Board game on table with orange drink

Legacy Board Games: A New Way to Play

Legacy board games are a new form of tabletop gaming that has changed the board game industry. The key difference between legacy and regular board games is that player choices change the game permanently. Another great feature is that there is no time limit for completing it. Legacy board games are intended to be played over multiple sessions, whether days, weeks, or months. With this style of tabletop gaming, players can feel challenged without the stress of playing an entire game in one sitting.

Continue reading to learn about legacy board games and how they have changed the industry.

What is a Legacy Board Game?

A legacy board game is a tabletop game in which player choices permanently affect the game. Many gamers like to replay games and choose options they didn’t pick in the first playthrough because they want to see different endings. Legacy games are similar to that in achieving various endings and allowing the player to choose different options.

Games, such as Gloomhaven and Frosthaven, provide stickers to be unlocked that will permanently change the physical board game. Player choices are key in these games because they drive the story forward. One draw that board game players have is being limited on the length of time they can play.

Scenarios, Missions, and Time Limits

Most board games are designed to be played in one sitting, which is why legacy games have changed how board games are viewed. Most legacy games have different scenarios and missions that assist with breaking up the game into smaller play times. These can vary from dungeons to town events or dealing with mass outbreaks in games such as Pandemic Legacy. If schedules conflict, there is no need to stress, as these games can be picked up again anytime.

How has this changed the Board Game Industry?

Legacy Board Games were introduced in 2011 when Risk Legacy, a new version of the classic game Risk, was released. These games have a unique set of options such as being able to write on the game board, placing stickers to change the game permanently. Some of these games even want the player to rip specific cards that are no longer plausible based on the player’s choices.

Games such as Pandemic Legacy, Gloomhaven, Frosthaven, and Betrayal Legacy have continued the trend of ongoing board games. From dungeon-based crawlers to attempting to save the world from a deadly pandemic, these games vary in the story and how player choices determine what happens in the game. They continue to be exciting from start to finish as it does not repeat the same game repeatedly.

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