From Ghostbusters to The Thing, some movies just have amazing stories. And from Catan to Pandemic, board games too can create equally fun stories that offer replayability. It can be rather tiresome to sift through movie boardgames though. To be honest, few movies have enjoyable board games. It is easy to suggest a board game for friends to enjoy. But a good board game? Much harder.
This list focuses on board games based on movies and judges them for proper use of movie themes and playability. So gather 'round your friends and colleagues for some old-fashioned fun. Here are our 10 Best Board Games Based on Movies Ever, Ranked.
Clue: IT Game Edition
The first game on our list takes a well-known board game and expands upon it without being a cash-grab. Clue is a classic board game for a reason. With your wiles and a bit of deduction, your goal is to find the killer, where they were killed, and why.
And while the IT version doesn't reinvent the wheel, this edition sits comfy within its horror roots. The town of Derry holds an unimaginable evil. Play as one of the seven kids from the Loser's Club to figure out who is next to be captured by the cosmic force, IT. The whodunit style of searching Derry for clues fits perfectly with the Clue setup. But will you find out who is kidnapped before it is too late?
Goosebumps Movie Board Game
Pages from R.L. Stine's Goosebumps manuscript have fallen out of his book - a mishmash of murderous monsters are on the prowl! Play as classic Goosebumps villains, from Slappy to the Mummy, as you race back to the typewriter.
The first to make it wins and gets to go back into the book! The others... well they aren't so lucky. A perfectly ghoulish board game for family outings, Goosebumps The Board Game is a fun but simple set up meant for 2-6 players. As you rush down the trail of manuscript pages, try not to get frightened by the other creatures who lurk nearby...
Ghostbusters The Board Game
Who you 'gunna call? Well, in this case, it's you. You're one of the titular Ghostbusters, tracking down these dastardly ghosts. This board game uses custom pieces based on the movies and accompanying media.
Each scenario is unique, with multiple adventures to be had! Whether you are up against the Gruesome Twosomes or the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, be warned! You'll need to work together to survive and save humanity. With a unique backstory to keep you occupied, this Ghostbusters Board Game is meant to be replayed session after session. You can even create your own stories to follow!
Die Hard: The Nakatomi Heist Board Game
Get ready to take part in one of the most beloved action movies of all time, Die Hard. Yeah, it seems impossible to recreate the Die Hard feel via a board game, but somehow they got it right.
Fans take control of both sides: One person is the hard-boiled John McClane. His goals remain the same, to stop Han Gruber and his team. The other player takes control of Gruber, with up to two other players being able to take a role as Gruber's goons. This clash of the titans takes place in three acts that cover the entirety of the first Die Hard movie. The odds are stacked against McClane, so he must use stealth, his brains, and some bullets to stop Gruber at all costs. Celebrate Christmas in style or die trying.
Ender's Game: Battle School Board Game
Ender's Game is a dark tale about Ender, a kid genius who is trained to stop an ever-looming alien invasion. Battle School takes place, well, in the Battle School. Amidst other children who are also learning and training under the command of Colonel Graff, they must fight each other. But these are no ordinary fights. Ender and company fight in a zero-gravity arena while wearing special suits.
This board game holds a very intimate setting, as it is a 1v1 between Ender and his rival, Bonzo. Both have special abilities but equal health. There's one catch: Once you propel yourself in the zero-gravity arena, you can't stop until you hit something. So plan accordingly and waste the opposition.
Jim Henson's Labyrinth: The Board Game
There once was a lovely trippy tale named Jim Henson's Labyrinth. And just like in the movie, your goal is to make your way through the labyrinth. For what reason? To save Toby from the Goblin King, of course! As you venture through the labyrinth, be wary of traps and surprises!
Don't let the mature presentation fool you, this game is great for families. The board is simplistic and easy to read, with each section laid out plainly. With up to five players, grab your miniatures and roll your dice! Each character has their own sheet to represent them, so pick your favorite!
The Godfather: Corleone's Empire
The Godfather is probably one of the few movie board games that are unexpected. I mean, it makes sense, being that The Godfather Trilogy lives to be one of the most heartfelt tales of the mafia to date. Even those who haven't seen it can quote it. The Godfather: Corleone's Empire is exactly what it sounds like. Corleone's Empire is large.
But his time is almost up. With bated breath, you and up to four other players focus on an apple ripe for the picking: 1950s New York City. Each of you represents one of the main criminal families ready to take over the town and rule the streets. Through four major acts, you spend your time gathering resources, taking territory from each other, and earning money. Will you have what it takes to run the family business?
Star Wars: Rebellion Board Game
Star Wars will always be known for its imaginative universe. Many forms of media have spawned from it. But few focus on a contained space experience like Rebellion, a board game with over 150 miniatures used to gather your armies.
Heroes such as Luke Skywalker and villains such as Darth Vader hold special roles and are able to turn the tides of battle. Whether you side with the Empire and Alliance, take your fleet and dominate the galaxy. Focus your units as you capture each sector, rewarding each small fight in the overarching battle between light and dark. With multiple expansions set in different eras, no game will feel the same.
Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth
Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth is one of many games made for the Lord of the Rings series. But this board game features replayability and focuses on you created your own fellowship. After picking one of six classes, grab a few friends and smash some orc heads in.
The miniatures are pristine, with each enemy and hero fully realized. With multiple journeys to be had, each session in your campaign will bring you experience used to enhance your skills. Included with the board game is a companion app meant to help track each session as you progress towards eradicating evil from Middle Earth.
The Thing Infection at Outpost 31 Board Game
John Carpenter's The Thing gave inspiration to claustrophobic monster movies such as The Descent and continues to remind audiences that practical effects done right are horrific. With the release of The Thing Infection at Outpost 31, players are tasked with escaping the grasp of the ever-shapeshifting monster. Set on Outpost 31, the game starts with up to 8 players as iconic characters from the 1982 film. One person is secretly in control of the titular monster in disguise.
The rest of the cast must complete randomized quests and escape before there are no humans left. By combining a 'whodunit' experience with uneasy truces, you never know who the creature is.
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