"Resident Evil Board Game Series: Buying Guide"

In the Steamforged Games library, you'll find a range of adaptations from some of the video game world's most iconic franchises, including Monster Hunter, Devil May Cry, Sea of Thieves, Gears of War, and the highly anticipated Elden Ring adaptation. Today, we're focusing on their Resident Evil series, which includes Resident Evil 2 (2019), Resident Evil 3 (2021), and Resident Evil (2023). Each title in this trilogy follows a similar gameplay structure and shares many mechanics, allowing players and up to three friends to navigate eerie settings like dark corridors, burning streets, and sinister laboratories, retelling the narratives of each game. These board games come with detailed plastic miniatures, showcasing both the terrifying creatures you'll face and the survivor heroes you'll control.

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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, where players can move, open or close doors, search for items, trade with others, use inventory items, or attack; the Reaction Phase, where enemies move towards or attack the active player, prompting a dice roll to evade danger; and the Tension Phase, where players draw from a Tension deck that can result in nothing happening, something bad happening, or something really bad happening. By the end of the first full round, players should have a good understanding of the gameplay and can focus on strategies to survive the zombie apocalypse.

Combat is resolved with dice rolls, which are compared to the stats and abilities of the equipped weapons. Outcomes range from pushing enemies to adjacent squares, killing them, or missing entirely. Even basic zombies can be challenging to defeat if luck isn't on your side. Firing a weapon can also attract enemies from adjacent rooms, adding a strategic layer that enhances the survival horror atmosphere.

As campaign board games, each title features multiple scenarios that can be played as one-offs or in a continuous narrative, with progress carrying over. Each scenario ends with players assessing their inventory, health, and other stats that may affect future games. These games are flexible enough to be enjoyable whether played as standalone sessions or as part of a larger campaign.

For those who own multiple entries in the series, there's potential for crossover play, though some adjustments may be needed. Mechanics are similar enough that characters and scenario tiles can be mixed between games, allowing creative combinations like having Leon explore the Spencer Mansion with 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+ See it at Amazon

The latest and most polished of the trilogy, Resident Evil, takes the best elements from its predecessors and introduces new mechanics, resulting in a thrilling and tense experience. Players can choose from Jill Valentine, Chris Redfield, Rebecca Chambers, or Barry Burton to explore the Spencer Mansion and its surroundings. Unique to this game are support characters like Albert Wesker, Enrico Marini, Richard Aiken, and Brad Vickers, who can be sent on missions to gather supplies at the risk of their lives.

Resident Evil offers a flexible narrative flow, allowing players to explore the mansion's rooms in various orders, with items and puzzles unlocking different areas. The game uses special cards to represent locations, improving upon the dashboard paper used in Resident Evil 3, and making setup for scenarios quicker.

If you're not looking to commit to the entire series, Resident Evil is the recommended entry point. Standard zombies pose a greater threat here, as their bodies remain on the board until players use Kerosene to burn them, or they risk returning as more dangerous Red Zombies.

Resident Evil Board Game Expansions

Resident Evil: The Bleak Outpost Expansion

Resident Evil: The Bleak Outpost

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The Bleak Outpost expansion adds six new scenarios and two new bosses, Neptune and Plant-42, taking 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 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 introduced players to the zombie-filled corridors of the Raccoon City police station and the horrors of the Umbrella Corporation. Players can take on the roles of Leon Kennedy, Claire Redfield, Ada Wong, or Robert Kendo, facing off against Lickers, Zombie Dogs, and Birkin across eight scenarios, from the S.T.A.R.S Office to the Umbrella Laboratory.

While Resident Evil 2 is the second in the series, it's recommended to start with this game if you're new to the series, as it lacks some refinements found in later titles. The game's linear campaign structure and darker tiles can detract from the experience slightly, but it remains a fun and engaging game, especially for those who enjoy strategic planning.

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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The B-Files expansion doubles the scenarios and adds new items, enemies, and a new goal – 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

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This small-box expansion, designed to be played with the B-Files expansion, challenges players to confront Birkin Stage Three before escaping.

Resident Evil 2 The Board Game: Survival Horror Expansion

Resident Evil 2 The Board Game: Survival Horror Expansion

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The Survival Horror expansion adds five new playable characters, advanced versions of base game characters, new enemies, and a PVP gameplay mode, making it an essential addition for those looking to mix things up.

Resident Evil 2 The Board Game: - 4th Survivor Expansion

Resident Evil 2 The Board Game: - 4th Survivor Expansion

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This expansion introduces fan-favorite characters Hunk and Tofu, along with new gameplay modes, including a PVP race to stop an outbreak, and the iconic Tofu miniature.

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 on the mechanics of Resident Evil 2, introducing a non-linear approach to exploring the ruins of Raccoon City. Players can choose from Jill, Carlos, Mikhail, or Nikolai, each with unique skills to survive while being pursued by Nemesis. The game's new Danger Tracker mechanic reflects the city's deterioration, making survival increasingly challenging.

The narrative deck adds variability and keeps each playthrough fresh, enhancing the survival horror experience. However, the game's scenario map on paper feels less premium compared to other components. If you prefer a more open-ended campaign, Resident Evil 3 is an excellent starting point.

Resident Evil 3 Board Game Expansions

Resident Evil 3: The Last Escape Expansion

Resident Evil 3: The Last Escape Expansion

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The Last Escape expansion introduces new playable characters, advanced versions of the base game's cast, and new monsters like Brain Suckers, Giant Spiders, and crows. It also includes a permadeath variant to heighten the 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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City of Ruin adds nine new scenarios, taking players to locations like the City Hospital and Dead Factory, with new enemies, bosses, and weapons to aid in your battle against the Stage 3 Nemesis.