Board game blockbusters

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/05/2020 (2155 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

I have watched a lot of TV shows and movies over the last two months, and I’m certain I’m not the only one. Recent studies have shown that more than 75 per cent of respondents are watching more streaming content than before the COVID-19 outbreak.

For a lot of people who were asked to stay at home, binge-watching has become the main source of distraction. I personally treated myself to watching all nine Star Wars movies in sequential storyline order; a luxury I would not have allowed myself outside a quarantine situation. But, like everything else in life, all good things must come to an end — even a good story. I am always a little saddened when a TV series or movie franchise I have invested so much time in comes to its final chapter or conclusion.

Here is the good news: There are a significant number of board games that allow you to either relive or continue the universe of your favourite show. A countless number of intellectual properties (or IPs) have been adopted into tabletop games over the years. Chances are, if there is a show that was a hit, someone made a game of it.

There are three sub-categories when it comes to adaptations of shows or movies: Games that apply the theme of a show onto an already existing game, games that are specifically designed with a specific show in mind and games that sit somewhere in between.

The best example of a game that applies (or “pastes,” in gaming lingo) a theme onto existing game-play would be Monopoly. We have all seen the countless franchised versions that appear around the release of a movie or after the success of a television series — anything from Simpsons Monopoly to Golden Girls or Riverdale Monopoly. The concept here is very clear: Don’t change the game, just change the components. The playing tokens, street names and card designs represent the show’s characters and art, while the rules of the game will always be the same: Monopoly.

This does not offer you any real immersive experience into the world of your favourite show, it simply surrounds you with images of characters you love. Other games that frequently get a similar IP “facelift” are evergreens such as Clue, Risk or Operation. For me, this is not dissimilar to ordering a known fast food chain meal in another country. You will always know exactly what you are going to get, but the sights are slightly different.

On the other end of the spectrum are games that were designed specifically to capture the world and/or story of a show or movie. These games build on the concept of an intellectual property and transform it into a board game that attempts to immerse the players in its fictional world. One of my favourites is the adaptation of Jaws. Here, the game is trying to give you the feel and plotline of the movie by having a two-sided board. On one side you co-operatively try to safe as many swimmers in Amity Island as possible. Once that is completed you turn the board around and find yourself on the Orca where the characters have a final showdown with the infamous great white. Not simply a great homage to the movie, it’s also a thrilling game experience that puts each player into the role of their favourite hero. The outcome remains unknown until the end. Sometimes the shark will win, sometimes the hunters.

Another good example is Game of Thrones: The Board Game, which is now in its second edition. The game is based on an area-control mechanic that encourages alliances and backstabbing. It perfectly translates the power struggles between the different families that are at the heart of the novels and TV series.

And then there are the pre-existing games that received a TV or movie-themed makeover, while implementing a twist that offers at least some immersion into the property it is representing. One example that comes to mind is Harry Potter: Clue. Even though the fundamental game play is based on Clue, the board now allows players to shift and move the hallways paths, giving it an interesting Harry Potter angle.

Here are some of my recommendations for game adaptations:

THE THING — INFECTION AT OUTPOST 31
4-8 players, ages 17 and up

In this hidden-identity game, you will relive John Carpenter’s sci-fi cult classic in a race to discover who among the team has been infected by this heinous lifeform. Play as one of 12 characters as you lead a series of investigations through the facility, using supplies and equipment to clear the building. The tension mounts and paranoia ensues, as you question who you can trust in the ultimate race to save humanity. A truly exciting and immersive experience.

 

STAR WARS: REBELLION
2-4 players, ages 14 and up

Experience the Galactic Civil War like never before. Players either control the entire Galactic Empire or the fledgling Rebel Alliance. They must command starships, account for troop movements, and rally systems to their cause. Given the differences between the Empire and Rebel Alliance, each side has different win conditions, and one needs to adjust one’s play style depending on who one represents. It also has a nice mixture of cat-and-mouse play, as the rebels are trying to hide their base, and conflict and battle strategies that are prominent in the movie franchise.

 

CODENAMES: DISNEY FAMILY EDITION
3-8 players, ages 8 and up

Codenames has been one of the most popular games over the last few years. There are many movie and TV adaptations out there, including The Simpsons, Harry Potter, Marvel and, of course, Disney. It is basically the game play of Codenames but instead of cards with words, the game uses pictures from many Disney classics. Players get divided into two teams who have to find their pictures by getting one-word clues from their team leaders.

 

HARRY POTTER: HOGWARTS BATTLE
2-4 players, ages 11 and up

There are a great number of games out there that are Harry Potter-themed. Hogwarts Battle stands out from the rest because of its interesting game play of co-operative deck building. The forces of evil are threatening to overrun Hogwarts castle. It is up to four students to ensure the safety of the school by defeating villains and consolidating their defences. In the game, players take on the role of a Hogwarts student: Harry, Ron, Hermione or Neville, each with his or her own personal deck of cards that’s used to acquire resources. A must-play for any Harry Potter fan.

 

RICK AND MORTY: TOTAL RICKCALL
2-5 players, ages 15 and up

The Rick and Morty franchise inspired a few games; this one, based on the episode of the same name, is the most popular. Rick has locked the family inside their house. Why? Because the family has grown. Parasites masquerading as family and close friends have infiltrated and have inserted pleasant memories into everyone’s minds to make them think they’re real — and more keep coming. You must figure out which of these new, zany characters are real and which ones are parasites that need to be exterminated. Think you’ve got what it takes to save the world? The game comes with both co-operative and competitive rule sets.

 

Olaf Pyttlik is a Winnipeg board game enthusiast and co-owner of Across the Board Game Cafe.