7 Best Campaign and Legacy Board Games of 2024
Dive into Adventure: Top 7 Campaign and Legacy Board Games – When we look for the best ‘campaign and legacy’ board games, we focus on those epic adventures that bring us back to the table night after night. We crave those games that evolve with each play, where our choices have real consequences, and the story unfolds in unexpected ways. Whether it’s battling diseases, exploring uncharted territories, or uncovering ancient secrets, these games promise an immersive experience. We’ve tried and tested a heap of boxes to bring you a list that ticks all these boxes and more. Get ready for a journey like no other.
On this list:
7 Pandemic Legacy: Season 1
We kicked off our campaign and legacy journey with Pandemic Legacy: Season 1, and oh boy, did it not disappoint. The game transforms the classic Pandemic formula by adding a progressive storyline and consequences that carry from one game to the next. It’s like watching your favorite TV show but you’re in it, making the hard decisions. Cracking open new boxes and stickers never got old, and the way the game evolves based on our successes and failures kept us coming back for more. Truly a masterclass in engaging gameplay.
6 Gloomhaven
Gloomhaven is a beast of a game, but don’t let its size intimidate you. This game is a blend of RPG elements with board game mechanics, set in a persistent world where your decisions have long-lasting impacts. We felt like true adventurers, planning our next moves and upgrading our characters. The legacy elements are strong here, with new parts of the world unlocking as we progressed. It’s a hefty investment in time but worth every minute.
5 Risk Legacy
Ah, Risk Legacy. Who knew we could turn the classic game of global domination into an even more cutthroat and personal affair? This game introduced us to the concept of permanent changes – cities named after our epic battles, and continents scarred by our wars. Every game changed the board and the rules, making this one wildly unpredictable ride. It’s Risk, but not as you know it. The thrill of opening new packets as we met objectives added an addictive layer to our strategy sessions.
4 Charterstone
Charterstone took us by surprise. It’s a competitive legacy game where we’re all contributing to building a village, which will look completely different by the end of the campaign. The game blends worker placement with legacy mechanics seamlessly, creating a beautiful and evolving board that we got strangely attached to. The discovery of new rules and components kept us guessing and strategizing anew with each play. Plus, the art is just gorgeous.
3 SeaFall
SeaFall was our dive into a purely original campaign and legacy board game not based on an existing franchise. This game’s exploration and discovery theme had us hooked. We were captains leading our provinces to glory on the high seas, uncovering mysteries, raiding sites, and evolving our strategies with the story. It’s a bit of a slow burn at first, but once it gets going, it’s an unforgettable voyage.
2 Betrayal Legacy
Betrayal Legacy offers a refreshing twist on the haunted house theme, mixing cooperative and competitive play in a way that’s both exciting and nerve-wracking. Every session felt like a new episode of a horror series, with the house’s layout and our family’s stories developing over time. The narrative twists and the legacy mechanisms intertwined beautifully, ensuring that no two games were ever the same. It’s a spine-tingling experience from start to finish.
1 Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion
Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion is our top pick for the best campaign and legacy board game. It takes what made Gloomhaven great and makes it accessible without losing depth. The game serves as an excellent entry point into the Gloomhaven universe, with a guided setup and a compelling narrative that eases players into the complex mechanics. The characters are unique and engaging, and the story-driven missions kept us on the edge of our seats. It’s a perfect mix of strategy, storytelling, and character development. For us, it epitomizes the campaign and legacy board game experience.
