Bretwalda, Ironwood and Spectral are all among Polygon's most anticipated new board games of 2024
Throughout 2023, the overseas shipping crisis more or less resolved itself, allowing the busy board game release schedule to resume at full speed. However, consuming all these titles is like drinking from a firehose, and 2024 looks to be just as splashy and bombastic as the year before. Here are eight promising new board games that caught our attention.
Our list of the most anticipated board games of 2024 spans the entire hobby. It includes new experiences based on hugely popular video game franchises such as Metal Gear Solid, as well as historical titles that focus on unique moments in human history. 2024 will also see the debut of the first major board game based on the popular roguelite genre of video games. Of course, there is also a decades-old classic board game that returns with renewed vigor in a new format.
Here are all the board games to keep an eye on in 2024.
Photo: Mindclash Games
ironwood
Publisher: Mindclash Games
Two factions are locked in an eternal war over a piece of land: a story as old as humanity. In ironwoodeach player controls a highly asymmetrical fantasy warband in a rules-based, card-driven battle. It comes across as Unparalleledbut with small armies instead of special warriors and a loyal sidekick.
The Ironclad attempt to establish forges in the outer mountains, while the Woodwalkers attempt to locate the lost totems of their people. The factions are colorful and evocative, adding to the rich feel of the environment.
What's interesting about it ironwood is that it comes from Mindclash Games, a design studio known for big experiences like the time-traveling epic Anachrony and the complex table game 4X Void trap. ironwood is much more subdued, promising an hour-long conflict with accessible lines while maintaining drama and depth.
Dead Cells: The Rogue-Lite Board Game
Publisher: Le Scorpion Masque
Video game to tabletop adaptations have been a notable trend in recent years. 2024 will see several such major releases including Call of Duty: the board game, Apex Legends: the board gameand yes, Dead Cells: The Rogue-Lite Board Game. After raising almost $1.1 million on Kickstarter, this game is all set to release in 2024 to much fanfare.
This cooperative dungeon crawler was developed by Le Scorpion Masqué, the design group behind the 2023 hit Air team. Players explore an ever-changing castle as they upgrade character powers, slaughter enemies, and ultimately die. Death does not end the adventure; instead, it produces cells, which are spent to purchase permanent mutations and gain more power. Then the process repeats. It looks phenomenal and promises the first major roguelite board game experience.
Bretwalda
Publisher: Phalanx
Bretwalda throws players into Britain in the early Middle Ages, when the continent was under constant siege by Vikings and inner political turmoil tore the kingdom apart. This is a legendary era in British history and was depicted in the underrated Netflix series The last kingdom. That show got its own equally underrated board game in 2023, but this new asymmetrical title from publisher Phalanx looks to be a more complex and immersive area control game for up to four players.
Each participant takes command of one of four kingdoms – Wessex, Mercia, Northumbria and East Anglia – and spends their limited actions developing their territory, invading that of others and achieving secret objectives. It includes both political and military struggles, with a simple but interesting economic system.
Spectral
Publisher: Bitewing Games
It is said that once a century, at the stroke of midnight on a Crimson Moon, the Spectral Manor appears. Inside this haunted homestead lies an unimaginable treasure waiting to be claimed. Unfortunately, it also harbors deadly curses and gruesome spirits.
Spectral, from Bitewing Games, lets players control competing groups of treasure hunters who enter the mansion and race to discover the loot. Deduction, bidding and bluffing will all be used to discover and exploit the secrets within. This is a very attractive design with a sharp veneer and a new premise. It is expected to last within a short 30 minutes, this is the type of game that can be played constantly.
Metal Gear Solid: the board game
Publisher: CMON
Although a big part of the appeal of Metal Gear Solid: the board game is the intellectual property, this design is particularly interesting because of the involvement of designer Emerson Matsuuchi. He has shown proficiency in stealth-based gameplay with the exceptional Specter Opsand it's easy to imagine him achieving something special with this video game adaptation.
This fully cooperative miniature board game follows the Metal gear solid storyline straight from the 1998 PlayStation game. Players take on the role of Solid Snake, Meryl Silverburgh, Dr. Hal “Otacon” Emmerich and the cyborg Gray Fox. You must sneak to avoid detection as you complete objectives and progress through the multi-scenario campaign. Each mission allows for multiple approaches and creative problem-solving, a quality greatly enhanced by the highly dynamic enemy AI. If this is half as good as it sounds, this game could be one of the best of the year.
On the hunt for Blackbeard
Publisher: Fort Circle Games
Fort Circle Games has released one of the best games of 2023 Votes for women. The publisher's attention to detail and approach to capturing rich historical subjects has me intensely interested in the forthcoming publications On the hunt for Blackbeard.
This two-player game captures the 1718 confrontation between the legendary pirate Blackbeard and Royal Navy Lieutenant Robert Maynard. Players commit actions behind their screen and choose between options such as preparing defenses, sailing, exploring and planning piracy. The hunter will attempt to discover Blackbeard's trail and pursue their prey, while the pirate will attempt to evade their enemies and pursue plunder. If the two collide, boarding takes place and the winner wins the game. On the hunt for Blackbeard looks dramatic and memorable and is a very playable historical simulation.
Crossbows and Catapults: Castle Battle
Publisher: Restoration Games
Although not as historic as On the hunt for Blackbeard, Crossbows and catapults has a strong history. I still have a partially complete copy from the 80s in my parents' basement, so I'm excited about this new version of the classic game where you shoot physical projectiles at your opponent's pieces.
This new version is in the hands of Restoration Games, a group of developers responsible for the expert reworking of Return to the Dark Tower And Thunder Road: Vendetta. The only concern is that this idea has already been implemented. Catapult Kingdom released in 2021 and inspired by the classic Crossbows and catapults. But it lacks the overall scope and vision of the recently launched Crossbows and Catapults: Castle Battle. The new Restoration Games entry features refined siege weapons, rubber band pinch and spring fire components. It also features more brick options, allowing for more creative building. Finally, there's a bit more play here with a two-action system and dynamic card play. It will be interesting to see how this one turns out and whether it lives up to the legendary name of the original.
Fateforge: Chronicles of Caan
Publisher: Mighty Boards
Fateforge: Chronicles of Caan is a cooperative action-adventure fantasy game that looks fantastic. It is structured as a campaign storyline that is app-driven and feature-rich, but is also powered by an evolution of a fantastic dice-based combat system found in Mighty Boards' previous title, Revenge. Players roll dice and then use combinations of rolled symbols to perform powerful actions.
This combination of a smooth and well-repeated combat engine with a refined overarching story is the appeal of Fateforge. Designer Gordon Calleja has spent years refining this game and its concepts and the hope is that it will deliver something truly brilliant.