In the Steamforged Games library, you'll discover adaptations of some of the video game world's biggest franchises, including Monster Hunter, Devil May Cry, Sea of Thieves, Gears of War, and the soon-to-be-released colossal Elden Ring adaptation. Today, we'll delve into their Resident Evil series, which includes Resident Evil 1, 2, and 3.
Starting with Resident Evil 2 in 2019, followed by Resident Evil 3 in 2021, and concluding with Resident Evil in 2023, these games share many similar mechanics. In each title, you and up to three friends take turns navigating dark passages, burning streets, and nefarious labs, reliving the iconic stories of each game. Each game is enhanced with highly detailed plastic miniatures, representing both the gruesome creatures you'll face and the survivor heroes you'll control.
Featured in this article
### 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 AmazonEach player's turn consists of three phases: the Action Phase, the Reaction Phase, and the Tension Phase. During your turn, you have four actions to either move, open or close a door, search an area for items, trade with another player, use an item from your inventory, or attack. Enemies respond during the Reaction Phase, moving towards or attacking the active player, who then rolls a die to evade danger. The Tension Phase requires drawing from the Tension deck, which can result in nothing happening, something bad happening, or something really bad happening. By the end of the first round, players should have a solid understanding of gameplay and can focus on surviving the zombie apocalypse.
Combat involves rolling dice and comparing results with your equipped weapon's stats and abilities. Outcomes can range from pushing enemies to adjacent squares, killing them, or missing. Even basic zombies can be challenging to defeat without favorable rolls. Shooting also attracts enemies in adjoining rooms with open doors, adding a strategic layer to combat that enhances the survival horror experience.
As campaign board games, each title includes multiple scenarios that can be played as one-off experiences or connected in a narrative arc, mirroring the original video games. Levels are constructed using tiles, with tokens indicating locked doors, items, and other discoveries. At the end of each scenario, players assess their inventories, health, and other factors that may influence future games. Whether played as standalone sessions or a continuous campaign, the setup provides a comprehensive starting point.
For those who own multiple entries in the series, there's some flexibility in mixing elements between games, though adjustments may be necessary. Characters and scenario tiles can be swapped, allowing for creative combinations like having Leon navigate the Spencer Mansion with Chris. While not explicitly mentioned in the rules, such crossover can be seamlessly integrated.
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**The latest and most refined in the trilogy, Resident Evil enhances and expands upon the best elements of its predecessors while introducing new mechanics. Players can choose from Jill Valentine, Chris Redfield, Rebecca Chambers, or Barry Burton to explore the mysterious Spencer mansion and its surroundings. New support characters like Albert Wesker, Enrico Marini, Richard Aiken, and Brad Vickers can be sent on special missions to gather supplies, adding a strategic layer at the risk of their own survival.
Resident Evil offers a flexible narrative flow, allowing players to tackle rooms in various orders, with items and puzzles unlocking new areas. The mansion and other locations are now built using cards, improving upon the paper dashboards of Resident Evil 3, and allowing for quicker scenario setup similar to Betrayal at the House on the Hill.
For those not interested in the entire series, Resident Evil stands out as the top choice. Zombies pose a greater threat, as their corpses remain on the board unless burned with a new resource, Kerosene, potentially returning as more dangerous Red Zombies. These enhancements showcase how Resident Evil refines and evolves the gameplay from its predecessors.
Resident Evil Board Game Expansions
Resident Evil: The Bleak Outpost Expansion
### Resident Evil: The Bleak Outpost
0See it at AmazonMSRP: $69.99See it at Amazon**The Bleak Outpost adds six new scenarios and two new bosses, Neptune and Plant-42, introducing new locations like the Guard House and Aqua Ring. This expansion is a must-have 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 AmazonMSRP: $114.99 USD (Steamforge website price)Player: 1-4 (Best with 2)Play Time: 60-90 minutes (per scenario)Ages: 14+See it at Amazon**The inaugural entry in Steamforge's Resident Evil series, Resident Evil 2 brings the zombie-infested Racoon City police station and Umbrella Corporation's horrors to the tabletop. Players can embody Leon Kennedy, Claire Redfield, Ada Wong, or Robert Kendo, facing Lickers, Zombie Dogs, and Birkin across eight scenarios, from the S.T.A.R.S Office to the Umbrella Laboratory.
Despite its chronological position, Resident Evil 2 may be less polished compared to later entries, lacking some of the refinements introduced in subsequent games. Its linear campaign structure and darker tiles can detract from the experience, but it remains a fun and engaging game, especially in scenarios requiring 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
0See it at AmazonMSRP: $54.99USDSee it at Amazon**The B-Files expansion doubles the scenarios, introduces new items, enemies, and the goal to escape from Mr. X, offering more content for Resident Evil 2 enthusiasts.
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 AmazonMSRP: $32.99See it at Amazon**Designed to complement the B-Files expansion, Malformations challenges players against Birkin Stage Three before their escape.
Resident Evil 2 The Board Game: Survival Horror Expansion
### Resident Evil 2 The Board Game: Survival Horror Expansion
0See it at AmazonMSRP: $54.99See it at Amazon**The Survival Horror expansion adds five new playable characters, advanced versions of two base game characters, new enemies, and a PVP mode, offering a fresh twist on the gameplay experience.
Resident Evil 2 The Board Game: - 4th Survivor Expansion
### Resident Evil 2 The Board Game: - 4th Survivor Expansion
0See it at AmazonMSRP: $32.99See it at Amazon**This expansion introduces Hunk and Tofu as playable characters, along with new modes like fighting through hordes of enemies and Extreme Battle, a PVP race to stop the outbreak. 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
0See it at AmazonMSRP: $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**Continuing from Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3 evolves the game mechanics while maintaining core gameplay elements. Players can choose from Jill, Carlos, Mikhail, or Nikolai, each with unique skills to survive Raccoon City's ruins while evading Nemesis. Unlike its predecessor, Resident Evil 3 offers a non-linear narrative, allowing players to explore the city in different ways, although some areas remain locked until key items are found.
The game introduces the Danger Tracker mechanic, reflecting the city's deteriorating state and increasing difficulty. The Narrative deck adds variety to each playthrough, heightening the survival horror atmosphere. While the game's components are generally well-received, the scenario map's material quality is less impressive compared to other elements.
For those interested in a more open-ended campaign, Resident Evil 3 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 AmazonMSRP: $44.99See it at Amazon**The Last Escape expansion adds new playable characters, advanced versions of base game characters, and new monsters like Brain Suckers, Giant Spiders, and crows. With new rules, cards, and a permadeath variant, this expansion challenges players to push their survival skills to the limit.
Resident Evil 3 The Board Game: City of Ruin Expansion
### Resident Evil 3 The Board Game: City of Ruin Expansion
0See it at AmazonMSRP: $69.99See it at AmazonCity of Ruin offers nine new scenarios set in locations like the City Hospital, City Park, and Dead Factory, introducing new enemies and bosses. New weapons and items are crucial for tackling challenges, including the formidable Stage 3 Nemesis.
