Board games have always been an excellent way to bring people together. There are so many genres of board games to enjoy, but one of the more intricate game mechanics out there is the legacy game. This is a game where each time you play will be very different, and the decisions you make will permanently impact the experience in the future. From placing down stickers to destroying parts of the board, Legacy games mean that there is no going back. Your games will have a permanent legacy.
Whether playing over Tabletop Simulator or in person, a legacy game will provide hours of entertainment. They are best played with the same group of people, consistently returning to reveal the story's next chapter together. Legacy games are always unique, and everyone involved will have fond memories of the experience. There are quite a few different legacy games out there, so here is a selection of games that are well worth checking out.
Updated October 9, 2022: We've updated this article to include Amazon links for all of our favorite legacy games. Happy gaming!
8 Betrayal Legacy
Give Betrayal Legacy a playthrough if you want a spooky atmosphere for your next game night. The Betrayal board game series has always been a story-driven experience. You play as a group exploring a large manor, encountering ghosts and other spooky experiences. Eventually, the haunt begins, and one or more of you will become a traitor. At this point, the game is twisted on its head, and now it is a frantic fight to survive.
The legacy edition of this terrifyingly fun game will have you playing through 13 chapters that build upon your previous experiences. The core concept is that you are playing as the same family of characters returning to the same spooky house generation after generation. The legacy of this game enhances the story, making it a must-play for those who enjoyed the standard version of the game.
7 Zombie Kidz Evolution
Zombie Kidz Evolution is a wonderful zombie-themed game. It involves up to four students trapped at school when the zombie apocalypse begins. You must defend the building from waves of zombies, trying to avoid the entire school becoming overrun. If you can lock up the entrances, you'll be able to survive. Zombie Kidz is a great cooperative experience to get your kids working as a team.
This game is excellent for introducing kids to the hobby. It is not as complex as other legacy games but still has that thrill of making permanent changes to your game. It is a bright, vibrant experience that will keep children engaged and eager to return to play. The games are also relatively quick, lasting around 15 minutes per playthrough. This short time frame will allow you to race through the campaign in a few hours.
6 Clank! Legacy: Acquisitions Incorporated
Clank! Legacy: Acquisitions Incorporated would make for a fantastic game to play with your friends. It is a deck-building game in which you start up your own adventuring corporation. You all start with the same initial cards but will soon be crafting your unique decks, forming strategies as the campaign progresses. You'll be fighting monsters and having a lot of fun.
A lot of content is packed into the game for you to uncover as you go through the story. A great addition to this legacy game is that you can still play it after you have finished the campaign. It becomes a more complex version of the standard Clank! game.
5 Machi Koro Legacy
Machi Koro is an excellent city-building game that has now been transformed into a legacy version. Like the base game, you are playing as mayors, attempting to build three landmarks first. To achieve this, you must keep buying establishments, such as cafes and stadiums, that will allow you to gain more coins, sometimes even from your opponents.
The legacy version's campaign will involve 10 games, each lasting around 45 minutes. There are plenty of surprises throughout this quick campaign, adding new rules with each game. Machi Koro remains simple to play throughout, allowing for a lovely experience that does not outstay its welcome.
4 Gloomhaven
Before Gloomhaven became a video game, it was an incredible legacy board game. In Gloomhaven, you play as a group of unique adventurers, taking on monsters and dangerous dungeons together. The game is a little more complex than others mentioned on this list, especially with playtime that averages between one and two hours. But, despite this, it is an incredibly satisfying RPG-like experience.
The legacy aspect feels like an epic adventure as you try to achieve your own personal quests through different scenarios. Your actions will take the story down a different path, with plenty of twists and turns. If you can survive the deadly dungeons, you'll finish this amazing adventure with so many tales to tell. You can also try a prequel campaign called Jaws Of The Lion if you can't get enough of the Gloomhaven world.
3 My City
My City is a peaceful tile placement game you can enjoy with a group of up to four participants. The game is about building a city by placing different building tiles down. The order in which you place each building is random, meaning that you must plan out your city impromptu. At first, everyone's cities will be pretty similar, but with each game, your experience will be increasingly more varied from one another. As each new envelope is opened, you will get additional buildings and features added to your plot of land. Whether you won or lost the last game, you'll be placing down different stickers to change your landscape further. The experience is pretty balanced, so it is unlikely for a runaway winner to crop up too soon in the legacy campaign.
As with many Legacy games, My City can be played on Tabletop Simulator to get a taste of the game to see if you would enjoy the whole experience. Additionally, unlike many legacy games, My City also provides an eternal version to play. It does not include as many of the features from the campaign within it but offers a decent game that you can play endlessly, even after you've finished playing the legacy version.
2 Pandemic Legacy Series
Pandemic is a classic board game about saving the world from deadly viruses. The standard version of the cooperative game is a lot of fun on its own but can get repetitive once you've figured out the core puzzle of how to save the world and stop the spread. The legacy version will keep introducing new aspects of the game and will add a lot of tension as the fate of the entire planet depends on if you succeed or fail each time you play. It is a gripping version of the base game with enough variety to keep you hooked.
There are multiple versions for you to play of Pandemic Legacy. Each experience is unique, so you might find yourself trying them all out. There are two seasons of the standard pandemic legacy format. But, for an even more significant change of pace, try Pandemic Legacy Season 0 to have spies incorporated into the fun. No matter what version of Pandemic Legacy you go for, you are in for a thrilling adventure full of surprises.
1 The King's Dilemma
The King's Dilemma is about making tough decisions for the royal kingdom. Up to five players will become the different houses that live within the realm of Ankist. There are plenty of noble houses to choose from, each with their own motives and goals. These will influence your decisions immediately as you negotiate and discuss with one another what the right decision is at any moment. It helps you get lost in the role of a noble advisor.
The game itself is a balancing act. You will keep dealing with unique dilemma cards and vote on how to handle them. This will influence details such as the kingdom's wealth and morale. Your decisions often add new dilemmas to the game, crafting a unique, winding storyline. There is also a sequel legacy game heading to Kickstarter soon called The Queen's Dilemma, which looks to be filled with more complex dilemmas and narratives to enjoy next.
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