Resident Evil: The Board Game Series Buying Guide

Steamforged Games' Resident Evil board game series brings the survival horror to your tabletop. This review covers Resident Evil, Resident Evil 2, and Resident Evil 3, along with their expansions.

Core Gameplay: Each game features similar mechanics: 1-4 players navigate perilous locations (dark corridors, burning streets, labs) as iconic survivors. Highly detailed miniatures represent both heroes and gruesome creatures. Turns consist of Action, Reaction, and Tension phases. Players have four actions per turn (move, interact with doors, search, trade, use items, attack). Enemies react, potentially attacking the active player, who then rolls dice to evade. The Tension phase involves drawing cards that introduce varying levels of peril. Combat involves dice rolls against weapon stats and abilities, with successful attacks potentially pushing enemies or eliminating them. The risk of attracting nearby enemies adds to the tension.

Resident Evil: The Board Game

• MSRP: $114.99 USD
• Players: 1-4 (best with 2)
• Play Time: 60-90 minutes (per scenario)
• Ages: 14+

This refined entry improves upon its predecessors. Players explore the Spencer Mansion, utilizing new support characters (Wesker, Marini, Aiken, Vickers) for special missions. A flexible narrative allows for varied room exploration order. The use of location cards streamlines setup, and the addition of Kerosene for burning zombie corpses adds a strategic layer. This is a strong starting point for newcomers to the series.

Resident Evil: The Bleak Outpost Expansion

• MSRP: $69.99

Introduces six scenarios, two new bosses (Neptune and Plant-42), and new locations (Guard House, Aqua Ring). A great addition for fans of the base game.

Resident Evil 2: The Board Game

• MSRP: $114.99 USD
• Players: 1-4 (Best with 2)
• Play Time: 60-90 minutes (per scenario)
• Ages: 14+

The series' origin, featuring Leon, Claire, Ada, and Robert Kendo battling Lickers, Zombie Dogs, and Birkin across eight scenarios. While fun, it lacks the refinement of later entries, with darker tiles and some assembly issues. The linear campaign structure is less flexible.

Resident Evil 2 Board Game Expansions:

• B-Files Expansion: Doubles the scenarios, adding new items, enemies, and the goal of escaping Mr. X. ($54.99 USD)
• Malformations of G B-Files Expansion: Adds a Birkin Stage Three encounter. ($32.99 USD)
• Survival Horror Expansion: Adds five characters, advanced versions of existing characters, new enemies, and a PVP mode. ($54.99 USD)
• 4th Survivor Expansion: Adds Hunk and Tofu as playable characters, new horde-based modes, and an Extreme Battle PVP mode. ($32.99 USD)

Resident Evil 3: The Board Game

• MSRP: $114.99 USD
• Players: 1-4 (Best with 2)
• Play Time: 60-90 minutes (per scenario)
• Ages: 14+

Features a more open-ended campaign than RE2, allowing for varied exploration of Raccoon City. The Danger Tracker mechanic increases difficulty as the city deteriorates. The Narrative deck adds replayability. The map board is less impressive than other components. A good alternative starting point if you prefer a more open structure.

Resident Evil 3 Board Game Expansions:

• The Last Escape Expansion: Adds new characters (Barry Burton, Brad Vickers, etc.), new enemies (Brain Suckers, Giant Spiders), and a permadeath variant. ($44.99 USD)
• City of Ruin Expansion: Adds nine scenarios, new locations (City Hospital, City Park, Dead Factory), new enemies, and a Stage 3 Nemesis encounter. ($69.99 USD)

Overall, Steamforged's Resident Evil board games offer engaging survival horror experiences, with each entry building upon and refining the mechanics. The newest title, Resident Evil, is a strong recommendation for both newcomers and veterans.