Steamforged Games has made a name for itself by bringing some of the most iconic video game franchises to the tabletop world. From Monster Hunter to Devil May Cry, Sea of Thieves to Gears of War, and their soon-to-be-released colossal Elden Ring adaptation, the company has a diverse portfolio. Today, we delve into their Resident Evil series, focusing on Resident Evil 1, 2, and 3.
The Resident Evil board game trilogy kicked off 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, allowing up to four players to navigate through dark corridors, burning streets, and sinister laboratories, reenacting the narratives of each game. Each title is enriched with highly detailed plastic miniatures that represent the monstrous foes and heroic survivors players will encounter.
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Resident Evil: The Board Game
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Resident Evil: The Bleak Outpost
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Resident Evil 2: The Board Game
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Resident Evil 2 The Board Game: B-Files Expansion
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Resident Evil 2: The Board Game - Malformations of G B-Files Expansion
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Resident Evil 2 The Board Game: Survival Horror Expansion
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Resident Evil 2 The Board Game: - 4th Survivor Expansion
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Resident Evil 3: The Board Game
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Resident Evil 3: The Last Escape Expansion
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Resident Evil 3 The Board Game: City of Ruin Expansion
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Each player's turn in these games is divided into three phases: the Action Phase, the Reaction Phase, and the Tension Phase. During the Action Phase, players have four actions to use, which can include moving, opening or closing doors, searching for items, trading with others, using items, or attacking enemies. In the Reaction Phase, enemies move towards or attack the active player, prompting a dice roll to evade danger. The Tension Phase involves drawing from the Tension deck, which can result in nothing, a minor setback, or a significant challenge. By the end of the first round, players should be comfortable with the mechanics, allowing them to focus on surviving and thriving in the zombie-infested world.
Combat in these games involves rolling dice and comparing the results with the equipped weapon's stats and abilities. Outcomes range from pushing enemies to adjacent squares, killing them, or missing entirely. Firing a weapon can attract enemies from nearby rooms if doors are open, adding a layer of strategy and tension to every decision.
As campaign-based board games, each title includes multiple scenarios that can be played individually or as part of a continuous narrative. Scenarios use tiles with tokens for locked doors, items, and other elements, with player progress and inventory carrying over between sessions. For those preferring standalone games, each scenario provides starting gear and information.
For fans who own multiple games in the series, there's flexibility to mix and match characters and scenario tiles across titles, though some adjustments might be necessary. This crossover potential enhances replayability and allows for creative combinations, like having Leon navigate the Spencer Mansion alongside Chris.
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+
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Resident Evil, the latest and most polished entry in the trilogy, builds on the strengths of its predecessors while introducing new mechanics. Players take on the roles of Jill Valentine, Chris Redfield, Rebecca Chambers, or Barry Burton as they explore the Spencer Mansion and surrounding areas. New support characters like Albert Wesker, Enrico Marini, Richard Aiken, and Brad Vickers can be sent on missions to gather resources, adding depth to the gameplay.
The game features a flexible narrative flow, allowing players to explore rooms in various orders, unlocked by different items and puzzle-solving. The mansion and other locations are constructed using cards, streamlining setup compared to previous games. Zombies pose a greater threat in this iteration, as their corpses remain on the board unless burned with Kerosene, potentially reviving as more dangerous Red Zombies. If you're looking for a single game to start with, Resident Evil is a solid choice due to its refinements and enhancements.
Resident Evil Board Game Expansions
Resident Evil: The Bleak Outpost Expansion
Resident Evil: The Bleak Outpost
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MSRP: $69.99
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The Bleak Outpost expansion adds six new scenarios and two new bosses, Neptune and Plant-42, introducing 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 sessions.
Resident Evil 2: The Board Game
Resident Evil 2: The Board Game
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MSRP: $114.99 USD (Steamforge website price)
Players: 1-4 (Best with 2)
Play Time: 60-90 minutes (per scenario)
Ages: 14+
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Resident Evil 2 was the first in Steamforged's series, introducing players to the zombie-filled corridors of the Raccoon City police station and the horrors of the Umbrella Corporation. Players can choose from Leon Kennedy, Claire Redfield, Ada Wong, or Robert Kendo to face Lickers, Zombie Dogs, and Birkin across eight scenarios, from the S.T.A.R.S Office to the Umbrella Laboratory.
While it's the second game in the Resident Evil timeline, it's recommended to start here due to its simpler mechanics. The campaign is linear, with scenarios leading directly into each other. Some quality-of-life issues, like overly dark tiles and missing parts for life and ammo dials, may detract slightly from the experience, but the game remains enjoyable and challenging.
Resident Evil 2 Board Game Expansions
Resident Evil 2 The Board Game: B-Files Expansion
Resident Evil 2 The Board Game: B-Files Expansion
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MSRP: $54.99 USD
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The B-Files expansion doubles the number of scenarios and introduces new items, enemies, and the challenge of escaping 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
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MSRP: $32.99
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Designed to complement the B-Files expansion, Malformations of G lets players 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
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MSRP: $54.99
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The Survival Horror expansion is highly recommended, adding five new playable characters, two advanced versions of base game characters, new enemies, and a PVP mode for a fresh gameplay experience.
Resident Evil 2 The Board Game: - 4th Survivor Expansion
Resident Evil 2 The Board Game: - 4th Survivor Expansion
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MSRP: $32.99
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This expansion introduces Hunk and Tofu as playable characters, along with new modes like fighting through hordes of enemies and the PVP Extreme Battle mode. The Tofu miniature alone is a compelling reason to add this to your collection.
Resident Evil 3: The Board Game
Resident Evil 3: The Board Game
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MSRP: $114.99 USD (Steamforge’s website)
Players: 1-4 (Best with 2)
Play Time: 60-90 minutes (per scenario)
Ages: 14+
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Resident Evil 3 builds on the mechanics introduced in RE2, moving away from a linear narrative to offer players choices in exploring the ruins of Raccoon City. Players can choose Jill, Carlos, Mikhail, or Nikolai, each with unique skills to survive the Nemesis's pursuit.
The game's Danger Tracker mechanic reflects the deteriorating city, making gameplay progressively more challenging. The Narrative deck adds variability and tension to each playthrough, enhancing the survival horror experience. The only downside is the scenario map, which feels less robust compared to other components.
For those interested in a more open-ended campaign, Resident Evil 3 is an excellent starting point in the series.
Resident Evil 3 Board Game Expansions
Resident Evil 3: The Last Escape Expansion
Resident Evil 3: The Last Escape Expansion
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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 added challenge.
Resident Evil 3 The Board Game: City of Ruin Expansion
Resident Evil 3 The Board Game: City of Ruin Expansion
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MSRP: $69.99
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City of Ruin adds nine new scenarios, sending players to new locations like the City Hospital and Dead Factory, where they'll face new enemies and bosses, including Stage 3 Nemesis. New weapons and items are provided to aid in these challenging encounters.
