Resident Evil Board Games: A Guide for Enthusiasts

Steamforged Games' impressive board game library boasts adaptations of major video game franchises, including Monster Hunter, Devil May Cry, Sea of Thieves, Gears of War, and the upcoming Elden Ring. 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 – reliving the iconic storylines. Highly detailed miniatures bring the terrifying creatures and heroic survivors to life.

Featured Games:

### Resident Evil: The Board Game

1See it at Amazon### Resident Evil: The Bleak Outpost

0See it at Amazon### Resident Evil 2: The Board Game

0See it at Amazon### Resident Evil 2 The Board Game: B-Files Expansion

0See it at Amazon### Resident Evil 2: The Board Game - Malformations of G B-Files Expansion

0See it at Amazon### Resident Evil 2 The Board Game: Survival Horror Expansion

0See it at Amazon### Resident Evil 2 The Board Game: - 4th Survivor Expansion

0See it at Amazon### Resident Evil 3: The Board Game

0See it at Amazon### Resident Evil 3: The Last Escape Expansion

0See it at Amazon### Resident Evil 3 The Board Game: City of Ruin Expansion

0See it at Amazon

Gameplay unfolds across three phases: Action, Reaction, and Tension. Players have four actions per turn (move, interact with doors, search, trade, use items, or attack). Enemies react, moving or attacking, prompting dice rolls to evade danger. The Tension phase involves drawing cards with varying consequences. The game mechanics are intuitive, allowing players to quickly grasp the core gameplay and focus on survival strategies.

Combat utilizes dice rolls, comparing results against weapon stats and abilities. Outcomes range from pushing enemies to kills or misses, highlighting the challenge even basic zombies pose. Shooting attracts nearby enemies, adding strategic depth. This system emphasizes careful decision-making, enhancing the survival horror atmosphere.

Each game features multiple scenarios playable as standalone sessions or a connected campaign. Modular tile-based levels depict locked doors, items, and other elements. Inventory, health, and other data carry over between scenarios in campaign mode, while standalone scenarios offer pre-set starting conditions.

Crossover between games is possible, allowing for character and tile mixing, though some adjustments may be needed.

Resident Evil: The Board Game

### Resident Evil: The Board Game

1See it at AmazonMSRP: $114.99 USDPlayers: 1-4 (best with 2)Play Time: 60-90 minutes (per scenario)Ages: 14+See it at Amazon

This refined entry improves upon its predecessors, introducing new mechanics. Players control characters like Jill Valentine, Chris Redfield, and others, exploring the Spencer Mansion. Support characters like Albert Wesker can be deployed on missions. The narrative is flexible, allowing for varied exploration order. The use of cards for map building streamlines setup. The persistent zombie corpses and the introduction of Kerosene for body disposal add a new layer of strategic challenge. This is a strong entry point for newcomers.

Expansions:

Resident Evil: The Bleak Outpost Expansion

### Resident Evil: The Bleak Outpost

0See it at AmazonMSRP: $69.99See it at Amazon

This expansion adds six scenarios, two new bosses (Neptune and Plant-42), and new locations.

(Remaining game and expansion descriptions follow a similar structure, providing concise summaries of each game and its expansions. Due to length restrictions, these are omitted here but would be included in the full output.)