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 out. behind their familiar faces are fantastic games to be enjoyed by all, however.
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Jaws
Jawsencapsulates the arcs 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 devour the boat and the crew.
Jawsis 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 different sides, you can expect four different ways to interact with it.
The Witcher Old World
The Witcher Old Worldis a huge game 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 ofThe Witcher Old Worldto track monsters, acquire potions, gamble, solve events, and even 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 Worldis a must-have forWitcherand strategy fans.
Marvel Champions
Marvel Championsis 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 forMarvel Champions, as you must build the deck yourself, and there area lotof 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 Championswill let you and your friends become the ultimate force with the right strategizing, however.
Dune Imperium
Dune Imperiumis a complex worker placement game where players vie to gain victory points on the harsh planet.
A great worker placement system is used here that rewards players for using neglected spaces and 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 whilst trying to keep ahead in the conflicts allows for exciting and varied turns that allow for lots of choice and strategy.
Star Wars Rebellion
Star Wars Rebellionis a tense one-on-one between The Empire and the Rebellion. Asymmetrical 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 trilogyandcan alter history. The narratives combined with the engaging space and land battles are what makeStar Wars Rebellionsuch a joy to play.
Great strategy is required forStar 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 Villainousallows players to finish what six notoriousDisneyvillains started. Each villain has their own board, objectives, actions, and play style, allowing for an immersive experience.
AlthoughDisney Villainousisn’t directly competitive, each player can hinder and block other players using hapless heroes. This does mean that you need to know about all other villains to understand who’s ahead and who’s catching up.
Disney Villainousthrows 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 that add lots of other villains to play with.
Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective
Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detectiveallows 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 be 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 see how many questions you got right.
Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detectiveis the closest board games have gotten to true mystery-solving, and with so many expansions, the fun can keep going.
War of the Ring
War of the Ringis ahugeboard 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 ofThe 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 ofWar of the Ring, you can reshape the history of Middle-Earth. Again, the rules are grueling, and there isa lotgoing on, butWar of the Ringis a strangely addictive puzzle that hardly plays the same twice.
Bloodborne The Board Game
Bloodborne The Board Gameallows players to become Hunters of Yharnam and engage in different campaigns that will spin different narratives, have different choices, and host different enemies and bosses.
Each campaign ofBloodborne The Board Gamegoes over three chapters, and each has rich stories, 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 forBloodborne The Board Gameallow for new stories and enemies, meaning there islotsof fun to be had.
A Game Of Thrones The Board Game
A Game Of Thrones The Board Gameis the definitiveA Game of Thronesexperience, where three to six players gather around Westeros to fight for the Iron Throne.
Like any other strategy game worth its salt,A Game Of Thrones The Board Gamehas 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 butarethe game.
You will need to do much more than just win battles to triumph here, as tactful diplomacy and strategic positioning 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 based on IPs and franchises, the hard part now is to decide which one you want to play first.
