Steamforged Games has made a name for itself by bringing some of the video game world's most beloved franchises to the tabletop, from Monster Hunter to Devil May Cry, Sea of Thieves to Gears of War, and their upcoming colossal Elden Ring adaptation. However, today we're focusing on their thrilling Resident Evil series, which includes adaptations of Resident Evil 1, 2, and 3.
Starting with Resident Evil 2 in 2019, followed by Resident Evil 3 in 2021, and culminating with Resident Evil in 2023, these games share a core set of mechanics, offering a consistent and immersive experience across the series. Players, along with up to three friends, take turns navigating through eerie corridors, burning streets, and sinister labs, reliving the iconic narratives of each game. Each title is enhanced with highly detailed plastic miniatures that represent both the monstrous adversaries and the valiant survivor heroes you control.
Resident Evil: The Board Game
Resident Evil: The Board Game
1See it at Amazon
MSRP: $114.99 USD
Players: 1-4 (best with 2)
Play Time: 60-90 minutes (per scenario)
Ages: 14+
See it at Amazon
The latest and most polished of the trilogy, Resident Evil, enhances and refines the best elements from its predecessors while introducing exciting new mechanics. Players can choose from iconic characters like Jill Valentine, Chris Redfield, Rebecca Chambers, or Barry Burton to explore the enigmatic Spencer Mansion and its surrounding areas. This installment introduces special support characters like Albert Wesker, Enrico Marini, Richard Aiken, and Brad Vickers, who can undertake missions to gather supplies, adding a strategic layer to the gameplay.
Resident Evil offers a flexible narrative structure, allowing players to explore the mansion's rooms in various sequences, unlocking new areas with different items and solving puzzles. The game uses special cards to represent the mansion and other locations, making setup quicker and more engaging than in previous titles. The zombies pose a greater threat this time; upon being defeated, they leave behind corpses that must be burned with Kerosene to prevent them from reviving as dangerous Red Zombies. If you're considering diving into just one game from this series, Resident Evil stands out as the top choice due to its refined gameplay and enhanced features.
Resident Evil Board Game Expansions
Resident Evil: The Bleak Outpost Expansion
Resident Evil: The Bleak Outpost
0See it at Amazon
MSRP: $69.99
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The Bleak Outpost expansion adds six new scenarios and introduces two new bosses, Neptune and Plant-42, sending players to new locations like the Guard House and Aqua Ring. It's an excellent addition for fans of the base game, offering both a mini-campaign and standalone one-off sessions.
Resident Evil 2: The Board Game
Resident Evil 2: The Board Game
0See it at Amazon
MSRP: $114.99 USD (Steamforge website price)
Players: 1-4 (Best with 2)
Play Time: 60-90 minutes (per scenario)
Ages: 14+
See it at Amazon
Resident Evil 2, the inaugural title in Steamforged's Resident Evil board game series, invites players into the zombie-infested halls of the Raccoon City police station and the horrors of the Umbrella Corporation. Choose to play as Leon Kennedy, Claire Redfield, Ada Wong, or Robert Kendo and face off against Lickers, Zombie Dogs, and the formidable Birkin across eight scenarios. The game's campaign is linear, with scenarios flowing directly into one another, though it lacks some of the refinements seen in later entries. The game's tiles can be dark, making details hard to see, but the core gameplay remains engaging and fun.
Resident Evil 2 Board Game Expansions
Resident Evil 2 The Board Game: B-Files Expansion
Resident Evil 2 The Board Game: B-Files Expansion
0See it at Amazon
MSRP: $54.99 USD
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The B-Files expansion for Resident Evil 2 doubles the number of scenarios, introduces new items, enemies, and the daunting challenge of escaping from Mr. X.
Resident Evil 2: The Board Game - Malformations of G B-Files Expansion
Resident Evil 2: The Board Game - Malformations of G B-Files Expansion
0See it at Amazon
MSRP: $32.99
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Designed to complement the B-Files expansion, Malformations of G challenges players to confront Birkin Stage Three before making their escape.
Resident Evil 2 The Board Game: Survival Horror Expansion
Resident Evil 2 The Board Game: Survival Horror Expansion
0See it at Amazon
MSRP: $54.99
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The Survival Horror expansion is highly recommended, adding five new playable characters, revamped versions of two base game characters, new enemies, and a new PVP gameplay mode for those seeking a competitive edge.
Resident Evil 2 The Board Game: - 4th Survivor Expansion
Resident Evil 2 The Board Game: - 4th Survivor Expansion
0See it at Amazon
MSRP: $32.99
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This expansion introduces beloved video game characters like Hunk and Tofu, along with new modes that challenge players to battle through hordes of enemies in the police department and engage in PVP races to prevent an outbreak. The Tofu miniature alone is a compelling reason to add this expansion to your collection.
Resident Evil 3: The Board Game
Resident Evil 3: The Board Game
0See it at Amazon
MSRP: $114.99 USD (Steamforge’s website)
Players: 1-4 (Best with 2)
Play Time: 60-90 minutes (per scenario)
Ages: 14+
See it at Amazon
Resident Evil 3 builds upon the foundation laid by Resident Evil 2, both in storyline and mechanics. This game departs from the linear narrative of its predecessor, offering players the freedom to explore the ravaged remains of Raccoon City as Jill, Carlos, Mikhail, or Nikolai. Each character brings unique skills to the table, aiding survival against the relentless Nemesis.
The game introduces a Danger Tracker that reflects the escalating peril as the city deteriorates, influenced by players' actions and success in objectives. The Narrative deck adds variety and replayability, enhancing the survival horror atmosphere. While the components are generally high quality, the scenario map's material feels somewhat underwhelming compared to the rest of the game's components. If you're interested in a more open-ended campaign and prefer to skip Resident Evil 2, this game serves as an excellent entry point into the series.
Resident Evil 3 Board Game Expansions
Resident Evil 3: The Last Escape Expansion
Resident Evil 3: The Last Escape Expansion
0See it at Amazon
MSRP: $44.99
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The Last Escape expansion introduces new playable characters, including advanced versions of the base game's cast, and new monsters like Brain Suckers, Giant Spiders, and crows. It also includes new rules, cards, and a permadeath variant for a more challenging experience.
Resident Evil 3 The Board Game: City of Ruin Expansion
Resident Evil 3 The Board Game: City of Ruin Expansion
0See it at Amazon
MSRP: $69.99
See it at Amazon
City of Ruin offers nine new scenarios that take players to new locations like the City Hospital, City Park, and Dead Factory, where they'll encounter new enemies and bosses. New weapons and items will be crucial in facing the formidable Stage 3 Nemesis.
