Board games that tie in with popular movies and TV shows are uniquely fun because they allow us to take on the roles of our favorite characters. More than that, we can reenact some of the more exciting and memorable moments, scenes, and journeys. And when a tie-in board game is made particularly well, the gameplay mechanics emulate the concept of the movie or TV show it’s based on. That’s when things get really interesting. Here are the best movie and TV show tie-in board games for your next game night hangout. Some are simply themed board games, while others are deeply representative of their source material.
10. Coraline: Beware the Other Mother
Players: 1 to 4 players Average playing time: 30 to 60 minutes The stop-motion animated masterpiece Coraline, directed by Henry Selick, is frightening enough on its own. But how much more eerie would it be if it came to life as a cooperative card game? In Coraline: Beware the Other Mother, between one and four players take on the roles of Ghost Children who are captured by the Beldam (aka the Other Mother). Players need to work together to navigate a series of obstacles and traps in order to free Coraline and her parents from the Beldam’s clutches. Along the way, players must cooperate to fend off the Beldam and other doppelgangers. Retelling almost the entire story of Coraline, down to exploring the Other World’s entities, this one’s an excitingly scary treat.
9. Star Trek: Ascendancy
Players: 3 players Average playing time: 180 minutes Now, to boldly go where no one has gone before—on the tabletop! Star Trek: Ascendancy is a strategy board game where players build and expand their civilizations into powerful empires so they can explore the vast corners of the universe. Three players will each play either the United Federation of Planets, the Klingon Empire, or the Romulan Star Empire. Within each of those empires, players can command starships, establish bases, explore other territories, and dominate other systems under their flag. The goal is to either engage culturally or militarily, doing everything in your power to gain full control of the galaxy.
8. The Crow: Fire It Up!
Players: 2 to 5 players Average playing time: 30 to 60 minutes The Crow is one of those superhero movies that subverted the genre with its dark tone, spectacular action, and a great performance from the late Brandon Lee. Fans can experience the same dark thrills of the movie within this board game adaptation. One player gets to assume the role of Eric Draven and take revenge on the gang that killed him and his fiancée. Meanwhile, the others get to play as the gang themselves (Tin-Tin, Funboy, T-Bird, Grange, Myca, and Top Dollar), all to stop Draven and cause mayhem in the city. While clichéd, The Crow: Fire It Up! is an intense board gaming experience worth playing.
7. The Office: Assistant to the Regional Manager
Players: 3+ players Average playing time: 20 to 40 minutes The comforts of watching The Office can now be had in board game format. The Office: Assistant to the Regional Manager puts players in the same shoes as Dwight and Jim, making them use their skills and smarts to become Michael’s most trusted assistant. Players are assigned challenges to win tokens that they can place around the office. They can also pull pranks and use Scheme Cards to distract them. But the goal is to take over the Dunder Mifflin office and plant the most tokens across its various locations.
6. The Godfather: Corleone’s Empire
Players: 2 to 5 players Average playing time: 60 to 90 minutes To create a tabletop game based on one of the greatest films of all time is a challenge that few could succeed at. But in The Godfather: Corleone’s Empire, we have a greatly playable (if still imperfect) companion piece to the gangster film masterpiece. Up to five players portray opposing mafia families who fight for control over other crime organizations in New York City. They command thugs to do their bidding, and they also have dons, wives, and heirs who they can deploy to engage in their plans of control.
5. The Thing: Infection at Outpost 31
Players: 4 to 8 players Average playing time: 60 to 120 minutes The Thing is a claustrophobic thriller with great body horror and spine-tingling tension throughout. That’s perfectly captured in this social deduction board game that’s equally spine-tingling. Between four to eight players assume the roles of the crew at Outpost 31 and must complete skirmishes throughout the outpost to stop the alien infection from taking effect. In the end, they have to escape Outpost 31 and trap the imitations within. The game follows the same mechanics as most social deduction games—one or more players have hidden identities and must sabotage the rest of the crew—making for high tension and terror.
4. Disney Villainous
Players: 2 to 6 players Average playing time: 40 to 60 minutes Disney villains are usually the most memorable parts of their respective movies. But what if all the Disney villains came together to duke it out amongst themselves? Disney Villainous is that board game. For two to six players, Disney Villainous has players assuming the role of an infamous Disney villain, complete with a fate deck that contains items, effects, and spells. Players move around the board, take actions against the others, and draw cards against their fate. Like many board games, the goal here is domination over the other villains’ domains, and it’s all done with wicked delight.
3. Dune: The Board Game
Players: 2 to 6 players Average playing time: 120 to 180 minutes The world of Arrakis comes to life in Dune’s very own board game. Taking the form of a strategy game, Dune: The Board Game puts the wartime politics of Frank Herbert’s universe into tangible form. Between two to six players each take up the role as leader of one of the six factions. The goal is to take control of the most valuable resource in the universe: melange (“spice”). Factions will need to move from territory to territory, battling for power and acquisition of the spice currency. The first player to hold three factions under their control wins the game and the fate of Dune.
2. Die Hard: The Nakatomi Heist
Players: 2 to 4 players Average playing time: 60 to 90 minutes Welcome to the game, pal! Die Hard: The Nakatomi Heist brings players to the iconic tower to relive the most memorable moments of Bruce Willis’s classic action flick. One player is John McClane while the rest join Hans Gruber and his crew. Both parties have their own set of objectives to plan their attacks, with McClane needing to stop Gruber’s assault. As one player up against the rest, McClane must use his/her wits to fend off the heist and stop Gruber and his men. Get ready for many callbacks, catchphrases, and action!
1. Jaws: The Board Game
Players: 2 to 4 players Average playing time: 60 to 75 minutes The waters aren’t safe in Jaws, and this board game adaptation of the classic movie brings that experience to the table. Jaws: The Board Game puts players in the shoes of Brody, Hooper, and Quint as they hunt down the Great White Shark that terrorizes Amity Island. This is one great summertime game for fans of the film. The gameplay goes through two phases (Amity Island and The Orca) as players use items and actions to lure the shark. Meanwhile, the shark—itself played by one player—can taunt swimmers and escape capture. Victory goes to the side that gains overall control in The Orca. Read next: The most popular board game genres, explained
