Steamforged Games' Resident Evil board game trilogy—comprising Resident Evil, Resident Evil 2, and Resident Evil 3—offers cooperative gameplay for 1-4 players. Each game features detailed miniatures and scenarios based on the respective video games. Gameplay involves navigating locations, managing resources, and engaging in dice-based combat against iconic enemies.
Resident Evil (2023): The most refined entry, this game improves upon its predecessors. Players explore the Spencer Mansion, utilizing support characters for additional strategic options. A flexible narrative allows for varied playthroughs, and the use of location cards streamlines setup. The persistent threat of reanimating zombies adds a unique challenge. This is a strong entry point for newcomers.
Resident Evil: The Bleak Outpost Expansion: Expands Resident Evil with six new scenarios, two new bosses (Neptune and Plant-42), and new locations.
Resident Evil 2 (2019): The original game in the Steamforged series, it introduces players to the Raccoon City Police Station. While fun, it lacks the refinements of later entries, featuring a linear campaign and some minor component issues (dark tiles, missing dial connectors).
Resident Evil 2 Expansions:
- B-Files Expansion: Doubles the number of scenarios and introduces new items, enemies, and the goal of escaping Mr. X.
- Malformations of G B-Files Expansion: Adds a challenging encounter against Birkin Stage Three, designed to be played with the B-Files expansion.
- Survival Horror Expansion: Adds five new playable characters, advanced versions of existing characters, new enemies, and a PvP mode. Highly recommended.
- 4th Survivor Expansion: Introduces Hunk and Tofu as playable characters, along with new modes focused on escaping the police station and a PvP race. The Tofu miniature is a highlight.
Resident Evil 3 (2021): Builds upon Resident Evil 2's mechanics, offering a more open-ended campaign structure. Players explore Raccoon City, facing increasing danger as the city deteriorates. The Danger Tracker and Narrative deck enhance replayability. The scenario map's quality is a minor drawback.
Resident Evil 3 Expansions:
- The Last Escape Expansion: Adds new playable characters, including Barry Burton, and introduces new enemies and game modes, including a permadeath option.
- City of Ruin Expansion: Features nine new scenarios set in locations like the City Hospital and Dead Factory, introducing new enemies and a Stage 3 Nemesis encounter.
Each game features a three-phase turn structure (Action, Reaction, Tension), with dice rolls determining combat outcomes. The campaign nature allows for both standalone scenarios and interconnected narratives. While some crossover between games is possible, it may require minor adjustments.
