Funko is announcing a brand-new board game based on the classic sci-fi film E.T: The Extra-Terrestrial. Funko is mainly known for its Pops figures, but the company has also released many board games based on popular films, TV shows, and video games like Back To The Future, Game Of Thrones, and even Five Nights At Freddy’s. Just last month, the company announced Jurassic World: The Legacy Of Isla Nublar, which puts players in the roles of classic characters from the Jurassic Park films as they work to build a world-famous theme park on the titular dinosaur-filled island.
Now, it appears that Funko is adding another classic 80s film franchise to its list of board game properties. 1982’s E.T: The Extra-Terrestrial evokes different feelings in both old movie buffs and gaming historians. For the former, E.T. is a heartwarming, coming-of-age tale of a boy named Elliot as he befriends a benevolent alien and helps him contact his home planet. It's also an inspiration for contemporary media like Stranger Things. For video game aficionados, E.T.’s legacy is somewhat murkier, drawing to mind the infamous E.T: The Extra-Terrestrial tie-in game for the Atari 2600 that was blamed for the great game industry crash of 1983. Despite this unfortunate legacy, E.T. remains a beloved film, with the titular extraterrestrial making appearances in everything from Comcast Xfinity commercials to even a brief cameo in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.
At the beginning of this year’s London Toy Fair, Funko Europe announced a new tie-in board game titled E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial: Light Years from Home. This game will have up to four players take the role of Elliott, Gertie, Michael, and Greg as they work toward helping E.T. return to his homeworld. To do this, players will need to ride across the game board, avoiding government agents and gathering items that E.T. can use to build a communication device before the friendly alien’s lifeforce fades away. Features include four detailed mini-figures of the children on their bicycles, an E.T. mini-figure that can be carried by players, a Mothership figure that flies around the board until it reaches E.T, and a Heartlight Dial that signals how much time the players have left until the game ends. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial: Light Years from Home also includes artwork depicting classic moments from the film, and is set to be priced at about $29.99.
Board games inspired by classic movie and video game properties have become increasingly common over the past few years, with many of these projects being financed through crowdfunding websites like Kickstarter. Board games based on The Witcher and The Binding Of Isaac have raised millions of dollars mere days after their respective Kickstart campaigns went live, and there are games inspired by Resident Evil and Far Cry in the works as well.
The premise of E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial: Light Years from Home is noticeably similar to the infamous E.T. video game, with players needing to gather the pieces of E.T.’s communication device while avoiding meddling FBI agents. Hopefully, Funko will be able to avoid the fate that befell that title when E.T. The Extra Terrestrial: Light Years from Home finally hits retailers.
Source: Funko Europe