Steamforged Games' board game adaptations of iconic video game franchises are a hit, from Monster Hunter to Elden Ring. This review 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. 1-4 players navigate perilous environments (dark corridors, burning streets, sinister labs) recreating the storylines. Highly detailed miniatures bring the terrifying creatures and heroic survivors to life.

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 Amazon

Gameplay unfolds in three phases: Action, Reaction, and Tension. Players have four actions per turn (move, open/close doors, search, trade, use items, attack). Enemies react, moving or attacking, requiring dice rolls to evade. The Tension phase involves drawing cards, resulting in positive, negative, or critical events. Combat uses dice rolls against weapon stats and abilities, with even basic zombies proving challenging. Shooting attracts enemies from adjacent rooms (if doors are open), adding strategic depth.

Each game features multiple scenarios, playable individually or as a connected campaign. Levels are built using tiles, with tokens representing doors, items, and other elements. Inventory, health, and other data carry over between scenarios. One-off games provide starting gear and information. Crossover between games is possible, allowing for character and tile mixing.

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 AmazonThis refined entry improves upon predecessors. Players explore the Spencer Mansion as Jill, Chris, Rebecca, or Barry, with additional support characters (Albert Wesker, etc.) undertaking missions. The narrative is flexible, with room order varying based on item discovery and puzzle-solving. Scenario setup is faster due to card-based map building. Killed standard zombies remain as corpses, requiring kerosene to burn and prevent reanimation as stronger Red Zombies.

Resident Evil Board Game Expansions

Resident Evil: The Bleak Outpost Expansion

### Resident Evil: The Bleak Outpost

0See it at AmazonMSRP: $69.99See it at AmazonAdds six scenarios, two bosses (Neptune and Plant-42), and new locations (Guard House, Aqua Ring).

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 AmazonThis inaugural title features Leon, Claire, Ada, or Robert 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

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 AmazonDoubles the scenarios, adding new items, enemies, and the goal of escaping 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 AmazonMSRP: $32.99See it at AmazonAdds a Birkin Stage Three encounter, playable with the B-Files expansion.

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 AmazonAdds five characters, advanced versions of existing characters, new enemies, and a PvP mode.

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 AmazonAdds Hunk and Tofu as playable characters, new horde escape and PvP modes.

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 AmazonBuilds upon RE2, offering a more open-ended campaign with choices in exploration. Players choose Jill, Carlos, Mikhail, or Nikolai. The Danger Tracker mechanic increases difficulty as the city deteriorates. The map is presented on less durable material compared to other components.

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 AmazonAdds new characters (Barry, Brad, etc.), advanced versions of base characters, new enemies (Brain Suckers, Giant Spiders), and a permadeath mode.

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 AmazonFeatures nine new scenarios in new locations (City Hospital, City Park, Dead Factory), new enemies, and a Stage 3 Nemesis encounter.