"Resident Evil Board Game Series: Buying Tips"

Steamforged Games has made a name for itself by bringing some of the video game world's most iconic franchises to the tabletop, including Monster Hunter, Devil May Cry, Sea of Thieves, Gears of War, and the highly anticipated Elden Ring adaptation. However, today we're focusing on their Resident Evil series, which includes Resident Evil 1, 2, and 3.

The Resident Evil series kicked off with Resident Evil 2 in 2019, followed by Resident Evil 3 in 2021, and culminating with Resident Evil in 2023. Each game in this trilogy shares similar mechanics, allowing players and up to three friends to take turns navigating through eerie corridors, burning streets, and sinister labs, recreating the stories of each game. These titles are packed with highly detailed plastic miniatures that represent both the terrifying creatures you'll face and the survivor heroes you'll control.

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 entry in the trilogy, Resident Evil, refines and enhances the best elements from its predecessors while introducing new mechanics that add depth and tension to the gameplay. Players can take on the roles of Jill Valentine, Chris Redfield, Rebecca Chambers, or Barry Burton as they explore the mysterious Spencer Mansion and its surroundings. A new feature allows players to utilize support characters like Albert Wesker, Enrico Marini, Richard Aiken, and Brad Vickers, who can be sent on missions to gather supplies and provide benefits, albeit at the risk of being eliminated.

Resident Evil introduces a flexible narrative flow, allowing players to explore the mansion's rooms in various orders, unlocking new areas with items and puzzle-solving. The game uses special cards to construct the mansion and other locations, streamlining setup compared to previous games. If you're looking to dive into just one game from the series, Resident Evil is the top recommendation due to its refined gameplay and new features.

A notable change is that zombies no longer disappear after being killed; instead, their bodies remain on the board until players use a new resource, Kerosene, to burn them. If not burned, these corpses can reanimate as more dangerous Red Zombies, adding a strategic layer to the game.

Resident Evil Board Game Expansions

Resident Evil: The Bleak Outpost Expansion

Resident Evil: The Bleak Outpost

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MSRP: $69.99
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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. This expansion is perfect for fans of the base game, offering both standalone sessions and a mini-campaign.

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 was the first in Steamforged's Resident Evil series, introducing players to the zombie-filled corridors of the Raccoon City police station and the horrors of the Umbrella Corporation. Players can choose to play as Leon Kennedy, Claire Redfield, Ada Wong, or Robert Kendo, facing off against Lickers, Zombie Dogs, and Birkin across eight scenarios. The campaign follows a linear path, with each scenario leading directly into the next.

While Resident Evil 2 is a fun game, it lacks some of the refinements and features found in later titles. The tiles used to build scenarios can be overly dark, and some components may require workarounds. Despite these issues, the game offers engaging gameplay that requires strategic planning to avoid being overwhelmed by enemies.

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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MSRP: $54.99 USD
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The B-Files expansion doubles the number of scenarios, introduces new items, enemies, and the challenge of 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

0See it at Amazon

MSRP: $32.99
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This small-box expansion is designed to be used with the B-Files expansion, allowing players to face Birkin Stage Three before escaping.

Resident Evil 2 The Board Game: Survival Horror Expansion

Resident Evil 2 The Board Game: Survival Horror Expansion

0See it at Amazon

MSRP: $54.99
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The Survival Horror expansion is highly recommended, adding five new playable characters, advanced versions of base game characters, new enemies, and a PVP gameplay mode for a fresh twist on the game.

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

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

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MSRP: $32.99
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This expansion introduces fan-favorite characters Hunk and Tofu, along with new modes that challenge players to fight through hordes of enemies and a PVP race to stop an outbreak. The Tofu miniature alone is a compelling reason to get this expansion.

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 foundation laid by Resident Evil 2, both in terms of storyline and mechanics. It shifts from a linear scenario approach to a more open-ended exploration of the burned-out ruins of Raccoon City. Players can choose to play as Jill, Carlos, Mikhail, or Nikolai, each with unique skills to survive the city while being pursued by Nemesis.

The game introduces a Danger Tracker mechanic, which increases the difficulty as the city deteriorates, influenced by player actions and objectives. A Narrative deck adds variety to each playthrough, enhancing the survival horror experience. The only downside is the scenario map, which feels less durable compared to other components.

If you prefer a more open-ended campaign and want to skip Resident Evil 2, this game is an excellent starting point for 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 Amazon

MSRP: $44.99
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The Last Escape expansion introduces new playable characters, including advanced versions of the base game's cast, and new monsters like Brain Suckers, Giant Spiders, and crows. It also includes new rules, cards, and a permadeath variant to challenge players.

Resident Evil 3 The Board Game: City of Ruin Expansion

Resident Evil 3 The Board Game: City of Ruin Expansion

0See it at Amazon

MSRP: $69.99
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City of Ruin offers nine new scenarios set in locations like the City Hospital, City Park, and Dead Factory, introducing new enemies and bosses, including Stage 3 Nemesis. New weapons and items are provided to help players survive these challenging scenarios.

Each player's turn in these games consists of three phases: the Action Phase, where players can move, open or close doors, search for items, trade, use items, or attack; the Reaction Phase, where enemies move and attack, requiring players to roll dice to avoid danger; and the Tension Phase, where players draw 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 good understanding of the game mechanics and can focus on surviving the zombie apocalypse.

Combat involves rolling dice and comparing the results with the equipped weapon's stats and abilities. Outcomes can range from pushing enemies to adjacent squares, killing them, or missing entirely. Shooting can attract enemies from adjoining rooms, adding a strategic element to combat decisions.

As campaign board games, each title includes multiple scenarios that can be played individually or as part of a connected story, with elements carrying over between sessions. Players can mix and match characters and scenario tiles across the series, though some adjustments may be necessary for a seamless experience.