Top 10 Video Games Based on Board Games
Board games are a lot of fun with friends. Video games are at their best with friends, so it's no surprise that video game adaptations of board games can be a lot of fun when done right. From classic games like Battleship and Monopoly, to more modern and deep games like Catan and Small World, we're looking at games that are the most fun and most well adapted to a video game format. We're excluding collectable card games like Magic the Gathering, as that is a list for another day. So join http://www.watchmojo.com as we count down our picks for the top 10 video game based boardgames.
Script written by Max Bledstein.
#10: “Clue” (1992)
This classic mystery title kept us accusing our friends of murder again and again, and the adaptation for SNES and Genesis was no less full of sleuthing fun. As with its namesake, the title requires you to figure out who the killer is as well as how or where he or she committed the crime using simple deduction. However, it adds even more wrinkles with its negative clues, which tell you only that a suspect didn’t commit a crime in a certain place.
#9: “Battleships” (1987)
This tactical guessing game has been around in various forms since World War I, but when it finally arrived on some early personal computers the formula was shaken up a bit. Your object is still to destroy your opponent’s fleet of ships by guessing where they are on a grid. Unlike the original, you fire multiple shots in one turn, and the loss of ships reduces how many shots you can take each turn. This punchier gameplay made Battleships a bit more exciting and certainly more visually appealing than it’s tabletop counterpart.
#8: “Monopoly Streets” (2010)
Don’t worry, it’s not “NBA Street” meets “Monopoly”—it’s just take on a classic game, updated for PS3, PC and Xbox 360. As anyone who’s ever played the original board game knows, it can take forever, and this title tightens things up by condensing the gameplay, particularly in Bull Market mode, which automatically ends the game after twenty rounds. Of course, you very well might want to play longer, since the customization options allow you to tweak the rule0set in a ways that your older brother would never allow in RL.
#7: “Small World 2” (2013)
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This game’s predecessor was one of the first iPad ports of a board game, and the follow-up managed to take a pioneer and make it even better. It’s similar to “Risk,” in that you have to conquer territories, but the title doesn’t lie, as you’ll often be facing resistance in the game’s close quarters. The sequel allows five players to play at once, making for a competitive good time.
#6: “Risk: Factions” (2010)
Next up is yet another strategy game which does a great job of digitally rendering the conquering fun, this time on last-gen consoles and PC. It keeps the strategic gameplay of its beloved namesake, but it’s based on the speedier 2008 ruleset, allowing you to have more fun, faster. Traditionalists can also enjoy the Classic mode, which forces you to control the entire map to win. Ukraine is STRONG.
#5: “Carcassonne” (2010)
While its name might not be as familiar as some of the other games on this list, don’t let that discourage you from missing out on some excellent gameplay. It’s yet another strategic conquering game for mobile, but one which stands out for its unique tile-matching mechanic, where you claim land by placing tiles which go together. As you play, the soothing classical guitar on the soundtrack perfectly compliments the beautiful medieval visuals on the tiles.
#4: “Ticket to Ride” (2008)
Despite what the Beatles said, it’s pretty easy to find yourself caring about this one. Like the board game which inspired it, the title focuses on trains, and it’s up to you to connect cities by buying routes with colored cards. It’s a perfect blend of luck and strategy, plus the mobile and PC versions make it even better thanks to beautiful presentation and intuitive controls.
#3: “Catan” (2007)
Though it’s inspired by one of the most popular boardgames with adults today, Cattan with have to “settle” with it’s 3rd place slot. AS anyone who’s played the boardgame can tell you, Settlers of Catan has a lot of pieces and a lot of rules, so having that all neatly arranged into videogame can be rather refreshing. On top of intuitive tutorials, the game also features multiple view-modes, one of which will seem familiar to all those of you that have poured ours into the Civilization franchise.
#2: “Words With Friends” (2009)
If you thought “Scrabble” was the ultimate word game, you have to give this game a try. Granted, it’s the same basic formula, but having the presentation of the beloved classic on mobile is certainly a plus. Even if you were the “Scrabble” champion in your house growing up, playing against thousands of potential opponents around the world, or will certainly humble you. Or you can just stick to that one friend who you know can’t spell for their life.
Before we get to our number one, let’s take a look at some honorable mentions:
“Sorry!” (1998)
“Scene it? Box Office Smash” (2008)
“Backgammon HD” (2011)
#1: “Battle Chess” (1988)
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Battling its way to the top of our list is this violent and hilarious take on the classic strategy game released first on Amiga. Like the online “Chessmaster Live,” the title brings welcome additions to a board game whose history speaks for itself. Despite its fame, if regular chess is a bit boring for you the game’s been spruced up with some pretty gnarly graphics and animations. Check what happens when the rook takes a pawn.
Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite video game based on a board game? For more playful top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
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