Steamforged Resident Evil 2 The Board Game: Core Game

Product Information

The original game’s B-Files were a core element of the story; it added depth, gave answers and explained what happened to the other survivors of the G-Virus incident. This expansion is an excellent reflection of that side to the story. The inclusion of Mr X’s mechanic to simply burst into a scenario keeps you on your toes more than the core game. It makes it less about clearing rooms and more about keeping a clear focus.

This board game is a beautiful homage to Resident Evil’s classic survival horror feel. Whether you’re a fan of Resident Evil or not, if you’re fond of horror or tactical scenario-based adventures, this may very well be for you! For some of us, the main element of this game is nostalgia. Regardless to the survival horror elements, the one thing you’ll feel if you’ve played the original is nostalgia. Are you brave enough to explore this strange world and face these two huge new bosses, so large they take up multiple squares?Once you’ve performed your four actions (or skipped actions, if you like to live dangerously), it’s time for the reaction phase. Reaction Phase Just as I found with Steamforged’s Dark Souls-inspired board game, there are slight imperfections in many of these plastic figures. Defects ranged from warped bases that caused characters to wobble on the table, to multi-part minis being assembled incorrectly. The issues are nothing that a little handiwork can’t fix, but for the price I’d rather not spend my time repairing and rebasing when I could be playing the game instead.

Based on the 2002 remake of the original Resident Evil video game, this is a cooperative survival horror board game for 1-4 players . Being young was awkward, when you weren't hiding behind the controller that is! Remember not knowing how to talk to someone you liked? So you'd awkwardly sort of be around them and existed continually, never making progress or effort to let them know you were there? The T-00 Tyrant doesn't. He has no fear. No reservations. He's a successful go-getter and a man on a mission. He knows what he wants, and he wants you. (Dead!) Steamforged Games don't skimp on the details for any miniatures, and these two look as gruesome as you'd want them to. You can see the coils of stretched flesh along the chest of Stage Two, and the refined mutated hide of Stage Four. It's clear that neither of these would win a beauty contest, but that's the point! Their hideous visuals are half the fear, with the other half being entirely centred around what they will do with those massive, blood stained talons. Built on the survival horror engine of the previous two board games, it introduces a slew of new and updated mechanics to keep you on your toes.

So, Are You Ready to Step Inside the Mansion?

The models for both the Giant Moth and crow enemies are fantastic. I’d even go as far as to say they’re better quality than the models from the core game, and they’re pretty spot on already! The consideration for the mechanics behind both new enemies is well thought out, with neither being in a hurry to kill you but at the same time both being a constant threat.

Resident Evil 2: The Board Game allows players to follow the narrative for the A-Playthrough of the original videogame, guiding through their characters through the overrun RPD building, darkened sewers, eerie marshalling yard, and finally into the sinister corridors of the underground laboratory. Along the way they'll have to face each of the terrifying enemies you'd expect, culminating in a life or death struggle against William Birkin as they wait for the elevator to take them to safety! With multiple scenarios to play, the game offers hours of survival horror playing time for even the most dedicated fan. But what of the B-Playthrough you ask? Well, that's where the B-Files come in. That’s not to say the team can’t take a break or stop to discuss the matters at hand, but everyone needs to contribute, everyone needs to survive. The moment you take you eye off the ball, you’re zombie chow! Final Thoughts on Resident Evil 2: The Board Game Combine that with the fantastically illustrated behaviour cards and you've got a true horror show going on! On the less aesthetic side, the cards are of similar quality to that of the core game and the models are sturdy and robust, any eager painter could easily make these beasties look a much more frightening to get that true immersion. Fear is an interesting thing. Some people are terrified of heights, some of enclosed spaces, some of needles. It affects us differently and some fears seem irrational to outsiders looking in. Some genius at Capcom noticed this and considered what the most common irrational fear was and decided to slap it into the Resident Evil 2 original video game. And now, Steamforged Games have lovingly hosted it within Resident Evil 2: The Board Game as a mini boss expansion in Murder from Above!Think of it this way: Anything you’d need to press a button on your console’s controller to do is an action. The main new mechanic for this expansion is the introduction of Mr X. Unlike other enemies within the game, his pursuit is relentless and he appears in every scenario. His only goal is to kill you and the other survivors, and he is pretty good at his job! The introduction of Mr X into a scenario is done through the encounter table or through specific Tension Cards. Either way, you’re not going to be able to avoid him for long! The mechanics are simple, but there are plenty of tough decisions that you have to make. You have to decide which weapons to use, which directions to move, if you should use your precious actions to go get items, and if it’s worth it to kill certain enemies. Following the highly-rated Resident Evil 2 (2019) and Resident Evil 3 (2021) board games, Resident Evil: The Board Game (2023) brings the sinister Spencer Mansion to the tabletop in a terrifying open world campaign. Much like the original, one key may open many doors, and the advantage to having the sky view of the game is that you can see where the key is needed. Also, being able to see the whole map lets you see the essential and non-essential items hidden amongst the bodies; red being essential and white being non-essential. The only thing is, the essential stuff is usually in a room five infested corridors away, and with four moves per turn, it’ll feel like an uphill struggle. And hiding inside the essential items are herbs, first aid meds and other single use items that you’ll be great full for, but won’t help you progress the scenario. Comparing it to the Original