typ?ically features complex mechanics, indirect competition, minimal dice rolling, and a scoring system creates multiple paths to claiming victory. There’s often an emphasis on economic development and engine building, while combat with other players usually isn’t front and center. The “Euro�term distinguishes the genre from more traditional American board games, which often emphasized thematic rather than mechanical depth. However, nowadays there are plenty of Euro board games with engaging themes.

10. Great Western Trail (2nd Edition)

Great Western Trail is a game that’s all about getting your herd of cattle from Texas up to Kansas City, and making a few pit stops along the way. Despite the western American theme, the mechanics of this title are firmly entrenched on the Euro side of the pond. You can hire and place workers, focus on deck building to get better cows, or upgrade buildings along the trail so you can charge the other players fees when they stop?? by. It takes a long time to setup, but once it’s on the table it’s always a hit.

9. Catan

The original Settlers of Catan board game, first released in 1995, helped to define Euro board games and set them apart from their luck and theme-based American counterparts. For that reason alone, it deserves a place on this list. Boxing out other players from accessing parts of the board is still fun to this day, though you can admittedly get into situations where you know you’ve lost well before it’s actually over. The randomized layout of the island’s map allows for lots of variability, and there are plenty of solid Catan expansions to choose from.

8. Le Havre

Le Havre is an economic engine builder that starts off wi??th a few slower turns but quickly escalates up to an epic scale. By the end of the game, you will hopefully have amassed a fortune in?? coins, building investments, and ships. But to get there, you’ll first need to gather food early on to feed your workers, pick up trade items, and find the perfect time to sell your goods. While the theme is fairly simple, the strategies you can deploy are anything but. Thankfully, the rules are also fairly straightforward since there’s only a handful of actions to choose from when it's your turn.

7. Scythe

The richly drawn world of Scythe adds plenty of interesting thematic to exciting Euro-like board game mechanics. Each player gets both a faction and a play mat that dictates the combination?? of actions they can take for the game. In one round, you might be producing food and metal, then building a structure. The player to your left might also choose the production action, but their play mat might allow them to spend metal to build a mech instead. You’ll need six stars to win the game, and only two of them can come from combat with other players. In fact, you might not even need to win a fight to win the game, because? gaining popularity and bolstering power can be just as important.

6. Terra Mystica

In Terra Mystica, players choose one of fourteen different factions to control and work to ??transform the lands around their home region. Building structures around the map is essential, since they allow you to pick up more workers, trade, and unlo??ck a faction-specific ability. There are also four religions to choose from, and investing in them gives you better skills and abilities. It’s the most complex board game on this list.

5. Viticulture

In Viticulture, your objective is to create a world-renowned wine that everyone wants to try. It’s a worker placement game in which most of the actions you can take on your turn a?re right in front of you on the board. While that might make it sound simple, there will be plenty of tough decisions to make, particularly when it comes to timing your action??s in accordance with the changing seasons. The process of harvesting, bottling, and marketing your wares is easy to enjoy and doesn’t require you to worry about the other players too often.

4. The Castles of Burgundy

If you want to try a quintessential Euro board game, look no further than Castles of Burgundy. This kingdom builder primarily focuses on collecting settlement til??es. Smart placement of these tiles will give the player more money, more trade goods, and more favorable dice rolls. Take over an entire region for bonus victory points, and advance your position on the turn order track to create the best duchy in medieval France. The game starts a bit slow, but quickly picks up its pace in the middle stages.

3. Agricola (Revised Edition)

Uwe Rosenberg’s farming and engine building board game Agricola is an epic tale of rags to riches with no shortage of strategic depth. At the start of the game, you’ll have two workers and a handful of basic improvements for your farm. Approximately two hours later, you’ll have a prosperous harvest and a bountiful feast of victory points. Agricola has many similarities with Rosenberg’s other famous Euro board games, A Feast for Odin and Caverna: The Cave Farmers. All of ?them are great, but there’s arguably only space for one ?of them on this list.

2. Brass: Birmingham

Brass Birmingham is an immensely satisfying economy-driven board game with a ton of exciting mechanics. Despite its Euro board ?game status, it’s definitely not lacking in theme. The dark and gritty Industrial Revolution England that players journey back to is engaging, atmospheric, and wonderfully illustrated by the board and other components. ??Throughout the game, you’ll enjoy building a network of railways and canals, selling goods, and increasing your production power.

1. Concordia

The strategic depth and numerous pathways to victory in Concordia make for an incredible tabletop gaming experience. You’ll start your journey off in Rome, and send your colonists out to build a trade network. As you link regions as far apart as Egypt and Britannia, you’ll get to build houses and gather more resources from them. You can also purchase the action cards available on the board, which are completely randomized. Once the last card is sold or one of the players places their fifteenth house, the game ends. The classic theme, simple yet engaging economy-driven gameplay, and lack of dice rolling make Concordia an essential Euro board gaming experience.

The post The 10 Best Euro Board Games of All Time, Ranked appeared first on Destructoid.

Legions of orcs have come forth from Mordor to sweep away the remnants of the Free Peoples. The strongest dwarves, elves, and men must band together to confront the forces of evil in a final effort to save Middle Earth. Meanwhile, a secret hope moves closer to the cracks of Mount Doom, unseen by the eye of Sauron. The story of The Lord of the Rings is as legendary as it is epic. It’s also perfectly captured in its premier strategy board game adaption, War of the Ring. In this guide, we’re reviewing all of the exciting editions, expans??ions, and spin-offs for this tabletop classic to aid you in your journeys through Middle Earth.

Where to Start: War of the Ring 2nd Edition

Fans who are new to the War of the Ring tabletop games should begin their adventures with the second edition of the original War of the Ring board game. In the box, you’ll find an expansive map of Middle Earth, neatly crafted dice, and a ton of miniatures. The game’s complex strategy mechanics are co?mpletely different depending on which side you’re playing. If you’re the Sauron player, your goal is to move your forces from region to region, conquering your enemy’s strongholds and claiming ten victory points. If you’re playing as the Free Peoples, you’ll instead need?? to outlast the war until Frodo and any remaining members of the fellowship reach Mordor.

War of the Ring Board Game Expansions

War of the Ring’s expansion content adds new characters to the board and more decisions for the players to make each round, transforming what was once a war into an epic fantasy campaign. ??These boxes bring bigger battles, longer game times, and more immersive mechanics to the table?. Below, you’ll find all the expansions listed in our suggested purchasing order.

Lords of Middle Earth Expansion

The Lords of Middle Earth expansion puts some of the most powerful characters from The Lord of the Rings in play, includin??g Elrond, Galadriel, and Durin’s Bane. Gandalf and the Wi?tch King come in a new form, and there are a couple of added dice to roll on each side of the table. This expansion doesn’t add too much game time but simply optimizes the tabletop experience.

Kings of Middle Earth Expansion

The corruption of Sauron and the evil doings of his envoys are the focus of the Kings of Middle Earth expansion. The King Under the Mountain and the King of the Woodland Realm join the fight to the north, while Denethor and Theoden work to keep the darkness at bay in Gondor and Rohan. To oppose them, the player siding with the shadow will gain access to the D??ark Chieftains, a new figure type that includes characters like Ugluk and the Black Serpent.

Warriors of Middle Earth Expansion

The Warriors of Middle Earth expansion adds exciting new miniature armies for both the Free Peoples and Sauron. Ents, eagles, and t??he ghostly traitors of Dunharrow take to the field, while Dunlend??ings, corsairs, and the spiders of Mirkwood rise to meet them. This box also includes more faction cards and action dice that help make the conflict less predictable.

The Fate of Erebor Expansion

The Fate of Erebor scenario kit focuses on an alternate version of the War of the Ring in which the Free Peoples have lost the Battle of the Five Armies at the end of The Hobbit. The Lonely Mountain becomes a stronghold of evil, and only a few holdouts remain in its vicinity. This expansion is smaller than the other boxes and contains only a few? overlay tiles and alternate editions of ?characters. However, it’s perfect if you’re looking to add more gameplay variety without spending too much.

Play This Next: War of the Ring: The Card Game

War of the Ring: The Card Game is also a viable starting point i??f you’re new to this tabletop series. Though it focuses on the same conflict as the board game, it’s a completely different experience with its own line of expansions. This time, you’ll have to capture battleground cards with characters and events to shape the fate of M?iddle Earth. Though it might not have the same strategic depth as the original War of the Ring, the card game is easier to learn, has a more accessible game length, and supports up to four players. It’s a blast for any Lord of the Rings fan and worth getting alongside the board game.

Fire and Swords Expansion

The new Fire and Swords expansion for the card game adds more battlegrounds, characters, and factions to both sides of the conflict and brings the war to the northern and western reaches of Middle Earth. There’s also a new set of scenario rules and support for up to six players, which ensures that the War of the Ring is a more exciting battle than ever before.

Against the Shadow Expansion

If you enjoy cooperative or single-player board games, then the Against the Shadow expansion for the War of the Ring card game will be the perfect fit for you. A new set of automation cards dictates what the forces of Sauron will do during their turn, and you’ll have to think carefully about what your next move is i?n opposing them. There are tw?o difficulty levels for every scenario, which adds further replay value.

More Collectables for War of the Ring Fans

If you love the War of the Ring and youâ€??™ve already purchased all the main expansions fo?r the board and card game, there are still a handful of awesome ways you can continue upgrading your collection and journeying through Middle Earth. 

The Battle of the Five Armies Board Game

From the makers of the War of the Ring board game comes The Battle of the Five Armies, an epic two-player duel that captures the conflict at the end of The Hobbit. This spin-off title features many of the same mechanics as its predecessor, including the huge collection of min??iatures on the board and the action dice. If you love Middle Earth and enjoy tactical board games, this one’s absolutely worth adding to your shelf.

War of the Ring Deluxe Game Mat

If you have all the War of the Ring expansions, you might have noticed that the game board can get a bit cramped when all the miniatures are in play. The deluxe game mat fi??xes this issue with a significant increase in map size, so you can more easily see?? where you’re moving your troops.

War of the Ring Card Boxes and Sleeves

If you want to keep your War of the Ring cards in perfect shape for years to come, you might want to consider picking up a few of the game’s dedicated card box and sleeve sets. There are several variants to choose from, with different character artwork and designs for ?each of them.

The post War of the Ring: The Complete Board and Card Game B??uying Guide appeared first on Destructoid.

Black Friday is a few weeks away, but you won’t need to wait to enjoy some fantastic deals on board games. Whether you want to buy something for your collection or friends, there are some great options to explore. Al?l the games on the following list are not only excellent options in their own right, but you can save a decent amount of cash by purchasing them right now. 

Catan

• Players needed: 3-4
• Regular Price: $54.99
• Discounted Price: $43.97

Catan will always remain one of my favorite board games due to the fantastic blend of luck and s??trategy. While you’re relying heavily on your dice draw, you’ll also have to place carefully to ensure getting a steady stream of resources to reach the victory condition. Again, the game emphasizes heavily what you want to do with your resources, and this is one title where hoarding is strictly discouraged.

Monopoly

• Players needed: 3-6
• Regular Price: $21.99
• Discounted Price: $14.97

Can there ever be a listicle about board games without Monopoly on? it? Entertaining kids and adults alike since 1935, Monopoly is a fantastic way to spend some quality time with your friends and family. Like Catan, you depend on dice draws to decide your fate, but what you do with the outcome always relies on your decision-m?aking. Buy properties, set up hotels, or go to jail - everything can happen during a round of Monopoly. 

Splendor

• Players needed: 3-4
• Regular Price: $39.99
• Discounted Price: $21.98

Surviving as a royal jeweler (not literally) isn’t an easy task, especially when you’ve become the very best. Essentially a pretty simple game, Splendor is about collecting gems and then using them t??o get the mines. There isn’t much control over the gems that you receive, but using them strategically to secure the mines relies entirely on you. In fact, short-sightedness can cost you heavily in this board game, which makes it an amazing strategy board game as well. 

Wingspan

• Players needed: 1-5
• Regular Price: $65
• Discounted Price: $52

Wingspan is a beautiful game for nature lovers, which can get deeply compelling and extremely strategic at the same time. The core objective is to build up your engine by collecting unique bird cards.  Then, you play them?????????????????????????? strategically, feed them with tokens, and help lay eggs. As you build up your aviary, you’ll need to make critical decisions at every stage. In fact, the hard part is picking between four different actions every turn. Wingspan can feel a bit complex for beginners, but you’ll get good at it in no time. Additionally, the game can b??e played solo as well.  

Ark Nova

• Players needed: 1-4
• Regular Price: $74.95
• Discounted Price: $51.07

Ark Nova is one of the newer additions to the board game segment, and it’s perfect for those who enjoy management games. Relying on the cards that are dealt to you, the objective is to build the ideal zoo for your animals. This means placing the right animals in their correct habitats. Unlike titles like Wingspan, Ark Nova does allow you to ch?ain the cards in your hand when required. There are five types of core actions, so you’ll once again have to pull out a sound balancing act. Like Wingspan, Ark Nova can be enjoyed alone or with your friends and family. 

Pandemic

• Players needed: 2-4
• Regular Price: $44.99
• Discounted Price: $35.99

While Pandemic requires you to at least have a partner to play with, it’s a co-op experience. In simpler words, you and your buddies will be using the cards to stop a global pan?demic from happening. The objective is to win and win together instead of trying to outwit each other. Coordination might be key, but your chances of success will mainly depend on how well you use the cards in your hand. If you enjoy Pandemic, there are plenty of themed versions available on the market as well.

Ticket to Ride

• Players needed: 2-5
• Regular Price: $54.99
• Discounted Price: $43.97

Ticket to Ride is one of those board games that look incredibly simple to play, and it is, but after a few turns, you then realize how complex it can get. Another board game that relies on cards, the core objective is to build the longest train possible. But you can’t place the bogies anywhere you wan?t, and the color of your cards will drive it. You’ll also have to connect the location cards in your hands for bonus points and avoiding penalties. It’s not an easy job at all, as your opponent will be doing the same, and the chaos begins if both of you have to lay down tracks on the same path. 

Arkham Horror

• Players needed: 1-4
• Regular Price: $59.99
• Discounted Price: $47.96

Halloween might be over, but the season of spookiness is yet to go away, and what better board game to play during this time than Arkham Horror? Themed around the Cthulhu mythos, Arkham Horror requires you to don your investigative hat and figure out what’s goin??g on in the mysterious town you find yourself in. To solve the mysteries in Arkham, you’ll have to rely on the instructions on the cards. The core gameplay is divided across different campaigns, and you can pick up several expansions (which all fit with the core set??). 

7 Wonders Duel

• Players needed: 2
• Regular Price: $34.99
• Discounted Price: $21.99

The original 7 Wonders requires you to build the finest empire possible across different ages. The Duel version has the same fundamental mechanics, but it’s tailor-made for two people. Winning in 7 Wonders Duel can be achieved in different ways - you can invade your opponent, research something marvelous, or build a city that takes you clo??ser to the victory condition. The Duel version als?o results in quicker games, and you don’t have to set up a full board game night to get enough people to play in the first place. 

Everdell

• Players needed: 1-4
• Regular Price: $75
• Discounted Price: $59.98

Everdell is perhaps one of the most beautiful board games that I ever played. Unlike Catan or Monopoly, Everdell is about going on an adventure where you get to build up your own civilization. The playing board is absolutely gorgeous, but Everdell isn’t about visual gimmicks. You create your own civilization of critters and cute animals using different cards. You can play alone or with your friends in a competitive way. The Standard edition is currently available at a discount, and it’s an amazing deal. If you lo??ve Everdell, you could also pick up expansions in the future.

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In the classic mystery solving board game Clue, the players must figure out who committed a crime, where it happened, and what implement the murderer used to do the deed. This basic premise has drawn many fans over the years. It has also inspired a movie spin-off by the same name as the game, and laid the groundwork for many fantastic tabletop titles to come. In this list, we’re looking at the best board games like Clue that expand on its formula with exciting mystery solving mech??anic??s and themes.

1. 221B Baker Street

221B Baker Street has a movement style similar to Clue, though with a bit more complexity. You and your team, if you’re playing with on??e, will need to not only eliminate suspects, but analyze the links between the? available clues to deduce what’s going on in each case. The locations on the board set up the Victorian theme perfectly and will be familiar to anyone who has seen or read anything related to Sherlock. If you’re planning to pick this one up, I highly recommend the deluxe edition, since it includes 200 different cases.

2. Mystery at Magnolia Gardens

The world’s best amateur detective Nancy Drew aids the players in their investigation of the Mystery at Magnolia Gardens, an exciting story that makes for the ??perfect evening in. Someone has been poisoning the local botanical garden, and it’s up to you to examine the evidenc?e and figure out why. In the box you’ll find a mix of character portraits, maps, and punchcards, along with an interesting lockbox. You can start anywhere, and the game is suitable for all audiences.

3. Spy Alley

Spy Alley is an intriguing game of secret roles, subtle strategy, and surprisingly high replay value. Instead of deducing who the murderer is like in Clue, it’s your job to guess the identities of the players across from you. Everyone has secret national ties, and must gather a mix of codes, keys, and disguises be?fore returning safely to their embassy. To cover your own tracks and keep the other players doubting who you are, you’ll want to pick up everything and avoid going straight for your objectives, since t?hat’s the fastest way to blow your cover.

4. Cat Crimes

If you’re on the hunt for a mystery solving game that’s a bit more kid-friendly than our other picks on this list, Cat Crimes is a solid choice. Gameplay centers around solving basic logic puzzles, and there’s a fun cast of potential suspects. Many of the puzzles here a quite easy, but at other times they can even stump the adults. It’s technically a single-player game, but multipl??e players can also work together as a team just as easily.

5. Mysterium

In Mysterium, you and your fellow psychics work collaboratively to analyze eerie clues from the beyond. One player takes on the role of the ghost and can only communicate with everyone else by using a set of abs??tract images that look like they come out of a strange dream. If the ghost is able to lead the other players towards the identity of their killer, everyone wins. If just one player runs out of time when guessing the combination of suspects, locations, and items, the murderer will escape.

6. Betrayal at the House on the Hill

In Betrayal at the House on the Hill, players will explore a strange, haunted mansion that’s full of doors just waiting to be opened. Everyone goes in to the house on the same team, but there’s one amongst you who will change si??des before the night is up. The layout of the rooms changes every time you play, and each character has unique abilities. There are 50 different scenarios for you to investigate, and each one has a new twist to keep you on your toes.

7. Sherlock Holmes Co??nsulting Detective: Jack the Ripper & West End Adventures

If you’re looking for a tabletop title that’s significantly darker and more advanced than Clue, the Consulting Detective series might be a great fit. You’ll have plenty of detective work to do, and more than a few confusing leads to follow. The game’s grimy Victorian London setting is intensely atmospheric. The stories included in the box are exciting, suspenseful, ??and often gruesome. If you can crack just one of the cases, you’ll feel like a genius.

8. Chronicles of Crime

For a more modern take on solving crimes, you should definitely give the cooperative board game Chronicles of Crime a try. Many of the game’s physical components are tied into its app, which helps narrate and guide the story scenarios. For example, you’ll need to scan the QR codes on the evidence cards. This helps you find out more about them and check in with related entries in the police database. While there’s no movement-based gameplay like in Clue, the debates you’ll have with your crime-solving associates about who did ??it and why are significantly more engaging.

9. Mystery Train

What better place for a classic whodunnit than aboard a moving train? The Mystery Train board game makes the most of this exciting s??etting and uses all the best tropes in the detective genre to ensure that everyone has a great time. The game’s randomized mix of motive, suspect, and location cards (plus the funny character names that riff off famous literary crime solvers) often make for a comedic experience.

10. Detective: City of Angels

Fans of a vintage, noir-themed mystery will love Detective: City of Angels. One ??of the players will take on the role of the Chisel, and must misdirect or lie to the other players to stop them from solving the crime. There’s an in-depth suspect interrogation system, and plenty of narrative twists. The map of Los Angeles is also full of places to search for clues, though doing so can use up your actions and move the case closer towards going cold.

The post 10 great board games to play if you like Clue appeared first on Destructoid.

Engine building board games at their best can be immensely satisfying and incredibly variable, with tons of unexpected outcomes. When you sit down to play, you’ll of course start out with nothing. But as it turns out, with a pair of farmers, a pile of rocks, and a couple bars of metal, you too, can build an empire. In the list below we’ve assembled our pick??s for the best engine building board games of all time. Every single one of them is a game night staple that’s absolutely worth playing.

What is an Engine Building Board Game?

The hallmarks of this type of board game are simple. You usually begin with very litt??le to work with, whether it's coins or bushels of wheat or workers. You must then begin working toward victory by gathering resources. The more resources you have at your disposal, the more cards or tiles you can play. These cards and tiles will then either make it easier to gather more, or make everything you have in play more efficient. By the end of the game, you’ll have ?a well-oiled machine that lets you take incredibly powerful turns.

13. It’s a Wonderful World

The futuristic, dystopian card game It’s a Wonderful World is a modern classic of the engine-building genre. The game takes place over the course of four rounds and includes a drafting system that allows you to sa?botage your opponent’s systems. Well-timed card placement and resource generation are the keys to a successful strategy. However, you’ll also need to th?ink carefully about which cards you need to discard rather than build. It typically takes less than an hour to finish a game, and there’s a solo mode.

12. Gizmos

In Gizmos, each player works to design a machine that they hope will win them the top prize at the next Great Science Fair. When it’s your turn, you’ll have to file designs, build contraptions, or pick up resources from the game’s marble d??ispenser. With a good a??rrangement of cards in play, you can quickly pick up steam. It’s easy to learn and looks deceptively simple, but mastering the game will be challenging for most players. On some occasions, your starting hand can make it tricky to win, and for that reason, it’s just a bit further back on this list.

11. Fantastic Factories

Fantastic Factories is perfect for players looking for a new engine building board game that’s a bit less of a slow burn than the other ?entries on this list. The theme is straightforward and direct, and the card combos are satisfying and easy to trigger. It’s a bit friendlier than your average tabletop title since player interaction is limited, and this can be either a blessing or a curse depending on your preferences. It’s easy to learn and works great for players of all ages.

10. 7 Wonders

Develop an ancient civilization from the ground up in 7 Wonders, and then build a monument to your greatness to claim victory points. The game takes place over three phases. The first is all about mining??, logging, and quarrying stone. In?? the next round, you and the players to your immediate left and right can use these resources to start assembling armies and attacking enemies. By the final round you might have made a few scientific innovations, or perhaps built a pantheon or palace that people in the future will consider a great wonder.

9. Splendor

If you’re looking for an easier to understand engine builder that’s accessible for all players, Splendor is a great pick. You’ll have a se??t of gems to work with in the first round, which you can use to pick up cards. These cards essentially function as more money for you to stack with your initial gems. The purchasing options are randomized, and most of the more expensive cards will give you victory points. The first player to 15 points takes the crown. Though it’s on the simpler side, there’s plenty of strategic ga?meplay.

8. Scythe

The first World War rages on into the 1920s in Scythe, an exceptional alternate history board game of mechs, worker movement, and production. Each turn you’ll need to think carefully about what you’re going to do both now and in the next several rounds. If you produce oil, you can upgrade the efficiency of yo??ur play mat. If you choose to make food instead, you can purchase bolsters that react to your opponents' actions. With more workers and more resource generation comes increased power and popularity costs. You can also make metal or wood to build mechs and structures. Mastery of this board game takes time, and that’s because there’s so much more here than just engine building.

7. Dominion

The classic deck-building card game Dominion is all about adding fuel to your deck’s engine to ensure that you have efficient draw and coin generation. While it might seem tempting to only pick up victory points for the end of the game, these cards typically slow down your deck. Instead, you’ll need to build a setup with actions and treasures to ensure that you can do something meaningful every turn, whether it’s putting down a string of markets and villages or cursing your opponents. There’s also a ton of great Dominion expansions that ?utilize novel mechanics and give you more ways to win.

6. Underwater Cities

Underwater Cities is a building and development-themed board game in which each player aims to effectively transform the sea floor with new civilizations. Science and research are of course essential to success, though y??ou’ll also need to think carefully about where you’re going to put you??r domes and tunnels. Color-matching card placement will help ensure you get the most out of every turn, but this is often difficult depending on what you have in your hand. Like all the best engine building board games, it’s both complex and satisfying.

5. Wingspan

The bird-themed board game Wingspan is a medium-weight engine and tableau builder that just a?bout everyone will enjoy on game night. Each round, you can either play a bird to your mat, lay eggs, gather food, or draw. As you continue to put more cards down, these actions will become significantly more productive, and lead to some sizeable turns. There are ton of different effects to mix and match, because no two birds are alike. With the? goal board and the variety of bonus cards available, no two games are quite the same either.

4. Race for the Galaxy

When you win a game of Race for the Galaxy, you’ll feel like you’ve conquered the entire universe. That’s because in each game you’re working to bend an immense network of planets and solar systems to your will with new technologies and social changes. There are seven different phases that can happen in a given round, but each player can only choose one of th??em. As a result, the possible actions you can take will remain relatively unpredictable. It’s a system that keeps things exci??ting right up to the very end.

3. Res Arcana

In Res Arcana, the engine you build will quite literally be magical. That’s of course because you and your fellow players are competing mages who have to manage a mix of essences to make artifacts and claim monuments. You’ll know everything about the items you have to work with up front at the start of the game, though the order in which you get to use these tools varies. The first ??player to ten points wins, and with the right engine, you might be able to pick up all these points in a single round.

2. Agricola

Agricola is the ultimate farming board game, and perfectly balances worker placement with engine development. Your farmstead has little to offer at the start of the game, but by adding rooms, working in the field, raising? livestock, and having children, everything will begin to run more smoothly. You’ll have both occupation and minor improvement cards in your hand to aid you, but you can also choose to use the major improvements available on the table instead. The scoring system also gives you plenty of different routes to victory and rewards setups with more variance in production.

1. Terraforming Mars

When it comes to building up a resource generation and card effect engine, there’s nothing quite as satisfying as Terraforming Mars. Each player takes on the role of a c??orporation bent on turning the Red Planet into an industrious civilization that churns out a massive prof?it. You’ll start by increasing your production tracks with mines, microbes, and monetary investments. By the end you’ll be building space technology on Jupiter’s moons, constructing domed cities, and thawing enough water to create an ocean. When it comes to engine building board games, it’s our top pick.

The post The 13 Best En?gine Building Board Games of All Time, Ranke??d appeared first on Destructoid.

In Nemesis, you and your fellow crew mates are locked in a ship in deep space with a dangerous alien species on board. It’s a board game with incredibly exciting gameplay, fun narrative choices, and more than a few tense moments. However, there’s so much more to this top-rated tabletop title than it’s base game. In this guide, we’re reviewing all the available Nemesis editions and expansi??ons to help you and your group get the best survival horror experience.

Where to start: Nemesis Base Game

There are two places where you can begin your journey in the Nemesis universe: the original base game and Nemesis Lockdown. Both are standalone games that utilize many of the same gameplay mechanics, and neither one is a bad choice for your first playthrough. Classic Nemesis, however, is perhaps slightly less complex. The original follows the mission to find Earth, which is a narrative that’s a litt?le bit easier to follow. Both games have plenty of atmosphere, awesome miniatures, and interesting personal objectives cards that make it all too easy to betray your friends.

Nemesis Lockdown

Nemesis Lockdown is a standalone game set within the walls of a hidden base on Mars. The new alien species, the Night Stalkers, utilize a light and dark mechanic that’s absent from the original. The computers are more powerful and there are a few extra ways to escape the station and survive. The end game uses contingency plans rather than coordinates cards, and it’s a bit easier to avoid making noise when you move your character. You can’t go wrong with either Lockdown or the original Nemesis, and getting both isn’t ??a bad option either. Mixing and matching the characters from the two boxes is great fun and allows you to tinker with the game’s difficulty.

Nemesis Board Game Expansions

Once you have either the original base game or Lockdown in your collection, you can upgrade your experience with the game’s expansions. You can mix and match the added content with either version of the game, but if you have Nemesis: Lockdown and not the original, you should prioritize the Stretch Goals expansion instead of jumping into the other options first. More details on this box and our recommende??d buying order follow below.

1. Nemesis Lockdown Stretch Goals Expansion

Nemesis Lockdown Stretch Goals adds the Chytrids, a deadly new alien threat with completely different mechanics from the Night Stalkers. If you have Lockdown in your collection but not the original Nemesis, you’ll want to pick up this expansion first, as it adds new cards that make the classic game’s expansions compatible with Lockdown. If you instead have the bas??e game only, you can choose any of the other three main expansi??ons first.

2. Nemesis Aftermath Expansion

Five new characters, the shuttle board addition, and the epilogue game mode await you in the Nemesis Aftermath expansion. The epilogue adds about an hour to the end of a normal game of Nemesis, and allows you to pick up a different cha??racter whose goal is to investigate what happened aboard the ship. It’s a great way to bring players who were eliminated early on back into the game.

3. Nemesis Carnomorph Expansion

The Carnomorph expansion adds a brand new monster that replaces the intruders from the base game, along with a handful of new event cards. This new terror? focuses on mutations and the absorption of DNA. While it might start out looking innocuous, it can quickly evolve into a new form that’s more deadly than anything you’ve come across so far. The new Flesh Beast and Butcher miniatures are particularly satisfying to paint and play with.

4. Nemesis Void Seeders Expansion

In the Void Seeders expansion, you’ll have to manage your character’s sanity as well as their health bar. That’s because the new monster in this box, the signature Void Seeders, can infect both your mind and body. There’s slightly less combat than the Carnomorph expansion, but this might actually be preferable for certain players. This time around you’ll also hav??e to manage the adverse effects of the new panic deck instead.

5. Nemesis Terrain Expansion

If you love the miniatures in Nemesis and want to upgrade the visual appeal of your board game, the Terrain Expansion is a solid choice. This box doesn’t add anything new to the mechanics of the game, and thus it’s not really considered one of the game’s main expansions. However, it replaces many of the plainer cardboard components with more durable plastic ones. If you play Nemesis a lot or you enjoy collecting miniatures, it’s w??o??rth getting.

6. Nemesis Kings Miniatures

If you already own all the main Nemesis expansions and want to complete your collection, there are two additional miniatures packs you can pick up. The first of these is the Nemesis Kings pack, which adds five additional figures that replace the base g?ame, Void Seeder, and Carnomorph king and queen intruders. There are also a few art cards included that match the new miniatures.

7. Nemesis Space Cats Miniatures

The Space Cats Miniatures kit is a cosmetic upgrade for Nemesis that replaces some of the aliens with cats. While it’s not a necessity for enjoying the game, it’s definitely a fun, goofy twist. Like the Kings pack, it includes a few neat art cards that match the figures, which makes for the perfect collector’s item. There’s also a Lockdown Space Cats miniatures add on f??or players with that version of the game.

The post The complete Nemesis board game?? and expansion buying guide appeared first on Destructoid.

The intrigue and excitement of guessing the right words in Codenames continue to make it one of the most popular party games around. It’s easy to learn, and the layout changes every time you play. However, if you’re ready to try something new, we’ve assembled ten great board games like Codenames for you to play with your friends and family.

1. Wavelength

If you enjoy trying to guess what’s on another player’s mind, like in Codenames, then you’ll have a great time with Wavelength. To start the game, your team draws a card with a pair of opposites written on it. Examples include “hot and cold�or “cheap and expensive� One of your teammates w?ill sit across the table from you and look at the exact location of the needle on a spectrum. It’s their job to give the rest of your team associated word clues based on the drawn card to help you identify exactly where the needle lies.

2. Decrypto

The team-based guessing gameplay in Decrypto will immediately feel familiar to fans of Codenames. Each team has a set of four words that only they can they can see. When the round begins, one of the team members will have to communicate the correct sequence of these words without actually sa??ying the words or giving hints to the opposition. Your team collects an interception token when you are able to guess the other team’s sequence. However, you’ll receive a negative marker instead if you fail to communicate your own code first.

3. Spyfall

Spyfall is a game of secret roles that’s all about detecting the person in your group who secretly knows nothing about where you are. When you begin, you’ll set up a mix of random location cards. Then, you’ll deal a role card to each player. Every player will see the locale for the round on their card, except for the spy, who wins by guessing the correct place. You’ll have to ask and answer a lot of indirect questions to figure out who knows wha?t.

4. Deception: Murder in Hong Kong

In Deception: Murder in Hong Kong, one of the people at your party table isn’t quite as innocent as they seem. A killer is secretly among you, and your group of detectives will have to interpret ?the mix of forensic evidence and items next to each player to uncover the truth of what happened last night in the city. A witness to the crime may be able to aid you by identifying relevant locations, weapons, and motives. However, it’s up to you to associate their hints with the numerou??s clue cards before you.

5. The Resistance

The Resistance is a spy-themed social deduction game that’s all about guessing which half of the players at the table are on your ??side. I??f you support the Resistance, you and your teammates will need to complete three missions. If you’re a spy that favors the Empire, it’s your job to sabotage these quests and make the Resistance team members think that you’re on their side. Everyone gets to vote on who’s going on the missions, which allows everyone to participate right up until the end of the game.

6. The Chameleon

If you love word association games and want to try something that moves a bit quicker than Codenames, The Chameleon is a great pick. At the start of the game, you’ll see a board o?f sixteen loosely related words. One of these is the Secret Word. The player who draws the chameleon role is trying to blend in with everyone else but doesn’t ?know the Secret Word. The players rapidly go around the table saying related words and trying to either guess the Secret Word if they’re the chameleon or figure out who amongst them is the imposter.

7. Dixit

The classic party game Dixit is an engaging and enjoyable experience for players of all ages. The active player in a given round has to describe the picture on their cards without giving away too much of what it ??looks like. The goal is to communicate to a few players which card is theirs but leave everyone else in the dark. The other players pick one of their cards that best fits the original card’s description. Then, you reveal all the cards together and ??let everyone try to guess which card on the table belongs to the active player. There will be more than a few creative and unexpected outcomes when you’re playing this game.

8. Blank Slate

Blank Slate is an easy-to-learn, often hilarious board game that suits groups of all sizes. Your job is to fill in a mad-libs-style cue each round and guess what everyone else will write in the same space. If you write something that’s too obscure or outside t?he box, and no one else wrote the same answer to the cue, you won’t score any points. As a result, it’s best to predict what everyone will think and brainstorm the most common word associations to ensure that you have the same guess as at least one other player.

9. Banned

If you’re after a social, fiercely competitive contest of words that’s sure to be a hit on game night, then you should definitely play Banned. Every round, the tw??o teams will try to guess the most correct words without using any of the banned ones. If someone accidentally uses one of the banned words as a clue, they immediately lose the round. Since you’re trying to collect as many correct words as possible within a given time limit, you’ve got to think fast, which means making a mistake is all too eas??y.

10. Just One

The exciting cooperative communication game Just One is great fun for anyone who loves Codenames. Everyone in the group except for one person looks at a card with a word on it. Then, everyone but the selected player will need to write out a clue to the word that doesn’t directly n?ame it. If your clue matches that of another player, then you’ll have to erase it. The excitement of the game comes from finding the perfect sweet spot between an obvious hint and an obscure one.

The post 10 Greatest Party Board Games?? to Play if You Like Codenames appeared first on Destructoid.

The recent spate of board game adaptations of video games has led to some great successes and some infamous failures, but the unique pitch of Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Board Game cannot fail to capture the attention of a particular era of gamer. Rather than simply adapting the often complicated mechanics of the video game dire??ctly, Archon Studio has created a? nostalgic treat that doesn't get overly caught up in faithfulness over function.

Heroes of Might and Magic III was a tactical turn-based strategy game released in 1999 as part of a spinoff series in the Might and Magic franchise of computer RPGs. Through rich storytelling, challenging campaigns and finely-tuned strategy, Heroes III, as it is known, managed to capture the imaginations of multiple generations of ?gamers. Players could choose from a wide range of monstrous settlements for their starting base, each with their own evocative art and unique units. They were motivated to explore a world filled with crystal mines, griffon towers, and witch's huts thro??ugh a wide array of solo campaigns, skirmish modes and multiplayer options.

Heroes III stands out as a particular success in the franchise, as subsequent installments in the series failed to capture the same satisfying gameplay loops and fan loyalty. The board game adaptation from Archon Studio is a triumph of nostalgia withou?t being overly loyal to the often-automated original mechanics of the video game. The core set comes with three factions (Castle, Dungeon, and Necropolis), and a series of expansions add fan favorites such as the Tower, Rampart, Fortress, and Inferno. Each faction has its own strengths and weaknesses and gives a slightly different experience of play, as well as its own heroes who gain unique benefits as they level up.

Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Board Game has utilized t??he wealth of recognizable art from the video game and also boasts new art that fits perfectly with the aesthetic. Fans will undoubtedly feel a warm glow of nostalgia looking at the hexes and city boards.

Combat is hugely simplified for ease and speed, and considering how many early fights end within a couple of actions, this is a boon to gamers who do not want to spend their whole day trying to work out how to split their horde of gargoyles into different stacks of troops. One of the things that made Heroes III so interesting was that you controlled groups of soldiers rather than individual models, a 'few' griffins and a 'throng' of pikemen, which indicated how many hits they could take before being removed from the fight but also how much damage they would do when they attacked. The game's resource limits forced players to make strategic choices about whether to buy more cheaper, weaker units, upgrade existing units into stronger versions, or focus? on a few more expensive units. The board game has simplified this down to a more binary system: units start on the 'few' side and can be upgraded to a mechanically superior 'pack,' which is knocked down to their 'few' side when they take sufficient damage. For those who favor a more complex combat emulator over exploration, the Battlefield expansion provides an experience closer to a classic war game.

In the video game, heroes found or purchased artifacts and spells and gained skills as they leveled, but the board game draws these elements together to make an engaging deck-building experience. Each player starts with a deck of cards that has basic abilities boosting attack, defense, magic, one or two magic arrow spells, and one unique ability card. As heroes level up by fighting, exploring, and building, they draw from expansive sets of spells, artifacts, and skills to build their hero deck. From powerful exploration skills like Diplomacy and Logistics to artifacts like the Black Shard of the Dead Knight, these are reworked for the board game mechanics and offer a wide ran??ge of tactical options.

Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Board Game has a satisfying gam??eplay loop at its core that not only draws on the nostalgia value of the original Heroes III experience but also remixes familiar elements into something that suits a tabletop game a lot better. There is an undeniable joy in the process of playing, whether you are revealing a hex filled with exploration points, slotting your latest structure into your growing city board, or rolling for a climactic fight with a Crystal Dragon. In some areas, the game has lost tactical depth through its simplification (for instance, instead of a different building for every type of unit, you now have a single building for all units of a particular power level), but the trade-off in terms of streamlined gameplay is undeniable.

My main complaint is that there are only a few cooperative scenarios in the many mission books, meaning that gaming with friends in a non-competitive way is likely to get boring quickly. However, the richness of the gameplay still means that each game has its own variety. If you loved Heroes of Might and Magic III, prepare to restore Erathia once more!

The post Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Board Game does ??nostalgia right appeared first on Destructoid.

Love the outstanding engine building and tile laying tactics of Terraforming Mars but feel ready to try something new? Thankfully, there are many great tabletop titles that feel equally satisfying and are absolutely worth adding to your collection. Below you’ll find our picks for the best board games like Terraforming Mars in terms of either ??????????????????????????their gameplay mechanics or the?me.

1. Underwater Cities

Underwater Cities features an interesting action-card based engine system with some similarities to Terraforming Mars, though with a handful of unique twists. It’s your goal to match the ?colors of the cards in your hand with actions on the board, as this will allow you to take optimal turns. However, that’s not always possible, so it’s often up to you t?o make the best of your current resources and draw. Each player will also get their own building board on which they’ll get to map out a unique network of tunnels and domes for their city.

2. Dune Imperium: Uprising

Instead of taking over the Red Planet, why not attempt to become the overlord of Arrakis instead? In Dune Imperium: Uprising, you are the leader of one of the Great Houses. By sending your agents to various locations on the desert planet, you can generate spice, t??rade for resources, and participate in combat. If you choose to visit other locations in the Imperium, you will also increase your standing with factions like the Fremen and the Bene Gesserit. As your persuasion points build, your deck will continue to pick more?? more steam, and your turns will become more powerful.

3. Scythe

The strategic depth of Scythe’s engine building gameplay is an exciting and engaging experience, especially if you’re already a fan of games like Terraforming Mars. Though the theme is admittedly completely different here, the complexities of resource generation and structure building are incredibly satisfying to manage. The game’s five major factions offer completely distinct play styles from one another, and the miniatures and artwork are both stellar. There are also plenty of great Scythe expansions to choose from if you’d like to add ??airships, ?new factions, or space for seven players.

4. A Feast for Odin

While A Feast for Odin is primarily a worker placement game, the decision making, building, and resource management processes in this title will greatly appeal to fans of Terraforming Mars. You’ll have a sizeable collection of viking meeples to send out on raids, trades, and all manner of crafting and production tasks. When your vikings come back home, they’ll bring a collection of item ?tiles for you to add to y??our personal board. You’ll need to smartly arrange these tiles to cover up negative victory point spaces and make room for your next loot haul.

5. 7 Wonders

7 Wonders is a classic of the engine building genre with mechanics that are significantly easier to manage than those found in Terraforming Mars. The result is a much more accessible title to share with people who aren’t as familiar with board games that still scratches the same itch. You are in charge of one of Earth’s ?age-old civilizations, and must advance from ancient times to? an era of enlightenment over the course of three rounds. You’ll start by farming and mining, then move towards military conquest, artistic prowess, and perhaps even scientific progress.

6. Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy

If you enjoy sci-fi themed board games and want to try something that balances building an epic space empire with in-depth conflict, then Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy might be the perfe??ct fit for you. On your turn you can construct unique technology tiles, build ships, and explore deep space. Alternatively, you can move your tokens and attempt to conquer your enemies, but only if there’s a nearby wormhole to their sector. Though there are a lot of co?mponents, the storage solutions included in the box make token management easy.

7. It’s a Wonderful World

The five major Empires left on dystopian Earth seek to extract the planet’s last remaining resources and restore their power in the It’s a Wonderful World board game. Rounds start with a drafting process that gives players a mix of project cards ?that they can either build or recycle. Completing p??rojects will either give you more resources during the production phase, or net you victory points. Games take less than an hour, and it’s surprising how satisfying the engine building experience is here considering the short play time.

8. Race for the Galaxy

Build a unique civilization in space by exploring and settling new planets, developing new technologies, and producing goods in Race for the Galaxy. This excellent tableau-building card game has a unique mechanic that allows players to secretly choose which phases occur in a given round. For example, if everyone leaves the settle action card behind, there won’t be a settlement phase. Expansion content for Race for the Galaxy is also great, and adds plenty of interesting new hom??e worlds.

9. Maracaibo

In Maracaibo, you’ll take on the role of an explorer, privateer, or pirate in the 17th century Caribbean. You’ll sail your ship around the board’s loop of locations, and take a variety of actions along the way, from completing quests and upgrading your ship to increasing your standing with various island factions. Like Terraforming Mars, there are so many different ways to claim victory points, and rushing to the journey’s end doesn’t necessarily mean victory. It’s also one of our top picks for pirate-themed board games.

10. 51st State: Master Set

The 51st State board game puts you in charge of a unique faction that seeks to control the ashes of post-apocalyptic America. To gain power, you’ll need to build cards for your tableau, make deals, and, ironically, avoid hoarding resources. Some of the locations you ?construct will give you more of these resources each turn, while others will provide action and victory point bonuses instead. The master set includes two exp??ansions worth of extra cards that help add more to game’s already high replay value.

The post 10 Awesome Board Games F??or Fans of Terraforming Mars appeared first on Destructoid.

Wingspan has won over many fans with its beautiful bird-themed artwork, variable objectives, and accessible gameplay. The engine and tableau building mechanics are outstanding, and your strategy shifts every time you play. However, if you and your game night group are ready to try something new, there are more than a few great board games like Wingspan that will surely win you over. In the list below, you’ll find a few ?of our top picks.

1. Earth

The outstanding tableau building board game Earth shares several gameplay mechanics with Wingspan. However, there are of course plenty of mechanical twists that make it a distinct experience. Your player area has space for a 4x4 grid of Earth cards that you’ll fill up by spending soil. These cards often have interesting “when-activated�effects that trigger when you take actions. Placement order also matters because it determines which effects take place first. You can also build canopies on your Earth cards in similar fashion to how you lay eggs in Wingspan. There are a ton of unique c??ards, and no two games play out quite the same.

2. Mariposas

Mariposas is a fun butterfly-themed board game from Wingspan designer Elizabeth Hargrave that’s all about collecting sets of cards and flower tokens. Your collection of butterflies migrates north every year in Spring, traveling from Mexico up the East Coast. They also complete the same journey in reverse for Fall. Each of the game’s three seasons has a unique scoring condition that affects how you move across the map, and there’s ton of variability for other card resource set bonuses. Just like Wingspan, the artwork is fantastic.

3. Ark Nova

In Ark Nova, you’re the manager of what will hopefully become the world’s best zoo. To achieve such heights you’ll of course?? need to build enclosures and fin?d animals. Each animal brings in a new and exciting effect that can quickly change your strategy. You’ll also have to raise money with the aid of sponsors and invest in conservation projects to keep things sustainable. It’s an expansive and exciting game that takes a while to get the hang of, but once you do, you’ll find that there’s practically infinite ways to claim victory.

4. Wyrmspan

While it might look like it’s just Wingspan but with dragons, Wyrmspan actually has plenty of interesting differences from original bird-themed title. This time around you’ll get a mix of cave cards to explore in addition to hatching dragons on your board. There’s no dice tower, though luck of the draw can still affect what options you have on hand. There’s also no limit on the number of actions you can take during each of the four rounds. When you can’t trigger anything else on your board, you simply pass. There are still round-based bonuses you can compete ?for, and over 180 unique cards.

5. Evolution

The Evolution board game takes players back in time to the prehistoric era, when creatures were just arriving on land and had to adapt to survive. You’ll be in charge of a single species that you can customize with interesting traits. These traits make it easier to get food or avoid carnivores, and will hopefully keep you alive for another round. There are a ton of different combi?nations to choose from, and the shared ecosystem ??that you and the other players create feels very much alive.

6. Oceans

If the mechanics of Evolution seem appealing but you’d prefer a more aquatic theme, then Oceans might be the perfect board game for you. This time you’ll be able to play multiple deep s?ea species, and add up to three adaptions to them. You’ll also need to feed these species and continuously move population token?s, which can trigger the Cambrian Explosion. During this phase, the amount of cards you can play doubles, which leads to some truly exciting turns.

7. PARKS

PARKS takes you and up to four other players on a journey to the most iconic viewpoints in America’s National Parks. Your job is to create photos and collect memories at these locations. This then allows you to visit new places or get new hiking gear for the changing of the seasons. Like Wingspan, the?re isn’t too much direct competition with other players, which keeps things on the cozy side. I honestly can’t think of a single board game that has better? art than this one.

8. Everdell

In Everdell, your goal is to create thriving village f??ull of animal inhabitants. To do this, you’ll need to either build the cards in your hand, or send your workers to the different locations and destination cards in play. The tableau of travelers, governance, and construction projects that you build will be completely different in each game, and the cards and other resources you have on hand will force you to adapt your strategies accordingly. The theme is gorgeous and establishes a completely original fantasy world that’s sure to win you over.

9. Terraforming Mars

If you love the engine building mechanics of Wingspan and want to try a board game with a completely different theme, Terraforming Mars is a fantastic choice. Each player takes two actions at a time, and can spend their turn by building projects, placing greenery or ??city tiles on Mars, or increasing their production tracks. As your board state continues to fill out, your turns get more and more exciting. Soon you’ll be crashing giant ice asteroids onto the surface of the Red Planet and building colonies on distant moons.

10. Botany

If you enjoyed collecting different species of birds in Wingspan, then you’ll love putting together a beautiful mix of flowers in Botany. It’s the Victorian era, and you and various other members of the British elite are traveling the globe in hopes of finding enough rare specimens to to win the Royal Botanist title. Gameplay takes place on an intricately linked world map, and travel requires that you gather both crew and supplies. It’s certainly different from Wingspan in terms of mechanics,? but there’s still a randomized objective system to keep things fresh, as well as a gorgeous nature th??eme.

The post 10 Great Board Games to Play if You Like Wingspan appeared first on Destructoid.

Only some board games are ?popular enough to not only dominate the decade that they were published in, but to maintain relevancy and demand even today. Let's go back in time and have a look at some of history's most popular board games.

Each decade's most popular board games

Board games have become much more ??numerous and popular as time passes, and for good reason. We can look as far back as the turn of the 20th Century for data on board game releases, although it's difficult to discern objectively the most popular board games of any particular decade.

However, there are many tools that allow me to use my knowledge of the hobby and its history to determine what are the best candidates for the most popular board games for each decade. Most of these board games are popular still today, and how old they a?re may surprise you.

1900s

Starting in the 1900s, there wasn't much going on for this decade in the board game departmen?t. Two very notable games were released this decade, however, which were popular at the time (and continue to be so now through their ancestors).

Raumschach (Three Dimensional Chess) and The Landlord's Game wer?e released and were li??kely the most popular of that decade.

Raumschach (developed in ??Germany in 1904) was a revolu?tionary chess variant. The creator, Ferdinand Maack, made this game (called "Space Chess" in German) to more accurately mimic modern warfare.

The Landlord's Game, invented by Elizabeth Magie in 1906, is the ironic predecessor to Monopoly and initially aimed to ?highlight the consequences and evils of Capitalism. It was particularly popular for ??some groups this decade, and lives on spiritually through the huge success of Monopoly.

These are the only two?? notable games I can find developed in the 1900s, so ??on to the next decade.

1910s

The 1910s also saw very few board games release,?? although one was a classic that lives on today.

Uncle Wiggily, released in 1916, is a simple board game with mechanics extraordinarily similar to Snakes and Ladders. It was based on a book wit??h the same namesake, and despite being over one hu?ndred years old, still gets published.

Although considerably less popular now, the fact that it's still firmly in circulation is a huge testament ??????????????????????????to its popularity. So it stands that Uncle Wiggily was likely the?? most popular board game of the 1910s.

1920s

The 1920s was also a pretty barren expanse for board games, although just before the next century began, one very popular ??board game was released.

Sorry! (patented in 1929) is a classic board game that still holds up today, and is as commonplace as Ludo or Snakes and Ladders. In fact, Sorry! ?is based on Ludo, a game that originated in India a few thousand years ago.

Although Sorry! may be losing its relevance in this day and age, it's been an incredibly popular game that I'm sure would have at least been one of the most popular, if not the most popular, game of the 1920s.

1930s

The 1930s starts to see an uptick of bo??ard games,? and is the decade that one of the most notoriously popular board games were created.

Monopoly (first sold in 1934) was released, beginning its lasting legacy. Needless to say, it's still widely played today, and was ext?ensively popular in the decade it was released.

In true capitalist fashion, Monopoly saw huge success in the Christmas season of 1934 befo?re being patented in 1935, making this game rather timeless. Since then, it's benefitted from over 1,500 editions and has invaded almost every homestead.

1940s

The?? 1940s saw a tremendous number of board games released compared to previous years. Two have remained enjoyed classics, and one has fallen behind? although was very popular in its time. Although all three board games were released right at the end of the decade, they were very popular.

Clue (released in 1949), Scrabble (released in 1948), and Candyland (in 1949) were released. Althoug??h Candyland has fallen from its plinth of popularity, I can't ignore how popular it was when released.

Clue and Scrabble remain some of the most popular household board games today. When stripped from it?s dressings, Candyland resembles Uncle Wiggily in gameplay mechanics, although I don't believe it's hit the same level of popularity.

1950s

The 1950s is when board gaming really took off, as it saw t??he release of a surprising amount.

The most notable games of this decade were Risk (released in 1957) and Yahtzee (released in 1956). like Monopoly, Risk has seen many editions and is a solid pick of war game enthusiasts. And who hasn't played Yahtzee?

From this point onward, it's going to get real difficult to nail down the most popular board games of each decade as so?? many were released.

1960s

There are quite a few board games to?? go over in the 1960s, and I have filtered through the board games that were well-received at the ?time.

The Game of Life (released in 1960), Stratego (released in 1961), Mousetrap (released in 1963), Operation (released in 1965), and Battleship (released in 1967) were a?mong the most popular board games of this decade.

It felt wrong leaving any of them out, as they're all very popular today and were ?in the decade of release. You've likely played many of these games, considering they've all cemented themselves into the category of household games.

1970s

With more and more board games being released every decade, ?it's not surprising that the 1970s also had some prett??y popular games.

Boggle (released in 1972), Connect 4 (released in 1974), and Guess Who (released in 1979) hit the scene and earned their place on the?? ??pantheon of classics. Although Boggle has seen less general success than Guess Who and Connect 4, it's still had a very successful run.

Given the success and "vibe"? of Connect ??4, I'm surprised it was developed this decade, and not much earlier.

1980s

I hope you're ready for some more classics, as the 1980s produced many more games, although a few definitely hit the po??pular mark for then and now.

Trivial Pursuit (released in 1981), Jenga (released in 1983), and Pictionary (released in 1985) hit center stage and instantly becam??e? classics.

You've likely played one of the many variations of Trivial Pursuit, and ??Pictionary has become released by many imitators both digitally and physically. Jenga has (mostly) remained unchange?d, but then again you can't really mess with perfection.

1990s

With the 1990s, we're leaving behind the "older" years and creeping up on our own decade. Naturally, an explosion of board ga??mes released this decade, although a few sit head and shoulders above the others.

Catan (released in 1995), Twilight Imperium (released in 1997), and Cranium (released in 1998) were (and still are) behemoths of modern board gaming. Although Cranium was for younger audiences compared to the other two, it was still a hit in its category and still gets played today a??s an alte??rnative to Trivial Pursuit.

A??lthough Twilight Imperium has faded from popularity these days, the franchise had a couple decades of widespread enjoyment as a bulky and hu?ge space conquest adventure.

Catan has remained competitive with many editions, expansions, and scenarios. It remains a titan in the b??oard game industr??y and has many digital versions or deviations for even more enjoyment.

2000s

Here we go, the 21st century. Board games are evol??ving and releasing at an even more rapid rate now, making my job here ?even harder.

Carcassonne (released in 2000), Ticket To Ride (released in 2004), and Pandemic (released in 2007) are huge names in the hobby?, each with many editi?ons and expansions for the collectors and fans.

Those in this decade were very spoilt to have all three of these everlasting games release. It's hard to compare them to each other considering they're huge success then and now. I'd even g?o as far to say that they qualify as some of the most popul??ar board games of all time.

2010s

It took me the longest to sort through the 2010 board games releases, let alone to decide the most popular. However, as an active hobbyist during ?this decade, I can provide some personal insight.

7 Wonders (released in 2010), Codenames and Exploding Kittens (both released in 2015), Terraforming Mars (released in 2016), and finally Wingspan (released in 2019) were each instant hits and remain popular board games in the hobby communities and the general audience.

Although Wingspan just qualifies for this decade, it made a huge impression so I couldn't not include it. The rest of these entries have become common names in the board gaming w??orld, and although I??'m sure there are cases for other board games in this decade, these games are firm entries.

Terraforming Mars may not be talked so much about now, but it had a massive release, and it's popularity was extende??d with the expansions.

2020s

We've finally arrived to our current decade, the 2020s. As it's not currently over, all I can do is provide s??ome honorable mentions that may well be some of the most popular board games in this decade. Although at the current rate of innovation and releases, I won't be surprised if even t??hese games get dwarfed soon.

My City (released in 2020), Ark Nova (released in 2021), and Arcs (released in 2024) are some of the most popular games of this decade by far, although I'm sure they'll get? joined by other board games soon.

Now that you know of the most popular board games of all time, why don't you gi??ve one a try? They're popular f?or a reason.

The post The most popular board games from each decade appeared first on Destructoid.

The Amazon Prime Day deals a??re now liv?e, and you can acquire some terrific board games at bargain prices ahead of the festive season.

Whether you want to spend quality time with your loved ones or gi??ve them memorable gifts, board games are always a great choice. However, modern board games can be quite expensive, especially if you're looking for more recent releases. Thanks to the Amazon Prime Day deals, you can expand your collection or pick up some great potential gifts at low prices.

Disclaimer: Thi?s isn't a ranked list, so feel free to pick as per your budget and preferences.

Ticket to Ride

Regular Price: $54.99

October Amazon Prime Day price: $29.99

An enjoyable board game that can get as strategic as you want, Ticket to Ride is a perfect game for a family evening. While best enjoyed in a group of four, Ticket to Ride ca??n be quite competitive when played between a duo. Each step requires you to decide between multiple actions, and to win you'll have to make the best decision possible.

Catan

Regular Price: $59.99

October Amazon Prime Day price: $29.99

Settlers of Catan is a fun family game until someone rolls a seven on their dice. This is my favorite strategy game of all time, and there's no better feeling than watching your strategy come good (or perform miserably due to bad luck). Catan is also a relatively easy game for board game beginners, and there are numerous expansions to increase the scope fo??r replayability.

Red Rising

Regular Price: $24.99

October Amazon Prime Day price: $8.99

Based on the popular book series by Pierce Brown, Red Rising lets you play as one of the powerful houses and establish yourself as the top dog. The core gameplay revolves around playing your cards right and outsmarting your opponents. There are several references from the book series of the same name that help you relate to the original lore. Red Rising also has an automa syste??m that lets you have fun on your?? own.

Pandemic

Regular Price: $39.99

October Amazon Prime Day price: $25.64

While most board games would pit you against one another, Pandemic is different. It's a co-op experience where you attempt to defeat the game itself by preventing another mass disease outbreak. The job is easier said than done, as not everything will be under your control. The aim is to carefully play your cards in coordination with your mate to stop a disease before it can grow into an ugly manifestation. Make sure to check out the different versions of Pandemic as well while the Amazon Prime Day sale is live.

7 Wonders

Regular Price: $59.99

October Amazon Prime Day price: $37.99

You're one of the seven greatest cities in the world, but can you be the best? That's exactly what you'll have to do in order to win in 7 Wonders. The core strategy involves you having to manage your drafted cards carefully to build your military might through different ages. But you'll also have to keep track of how your opponents are doing to have increased chances of victory. While the base game requires at least three players, 7 Wonders also has a Duel version.

Splendor

Regular Price: $39.99

October Amazon Prime Day price: $22.49

It's not an easy task being a jewel merchant in the Renaissance era, especially when you have to face competition from your buddies. Splendor requires you to own different mines, use them to own jewels, and have the highest prestige points. But owning every mine isn't possible, as you'll have to use the jewels that are dealt to you. Splendor offers unlimited hours of replayability sin??ce there's no one fixed way of winning a game. It's an amazing game in groups, or you can play with your partner (don't get overly competitive).

Everdell Collector's Edition

Regular Price: $99.99

October Amazon Prime Day price: $59.99

Everdell is one of the most beautiful board games I have ever played. Putting aside the strategic gameplay, the game board, cards, and the big tree make Everdell one of the best gifting options. Thanks to the latest deal, you can get the Collector's Edition?? for the price of Standard. But you get?? the Legend expansion, Premium tokens, and more as part of your collection.

Dixit

Regular Price: $39.99

October Amazon Prime Day price: $29.99

If you're looking to add a board game that hones your creativity, Dixit it is. Every turn, you and your mates will be dealt a set of cards with extremely imaginative graphic designs. While one person takes the role of the riddler, other players have to guess. While your objective as the riddler is to ensure that all players don't think the correct card, you'll only get points if at least one person picks the right card. Thanks to the open-ended nature of the cards, you'll have to dive deep into the depths of your imagination. You can also pick up a Disney version of Dixit at the same Price as the base edition.

Twilight Imperium

Regular Price: $164.99

October Amazon Prime Day price: $119.99

One of the best sci-fi strategy games of all time, Twilight Imperium puts you in charge of different civilizations with the objective of reaching the top. Each civilization has cert??ain unique powers and abilities, and you'll want to strategize accordingly. Reaching to the top has no one set way - trade, form an alliance, or wage a war if you wish. The 4th edition has a great deal as part of Prime Day. Do note that Twilight Imperium takes many hours to finish a game, so you might have to play in multiple sessions.

Exploding Kittens

Regular Price: $20

October Amazon Prime Day price: $12.99

If you have a party coming up, you should add Exploding Kittens to your collection. A card-based game, Exploding Kittens has one sole objective - don't get blown up. To avoid being blown up, you'll have to play your cards carefully. Additionally, you'll also have to plan and try to get your friends blown up (no, not literally), for the last one standing is declared as a winner. Exploding Kittens is one of the best party games. It's fun, easy to learn, and extremely chaotic at? every turn.

Mysterium

Regular Price: $54.99

October Amazon Prime Day price: $32.99

With the spooky season coming up soon, Mysterium should be high on your wishlist. Like Pandemic, Mysterium is a co-op title, forcing you to work with your friends to unravel the mystery. Expect plenty of spooks and creeps as you utilize the cryptic clues to crack open your investigation. Mysterium allows you to play at your?? desired difficulty and offers plenty of replayability with different story endings, suspects, and more.

The Witcher Old World Deluxe Edition

Regular Price: $190.95

October Amazon Prime Day price: $142.99

If you're a big Witcher fan like me (who owns the books and the games), maybe it's time for you to add the grand board game. Like Geralt in the stories and the games, you get to explore the vast land and create your adventures. You play with the help of your deck and the different cards, and it's all about balancing your actions. Sometimes, it might just be worth holding on to your cards to create a move with greater synergy, which will help you get more rewards. Even if you're just someone who loves RPGs and old-school grand strategy board games, The Witcher Old World is worth a place in your collection.

The post Our 12 Favorit?e Octobe?r Prime Day Board Game Deals (2024) appeared first on Destructoid.

If you've read the Harry Potter books and watched the films a million times over, it may be tim?e to get a board game or two to continue enjoying the franchise with your friends and famil?y.

I will be prioritizing unique Harry Potter board games over Wizarding World renditions of existing board games, although there are some classic examples I?? can't ignore.

Harry Potter Death Eaters Rising

Harry Potter: Death Eaters Rising is a cooperative board game of teaming together to get through ??the Death Eaters and defeat He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Through play, the Dark Lord will point to different locations, indicating where he will be next.

Players must recruit wizards and visit differ?ent locations to defeat Death Eaters and protect the key locations from corruption. Damage and the abilities of the Death Eaters happen without dice rolling, allowing for strategic planning. Player actions, however, are at th?e mercy of action dice that all must be assigned.

In an exciting bout, players must travel around the board to recruit wizards and defeat Death Eaters in a bid to stop You-Know-Who. Should all your wizards die, or enough locations become?? corrupted, then evil shall reign victorious.

Harry Potter Hogwarts Battle

Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle serves not just as a cooperative card game where players work together to defeat villains and protect the Wizarding World, but also as a retelling of all seven books (and all eight films). There are seven games to be pl?ayed here, each one set in a different year.

The core gameplay is simple yet engaging. Players fight villains through card actions and can purchase more powerful cards to build th??eir deck. In each year, the players need to defeat all the villains before they gain ultimate control of the locations.

As each game goes over each year, the villains, settings, and cards progress in line with the films. Your character will progress from first year to seventh year, and you'll be able to look back and see how far you've come with your friends. You don't need to play Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle in year order, but a dedicated group will all??ow for an engaging slew of game nights.

Harry Potter Hogwarts Battle �Defence Against the Dark ??Arts

Harry Potter: Hog??warts Battle - Defence Against the Dark ??Arts is an adaptation of Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle that pit??s two players dueling against each other in a practice bout. Players will choose a House, and will posit?ion themselves in the middle of the sparring board.

Players will take turns using their cards to push back their opponents with spells, recover themselves, place annoying Hexes in their opponent's deck, and grab better ca??rds from the market. Should a player find themselves at the end of the board, that player gets stunned, and the board gets reset. Players keep their powerful cards, but must engage in?? the tug-of-war-esque battle again.

When a player gets stunned three times, they lose. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle - Defence Against the Dark Arts is a great two-player duel that simulates spell battles pretty faithfully whilst d??elivering a so??lid card game.

Harry Potter Quidditch Clash

Harry Potter Quidditch Clash allows you and one other to go head-to-head in a glorious game of Quiddi??tc?h.

With?? an oval board, a Quaffle, and a Golden Snitch (of co??urse), players will be using decks of cards and a spinner to reposition themselves and the balls around the board. Should a Quaffle find its way into a hoop, that team will score points. Should a Golden Snitch find its way to a player, however, then I think you already know what happens.

With a great boar?d and p??oint stand, it's a fun and light game for two players. It may not provide an authentic Quidditch experience, but it's still a bit of fun.

Harry Potter Unmask the Death Eaters

Harry Potter: Unmask the Death Eaters is a social deduction game of secret and shifting loyalties. At the beginning of the game, one player will secretly be assigned as a Death Eater, and will have to subtly sabotage t??he Order of the Phoenix players.

The group will battle with giants and dementors and try to pass through the encounters to achieve victory. However, the secret Death Eater, should they be part of the encounter, will be using their cards to secretly thwart their efforts. Considering the different ways the cards are used in Harry Potter: Unmask the Death Eaters, a good player may be forced to play a ba?d card, meaning suspicion is always on?? the rise.

In the middle of the game, there's the potential for another player to secretly join the Death Eaters, mea??ning trust is never someth?ing that can be counted on. Whether the Death Eaters make it to the end uncompromised or whether they get routed out by other other players is completely up to the scrutiny and guile of the players. It's brilliant.

Harry Potter House Cup Competition

Harry Potter: House Cup Competition is a worker-placement game where players align with a House and will compete against the others to make their wizards stro?nger and complete challenges for those precious House Points.

The game lasts over seven ??game rounds, and in those rounds players will assign their wizards to spots on the board to gain Knowledge, Magic, or to level up one of their skills (Potions, Charm, and Defence Against the Dark Arts). The stronger your wizards are, the better they'll perform in the challenges that earn you House Points.

Harry Potter: House Cup Competition is a tense game as players fight over positions on the board. Combos of placement and lessons allow for explosive turn??s, although it only matters how well you train your wizards to face the trials ahead.

Funkoverse Harry Potter

Admittedly, Funkoverse: Harry Potter is a complicat??ed strategy gam??e, but if you're into objective-based games with lots of rules, combat, and strategy, then you'll love it even more with the Harry Potter dressings.

Two teams will challenge each other in a scenario and map of their choosing. As players walk?? around the board to score points in line with the scenario's objective, they can do battle with each other to push their opponents back and thwart their plans.

Funkoverse: Harry Potter has other Harry Potter-specific expansions to augment and enhance your play, and should everyone agree, you could even create strange cross-overs with other Funkoverse Strategy games.

Trivial Pursuit Harry Potter Ultimate Edition

If you're a Potter Head then the standard Trivial Pursuit: Harry Potter Edition won't do. You'll want the ultimate edition, boasting over 1,800 questions that explore?? the obscure and minute details of the franchise.

It plays like standard Trivial Pursuit, although with clean Harry Potter aesthetics and questions that challenge even the most veteran fans. And even if you don't know that much about Harry Potter, it'll still b??e fun time as ?you'll learn along the way.

Whether you're in the mood for an intense fact-off with your friends or a lighter trivia night, Trivial Pursuit: Harry Potter Ultimate Edition is a solid pick.

CODENAMES Harry Potter

Codenames: Harry Potter is a challenging two-player game of secrets and clues. A grid of tiles will sit in between the players, showing either a word or an image from one of the film??s. Each player will receive a secret grid, markin??g many of the tiles as Order of the Phoenix tiles, and a few of them as Death Eater tiles.

The aim here is to provide a small clue ??that relate to any of the Order of the Phoenix tiles, and from your clue, they must guess which of the tiles you're hinting toward. Once they've mad??e a guess, it'll be your turn to pick a tile from a clue they provide. Be careful, however, because should any player choose a Death Eater tile from an opponent's grid, both players will lose.

To win, both players must be savvy with their word choice to hint their opponent toward all of the Order of Phoenix tiles without accidentally suggesting a Death Eater tile. It'??s a tense word game that will keep both players on the edge of their seat.

Harry Potter Hogwarts Magical Mayhem

Harry Potter: Hogwarts Magical Mayhem is an extremely interactiv??e kid's game that honestly looks like a blast to play no matter how old you are.

With eight unique mini games to play, including push-your-luck, dexterity, and logic, p??layers wil??l go around Hogwarts trying to score points for their House through the completion of these challenges.

It's incredibly creative, easy, interactive, and most importantly fun for the smaller wizards in your life to enjoy. To be frank I also wouldn't mind a go at Harry Potter: Hogwarts Magical Mayhem, a?lthough I'm unsure if most adults?? would agree with me.

Now that you know of these brilliant Harry Potter board games, the difficult part is picking o?ne to s??et up the most magical game night.

The post 10 ??Best Harry Potter board games for aspiring muggles appeared first on Destructoid.

Whether you're a fan of Marvel or not, there are many fantastic Marvel board game?s out there to be enjoyed with your friends. Whether fighting against each other or side by side, you'll all be in for a good time.

Marvel Villainous

In Marvel Villainous, players take control of one of five notorious Marvel villains to try and complete what they couldn't. Each villain has their own bo??ard, abilities, and win condition to race toward. As players try t o be the first to complete their objective, other players will try to complicate their efforts.

What makes Marvel Villainous interesting is, despite how complex this makes it, every villain is doing their own thing. Players will have to keep a keen eye on the activities of their opponents t??o understand who to prioritise stalling.

With many expansions and lots of replay values, if yo?u want to gather your friends and take on the mighty tasks the villains have set themselves out to do, just make sure you're prepared for all the rules.

Marvel Champions

Marvel Champions is a cooperative deck-building card game where players will work together to stop a villain before their scheme is unfurled. Fair warning: although there are five characters with pre-built decks in the core set, you'll want to invest time in understanding deck buildin??g to get the most out of this game.

The card game itself is solid, and playing with decks you've designed yourself is gratifying and satisfying. Fighting against different villains and adapting to their ways and methods grants Marvel Champions lots of replayability??. Although complex, it's reasonably graspable for most players.

There are many expansions for Marvel Champions that add more characters and villains, so players will be hardly left wanting more. Again, just be warned that forming your decks of 40 to 50 cards takes patience, genuine interest, and a great understanding of all the mechanics and how t??hey mesh together.

Marvel Remix

Marvel Remix is a light and quick card game that can be played almost endlessly thanks to the wide range of cards players can pull. Each pl??ayer will? start off with six regular cards (Remix cards) and one harmful Villain card.

Throughout the game, players will be trying to amass as many points as they can. They can pick up either a Remix card, a Villain card, or a previously discarded card to replace a card in their hand. Each card in??teracts with other cards in you??r hands, meaning you must be careful about which cards you keep and replace.

Upon there being ten discarded cards, the game immediately ends, a??nd players resolve card effects ?in any order to score points. It's incredibly simple, yet the card interactions are delightfully complex and satisfying.

Marvel United

Marvel United is a very? thematic cooperative board game that giv?es players the task of teaming up and taking down the villain of choice.

The players must stop the villain's evil plan by traveling around the locations to complete missions,?? by taking down enough thugs and minions, or by rescuing civi??lians. Once the heroes have accomplished their objectives, then they can directly hurt the villain. Naturally, if the villain performs their evil plan, then the players lose.

What makes Marvel United unique is the lengths it goes to to make the game feel like a story. Villain and hero action cards ??are placed in a circle around the game board to form a storyboard of sorts, which also has its own gameplay implementations.

Hail Hydra

Hail Hydra is a very unique social deduction game where players will be secretly assigned the role of S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent or Hydra Agent. Every turn, the players must band together to defeat the villains wreak?ing havoc on New York City, although t?he Hydra Agents will actively try to sabotage these efforts.

There are five villains that t??he good guys need to beat to win the game. The villains will be damaging New York C?ity, so they need to be dealt with as fast as possible. The damage done to the villains, however, is determined by the values (either positive or negative) each player secretly puts forward.

Each turn, a playe?r will be voted out of the next battle phase in the hopes of removing a sabotaging Hydra Agent ?from the next conflict. However, a Hydra Agent can yell "Hail Hydra!" revealing themselves and having more direct negative effects on the game.

Thanos Rising

Thanos Rising is a tense cooperative game where players try to challenge and take down Thanos before he gains full c??ontrol of the Infinity Stones. Or before he annihilates too many heroes, ??naturally.

The Thanos figure will be rotated during play to different sectors, where any heroes stationed there and the heroes of any present players could be open to a Thanos attack. Whether it's Thanos or his mi?nions attacking, the players need to make sure their heroes and the neutral heroes on the board don't fall.

As players recruit heroes and use their abilities, they will take on the minions and, eventually, Thanos himself. Careful positioning and priority is required to succeed in Thanos Rising, and a bit of luck, too.

Marvel Crisis Protocol

The Marvel: Crisis Protocol miniatures game pits two players against each other in a bid to score sixteen points. Unlike other miniature games, each character in Crisis Protocol is a mighty he?ro, meani??ng it's much harder to take down any one character.

Players will assemble teams of ten characters (heroes or villains) to play on the board. If over half of the charact??ers are of the same affiliation, then the team is open to bonuses. Taking it in turns, players will activate and use their characters in glorious battle.

What's especially interesting about Marvel: Crisis Protocol is that when a character gets defeated, they can come back stronger. Although when they fall again, they're done for good. If you want a miniature board game with more permanent characters and prolonged epic battles, then you can't go w??rong ??with this one.

Marvel D.A.G.G.E.R.

Marvel D.A.G.G.E.R. is a meaty and long cooperative game that sets players against a big bag of their choice. There are many Marvel heroes to choose from, and each one can be set up differentl??y when starting, allowing for a range of combinations and set-ups.

The game itself is a loop of ??the heroes traveling throughout the worlds to take down minions that spawn and defy the main villain's plans. With numerous stages to the game, it does simulate the whole process of taking down and finally confronting a supervillain just like in the movies.

If you are to play Marvel D.A.G.G.E.R., then you need to be prepared for some grindy and heavy turns, but if you're p??repared for a l??ong bout against a villain, you can make the next game night one of epic proportions.

Splendor Marvel

Splendor: Marvel is a deck-building game where playe?rs build tableaus of characters using points gain??ed every turn and from their current tableau.

A player's tableau is their economy, and alongside the points they get each turn, players must decide which cards to buy, as this will determine their spending power and types next turn. As players are able ??to afford more expensive and valuable cards, they will gain access to buildings that give them a solid base stat of po??ints.

A player will win Splendor: Marvel by assembling the Infinity Gauntlet by having one card of each type, a high-value card, and s??ixteen points, meaning how you build your tableau will d??etermine your path to victory.

Marvel Zombies Heroes' Resistance

Marvel Zombies: Heroes' Resistance is a cooperative game set in a fan-favorite setting of the Marvel zombie apocalypse. Players need to score victory points ??together and fight off the hordes of zombies. And every now and then, a zombified superhero will come into play...

The game itself isn't too complicated, although teamwork and ??thinking five steps ahead is key, thanks to how zombie spawning and activation works.? As there are lots of unknowns, players must be cautious, although being too careful can cost the game.

The figures in Marvel Zombies: Heroes' Resistance are fantastic, and they're all fun to play with. Doing battle with zombie heroes is always a fu?n time, although remember not to get too carried away fighting zombies when there are objectives that you need to complete.

Now that you know what amazing Marvel board games are out there, all you've gotta do no??w is choose the one you like best.

The post 10 Best Marvel board games for MCU fans appeared first on Destructoid.

Whether you'?re looking for a gift for a fan or a great board game that has familiar dressings, these board games based on IPs and franchises will sort you ou?t. behind their familiar faces are fantastic games to be enjoyed by all, however.

Jaws

Jaws encapsulates the ar??cs of the movie perfectly, with two stages that are so distinct they play like two completely ??different board games.

One player will become the shark, and the other will take the role of the three main characters who are trying to take the shark down. Stage One is a hidden location game where the shark must eat swimmers and sneak around Amity Island whilst the players must try to track him down and launch barrels. The second stage stimulates a tense battle as the shark tries to devou?r the boat and the crew.

Jaws is a surprisingly interesting game that remains tense throughout, thanks to the level of surprise in its mechanics. With two board game experiences and two totally diff??erent sides, ??you can expect four different ways to interact with it.

The Witcher Old World

The Witcher Old World is a huge ga??me with lots going for it, much like the games and books. Players will become Witchers from different disciplines to take on enemy creatures and each other for prestige??.

Players will move around the map of The Witcher Old World to track monsters, acquire potions, gamble,? solve events, and eve??n do battle. Battling is awesome in this game, as your deck is both your offensive capabilities and your lives, so the more you attack, the more vulnerable you become.

A game that does not outstay its welcome and provides you with lots of opportunities, The Witcher Old World is a must-have for Witcher and strategy fans.

Marvel Champions

Marvel Champions is a cooperative deck-building game where you and your friends (??or just you alone) must take on a villain of your choice using your curated deck.

Note that patience and lots of understanding are required for Marvel Champions, as you must build the deck yourself, and there are a lot of cards to choose from. Knowing what synergizes ?with what will allow you to become a ??powerful challenge to the villain.

Deck-building is a satisfying process, but only for those who enjoy doing so. Marvel Champions will let yo??u and your friends become the ultimate force with the righ??t strategizing, however.

Dune Imperium

Dune Imperium is a complex worker placement game where players vie to gain victory point?s on the harsh planet.

A great work?er placement system is used here that rewards players for using neglected spaces an??d allows for many approaches to victory, complemented heavily by the cards. Alongside this is the conflict system, where players fight for control of a specific space every turn to receive benefits when it's used.

Interacting with the detailed action board whils??t trying to keep ahead in the conflic?ts allows for exciting and varied turns that allow for lots of choice and strategy.

Star Wars Rebellion

Star Wars Rebellion is a tense one-on-one between The Empire and the Rebellion. Asy??mmetrical board games are always a great time, although both sides here are completely different.

The Rebels have a secret base that the Empire must find, and through this conflict, players can reenact the beats of the original trilogy and can alter history. The narratives combined with the engaging space and land battles are what make Star Wars Rebellion such a joy to play.

Great strategy is required for Star Wars Rebellion, as is an understanding of both sides of ?the conflict. Will history repeat itself, or will you change its course?

Disney Villainous

Disney Villainous allows players to finish what six notorious Disney villains started. Each villain has their own boa?rd, objectives, actions, and play style, allowing for an immersive experience.

Although Disney Villainous isn't directly competitive, each player can hinder and block other players using hapless heroes. This does m??ean that you ??need to know about all other villains to understand who's ahead and who's catching up.

Disney Villainous throws a lot at the players as there's so much content, but when you understand everything, it'll feel more like a tense race. There are many other expansions th??at add lots of other villains to play with.

Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective

Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective allows any number of players to become detectives and solve the greatest of mysteries. In this game, mysteries are set in London, and there are plenty of questions that need to b?e answered.

Using any resources that the game gives you, like newspaper clippings, players must piece together ideas and evidence to create answers to the questions surrounding the case. When everyone feels they're ready, you can consult Sherlock to se?e how many questions you? got right.

Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective is the closest b??oard games have g?otten to true mystery-solving, and with so many expansions, the fun can keep going.

War of the Ring

War of the Ring is a huge board game that'll have you reading through the rules before, during, and after play for the first few games. However, it provides an extremely accurate and close simulation of The Lord of the Rings.

The Free Nations fight against the Shadow as Middle-Earth is plunged into chaos. Both sides could scarcely get more mechanically removed from each other, and their victory conditions reflect that. Either side can win through military might, although the fate ?of the One Ring will also dictate who wins.

Through the cards and possibilities of War of the Ring, you can reshape the history of Middle-Earth. Again, the rules are grueling, and there is a lot going on, but War of the Ring is a strangely addicti??ve puzzle that hardly plays the same twice.

Bloodborne The Board Game

Bloodborne The Board Game allows players to become Hunters of Yharnam and engage in different campaigns that will spin different narratives, have differe??nt choices, and host different?? enemies and bosses.

Each campaign of Bloodborne The Board Game goes over three chapters, and each has rich stor??ies, interesting challenges, unique mechanics, and awful creatures. The combat is tight and unforgiving, although it can lend itself brilliantly to teamwork and combos.

Exploring the streets of Yharnam has always been a daunting experience that has made me regret every step. The numerous expansions for Bloodborne The Board Game allow for new stories and enemies, meaning there is lots of fun to be had.

A Game Of Thrones The Board Game

A Game Of Thrones The Board Game is the definitive A Game of Thrones experience, where three to six players gather around Westeros to f?ight for t??he Iron Throne.

Like any other strategy game worth its salt, A Game Of Thrones The Board Game has engaging battles between minis on a map. What makes the game special, however, are the secret orders that get revealed simultaneously and the levels of diplomacy and diplomatic advantages that don't just complement the game but are the game.

You will need to do much more than just win battles to triumph here, as tactful diplomacy and strategic po??sitioning will gain you the?? influence and support you need to control the seven castles required for victory.

Now that you know about these brilliant games bas??ed on IPs and fra??nchises, the hard part now is to decide which one you want to play first.

The post 10 Best board games based on IPs and franchises appeared first on Destructoid.

Disney is one of the biggest franchises out there, so it's no surprise that it has a large board game ??collection that make perfect candidates for game nights with family and friends.

Disney Animated

Disney Animated is a cooperative board game where players must comp??lete their animation panel before the deadline. Along the way, after player turns, the villains will strike and cause calamity to make the players' job more difficult.

Interestingly, in Disney Animated, players will slowly construct the??ir chosen animation panel for their selected film. The background must be constructed, and characters built on top??. It's satisfying and fun to construct your animation panel, and when everyone finishes theirs, the players win the game.

As actions get performed in Disney Animated, they'll reduce in value, meaning player cooperation is i??ntegral despite the divorced playing boards.

Big Thunder Mountain

Big Thunder Mountain makes up ?for being somewhat complicated through the great board design. Each player is trying to make money and earn points by selling the gold they panned or picked from Big Thunder Mountain.

What makes this game special is the board, as it's a? large 3D mountain whe??re a player must twist the mountain top to release a marble. The freed marble will randomly pick one of the paths of the mountain and fall into a pocket, causing different effects depending on what type of marble it was and what other marbles it got paired with.

Big Thunder Mountain is incredibly interactive,?? and moving around the minecarts and marbles elevates the family?? fun that's easily had.

Disney Sorcerers Arena

Disney Sorcerer's Arena is a board game adaptation of the strategy arena mobile game, where players can battle it out head-on in king-of-the-hill battles for victory? points.

Each player will pick three characters to make their team and then? use their cards to fight the enemy and stay on top of spaces that award points. It's refre??shingly simple and can be taught as you play, making it accessible to families who don't play a lot of competitive battle board games.

Disney Sorcerer's Arena is a fun game where most of the enjoyment comes from picking a team that comp??lements each other, an??d then going to town on your opponent.

Disney Villainous

Disney Villainous allows players to step into the boots of notorious Disney villains to complete ??what they couldn't. Players can pick from six villains to play as, and they'll get specific player boards and icons to play with.

Move your? villain across different locations to complete objectives and take down any heroes in your way. Each villain has different objectives, player boards, and action?s, meaning there are many games that can be had here.

There is a lot of complexity in Disney Villainous as you have to at least vaguely understand the other villains in play to know who's ahead and who's catching up. There is little direct competition also, which may not be ??fo??r everyone.

Haunted Mansion

Haunted Mansion is a beautifully designed game about forming a tableau of cards. Pl??ayers will use a rotating platform to visit different rooms of the Haunted Mansion to get new ghost cards and encounter the Hitchhiking Ghosts.

Al?though this game may go over the heads of children, adults will have simple fun moving around the Haunted Mansion and forming groups of ghost cards. Haunt cards gained by dueling others and meeting the Hitchhiking Ghosts will lose players points, and could lose you your biggest stack of ghost cards.

Although Haunted Mansion isn't terribly complicated, it's certainly less accessible for younger players. So?me may not find the granular and gritty card collecting too much fun, whereas others will find it extremely satisfying.

Dixit Disney Edition

Dixit: Disney Edition allows the players to become the storytellers for once. Players will receive cards with iconic and abstract Disney moments, which are beautiful in their own right.

Using the cards, the active player will pick a card ??from their hand and will describe it to the rest of the group. Players will then pick a card from their hand, and a??ll of the cards will go in the middle. Players will have to guess which card is the active player's.

If everyone or no one picks the active player's card, then everyone but the active player will gain points meaning you cannot be too specific or too vague when describing your Disney moment in Dixit: Disney Edition.

Codenames Disney

Codenames: Disney is a harder game to wrap your head around, but it's deceptively simple. A grid of images and phrases related to Disney is spread on the table, and both teams will wo?rk together to try and identify their cards.

Each team will have a guess master, and both teams' guess masters will receive a small combination grid that tells them which tiles their team needs to guess. The guess master, for their team, can only communicate with one word and the number of tiles that ??clue corresponds to. The team will keep guessing until they unve??il a tile that's not theirs.

Once a team has identified all five of their tiles? thanks to their guess master's skilled?? communication, they'll win.

The Magical World of Disney Trivia

The Magical World of Disney Trivia is a trivia board game that will put everyone's knowledge to the test. The game comes with both adul??t and child question decks, to make the game fair and for difficulty adjustme?nts.

Players will move around the board using the spinner to answer questions of different color categories. Upon answering a question successfully, you receive that color's swirl. A player must obtain all the ??color swirls and reach th??e end first to win the game!

With points of interest, magic carpet rides, and fun player counters, The Magical World of Disney Trivia makes for not only a great trivia game but a so??lid game? in general that can be enjoyed by anyone.

Lorcana

Lorcana is a trading card game where the combat is not the primary objective. With each deck consisting of 60 cards that can only be composed of two card types, players?? can get really serious with their deck building.

The aim of Lorcana is to gather 20 Lore Points, which characters can freely grab as an action during their turn. Char?acters can also challenge other characters and sing, allowing players to execute a sing card for their effects.

The objective of Lorcana is refreshing and makes for a nice change of pace, as players must decide between gaining Lore Points a?nd taking out their opponent's characters. Do note that as a trading card game, this could be a gateway to a very expensive hobby.

Disney Sidekicks

Disney Sidekicks is a cooperative board game celebrating the (mostly) unsung counterparts to our famous heroes. In a twist, the villains have caged up some Disney heroes in the??ir castle, and it's the job of the players and sidekicks to rescue them.

To win Disney Sidekicks, the players must free all the trapped heroes and defeat at least ??one of the villains on the board. Heroes can be freed through using stars, which are gained from many actions in the game.

There are other things to do in Disney Sidekicks, like rescuing villagers to unlock your sidekick's bonus effect??s, making thi?s game a dynamic and very engaging experience.

With this grand selection of Disney b??oard games, all you must do now is pick one t??o play with your friends and family.

The post 10 Best Disney board games for adu?lts and children appeared first on Destructoid.

Tabletop gaming is usually anything but portable, but the Nintendo Switch offers quite a few great digital board games that flip this notion on its head. Rewarding turn-based gameplay, in-depth deck building, and exciting strategic competitions are now all available on the go.? Below you’ll find our picks for the bes??t board games on Switch that you can dive into right now.

12. Steam: Rails to Riches

Steam: Rails to Riches is a great railroad board game that’s all about building a strong economic engine with locomotive ones. You’ll start the game by taking out a loan from the bank and linking cities with track tiles. Then, you can start moving resources between locations to turn a profit. This will eventually urbanize the smaller towns through which your railroad operates. There are six different maps to choose from, and the terrain will often alter your strategy. If you’re a fan of the Ticket to Ride theme but want a higher level of?? complexity, then this o?ne’s a great pick. 

11. CATAN: Console Edition

The digital version of CATAN deserves a place on this list because it’s a classic of the genre that’s familiar and comfortable to play. However, I’d only recommend picking it up if you’re planning to play either solo or on a single system, because the online multiplayer servers unfortunately shut down about two years ago. The A.I., however, works ??great for a solo session. If you’re going to play in person, then placing the pieces that box your friends and family out of entire sections of the board is still a grand old time.

10. Talisman

The epic quest for the Crown of Command in Talisman includes all the classic fantasy adventure and character tropes that tabletop gaming enthusiasts love. You can pick from one of sixteen different archetypical roles, hoard magic loot, and slay monsters. What more could you want? Well perhaps some friendlier dice rolls for starters. The Switch port includes three expansions as a part of the base game purchase, the most interesting of which is probably The City because it?s location feels distinct. The digital edition follows the rules and content additions of the physic?al version’s fourth edition.

9. Armello

The digital tabletop game Armello has incredibly rich original world that’s brought to life by solid strategy mechanics and gorgeous animal-themed artwork. The vari??ous factions spread across the land seek the power of the King, a??nd can win the game by claiming his crown. To do so, they’ll need to send out their most daring heroes to conquer towns, complete quests, and battle the other factions. It’s worth noting, however, that turns can sometimes be a bit long. As a result, it’s best enjoyed alongside more experienced tabletop gamers.

8. Carcassonne

The medieval landscapes of the classic tile-laying game Carcassonne are fun and often amusing to build alongside friends. The original Switch release of the game did not offer online multiplayer, but the developer Twin Sails Interactive thankfully remedied this in November 2021. Several expansions were also added at this time to give the game further variability, including The Princess & The Dragon pack and Traders &a?mp; Builders. Nowadays the cu?rrent Switch edition of the game is surprisingly solid and works well for players of all ages.

7. The Lord of the Rings: Adventure Card Game

The digital adaption of The Lord of the Rings LCG allows you to pair together Middle Earth’s most iconic heroes and pit them against three exciting story-driven campaigns that take place in the years between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. There are tons of deck building variations to experiment with, and each scenario places its own demands on the player’s cards. In one quest you might need more battle power to defeat the orcs. In another you might need higher willpower to ensure a successful journey through the Wilderland. Though it doesn’t quite ha?ve the physical edition’s complexity, this digi?tal card game is still a great time.

6. Evolution Board Game

In the Evolution Board Game, you’re in charge of managing the development?? of an interesting new species as it fights for survival. In the early phase of the game, players compete for food by playing adaption cards that add features like fat tissue or a long neck to their species. When one or more of the species becomes a carnivore, the adaption process changes, and you’ll quickly want to grow some horns or learn how to climb trees in the hopes of staying alive. I’d personally recommend adding the Climate DLC to the game when buying because it greatly enriches the original game’s theme.

5. Slay the Spire

Though it was first a video game before becoming a board game, Slay the Spire is an excellent deck building experience that all tabletop fans will enjoy on their Nintendo Switch. Branching pathways, dungeon-crawler style loot, and a big mix of bosses keep things fresh every time you attempt an ascent. The game mechanics aren’t too difficult to grasp, but assembling your deck for maximum impact takes practice. There are four different playable characters, and each one st??arts with a few unique abilities in addition to the basic strike and defend cards.

4. Raiders of the North Sea

The Raiders of the North Sea board game has a great digital adaption for the Nintendo Switch that takes full advantage of the original’s fun viking theme. It’s primarily a worker placement game, though there are also a ton of other interesting things you can do when it’s your turn. These options include recruiting crew members, upgrading your longship, and launching raids. Sometimes it’s even beneficial to give your warriors a valorous death, because sending them to Valhalla can further increase your score. It’s e??asy to learn but there’s a ton of strategy involved. As an additional plus, the long setup times that plague the physical edition are of course mercifully absent.

3. Wingspan

Wingspan is a relaxing, medium complexity birding board game that absolutely everyone can enjoy. You’ll start the game by selecting a mix of cards and food tokens, which you can then use to add birds to your play mat. If you place your winged friends in the forest, they’ll make it easier to get more food. Add them to your water area and you’ll draw more cards; put them in your grasslands and you’ll lay more eggs. Finish end of round goals, complete bonus cards, and have the most points on ?the board by the end to claim victory.

2. Istanbul

The grand markets, crumbling courtyards, and smoke-filled gambling dens of Constantinople come to life in the digital port of Istanbul the board game. You are a merchant whose aim is to collect five gems before your rivals. To do so, you’ll need to send your team of assistants across the city map and give them tasks, such as picking up goods, trading, or breaking a family member out of jail. Then you’ll either need to rendezvous with them at the central fountain or pick them up where you left them. The arrangement of location tiles is random, which means the board looks completely different eve??ry time you play. 

1. Root

The untamed wilderness of Root is full of fun battles, u??npredictable alliances, and exciting twists of fate. The game is a completely different experience depending on the ?faction you’re playing, which gives it unparalleled replay value. The Marquise de Cat plays an aggressive war board game and builds workshops and lumber mills. The Woodland Alliance launches covert attacks on the Cat’s efforts, and the Vagabond goes on quests that cross through the chaos. Meanwhile, the Eyrie Dynasty employs a sequence of decrees enacted by its leader. The theme is gorgeous, the strategic complexity is high, and there are a ton of interesting DLC expansions to choose from as well. For all these reasons it sits at the top of our list.

The post The 12 Best Boar?d Games on Nintendo Switch, Ranked appeared first on Destructoid.

Intriguing puzzles, mysterious clues, and horrifying monsters from the beyond await you in the darkness of the Mansions of Madness. This tabletop adaption of H.P. Lovecraft’s world and works is full of compelling, thematic scenarios against which you and your team of one to five investigators will test your mettle. However, there’s so much more to the Mansions of Madness board game than the core box. In this guide, we’re reviewing all the expansions, DLC, and other add-ons you can purchase to help you experience the best of wh?a??t this game has to offer.

Where to Begin: Mansions of Madness 2nd Edition

The core Mansions of Madness box includes eight investigators and four scenarios, along with dozens of variable map tiles and minatures. The creaking hallways and darkened rooms of the game’s initial setup bring a high level of claustrophobic horror and atmospheric tension that will surely have you addicted right from the start. It’s also worth noting here that the second edition includes some substantial upgrades compared with the original release. The most significant of these is the companion app, which removes the need for one player to serve as the keeper and thus allows fo??r solo gameplay.

How many Mansions of Madness expansions are there?

There are five major expansions for Mansions of Madness 2nd Edition, along with a trio of DLC scenarios available through the game’s app. Three of the five boxes are larger expansions with three new scenarios. The other two additions only contain two additional scenarios apiece. There is also a pair of expansions for the firs?t edition, though these have long been out of print and are notably ??not considered a part of the current game. In the list below you’ll find our suggested purchasing order for the game’s additional content. However, keep in mind that you can just as easily skip to the expansions with the stories and themes that speak to you the most.

1. Mansions of Madness DLC Expansions

The Mansions of Madness companion app offers three additional DLC-based scenarios that utilize the same physical components as the base game. In order they are: What Lies Within, Dark Reflections, and Altered Fate. If you’ve already completed the original scenarios and want to continue exploring what the game has to offer without spending too much, th??en these DLC a??re a must. However, they aren’t as thematically unique as the boxed content that’s further down this list.

2. Beyond the Threshold

The first expansion for Mansions of Madness, Beyond the Threshold, adds two fantastic scenarios to your collection and is a great place to start exploring new game tiles. The first scenario, Vengeful Impulses, is a classic murder mystery that will be a guaranteed hit on game night. The Gates of Silverwood Manor is also awesome??, and takes full advantage of the new moving tiles and key token mechanics that the box introduces. Like the DLC expansions, the atmosphere is relatively consistent with the base game.

3. Streets of Arkham

The town of Arkham, Massachusetts roars to life in this big box expansion for Mansions of Madness. Warring gangs, strange break-ins, and mysterious happenings on the grounds of the Miskatonic University take center stage across three fun, completely distinct scenarios. Unlike in the other two larger expansio?ns, the map tiles from this box can also show up in the core game’s scenarios and give them further replay value. The improvement tiles mechanic here is also great.

4. Horrific Journeys

The Horrific Journeys expansion for Mansions of Madness deviates significantly in theme and setting from the original game, but it’s all the better for it. The three scenarios in this box take place aboard a zeppelin, a train, and a steam liner. This might not be everyone’s cup of tea, especially considering that the claustrophobic horror of the original is not as present. However, most gamers will likely enjoy the change of pace and appreciate the developer’s creativity in designing these new spaces. The 10:50 to Arkham scenario is a personal favorite.

5. Path of the Serpent

Paths of the Serpent, the final expansion release for Mansions of Madness, takes players out of Arkham and into the jungles of South America. Deadly plants, cursed artifacts, and a thrilling showdown in the Lost Temple of Yig await you.?? Beware the difficulty of these encounters; they certainly aren’t for the faint of heart. The four investi??gators that this box adds are solid additions to the game as well, though perhaps not essential.

6. Sanctum of Twilight

Sanctum of Twilight adds two new scenarios along with a pair of decent strength investigators and the wraith monster. However, it’s the Behind Closed Doors scenario that keeps this box at the bottom of the list. Its mechanics are frequently frustrating, and though the app only gives it a three out of five difficulty rating, it feels significantly more challenging than that, especially when you’re playing solo. However, there’s still plenty to enjoy here, which means Sanctum of Twilight can still be worth picking up even if you aren’t?? just after a complete collection.  ??;

7. Mansions of Madness Dice Pack

The Mansions of Madness dice pack is an incredibly underrated addition to your game experience. If you’re typically playing with four to five players, you may have noticed that passing the dice for every skill check can get old fast. The dice pack essentially prevents the game from getting too long because of this process, and for that reason alone, it’s worth picking up if you’re going to play the game on a consi?stent basis. 

Ready to explore more of this dark and gripping universe? We’ve also got a list of the best Lovecraft board games for your table.

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Deck building is an endlessly engaging and often surprising component of many popular board and card games. There’s so much variability to this type of tabletop gameplay, and whether you’re playing a classic of the genre or trying out the latest a?nd greatest title that utilizes this mechanic, you and your game night group are sure to have a blast. In the list below you’ll find just a few of our favorite deck building card games that you should try out for yourself now.

1. Clank! A Deck-Building Adventure

Deck building meets classic dungeon crawling in Clank!, an engaging card and board game that just about everyone will enjoy. Delve underground, seek treasure, and defeat enemies to claim loot. Spend cards from your deck to move or fight, and avoid the dragon at all costs. If you escape the dunge?on before the game ends, you’ll tally up the points on your artifact and loot tokens, then add that value to the points on your cards plus your remaining gold. If you take too many risks, your? opponents can win just by surviving.

2. Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game

The Rebel Alliance’s fight against the Galactic Empire is the perfect setup for a two-player card game duel. You and your opponent will start a round of Star Wars: The Deckbuilding Game with a handful of basic characters, ships, and bases. As the game progresses, you’ll add more powerful allies to ?your deck, unlock interesting card combos, and hopefully manage to destroy three of your opponent’s bases. Iconic faces from the original trilogy like Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader bring unique, thematic effects to the table. 

3. The Quest for El Dorado

In The Quest for El Dorado, you’ll need to assemble a team of explorers, sailors, and other travellers to help you cross different types of terrain in the South American jungle. Your goal is to reach the Lost City of Gold before the other players. Each round you can buy cards from the market to make your deck stronger and give you more options for traversing the map. The game also offers a variety of board layouts to make the journey easier or more diffic?ult, depending on your preference.

4. Dune Imperium: Uprising

Dune Imperium: Uprising mixes elements of deck building card games with worker placement board games to great effect. Every round you’ll send your team of agents to different locations that are either on Arrakis or related to the Landsraad. Then, you’ll reveal the remaining cards in your hand and spend your persuasion points on a n??ew card for your deck. You can also remove weaker cards from your deck thanks to the power of the Bene Gesserit. As you continue to amass spice and gain ground on the four influence tracks, your turns will get even more active and exciting.

5. Dominion

No deck building card game list would be complete without the classic, genre-defining title Dominion. This endlessly customizable entry first hit shelves in 2008, and has been popular with tabletop gaming enthusiasts ever since. The goal is simple: end the game with the most victory points in your deck. Unfortunately, these victory points don’t do anything during the game itself, so you’ll need to mix in some interesting treasure and action cards instead. With the release of Dominion Rising Sun, there are now sixteen different expansions that help guarantee a different? experience every time you sit down to play.

6. Trains

Trains is an easy-to-learn board game that mixes the best elements of the acclaimed Ticket to Ride series with deck building gameplay. It’s your job as a railroad manager to link together the best?? transportation network in Japan, and to do so, you’ll need to lay rails, set up signals, and build stations. Unlike other deck builders, you won’t need the aid of additional cards to trash the waste cards in your hand. Instead, you can simply s?pend a turn to get rid of them.

7. Shards of Infinity

Unlike most other deck building games, Shards of Infinity allows players to upgrade the worst cards in their possession gather than just adding more powerful ones to their deck. However, spending time on this mastery point system might be costly. If your opponent can reduce you??r health to zero before you reach thirty mastery, then it’s game over. Some cards also allow you to play them as soon as you buy them, which also flips the standard deck building formula on its head. The theme is great, and the strategic combinations feel endless.

8. Star Realms

In Star Realms, two players compete to determine whose?? authority and spaceships hold sway over the galaxy. Your bases and outposts will remain in play and give you fixed effects, while you’ll instead play and discard your ships each round. Trading for better cards has its merits, but you may also want to consider focusing on combat to prevent your opponent from reducing your authority score. Your strategy will change completely from game to game, which means replay value is quite high.

9. Aeon’s End (2nd Edition)

If you’re looking for a deck building board game that focuses on player cooperation rather than competition, Aeon’s End is a great pick. Players team up to hold back the hordes of a horrif?ying nemesis monster from the deep. When it’s your turn, you’ll spend gems to pick up new additions for your deck and cast spells to deal damage. Unlike other deck builders, you won’t need to reshuffle your deck. When you’re out of cards, instead simply take your discard pile and flip it over.

10. Ascension: Ten Year Anniversary Edition

The classic deck building card game Ascension is a great solo gaming experience that never gets old. Each round the players will attack monsters using strength cards and purchase upgrades that appear in later turns. Constructs apply status effects that trigger each round, and card??s from the same faction also offer interesting combinations when you play them together. The anniversary edition brings some significant upgrades to the card art, as well as a new play mat.

The post 10 Awesome Deck Building Card Game?s You Can Play Righ??t Now appeared first on Destructoid.

Nature and animal board games are a fun way to explore the outdoors from the comfort of your home while also enjoying a fun strategic competition with friends and family. All of t?he entries on our list offer solid game mechanics and beau??tiful artwork that engage with the wonders of planet Earth. Beyond the theme, they’re also all a guaranteed win on game night. 

10. Everdell

In Everdell, your goal is to build a city full of animals and cache resources before the next winter arrives. When it’s your turn, you can either place workers on the board, or play a card that either populates or further dev?elops your town. The adorable artwork features cute critters dressed up as rangers, monks, post officers, and other? interesting townspeople. The rules are easy to learn, and the amount of card combos available also gives the game considerable replay value.

9. Mariposas

Mariposas is a board game that focuses on the migration of butterflies in North America, which occurs each year from spring until fall. The game thus takes place over the course of three rounds, each of which represent a season. Scoring takes place after each season, and you’ll gain most of your points either by reproducing your butterflies or by accomplishing end-of-round goals on an objective board, in similar fashion to Wingspan. If you’re looking for a cozy, low difficulty tabletop title, Mariposas is a great pick.

8. The Fox in the Forest

The fairy tale artwork in the trick taking card game Fox in the Forest establishes a wonderful fantasy nature theme that also comes across well in the game’s mechanics. Characters like the witch, the monarch, and the fox shake up the trump car?d system found in other similar card games, keeping things fresh and exciting. In addition, it’s not always best to play the most tricks; if you do, you might get zero points in a round just for being a bit too greedy. 

7. PARKS

Want to take a trip to the most beautiful national parks in North America without leaving the comfort of your home? PARKS lets you do just that. Players work to collect memories of the trails they’ve visited and gather ?gear for their next hiking adventure. Campfires allow you to share spaces with other players, while locations like trading posts and lodges allow you to gather more items and reserve more parks for future visits.

6. Photosynthesis

In the Photosynthesis board game, a group of competing arborists aim to collect the most light points based on the soil quality in which they’ve planted their trees. The sun rotates around the main game board, so that each tree casts a shadow that prevents some of the trees behind it from collecting points. The taller the tree, the longer the shadow. Though the box might make it look like one of the more relaxing nature board games, it’s actually a fi??ercely competitive experience.

5. Cascadia

The Pacific Northwest features a vast and diverse ecosystem, and in Cascadia, it’s your job to put that ecosystem together for its animal inhabitants. By grouping habitat tiles and placing animals in the terrains you’ve created, you’ll score a c?onsiderable amount of points. However, each native species, from the brown bear to the river salmon, has its own placement requirements. You can often complete a game in under 30 minutes, and there’s even an enjoyable solo mode in which? you can try to beat your previous high score.

4. Wingspan: Asia

While the original Wingspan is of course a great board game for nature lovers, few seem to know that Wingspan Asia is not just an expansion of the original game, but a great standalone board game for one or two players. The birds in your flock are more diverse and rare than the original game, and many of the cards have more unique “when activated�effects. The artwork and play mats are gorgeous, and there are plenty of interesting outcomes, which gives the game high replay va??lue.   

3. Forest Shuffle

In Forest Shuffle, it’s up to you to create a beautiful forest full of different speci??es of plants and animals. First, you’ll start by planting a collection of trees. Then, you’ll add birds, butterflies, foxes, and all manner of other critters to these tree cards to collect points. Set bonuses and strategic card pairings will net y??ou a higher score. Depending on your strategy, you can also gather points by placing cards in your cave, which is activated by predator animals like the brown bear.

2. Ark Nova

Ark Nova is a strategy-rich board and card game in which your objective is to build a conservation friendly zoo. You’ll need to meet the basic needs of the animals you’re hoping will inhabit your zoo. You’ll also need to keep track of your sponsors and association workers. In addition, you’ll have to carefully consider the placement of your enclosures and attractions on your player board if you hope to collect the most points. Ark Nova might feel complex the first time you play it, but fi?guring out which strategies work for you is also an incredibly rewarding experience that board gaming enthusiasts will love. 

1. Earth

Construct a tableau of incredible natural wonders, animals, and flora in Earth, a strategy card game that offers seemingly limitless ways to win. Each card depicts a unique natural phenomenon, and takes players to fascinating locations as far apart as the fjords of Iceland and the southern regions of Japan. It’s ?up to you to decide which of the cards in your hand belong on your sixteen-card island, and which ones you’re better off composting for victory points instead. The game also offers a unique mechanic that allows you to keep taking minor actions when it’s not your turn. It’s great fun tha??t just about everyone on Earth can enjoy.

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Ready to set sail on a high seas adventure? These ten awesome board games let you take on the role of a pirate, explore an island or three, and gather up as much treasure as possible. Just make sure to watch out for ghost ships, de??adly curses, and the cannons of your rivals. Hopefully, you’ll be the richest and most infamous of them all by the end of your next game night!  

10. Merchants & Marauders: Broadsides

The thrill of ship-to-ship combat is the core of Merchants & Marauders: Broadsides, an engaging pirate-themed card game for two players. You and your opponent are fighting over a particularly prosperous trade route, and can wrest control of the waves by either taking out key members of the opponents crew or sinking?? their ship. To do either, you’ll need to carefully load, ??aim and fire your cannons with different types of ammo. In addition, you’ll have to sail your ship away from enemy broadsides and pay cards to repair any damage you take.

9??. Sea of Thieves The Board Game: Voyage of Legends

The tabletop adaption of the hit open world video game Sea of Thieves does a solid job capturing the soul of the source material. Becoming a pirate and captaining your own ship is as enjoyable as ever, and there are plenty of epic adventures to embark upon. Beasts like? the Megalodon and the Kraken also add suitable suspense on the seas. It would be nice if there were more unique loca?tions to visit and a slightly easier to decipher rulebook, but for fans of the original video game it’s a must own.

8. Jamaica

The family-friendly pirating board game Jamaica pits players against each other in an epic race around the island organized by the local governor. The fur?ther ahead you are when you complete the circuit, the more money you earn. However, just reaching the finish line first won’t necessarily win you the game. Along the route, there are many places to stop and pick up ??treasure. The player with the most gold is one who takes home the ultimate pirate crown. 

7. Libertalia: Winds of Galecrest

Libertalia: Winds of Galecrest is a quick competitive board game in which players attempt to gather as much treasure as possible by raiding an island for buried treasure. Each day the players will have to send one of the six crew members at their disposal down to the island to compete with their opponent captains for the loot. Keeping track of what cards the other players has already used is essential to victory, as is avoiding the cursed treasure. Game times are slightly shorter than the original Libertalia, which definitely isn’t a bad thing.

6. Skull King

Skull King is a perfect pirate-themed party game for up to eight p?layers that leans?? on trick-taking gameplay. Each round, you’ll need to bet how many tricks you can make based on the cards in your hand. A correct prediction will net you valuable points once the round is over. However, it’s all too easy to fall into the traps of the Skull King, who trumps everything except the mermaid. Whales, krakens, and escape cards also add interesting twists and ensure that the game’s tension continues to escalate each round.

5. Maracaibo

Maracaibo is a complex yet rewarding strategy board game in which you ??and your fellow players will all get to captain your own pirate ships and explore the Caribbean. The game’s project cards and career options set up unique paths to victory for each player. The ship upgrades system also offers satisfying ways to upgrade your sailing vessel. In addition, there is an optional campaign in which your choices from one game will roll into the next. The box includes a solo variant, but the game is in this case most enjoyable alongside a few other players.  

4. Plunder: A Pirate’s Life

If you’re looking for a pirate board game that’s a bit more on the easy-to-learn side of the scale, then Plunder might be the perfect choice. The goal of the game is simple; all you need to do is collect ten plunder points. However, there are many ways that you can achieve this goal, such as taking over islands, burying booty, and destroying your opponent’s fleet. Both combat and ship movement operate using dice rolls, which m?eans you’ll need to choose the right moment to take some risks if you hope to claim victory.

3. Dominion + Dominion Seaside

The acclaimed deck building board game Dominion offers players an outstanding chance to build an empire on the high seas with its Seaside expansion. Merchant ships, smugglers, treasure maps, and lookouts offer exciting new ways to claim the last province and end the game with the most victory points. If you don’t already have Dominion, you can pick up the Seaside expansion alongside the small Dominion Base Cards box to skip the original game and set s??ail on the perfect pirating adventure right from the start.

2. Dead Men Tell No Tales

Dead Men Tell No Tales is a cooperative board game in which you and your fellow group of sailors are trying to capture a treasure onboard a ghostly pirate ship. You’ll have to battle the undead crew, avoid hazards around the ship, and face off against the infamous Captain Fromm to succeed. Unlike the o??ther tabletop titles on this li??st, the game focuses on a single raid rather than a series of journeys, which makes for a nice change of pace. Will you make it off the ship before the flames rise too high? It's tougher than you might think.

1. Forgotten Waters

Forgotten Waters offers three to seven players an exciting open world of pirating shenanigans that’s full to the brim with memorable quests and locations. Gameplay is fully immersive and easy to manage, with the game’s free app assisting players with everything from setup to encounter narration. Creating your character is also fun, since there are plenty of enjoyable skill combos to sample and role play alongside. Timed worker placement and roll-based skill checks add plenty of?? tension to each of the five lengthy scenarios included in the box.

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These days, there are many solitaire board games for those who prefer a solo experience or those who want to move some things a??round a board in their free time (not judging, I get it). If you're looking for your next addition, then have a look at? this great list of solo board games.

Too Many Bones

Too Many Bones has likely the mightiest production ?value of any board game I've ever seen. Although this makes the game expensive, playing this game feels lavish and luxurious, which is a fun contrast to the gritty combat of the game.

In Too Many Bones, you will pick a character or form a party and choose a tyrant to take down. Naturally, a slew of encounters reside in the path between you and your target. What makes Too Many Bones shine, ho??wever, is the unique dice system employed.

Each character has a litany of upgrades and builds, and the dice in the game function as both upgrades a?nd a??ctions. Getting to properly flesh out your character for their specialized purpose is satisfying, and doing so with Chip Theory's amazing dice makes it so much sweeter.

Gloomhaven Jaws Of The Lion

Gloomhaven: Jaws Of The Lion is a standalone expansion to the mighty Gloomhaven. For a solo experience, I'd recommend this instead of??? diving straight into the gargantuan nerdatron-3000 that is the base game.

This game is a rich and story-driven RPG where you'll be building and playing as your own party. The combat is vicious and unforgiving, an??d it'll somet??imes feel like you're banging your head against a brick wall. However, the depth and strategy needed is almost addictive.

For those wanting to embark on a grand adventure and have a board game set up for far too long on the main room's table, then Gloomhaven: Jaws Of The Lion is what you want.

Under Falling Skies

Under Falling Skies is a print-and-play game turned board game that's specifically designed for solo play. Despite employing a dice-based system as a core mechanic, this game provides a low luck and high skill ??experience for those wanting something more akin to an act?ion puzzle.

Using a rather long board, alien ships and their mothership w?ill be descending from the skies toward your bunker. Every turn, you will roll dice and slot them into different bunker buildings for specific actions. As the enemy AI responds specifically to your actions, it'll only be your action??s that cause your downfall.

Under Falling Skies? also comes with a campaign that adds more features and content to the board game, making this a great sto??ry and engaging game for solo players.

Spirit Island

Spirit Island is one of those incredibly popular board games that often gets brought up a lot, so I'm sorry if you'd heard this before, but Spirit Island is excellent no matter the player count.

In Spirit Island, greedy and invasive colonizers have infected the island, and it's your job as the deity of your choice to repel them. Although this is a very complex game, having the luxury to take your time and read between the lines allows you t??o really dive in.

Each God is very unique, and you must use each of their abilities and caveats to fight back. Spirit Island is a game that's far ??easier to lose than it is to win.

A Feast For Odin

A Feast For Odin is a relaxed resource management and worker??-placement game that puts you in charge of a tribe of Vikings. In solo play, the game works virtually the same, except now it's about reaching high scores and trying out new strategies and routes.

Sending your Vikings to the board to engage in the large array of actions is instantly rewarding and enjoyable. From ??collecting items, to hunting, to exploring new lands, to constructing new lodgings, there truly is far too much to do in one sitting.

The goal in A Feast For Odin is to gather as much stuff as you can. Managing your inventory of gained goods in your h?omestead makes for a satisfying puzzle, although having to feed your Vikings every turn is always an unwelcome stress. Especially if there's no harvest that? turn...

Final Girl

Final Girl is a love letter to the slasher genre that nails the vibe, aesthetic, and tropes of those cult classic films. Specifically a solitaire game, Final Girl is all about fighting back against the big bad before it finds? you and delivers a di??sappointing off-camera death.

Across any map you play, survivors will be scattered. The killer is tryin??g to slaughter them to get more powerful, and you're trying to rescue them to activate your special ability. As you scurry around the map, you can also find powerful items that will help you in your fight against the killer.

There are many expansions to Final Girl that add more locations and enemies, meaning there is a lot of mileage you can get out of this game.

Dark Souls The Board Game

You needn't be a Dark Souls fan to enjoy any of the three core Dark Souls The Board Game Core Sets (I'd personally recommend the Painted World of Ariamis box set). This reinven??tion of the game makes for an extremely engaging and grueling dungeon for you to?? crawl through with one to three characters.

The miniatures are disastrously cool and unique, and the levels that you'll en?counter them in are all unique and host great combinations of objectives, effects, and other nasty things to make you regret your purchase.

If you want to spend your evening thrashing against the nightmarish denizens of Dark Souls, then there's no better board game to get than Dark Souls The Board Game.

Lost Ruins of Arnak

The Lost Ruins of Arnak is an exciting board game with many systems and lots of depth. Although complicated, the compartmentalization of the systems makes this manageable, and allows you to d??ivorce your thinking slightly, which is needed considering how much thinking is needed.

You will be exploring and uncovering the ruins of this lush new land, where explorers are sent out to perform actions and creatures are discovered for you to fight. Despite the wealth of systems and cards present in Lost Ruins of Arnak, the game ??has a set timer and a set amount of cards you'll be dealt, meaning every decision is a crucial one.

In solo play, Lost Ruins of Arnak becomes more of a puzzle than ever. If you wish to pour yourself over a vast and exciting puzzle, then you may enjoy exploring the undergrowth and crumbled halls of Arnak.

Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective

Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective is among the greatest whodunnits in board gaming. It comes with ten mysteries to solve, each with their own unique components, such as newspapers ??and case files, that make you feel like you're really taking on a mystery.

Using the board and everything at your disposal, you? will keep following leads and crafting theories until you're personally confident enough to answer all?? the questions regarding the case. Note that you can answer these any time you wish.

Once you think you know the answers to ??the case, you can flip to the answers and see how many you got right. Sherlock will be waiting right there for you.

Mage Knight

I hope you're not one for analysis paralysis, for Mage Knight is an outrageously complex board game. Everything about Mage Knight requires plenty of t??hought, even if you know the deep s?ystems inside and out.

If this isn't a problem, then you will embark on an adventure that's different every single time, thanks to the procedural generation and randomness from the cards and other systems. There are several scenarios for you to embark on in Mage Knight, although a?? common resort is conducting sieges on enemy?? cities.

With combat, raising armies, conducting sieges, and exploring, there's little that Mage Knight doesn't do and make exceptionally complicated.

Now for the hard part, actually choosing one ??of these solitaire board games to get. Make sure you've enough room on your shelf first, though.

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There’s no doubting the table presence of War of the Ring or the ??beauty of Scythe’s incredible miniatures. But present one of these to your usual group of friends and you’re likely to be me??t with glazed expressions. They’re generally too complex for novice board gamers.

Thankfully, there are thousands of modern board games to choose from, including a vast number of gateway games: games that are basic enough ??for anybody to get to grips with and that will, hopefully, convert your mates to board game-loving geeks. Below are ??10 quintessential gateway board games for different player counts and covering most gaming mechanics.

1. Settlers of Catan

Settlers of Catan is considered by many to be the first of the modern generation of board games and is played by three or four people. It combines dice rolling and resource management with some basic trading. A modular board allows for variable setup, and the rules are easy to understand. But the dice rolling does lead to more than a smattering of luck, which puts some players off, and it needs a minimum of three players, so isn’t a good choice for couples. Tens of millions of copies of Catan have been sold worldwide, which means you pr?obably already know somebody who has one.

2. Carcassonne

Carcassonne is a tile placement, point-scoring game for two to five players. Launched in 2000, Carcassonne is a multi-award-winning game that is deserving of the accolades. Its popularity has led to more than ten expansions that i?ntroduce extra elements and game mechanics. As well as being ideal for beginners, Carcassonne remains popular even with experienced board gamers because it is quick ?to play and offers a lot of options and decisions.

3. Ticket To Ride

Ticket To Ride tasks two to five players with connecting train stations to create point-scoring routes. It is an open-drafting, hand-management game that can be learned in a few minutes. While it launched later than Settlers of Catan and Carcassonne it was the title that got me into board gaming and the one that I use to drag others into the hobby. Publishers Days of Wonder have eschewed the ?whole expansion market, there are nearly as many Ticket to Ride variants as there are versions of Monopoly, but each one does offer a slightly different map or add a different game mechanic.

4. Dominion

Generally regarded as the first deck-building game, Dominion is a two to four-player game that has a staggering number of cards in the box. You o?nly really use a small handful of different card types in each game, which means there is a lot of replayability and variance in games. It also means you can start with basic rules using easy cards before progressing to something more advance?d.

5. Pandemic

Cooperative games are a favorite in our house and Pandemic is one of the ones that started the phenomenon. 2 to 4 players work together to stop outspreads and find cures for pandemics around the world. Players take on different roles and have to work together to win. Several variants of Pandemic ??have launched since the original hit shelves in 2008, including a popular legacy version.

6. 7 Wonders

7 Wonders is a card drafting game that takes the early work of Dominion and, in som?e ways, improves on it. In the original, three to seven players take cards and play them to develop resources and use them to build structures like markets, while developing a military power. The game is quick, the setup is easy, and it is arguably a more fun drafting game than Dominion. &nbs??p;

7. Lords of Waterdeep

Technically, Lords of Waterdeep takes place in the Dungeons & Dragons world, but you really don’t need any prior experience with the tabletop role-playing game. Lords of Waterdeep is a worker placement game for two to five players, in which players take on the role of secret rulers of the city of Waterdeep, recruiti??ng ?adventurers and sending them out to complete adventures.

8. King of Tokyo

King of Tokyo is a thematic or story-driven game, which is one of the easiest mechanics to teach. They are also the most likely to drag players in, thanks to their levels of immersion. King of Tokyo, which can be pla?yed by two to six people, does have some dice rolling and card drafting ??elements, though, which will keep more experienced players busy, too.

9. Colt Express

Colt Express is an action queue game for two to six players. In it, players play up to five action cards in a pile. Only when all players have played their cards ar??e the actions taken, one at a time. This means that one person’s action can directly impact another player’s later action. The rules are simple but the strategy can be challenging. Colt Express’s board is worth mentioning as it is a three-dimensional Colt Express train that looks great on the table.

10. Love letter

Love Letter is a simple deduction game for two to four players. Each player attempts to have the??????????????????????????ir letter delivered to Princess Annette while stopping others from delivering their letters. Love Letter does include player elimination, which is rare in modern games, but it can be a lot of fun to eliminate friends and family.

The post 10 Gateway Gam??es To Get You (or Your? Friends) Into Board Games appeared first on Destructoid.

The evenings are getting darker, th??e thick sweaters are being pulled from the back of the closet where they’ve been hiding all summer, and spooky season has officially begun. With Halloween in mind, here are some great board games to get in the spirit of things??.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year (in my opinion), and there’s nothing better than cozying up next to a crackling fire and whipping out a board game or two. I’ve got a cupboard full of them, including the ultra-spooky Ouija Board?. If you’re too easily creeped out to give that a try, here are my 10 favorite, loosely Halloween-themed choices. 

Stupid Deaths

If you’ve ever witnessed the joy that is Horrible Histories, you’ll know what to expect from the Stupid Deaths board game ins??pired by a specific segment of the show. Each player takes turns to read out a Stupid Death Card, and the rest?? have to decide whether it’s actually a way in which someone died or not. Did I mention that the Grim Reaper is chasing you to give you your own Stupid Death? 

Horrified

As a player in Horrified, it’s your job to protect the village from the likes of Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster, T?he Mummy, and other suitably creepy Monsters. Each Monster has challenges that must be overcome as a group, with the fight taking place in locations ??such as the Laboratory, Institute, or Church. 

Cadaver

Cadaver is a card-based game in which players duke it out to reanimate as many corpses as they can. Up to three players can play with a single deck, and each player has to gather as many arcane resou??rces, coffin locks, and terrifying ghouls as they can. It’s a really quick game to play, and the illustrations on the cards are really pretty to look at, if not a little creepy. 

The Night Cage

The Night Cage is different every time you? play, thanks to the mechanic of area tiles, which can be put down in any combination. As a player, it’s your job to escape the ever-changing maze with nothing but the light from candles to illuminate the way. You’ll need to work together if you’re going to get out and try not to double back on yourself.

Hocus Pocus

Another card-based game, but this time, there’s a cauldron and Binx the cat involved. You’ll need to work together in Hocus ?Pocus to try and stun the Sanderson Sisters three times, but it’s not as simple as it sounds. You’ve got objectives to meet, and each sister has her? own special rules because, of course, they do. The Sanderson Sisters are nothing if they’re not awkward.

Monopoly: Ghostbusters Edition

If you’ve played any of the hundreds of versions of Monopoly, you pretty much know what you’re doing in the Ghostbusters Edition. It gets a place on this list for simply being Ghostbusters-themed, and rather than Chance and Community Chest cards, you have Roaming Vapor and Ghost ?Trap cards, both of which ?sit atop a replica Ghost Trap that plays Ray Parker Junior at the touch of a button. Perfection. 

Jumanji

Although not necessarily the first thing you think about when it comes to Halloween, Jumanji honestly terrified me as a child and put me off playing any board games for years, lest I end up gett?ing sucked into them. Plus, what’s scarier than a bunch of giant bugs and rampaging creatures coming out of a game to tear your world apart? 

Mysterium

Mysterium is essentially a cooperative murder mystery in which most of the players are Mediums, while one of them is the ghost of the murder victim. The Ghost can provide Mediums with visions, helping them to gu??ess the suspect, location, and murder weapon. Imagine Clue but with a spooky twist. There’s also a bunch of expansions available.

Psycho Killer

Psycho Killer is a card based game in which players take turns to draw a card from the top of the deck. These cards can give you useful perks, equip you with? weapons, or, at worst, be a Psycho Killer. If you pull a Psycho Killer card, ever?yone in the group needs to use the cards in their hand to get away with their lives. 

Jumping Spiders

If you want a family-friendly fun game to play this Halloween, then Jumping Spiders is an excellent choice, and it’s really simple. If any adults reading this have ever played tiddlywinks, then you’re going to master this real fast. There’s a web set up between tw??o trees, and you take it in turns to push down on spiders until they fly forward and?, hopefully, attach themselves to the web.

The post 10 board games ??to get? you in the spirit for Spooky Season appeared first on Destructoid.

There are around a dozen Root expansions to really k?ick up the already intense warfare waging in the?? forest. If you want to add more factions, Vagabonds, or throw in a solitaire or co-op mode, then one of these expansions will pick your fancy.

1. Root The Marauder Expansion

The Marauder Expansion for Root is the best for a few reasons, although it is a little more c??omplicated a??nd can be a challenge for those who aren't familiar with the game. Two new factions are brought into play, the ravenous Lord of the Hundreds and the stalwart Keepers in Iron.

The Lord of the Hundreds are concerned with ravaging the board and gaining items, like the Vagabond. They offer a purely aggressive and greedy approach to Root that can prove fun for the militaristic. The?? Keepers in Iron are a devout order who are concerned with finding lost relics in forest clearings. They are highly complex, but have great scoring potential.

The Marauder Expansion also adds four Hirelings, which are independent sub-factions mimicking the four main Root factions. Players can use them for their abilities, and they cause so much havoc and choice that they revolutionize how Root is played.

2. Root The Riverfolk Expansion

The Riverfolk Expansion was the first Root expansion, and adds another two factions. The zealou?s Lizard Cult and the mercantile Riverfolk Company. It also throws in an extra Vagabond figure, for double Vagabond play.

The Lizard Cult are a tricky faction to play. They only get to act in clearings of the dominant card? type that was discarded last round, although they can convert enemy warriors and buildings for their cause. The Riverfolk Company are a joyous faction to have on the table as they can traverse river??s and can sell items and warriors to other players. Their commercial nature makes them less of a perceived threat, allowing for great gains.

Both of these factions are incredibly interesting and throw in stranger mixes and dynamics into Root, making this a must-have for Root players.

3. Root The Underworld Expansion

The Underworld Expansion adds yet another two factions to Root as well as two new maps. The im?perial Great Underground Duchy and the sly Corvid Conspiracy are sure to erupt chaos on the board.

Playing the Corvid Conspiracy is a hard task. As you ?lay down plots and run around the board (ignoring rule) concocting secret plans, you must convince the other players that you're not as much of a threat as you are, or else your plots will be targeted and exposed by them. Unlike the Corvid Conspiracy, the Grand Duchy are a versatile and defensive faction th??at need to place buildings around the map to convince their ministers it's worth moving above ground. Their burrow feature allows them to pop up around the map and hold new positions.

Although the Grand Duchy are a solid Root faction, the Corvi??d Conspiracy are not exactly a fan favor?ite due to how difficult it is to win with them.

4. Root Marauder Hirelings Pack &?amp; Hireling Box

The Root Marauder Hirelings Pack and Hireling Box not only adds six Hirelings tied to The Marauder Expansion, but also is purpose built to store all the Hirelings from all other Hireling Expansions for Root.

As aforementioned, Root Hirelings represent independent bands of creatures tied to main factions that can change how Root is played. Alongside the two Hireling stand-ins for the? Keepers in Iron and Lord of the Hundreds, there are also tw??o neutral Hirelings that are always available in every game.

Considering that this box doubles as a Hireling storage, it's worth prioritising purchasing this Root expansion above the others.

5. Root Riverfolk Hirelings Pack

The Riverfolk Hirelings Pack for Root adds new Hirelings associated with the two factions from The Riverfolk Expansion.

Alongside the Riverfolk Hirelings are the Bandit Ga??ngs/Highway Bandits, a neutral Hireling team that can be integrated into any game.

Considering that the Riverfolk factions are so?? incredibly popular, it's likely that most players will want their respective Hirel??ings, giving this expansion a home just under the Marauder Hirelings.

6. Root Underworld Hirelings Pack

To finish off the Hireling expansions, we've finally got the Underworld Hirelings Pack. As you know by now, this pack contains Hirelings that represent the two Underworld Root factions and a third neutral Hireling group.

Although the ranking is fair for this expansion, it could be wiser to purchase this Hireling Pack for a taste of the Corvid Conspiracy and the Grand Duchy without having to purchase the more expensive Underworld Expansion.

Considering you can't use a Hireling if their respective faction is in play, you could augment your games with these Hirelings if you've yet to purchase the Underworld Expansion as no one can get in the way of putting these on t?he board.

7. Root The Exiles and Partisans Deck

The Exiles and Partisans Deck for Root adds a whole new deck of cards to not integrate with the default deck, but to replace it.

If you're getting tired and want to shake up the game fundamentally, you can use this deck, with more interes??ting, specific, and exciting cards. The cards here allow players?? to take on new special powers, although these could lead to unique vulnerabilities.

Although The Exiles and Partisans Deck isn't necessary by any means, I can see it being used a lot more by regular audiences than the? expansions belo??w.

8. Root The Clockwork Expansion

The Clockwork Expansion for Root adds AI versions of the four primary factions to act as stand-in players. The bots here all ?simulate their respective faction pr??etty well, and even if you don't think they do, they still provide an interesting and dynamic challenge.

Instead of using the AI factions as regular factions, you can instead turn Root into a cooperative game, where multiple players go agai??ns??t one or two bot factions.

The Clockwork Faction does a good job at bringing solo and cooperative play to Root alongside throwin??g in an?? extra player, although this will only be interesting to some audiences of players.

9. Root The Clockwork Expansion 2

The Clockwork Expansion 2 adds mechanical AI versions of all four factions from The Underworld Expansion and The Riverfolk Expansion, allowing for even more cursed c?ombinations for solo, coop, or competitive play.

Alongside the four new robotic factions, The Clockwork Expansion 2 also comes with trait cards for the four mechanical factions in the previous Clockwork Expansion.

I've ranked this expansion lower than its predecessor as it requires the base expansions from the respective AI players to work, and it's a little more comp??licated, meaning only select audiences will wish to play with it.

10. Root Landmarks Pack

The Landmarks Pack for Root is a small cherry on top should you have everything else you want. Alt??hough it does add content to the game, it's marginal and doesn't really change the game too much, or ??at least not dramatically.

Six new landmarks will hit the board, offering small bonuses to whoever rules or is on the same clearing as them. Throwing in a little spice to your Root?? games, especially with the right landmarks and faction combinat?ions, can lead to exciting new stories and engaging gameplay.

For the most part, however, they're not too interesting and should really be the last thing you get to complement your Root experience.

11. Root The Vagabond Pack

Realistically, The Vagabond Pack doesn't hold up to any of the other Root expansions. It may add three new Vagabonds and seven new meeples to represent the Vagabond, but none of these three new Vagabonds are that special.

The fan-favorite Vagabond isn't even a part of this pack, meaning you're only going to want to get this Root expansion if y??ou're? a huge fan of one of these middle-of-the-line characters.

As it's so s??pecific, I ca?n't recommend this expansion above any of the others.

Root The Homeland Expansion

The Homeland Expansion, releasing October 2024, adds two new factions, two new maps, and some other extra "goodies" that are currently?? unconfirmed. It's looking like this expansion could be one of the best yet thanks to how unique it is, ??although until it's out, I can't rank it fairly.

The Twilight Council, a faction of bats, want to end the fighting. Instead of battling, these winged diplomats will host assemblies where players can attend to try and get what they want without bloodshed. The Lilypad Diaspora are a faction of frogs who want to integrate with the woodland. In a unique twist, they will introduce a new suit, the frog suit, to the clearings, changing Root on its head.

All details here are subject to change, but it's looking real excit??ing.

Phew! That's a lot of expansions. Now that you know how you can improve your Root exp?erience, ??the hard part is choosing which to get next.

The post All Root expansions ranked from best to worst appeared first on Destructoid.

When making an epic adventure for your friends, it may be difficult to decide on a TTRPG system to base it on. If you don't want to make your own and want a great ??system to use, then look no further than these amazing TTRPG systems.

Blades in the Dark

Blades in the Dark is an incredibly freeing and fun TTRPG system that provides players with gritty freedom that is seldom seen elsewhere. Although the theme of Blades in the Dark is of heists and criminal syndicates, a GM is free to take the systems and integrate them into any other themed adventure.

What makes Blades in the Dark's system stand out is the brilliant approach to planning and contingencies. Players get to jump into the action, and upon coming across obstacles or problems, they can either roleplay a flashback that explains why there's actually no problem at all (at th?e cost of stress) or they get to pretend they were prepared with an item for this exact occasion (at the cost of a checkmark).

The players are scarcely unprepared in the Blades in the Dark system, allowing for the real meat of the game to be in the problem-solving and web of preparations and creativity that goes with it. Naturally, players can only do this so much, meaning actual planning and caution is necessary. If you're hosting TTRPG where your players are professionals, Blades in the Dark will complement that perfectly.

Cyberpunk 2020

Cyberpunk 2020 is currently the best Cyberpunk RPG system going. It's gritty, harsh, lethal, and makes you really feel like you're fighting for your life in every scenario. If you want to craft a more realistic?? game without much power fantasy, then you'll find it here.

In true Cyberpunk fashion, Netrunning and cybernetic enhancements are par for the course here, allowing players to become noticeably stronger with each upgrade. Every improvement ?will be relished t??hanks to the harsh realities of street combat.

If this is the vibe you're after, you won't get better than Cyberpunk 2020. You can take the core ?tenets of this TTRPG system without the Cyberpunk aesthetic, although that will be pretty difficult.

Pathfinder 2e

Pathfinder is commonly regarded as the trickier cousin to Dungeons & Dragons, and for good reason. Although it's an offshoot of a previous D&D system, Pathfinder has found its own identity. It can be pretty difficult to create your own adventure in Pathfinder due to how many rules there are, but if you're playin?g with an advanced group, this may not be an issue.

For a fantasy adventure with lots of rules and stipulations, Pathfinder is what you want. The rules here can allow for a more grounded and less wobbly experience if?? you want to make a serious fantasy world for your players to explore.

Due to how rigorous Pathfinder is, it can be har??d to make it your own, but that may be exactly what you're after if you don't want to spend much time calibrating an existing TTRPG.

Call of Cthulhu

Call of Cthulhu deviates from the typical TTRPG mantra by providing a system that's not intended for action or dungeon crawling but for investigating and discovery. H.P. Lovecraft's horrors have always been perfect inspirations for Call of Cthulhu game?s, naturally, but you can tota??lly make your own existential horror.

Players in Call of Cthulhu will be less concerned with battle and action but with staying far away from whatever Eldritch horror is waiting around the corner. It is up to the players to try and banish or destroy whatever evil is lurking, but success is never guara?nteed.

If you want a TTRPG system that allows you to make a game where your players are fish out of water and the prey instead of the predator, then Call of Cthulhu is a great pick.

D&D 5e

Who doesn't know about Dungeons and Dragons? It's the most popular TTRPG system out there, and ?altho??ugh it may be common to dunk on this system because of how mainstream it is, it's mainstream for a reason.

D&D is easy to work with and allows you to create an original fantasy world pretty easily. If you want to make a grand, fantastical adventure, you'll easily be able to do so. The systems are just complex enough to provide satisfying depth without getting too i?n the weeds. The fre?edom here also allows you to make games with varying emphasis on rules and other systems.

I've had plenty of experience with D&D and yet none of the games I've made have stuck strictly to the D&D formula. For beginner GMs wanting to make their own elaborate worlds, starting with the D&D TTRPG system is a solid choice.

Warhammer 40K Wrath and Glory

Wrath and Glory is a controversial TTRPG with as many pros as cons. It's a system that allows for extreme power fantasy and can be broken and exploited to no end. However, if you're in the market purely for a TTRPG system and you're a beginner GM, then you may find so??me strange value here.

It's simple and easy to learn, making it great for casual and beginner groups. You can take the TTRPG system and leave the Warhammer 40K dressings behind. This is a little extra work, but for a one-shot or casual grand adventure??, the system here may be exactly what you're looking f?or.

Due to the potenti??al exploits players may come across, you will want to work with a group th??at enjoys roleplaying more than the min-maxing.

Delta Green

Similar to Call of Cthulhu, Delta Green is a darker TTRPG system where the players will always feel vulnerable and powerful in the face of whatever urban horror mess is waiting for them. The mechanics employed in Delta Green ??allow for tense and dramatic engagements and satisfying progress.

The modern setting allows roleplay to be much more accessible to everyone, although you can take the brilliant mechanics found in Delta Green and assign them to a setting of your choice.

You'll want to look into Delta Green?? if you want your players to navigate a world with very little hope yet just enough gusto to see it through or delay the inevitable.

Stars Without Number

Stars Without Number is one of the greatest sci-fi TTRPGs out there, thanks to the detailed and incre??dibly helpful generators it uses. As a GM creating the universe your players are embarking into, it can be i?ncredibly useful to have these generators on standby to create full planets and civilizations at the drop of a hat.

If you're an experienced GM wanting to create a large-scale sci-fi adventure for your group, then Stars Without Number is the system you'll want to use. This isn't so beginner-friendly as this syst?em was developed with sandbox games in mind.

For an adventure where your players can explore any world or star they wish and you don't have to individually sculpt thousands of worlds, Stars Without Number is what you need.

Scum and Villainy

For a plucky space adventure, Scum and Villainy (from the same creators as Blades in the Dark) presents everything a GM would need. If you've used Blades in the Dark before and are up for a change of theme, then Scum and Villainy is worth a try.

There are differences between the systems, however, for the savvy GM just looking for a great TTRPG system. However, you won't be able to use this system for anything else other than a space adventure because of how curated it is. It can be?? adapted to existing space sci-fi franchises and settings, however, thanks to it being malleable.

A power fantasy in space, Scum and Villainy has all the tools a GM needs to build up a space opera for?? their players. It's great fun and ??allows for high-stakes adventures.

Slayers

Slayers is a fantastic TT??RPG system that gives both the GM and pla??yers a lot of freedom. Set in a city cursed to expand forever, players take on the roles of Slayers to wander the streets and purge them of the beasts that lurk.

What makes Slayers special is the asymmetric combat and the constantly shifting? setting. This system allows the GM extreme freedom, as you can play off the different combat mechanics employed by different classes to create dynamic and unique encounters. Also, the shifting setting allows you literally change your mind mid-campaign.

You can take the many systems of Slayers and remove them from the urban setting to create a very strange and exciting adventure. It may be tricky to pull off, but it will result in some truly u??nforgettable campaigns and encounters.

The post 10 Greatest TTRPG Systems To Build Epic Adventures (????Ranked) appeared first on Destructoid.