Image Composition: Ross Miller and Will Joel/PolygonAmazon’s October Prime Day has officially come and gone — that’s the bad news. The good news is, a majority of our favorite board games are still on sale, albeit at a lower discount. If you had your eye on a certain worker placement strategy game or a spooky card game, there’s still a chance for some big savings.The discounts fall squarely in the realm of what we like to call “modern classics” like 7 Wonders and Azul — excellent board games from major publishers that came out in the last 10-15 years. We’ve also found more than few great horror-themed games on sale like Mysterium (an Overboard favorite), Unfathomable, and Arkham Horror The Card Game, all perfect for the spooky season.Polygon’s Prime Day PicksThe best modern classic board game deals of Prime DayThe best strategy board game deals of Prime DayThe best Star Wars games of Prime DayThe best card game deals of Prime DayThe best party game deals of Prime DayThe best two-player game deals of Prime DayThe best modern classic board game deals of Prime Day7 Wonders$38$6037% off$38Back in 2019, Polygon asked four leading board game designers for their picks for the most influential board games of the decade. What did Rob Daviau, Elizabeth Hargrave, and Jamey Stegmaier’s lists all have in common? 7 Wonders, a game they all credited for opening up their eyes as tabletop game designers. The base game accommodates up to seven players, and with its signature brand of simultaneous play everyone can feel engaged the whole way through.Read More$38 at AmazonSpirit Island$40$7043% off$40Everything you’ve heard about Spirit Island is true. We consider it at once one of the best cooperative games and one of the best solo games, so there’s no bad time to play. Take on the role of spirits fighting against colonizers. If you’re looking to upgrade your Spirit Island experience, the Jagged Earth expansion is on sale, too.Read More$48 at Amazon (Base Game)$40 at Amazon (Jagged Earth)Arkham Horror, once among the most daunting cooperative adventure board games around, is much improved and streamlined in this 3rd edition version for $69.99 (was $79.99).Azul, the charming tile-laying game and one of our 22 best modern board games, is just $23.99 (was $39.99).Catan, the favored game of the 2015 Green Bay Packers and the 2024 Buffalo Bills, is just $32.99 (was $59.99).King of Tokyo asks 2-6 players the ultimate question — who is the best monster, and why is it Space Penguin? It’s just $28.30 for Prime Day (was $44.99).Love Letter, a diminutive card game that you can fit in a single pants pocket, is just $13.46 (normally $14.99).Mansions of Madness 2nd edition, a miniatures-heavy game that uses a nifty little mobile app to drive the narrative action at the table, is 20% off — down to $87.99 from $109.99.Mysterium$30$5545% off$30Mysterium, a favorite of the Overboard crew, will have you set up for a seance in no time. Up to 7 players can become psychics and interpret cryptic clues to solve crimes. Perfect for the spooky holiday!Read More$30 at AmazonMatt Leacock’s Pandemic, on sale for $26.99 (normally $39.99), should already be on your shelf by now as it’s an exceptional gateway game to introduce new players to the hobby. If it isn’t, now’s a great time to fix that problem.While Pandemic Legacy Season 1 is no longer on sale, you can still jump into Pandemic Legacy Season 2 without concern, which you’ll find on Amazon for just $53.99 (normally $79.99).Already finished Pandemic Legacy Seasons 1 and 2? Then you should check out the prequel, Pandemic Legacy Season 0, on sale for $69.60 (was $79.99).Unfathomable$64$8020% off$64Unfathomable is a reskin of Corey Konieczka’s Battlestar Galactica: The Board Game, a legendary best-selling hidden role game. But while the cultural relevance of the Cylons has seemingly vanished into the vacuum of space, this Cthulhu-inspired version of the game remains just as playable as the original.Read More$64 at AmazonWhitehall Mystery$30$313% off$30Whitehall Mystery is an overlooked gem of a hidden movement game, where one player secretly plots their course on a hidden map and everyone else tries to hunt them down. The theming here is key, however, as it puts players on the hunt for a mysterious murderer in Victorian London. It’s a fast-moving experience that rewards repeating the game after switching up roles at the table.Read More$30 at AmazonThe best strategy board game deals of Prime DayAssassin's Creed: Brotherhood of Venice$70$8013% off$70Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood of Venice is a 26-chapter (!) campaign for up to four Assassins to do what they do best — or you can play solo and have all the glory for yourself. It’s also a great entry point for painting miniatures.Read More$70 at AmazonBloodborne: The Board Game is exactly what it says on the box — an adaptation of FromSoftware’s highly-beloved (and yet to be remastered) adventure — and is on sale for $82.31 (was $109.99). Looking for more? The Hunter’s Dream expansion is $39.99 (was $45.86) while the Chalice Dungeon expansion is $62.90 (was $79.99).Blood Rage, from the prolific Eric Lang, is another one of Polygon’s 22 best modern board games. The rarely discounted title is just $64.93 (was $89.99). Descent: Legends of the Dark is an ambitious update to the classic dungeon crawler. You can find the app-driven Gloomhaven-like for $132.46 (was $174.95).The original Disney Villainous is an award-winning, family-friendly strategy board game that has “the teach” built right in. Snag it for $29.99 (normally $39.99).Dive utilizes some novel transparent ocean cards and an adorable pitch: “catch a ride on a sea turtle or dolphin.” Who can say no to that? It’s on sale for $24.98 (was $34.99).Agricola$53$6518% off$53Uwe Rosenberg’s masterpiece Agricola is one of those board games that you need to play at least once to really understand how much it has influenced a generation of players and designers. First released in 2007, this newly revised edition is a mountain of meeples that brings order and a surprising amount of complexity to subsistence farming.Read More$53 at AmazonThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – The Adventure Game is a mechanically robust game from Modiphius Entertainment, an experience well worth the $92.35 (normally $139.99).Far Cry: Escape from Rook Islands is a cooperative game for up to four players (there’s also a solo mode) that takes you back to Far Cry 3 and … is that Vaas? Oh heck yes! There’s also an optional friendly fire mode if you want to make it more chaotic. Far Cry is on sale for $37.99 (was $63.95).Deluxe Fire Tower, a “competitive firefighting game” that has some clever fire tokens and gorgeous watercolor illustrations by Kevin Ruelle, is on sale for $39.99 (was $39.99).The Initiative, from Corey Konieczka’s new Unexpected Games, has game elements hidden inside the box for you to find as its story unfolds. Grab it for $47.96 (was $59.95).More than 25,000 people contributed nearly $6 million to CMON for Marvel United: X-Men. Now you can have it all to yourself for just $30.99 (was $34.99).Fallout: The Board Game$60$7014% off$60First released way back in 2017, Fallout The Board Game is a surprisingly solid offering from Fantasy Flight Games that tells a number of compelling little stories from the Fallout universe using an elaborate deck of numbered cards.Read More$60 at AmazonPotion Explosion uses marbles in lieu of actual dangerous concoctions — thankfully, given how often the eponymous chaos happens — and is currently discounted to $37.99 (was $49.99).Rallyman: DIRT gives you dice and lets you drift with up to five friends. Courses are made with hex tiles, and if I’m being very honest, we’re suckers for games that use hexagons. Truly the bestagons. Anyway! It’s on sale for $36.09 (was $45.31).Twilight Imperium is the gold standard for 4x space operas, and has served as inspiration for countless computer games and board games alike. Lock down an entire weekend with four of your closest friends for $131.99 (was $164.99).Not interested in a three-to-five-hour struggle? Try Twilight Inscription instead, a faster roll-and-write version of the original strategy game. This is the first time we’ve seen it discounted for Prime Day, coming in at a measly $51.99 (normally $64.99)Zombicide’s 2nd edition refreshes the raucous action game, first released in 2012. Grab the latest version for just $83.95 (originally $109.99).The best Star Wars games of Prime DayStar Wars Villainous: Scum and Villainy$25$3017% off$25Star Wars Villainous: Scum and Villainy isn’t just the only Star Wars board game up for grabs this October Prime Day — it’s also among the newest games on this list. Released last summer, the standalone expansion stars Boba Fett, Cad Bane, and the Seventh Sister. It’s also compatible with all other version of Star Wars Villainous.Read More$25 at AmazonStar Wars Legion is a great entry point into miniature strategy games. This core set has everything you need to wage epic familial battles between Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, and their respective armies — and right now it’s on sale for $95.99 (was $119.99).Star Wars Outer Rim is about becoming the most (in)famous leader in the underworld of a galaxy far, far, away. We love the novel “outer rim” board and a clever solo mode (though it is best played with up to four players). It is discounted down to $59.99 (was $74.99) for Prime Day.The best card game deals of Prime DayArkham Horror The Card Game Revised Core Set$48$6020% off$48A two-player take on a classic, Arkham Horror: The Card Game’s Lovecraftian themes are sure to delight any horror fan with cultists, ancient monsters, madness, and more. Choose a character and work together to build decks to rival the forces plaguing the city of Arkham. The unpredictability of the encounter deck helps keep playthroughs fresh and outcomes uncertain.Read More$48 at AmazonLet’s Go! to Japan tasks you and up to four friends to plan the most fulfilling dream vacation in Tokyo and Kyoto, with over 100 illustrated cards that might inspire some actual travel. (It’s worth it, trust us!) Let’s Go! to Japan is on sale for $43.08 (was $49.99).Embark on epic quests in Middle-Earth, The Lord of the Rings: Card Game’s revised core set has everything you need to immediately embark on a four-player adventure — no boosters required. This new version boasts increased contents and quality-of-life improvements and beautiful artwork on every card. You can pick it up for $44.94 (was $59.99).The Mind is an easy-to-pick up, family-friendly game about working together without communicating — no speaking, no pantomiming, nothing — and is available for $8.97 (was $14.95).The best party game deals of Prime DayJust One$12$2552% off$12Just One, the hit word-guessing game, is a snappy little gem that can easily kick off a night of longer games with a bang. Or kick back with a few beverages and play it all night, your call.Read More$12 at AmazonConcept$36$4520% off$36A favorite of Polygon’s Overboard team, Concept is a hilarious party game based on the classic Charades, but with the charming physicality of a physical game board to track your guesses.Read More$36 at AmazonThe best two-player game deals of Prime DayCatan: Starfarers Duel$28$3520% off$28Catan: Starfarers Duel is the unlikely reboot of an obscure 2001 game called Starship Catan. This two-player variant has solid reviews, but the 75-minute playtime seems like it might be a bit of a tough sell for all but the most dedicated players.Read More$28 at AmazonPatchwork$30$3514% off$30Another Uwe Rosenberg classic, Patchwork is a tile-laying game inspired by quilting that plays quickly and teaches well.Read More$30 at AmazonSplendor Duel$28$307% off$28Finally, Splendor Duel turns the beloved gem-buying game Splendor into a taught little two-player experience knife fight of a strategy game.Read More$28 at AmazonLooking for more deals? Check out all of Polygon’s favorite October Prime Day 2024 deals right here, and subscribe to our newsletter below to get great deals delivered to your inbox every week.
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Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is reportedly set to arrive in PS5 not long after it initially releases later this year as a timed exclusive. Yep, it’s looking like the game about exploring crypts, punching Nazis and doing those same things in the opposite order may well be the next title to go multiplatform as part of that new strategy Xbox has begun employing in 2024.According to podcaster and industry insider Nate The Hate, Machine Games’s whip-swinging adventure title will only have a short window of Xbox exclusivity before being chased by a boulder onto PS5 too.To see this content please enable targeting cookies.Manage cookie settings “MachineGames’ Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will release on Xbox & PC this holiday (Dec) as a timed console exclusive, they tweeted, “After…
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Read moreThe Batman was neither extremely grounded nor a colorful comic book take on the (DC) world’s greatest detective. As a direct answer to both Christopher Nolan’s notable trilogy and Zack Snyder’s half-baked take on the character, Matt Reeves’ own approach to Bruce Wayne and his vigilante persona was gritty and slightly stylized, but its dark feet were still firmly planted in reality. According to him, that won’t change in the sequels.During a chat with SFX magazine (via Deadline), the filmmaker, now deep into The Batman: Part II’s writing process, doubled down on the idea of toying with the comics’ rich mythology without going too fantastical, as James Gunn’s rebooted DCU continuity will be doing that anyway with Batman: The Brave & The Bold.To see this content please enable targeting co…
Read moreA PS5 port of Palworld – that hit from earlier this year that got everyone realky into or really angry about the idsrea of Pokemon with guns for a hot minute – has been the subject of speculation for a good while now. The latyest potential hint that it could actually be coming? A listing for this year’s Tokyo Game Show.This certainly isn’t the first time chatter about Palworld possibly rocking up on Sony’s consoles has popped up, with what many interpreted as a Twitter tease of it from Palworld community manager Bucky back in June having prompted some hope, and Pocketpair itself not having ruled out maybe brining the game to more platforms.To see this content please enable targeting cookies.Manage cookie settings The latest potential hint at Palworld hitting PlayStation is a listing on the…
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Read moreAssassin’s Creed Shadows will fulfil a long-running wish from fans for Japan as a setting, but Ubisoft thinks that there hasn’t been a better time than now to make it.I can remember as far back as the days of Assassin’s Creed 2 where lovers of the series would ask Ubisoft to make a game set in Japan, or even just anywhere in Asia for that matter. It somewhat eventually did that with Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China, but so many years later it’s only in 2024 that a game that’s set in Japan, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, will be in player’s hands. But, if you ask the game’s art director Thierry Dansereau, it’s good that the studio has waited until now to make the game, as it has allowed the devs to work on its “new-gen features” which he believes were “much needed” for a game set in Japan.To s…
Read moreDo you like video games that have something to do with Xbox? Well, if so, you’ll probably want to tune into the Xbox Tokyo Game Show broadcast that’s set to air today, September 26, and you can find all the details as to how to do so right here.Yep, PlayStation’s State of Play the other day might have featured look at a whole bunch of games that’re also going to be dropping on Xbox, but now it’s time for a proper Microsoft thing, complete with plenty of the colour green and the rest of the usual Xbox shebang.Xbox Tokyo Game Show 2024 Broadcast Watch on YouTubeYou can watch today’s Xbox Tokyo Game Show 2024 broadcast above when it airs at 11AM BST, which is 12PM CEST, 3AM PT, and 6AM ET on September 26. Seriously, just click play right there when the time hits, and boom, you’ll be watching …
Read moreIndie game publisher Devolver Digital has just announced a brand new publishing label, and it’s entirely focused on adaptations.Video game adaptations are all the rage right now, with Hollywood all clamouring to get whatever they can and turn it into the next hit movie or TV show. So far, it’s been a bit hit and miss, with Fallout finding a lot of success for example on the TV front, and the Borderlands movie turning out to be an absolute flop. But where video game adaptations of films used to be quite common a couple of decades ago, you don’t see them as much these days. And now, it seems like Devolver Digital is looking to change that a touch, as it’s just announced Big Fan Games, a new label “publishing video game adaptations of our favorite movies, shows, comics, and more.” Hi, we’re B…
Read moreOh dear; 2019’s Joker was a box office hit, raking in $1 billion at the box office, but Folie a Deux has failed to beat even Morbius in its domestic opening weekend.You know, I never quite understood how Todd Phillips’ Joker did so well at the box office, even as popular as the character is. Like, a billion dollars? Seriously? The guy that made The Hangover made a movie that successful? So of course when a sequel was announced there were some pretty big expectations, and after its first weekend, it is incredibly safe to say that those expectations have not been met in the slightest. Joker: Folie a Deux finally released last Friday, October 4, almost six whole years after the original film, and its opening weekend in the US brought in… $37 million. For context, the first film opened …
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