Top Boardgames Based on Books

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Anytime a popular literary property becomes a summer blockbuster, all the big box stores are suddenly filled with themed merchandise. It seems like manufacturers take a “fans of the book/movie will want their favorite character on our insert product here” approach. So, we end up with branded clothes, notebooks, folders, lunch boxes, toys, and posters. And, if you were a child in the late 80s through the 90s, I’m sure that you remember all the terrible licensed video games. But I think that the worst of this is all the themed board games that come out. Take a popular and mass-produced game (Monopoly, Risk, Trivial Pursuit, etc.…) and throw the newest movie-based-on-a-book theme on it (Hunger Games Monopoly, LOTR Risk, Maze Runner Trivial Pursuit, etc.), these games never differ much from the original and how many copies of Monopoly does one person really need. But I am here to tell you that there are lots of good games based on literary properties, ones that use the source material and themes and make a truly good game out of it. You just need to know where to look.

 





Here is my Top 5 list of board games based on literary properties.


This is a cooperative adventure game where players will be traveling the globe, fighting monsters, closing portals to other worlds and solving mysteries, trying to keep an Ancient Old One from invading the world. While not fully based on any one book, this game is set in a universe themed around H.P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu mythos.

In this game based on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, players are the Bennet sisters trying to score the most points by attracting the various male suitors.  

This strategy card game is one of my all-time favorites. It is extremely difficult but offers lots of strategy and replay value. The artwork is beautiful, and each card has a quote from the books.

As the Baker Street Irregulars, players will be trying to solve cases before Sherlock does. This game encourages teamwork and thinking logically
A hidden movement game where one player is secretly moving Frodo and Company from the Shire to Rivendell, while the other players are the Dark Riders trying to get the ring.
To connect more with The Bearded Boardgamer (AKA my friend, Rob) - check his stuff out at thebeardedboardgamer.com.
Hey. My name is Luke Stoltzfoos. I am a ex-church leader, an English-teacher-in-training, a millennial, a dad, a puzzler, and an all-around stranger. If you lurk about here, you'll see creative writing like short stories, poems, or something more nerdy like reviewing a book, movie, etc. It won't be on a consistent schedule, but when it comes I hope you like it. If you do, feel free to subscribe via email so you don't miss it whenever I get the time to write.

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