Board games come in a variety of shapes and sizes. While some support large groups of players, others can be tackled solo. Board games cover many topics such as human history, pop culture, careers, adventuring, and more. While some board games share similar mechanics others use technology to create intense games.
Whether players are looking for a strategic combat-focused game, a mature RPG, or a family-friendly adventure, there is something for every table. While Monopoly, Warhammer, and Settlers of Catan are a few names board game enthusiasts may regularly hear, there are plenty of other games to explore, including these recently released and upcoming titles.
9 Familiar Tales
Players looking for a cooperative deck-building adventure will want to check out Familiar Tales. Familiar Tales is a narrative game for 1-4 players, where players take on the role of a wizard's familiars. Players will have to keep a princess safe from evil forces, and also help raise the child. Every choice players make will affect the child in their care, and will shape the princess into the next ruler of the land.
The world of Familiar Tales is a large storybook world with branching paths. There are plenty of enemies to fight and places to explore. The card system allows players to level up their familiars by customizing their skills.
8 Dead by Daylight: The Board Game
Fans of Dead by Daylight will get a chance to test their skills against their friends in person, with the Dead by Daylight board game. The board game will bring an authentic Dead by Daylight experience to players' tables.
A group of players takes on the role of survivors and must work together to repair generators to escape. A single-player takes on the role of the killer and will attempt to wound and capture the survivors. The board game features thirteen miniatures and two large maps to explore. Players can also use items, perks, props, and powers much like in the video game. The game also encourages players with more experience to customize their characters with unique builds.
7 Casting Shadows
Players who want to explore a dark and enchanting world will want to check out Casting Shadows, a 2-4 player turn-based competitive strategy board game. Players will have to collect resources, learn spells, summon companions, and unlock their shadow form to become the best Shadow Caster. They will take turns traveling to different locations attempting to build their power.
Each location grants players different advantages, ranging from bonus resources to damage coverage. The expansion pack also allows the game to support six players, making it perfect for a game night with friends.
6 Tokyo: Otherscape – A Mythic Cyberpunk RPG
Tokyo: Otherscape is an RPG that combines supernatural with cyberpunk. Otherscape is inspired by franchises such as Ghost In The Shell and Akira. Players will experience gunfights, vehicle chases, cyberspace, and urban-scape exploration. In addition, players will have to navigate through a world where mythology and technology are constantly clashing. They will also find themselves in the middle of or taking sides in faction wars.
In the world of the game, demons, monsters, and gods no longer hide their involvement with geopolitical powers and strike deals with mortals bestowing them with reality-bending powers. Corporations and crime syndicates will vie for this power, while technology attempts to compete against these gods.
5 Frostpunk: The Board Game
Frostpunk: The Board Game lets a single player or up to four players take charge of one of the last sites on Earth. Players will have to manage both infrastructure and their citizens. Based on the popular video game, the gameplay in Frostpunk will be just as challenging. Players will face morally complex choices, and work with vocal citizens. Citizens can issue demands and react according to their moods, which means every decision has consequences.
The board game features a variety of mechanics, such as daily events that take on the form of random situations and requests from citizens. Weather will also play a large factor, blizzards and freezing temperatures can devastate an unprepared settlement.
4 Vampire: The Masquerade – Chapters
Set in Montreal, Vampire: The Masquerade - Chapters, takes place after the rise of the Second Inquisition and the fall of Sabbat. The latest game in the Vampire: The Masquerade franchise merges RPGs and board games. Players will have to choose carefully, as their decisions will change the outcome of their adventures. The board game is designed to support up to four players; however, it is playable solo.
The central campaign features multiple scenarios that will keep players on the edge of their seats. Scenarios can lock and unlock forever, depending on how players choose to approach each one. In addition, players can improve their characters over time using experience points.
3 Founders of Teotihuacan
Players will travel back in time to the founding of Teotihuacan and become part of its history in Founders of Teotihuacan, a strategy board game in which players compete against each other to design the best city. Players will build towers of varying strengths that will grant them bonuses. They can also construct temples, resource buildings, and the pyramid that will be at the center of the city.
Players will have to manage generating resources and using them, as well as finding good locations. Once an eclipse comes, the designs will be assessed and the winner will be the player with the most points.
2 Weather Machine
In Weather Machine, players take on the role of a team of scientists tasked with testing a new weather machine. Players will adjust rainfall for farms, maintain wind and clear skies for energy sources, and change temperatures for resorts.
While tampering with local weather patterns may seem harmless, it will have effects on other areas of the planet. Every test will cause side effects that progressively get worse and threaten humanity. Players will work together to build a new prototype to fix the damage that has already been done. However, players will need to secure supplies while racing against time.
1 Return to Dark Tower
Return to Dark Tower is the sequel to the 1981 game, where a new enemy has taken up residence in the walls of Azkol’s Tower. The board game supports 1-4 players, who can choose between playing cooperatively or competitively. It's a fantasy adventure where players will face fearsome enemies and test their strength against the looming evil.
Each player controls a hero with their own starting inventories and special abilities. Throughout the journey, players can gather helpful items, abilities, and companions. Return to Dark Tower also utilizes a mobile app to enhance the combat system. However, the most dangerous threat is still the tower itself.