Steamforged Games has adapted several popular video game franchises into board games, including Monster Hunter, Devil May Cry, Sea of Thieves, Gears of War, and the upcoming Elden Ring adaptation. This article focuses on their Resident Evil trilogy: Resident Evil, Resident Evil 2, and Resident Evil 3.
Released in 2019, 2021, and 2023 respectively, these games share similar mechanics. Up to four players navigate perilous environments – dark corridors, burning streets, and sinister labs – recreating the storylines of the original games. Highly detailed miniatures represent both the terrifying creatures and the heroic survivors.
Featured Games and Expansions:
Resident Evil: The Board Game
See it at Amazon MSRP: $114.99 USD Players: 1-4 (best with 2) Play Time: 60-90 minutes (per scenario) Ages: 14+
Resident Evil: The Bleak Outpost
See it at Amazon MSRP: $69.99
Resident Evil 2: The Board Game
See it at Amazon MSRP: $114.99 USD Players: 1-4 (Best with 2) Play Time: 60-90 minutes (per scenario) Ages: 14+
Resident Evil 2 The Board Game: B-Files Expansion
See it at Amazon MSRP: $54.99USD
Resident Evil 2: The Board Game - Malformations of G B-Files Expansion
See it at Amazon MSRP: $32.99
Resident Evil 2 The Board Game: Survival Horror Expansion
See it at Amazon MSRP: $54.99
Resident Evil 2 The Board Game: - 4th Survivor Expansion
See it at Amazon MSRP: $32.99
Resident Evil 3: The Board Game
See it at Amazon MSRP: $114.99 USD Players: 1-4 (Best with 2) Play Time: 60-90 minutes (per scenario) Ages: 14+
Resident Evil 3: The Last Escape Expansion
See it at Amazon MSRP: $44.99
Resident Evil 3 The Board Game: City of Ruin Expansion
See it at Amazon MSRP: $69.99
Gameplay:
Each turn consists of three phases: Action, Reaction, and Tension. Players have four actions per turn (move, open/close doors, search, trade, use items, attack). Enemies act during the Reaction Phase, potentially attacking or moving towards the active player. The Tension Phase involves drawing cards that introduce various events.
Combat involves dice rolling, comparing results to weapon stats and abilities. Even basic zombies can prove challenging. Shooting attracts enemies from adjacent rooms (if doors are open). This system encourages strategic decision-making.
Each game features multiple scenarios playable as standalone games or a connected campaign. Levels are built using tiles. Player inventory, health, and other information carry over between scenarios in a campaign.
Game Comparisons:
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Resident Evil: The most refined, incorporating improvements from previous games and adding new mechanics, including support characters on special missions. Uses card-based map building for faster setup. Killed zombies remain, requiring kerosene to burn their corpses.
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Resident Evil 2: The original in the Steamforged series, introducing players to Raccoon City Police Station. Features a linear campaign progression, lacks some refinements found in later titles.
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Resident Evil 3: Offers a more open-ended campaign structure, introducing a Danger Tracker mechanic that increases difficulty as the city deteriorates. The map uses a less premium material compared to other components.
The Resident Evil board games offer a compelling blend of strategic gameplay and survival horror atmosphere, capturing the essence of the video game series. While each game stands alone, the series benefits from the improvements and expansions added over time.
