Has there ever been a time when you played a certain board game and thought to yourself afterwards: “Man, I wish there was more where that came from.”? Well what if I tell you you’ll feel exactly like that after your first playthrough of any one of the games on this list? The better news, is that there very much is more where that came from!
So the question is what the best board game franchises are and for the answer, as usual, there’s a whole list. These are titles that are not only captivating in their classic form, but also pave the way for many more entries and expansions that can grow the game’s world into an entirely fresh yet pleasantly familiar experience.
Here is our list of board games that are always offering more to their rightful fans across multiple platforms.
Game of Thrones
The GOT franchise needs no introduction as it’s taken the entire world by storm over the last few years. With the stories of this universe being narrated through all kinds of different mediums, it was not a surprise when the works of George R. R. Martin came to the tabletop world, but that does not mean that it was not good news.
3. A Song of Ice & Fire: Tabletop Miniatures Game
A Song of Ice & Fire: Tabletop Miniatures Game is a strategy game that allows players to command armies from George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice & Fire book series. The game is designed for two or more players, and it features highly-detailed miniatures that represent the various soldiers and heroes from the books.
There are several reasons for A Song of Ice & Fire: Tabletop Miniatures Game’s presence on this list. Firstly, the miniatures are incredibly well-crafted and highly-detailed, making them a joy to paint and collect. The game’s rulebook is also coherent and easy to understand, making it optimal for both novice and experienced players.
Additionally, this game is designed to be balanced and competitive, ensuring that matches are fair and engaging for all players. There are also a wide range of different armies and factions to choose from, which allows you to tailor your strategy to your personal playstyle.
A Song of Ice & Fire: Tabletop Miniatures Game is a great game for fans of the series and anyone who enjoys strategy games with highly-detailed miniatures.
2. A Game of Thrones: The Board Game – Second Edition
A Game of Thrones: The Board Game is a strategy game for 3-6 players based on George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series. Players take on the roles of the major Houses of Westeros, vying for control of the Iron Throne through military conquest, political maneuvering, and strategic alliances.
At the start of the game, each player chooses a House and is given a set of units and starting territories. The game is played over ten rounds, with each round consisting of three phases: the Westeros Phase, the Planning Phase, and the Action Phase.
A game that is well known for its complex gameplay, requiring players to balance their military and political strategies, anticipate their opponents’ moves, and negotiate alliances with other players. It’s a game that rewards careful planning and cunning tactics, making it a favorite among fans of the books and TV show.
1. A Game of Thrones: The Card Game
A Game of Thrones: The Card Game is a strategy card game based on George R.R. Martin’s GOT. The game is designed for two to six players and not unlike the last title, revolves around players taking on the roles of noble houses vying for power in the fictional world of Westeros.
Players must assemble decks of cards representing their chosen house, which can include characters, locations, events, and attachments. Each card has various attributes, such as strength, abilities, and special effects, and players must use their decks to outmaneuver their opponents and gain control of key areas on the game board.
The game is played over a series of rounds, during which players can take actions such as marshaling new cards, playing events, and attacking their opponents. Players also have a limited supply of resources, which they must manage carefully to make the most effective use of their cards.
The game is won by accumulating a predetermined number of power tokens, which can be earned by winning battles, completing specific challenges, or controlling key locations on the game board. However, players must also be careful to avoid losing too many of their own cards or suffering too much damage, as this can leave them vulnerable to their opponents’ attacks.
The Lord of the Rings
Perhaps Tolkien didn’t initially expect his universe to be adapted into quite a number of board games, but fortunately the idea plays out well enough to pay homage to the original IP. This franchise is not only astonishing in size and depth, it is also very respected and board game designers, recognizing this, have done it justice more than once.
4. Reiner Knizia’s The Lord of the Rings
Designer Reiner Knizia’s The Lord of the Rings is a cooperative board game based on the popular book series by J.R.R. Tolkien. The game is designed for two to five players, who take on the roles of the hobbits Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin, as well as Aragorn, Gandalf, and Legolas, all working together to help Frodo and Sam reach Mount Doom to destroy the One Ring.
The game Is played on a board representing Middle-earth, divided into three regions: the Shire, Rivendell, and Mordor. The players must progress through each region, overcoming obstacles and completing challenges, in order to advance to the next stage of the journey.
Victory is achieved once the players successfully overcome the challenging path and reach Mount Doom with Frodo.
This game not only brings up one of the best cooperative experiences you can have in a board game, a LOTR board game, but it also revolutionized the cooperative genre with its release and has been highly praised for the fact that it paved the way for most of the coop titles we know today.
3. Lord of the Rings – The Confrontation
Lord of the Rings: The Confrontation earned its spot on our list with a compact yet complete experience of a classic Tolkien-style duel between the forces of light and darkness.
In the game, which is designed by Reiner Knizia and published by Fantasy Flight Games, one player takes on the role of the Fellowship of the Ring, represented by Frodo and his companions, while the other player controls the forces of Sauron, represented by various characters from the books, such as the Witch-King and Saruman.
The game is played on a board that represents the battlefield, with each player attempting to capture or defeat their opponent’s characters in order to win. Each character has unique abilities and strengths, making the game a tactical battle of wits and strategy.
This game is also relatively quick to play, with most games lasting around 30 minutes, making it a great option for a quick but satisfying gaming experience.
2. Lord of the Rings – Journeys in Middle-Earth
In this title you have the chance of forming your own fellowship of the ring or embark on a solo adventure through the dangers of Middle-earth, accompanied buy a complementary application that you install on your phone, and unravel the mysteries of J.R.R. Tolkien’s magical universe.
Each session of Journeys in the Middle-Earth might take up to an hour or so to finish and you can play this game cooperatively with up to 4 other players (5 in total). What’s more is that this game offers a fresh experience every time you play it with a randomly generated map that is filled with various threats and challenges along the way.
If you’re a fan of tabletop cooperative adventures and/or The Lord of the Rings franchise, this board game is one that you should definitely keep an eye on.
1. Lord of the Rings – War of the Ring
This amazing game packed with exciting adventures, thrilling conflicts and complex strategy was originally published by Ares Games and it received great response from gamers and geeks. We also appreciated its beautiful miniatures once before.
It’s a grand strategy war-game that splits into two main opposing factions. Played by two or four players, this game narrates the showdown between Sauron’s army of Shadows and the fighting nation of the Free People.
While a gigantic battle for conquest is taking place between the Shadows and the Free People armies, both sides are also on an active search for The One Ring. As the fellowship is tasked with reaching Mount Doom and destroying the ring, freeing their nation for good, Sauron’s agents work towards stopping that from happening.
Either side can win the game by either conquering the majority of the lands or finishing their objective.
This game is an absolute must-play if you enjoy strategy and war board games for it’s brilliance in fitting various strategic factors into the gameplay of a war-game, and the fact that all of this epicness unfolds within the mystical universe of The Lord of the Rings makes it a whole lot better.
Final Thoughts
The list continues in the Second Part and if your favorite franchise hasn’t appeared here, there’s a good chance you’ll find it there.
