Resident Evil: The Board Game Series Buying Guide

Steamforged Games has adapted several popular video game franchises into board games, including Monster Hunter, Devil May Cry, Sea of Thieves, Gears of War, and the upcoming Elden Ring adaptation. 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 treacherous environments – dark corridors, burning streets, and sinister labs – recreating the stories of the respective video games. Each game includes highly detailed miniatures representing both the horrifying creatures and the survivor heroes.

Featured Games & Expansions:

### 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 involves three phases per turn: Action, Reaction, and Tension. Players have four actions to move, interact with doors, search for items, trade, use items, or attack. Enemies react during the Reaction Phase, moving towards or attacking the active player. The Tension Phase involves drawing cards that introduce varying levels of challenge.

Combat uses dice rolls compared to weapon stats and abilities. Successful attacks might kill enemies, push them back, or miss entirely. Shooting can attract nearby enemies, adding a strategic layer to combat decisions.

Each game features multiple scenarios playable as standalone experiences or a connected campaign. Levels are built using tiles with various tokens. Player inventory, health, and other information carry over between scenarios in campaign mode.

The games allow for some crossover between titles. Characters can be mixed and matched, and scenario tiles can be used across different games.

Individual Game Reviews:

Resident Evil: The Board Game

### Resident Evil: The Board Game

1See it at Amazon

This refined entry improves upon its predecessors, introducing new mechanics. Players explore the Spencer Mansion and surrounding areas, using characters like Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield, and support characters like Albert Wesker. A new card-based map system streamlines setup. The game introduces Kerosene to burn zombie corpses, preventing their return as stronger Red Zombies. This is a strong standalone recommendation.

Resident Evil 2: The Board Game

### Resident Evil 2: The Board Game

0See it at Amazon

The original game in the Steamforged series, Resident Evil 2, features Leon Kennedy, Claire Redfield, and others battling Lickers and Mr. X across eight scenarios. While fun, it lacks the refinements of later entries, with darker tiles and some assembly issues. The linear campaign structure is a notable difference.

Resident Evil 3: The Board Game

### Resident Evil 3: The Board Game

0See it at Amazon

Resident Evil 3 offers a more open-ended campaign than its predecessor, allowing players to explore Raccoon City in various orders. The Danger Tracker mechanic increases difficulty as the city deteriorates. The game's map, however, uses less-refined materials compared to other components. A good starting point if you prefer a non-linear campaign.

Expansions for each game are detailed individually within the original text, and the images remain in their original positions.