I've said it before, and I'll say it again. The best board games (at least for me to enjoy) tell a story and immerse you in some kind of plot. I'm teaming up with a crew to prevent the end of the world. I'm trapped on a dying space ship.
A caveat, if I may... I'm not talking about games that build the framework of a story as you go, such as Rory's Story Cubes or Once Upon a Time. I'm also not talking about diced-based RPGs in which a Game Master (Dungeon Master, Story Master, take your pick) leads you through a story while you roll the dice to determine the success of your actions. I think we're all (unless we've been living under a rock ever since Stranger Things hit Netflix) clear that those are story-based games.
I'm talking about board games and card games specifically that are already built around a story that you get immersed in as you play. These are games that take you through a legitimate beginning, middle, and end, and -- if you play them in the right spirit and allow the story to guide you instead of merely going through the rote mechanics of gameplay -- you can derive some of the same satisfaction that you get from reading an engrossing novel.
The following list of games is some of (in my opinion) the best ones that writers should really be able to get into and experience in a way that non-storytellers probably wouldn't.
Editor's Note: The purchase links below are purely for you if you're interested in any of these games. I don't make a cent off these links. I just wanted to save you some effort in searching for them. They are directly to the publishers' websites if the publisher sells directly.
Village Crone
As one of the magick ladies seeking to control your village, you compete with the others to influence the life of the folks who live around you. Expand the story by making them fall in love, ruin their lives by turning them into critters, and mess up the plans of your competition.
Purchase link: https://firesidegames.com/games/village-crone/
Scythe
It's a retro sci-fi world, and you're out to conquer. It's like Risk with a lot more brains and an ongoing war theme as you expand and mobilize your forces.
Purchase link: https://stonemaiergames.com/games/scythe/
Sky Traders
Not only do you get to buy and sell common and illegal goods in this Steampunk economy game, you also get to work as a "committee" to play with the market. Support your competitor's grog market now, but they promise to support your textile monopoly next turn.
Purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/Fantasy-Flight-Games-UBIDST01-Traders/dp/1616613378
Clank! in Space
You are hacking into an enemy space ship and the clock is ticking. Use deck-building to create you hand that will allow you to move around the ship and complete the necessary tasks to get away safely.
Purchase link: https://www.renegadegamestudios.com/clank-in-space
Arkham Horror
Work with the other investigators to clear Arkham (and neighboring towns througn the expansions) of monsters and cultists while gathering relics and artifacts to shut down the portals to other realms and prepare for the coming of the elder gods.
Purchase link: https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2018/8/1/arkham-horror-third-edition/
Terror Below
Giant subterranean worms are all over town, and it's up to you to gather your resources and allies to take them down -- all while trying to collect their eggs for science -- and money, always money!
Purchase link: https://www.renegadegamestudios.com/terror-below
Champions of Midgard
Roll to create your army. Then figure out how to delegate them to defeat trolls and other monsters, or go across the sea on epic quests for glory and gold.
Purchase link: https://greyfoxgames.com/champions-of-midgard/
Resident Evil Deck Building Game
Unlike most deck building games, this one has an actually story you can play. While you explore the house and collect ammo and gold, you can choose whether or not you want to interact with zombies and other deadly critters by kicking open a door. You can only win by taking your chances and your target's heads as trophies.
This one's out of print, so you'll most likely need to hit ebay or take your chances on the price gouging at the Amazon link below.
Galactic Scoundrels
The cards in Galactic Scoundrels will guide you on your adventures as you tell the epic story of your space heists -- from black market sales to mercenary exploits, you'll get to live it all. Imagine being part of the crew on the Serenity, and you've pretty much got the picture for this one.
Betrayal at the House on the Hill
Enter the creepy old house with your companions, but be careful -- one of them will eventually turn on you and the others and then you'll have a mad scramble to get out alive before your newly discovered enemy makes you a permanent part of the House on the Hill.
Firefly
Somebody really did their homework on this game. It plays like an episode of the TV show -- or like several simultaneous episodes based on the number of players. Pick a captain, a crew, a ship, and a job to accomplish. But watch out for the law and the Reavers.
Battlestar Galactica
Get safely to your new home, but be careful. Chances are one of your companions is working against you and is a secret Cylon. Fight the bad guys. Move through the galaxy. But most of all, enjoy the clues in your story as you play to root out that Cylon traitor.
This one's out of print, so you'll most likely need to hit ebay or take your chances on the price gouging at the Amazon link below.
Horrified
The thing I love about this story and quest driven game is that each creature has a different win condition. So you can't just set your brain on autopilot and tune out. You really have to engage the strategy for each creature you're trying to either capture, kill, or safe from his or her or their curse.
Icarus
Icarus quickly became one of my favorite storytelling games. It's an RPG-adjacent game in the sense that there is a tower of dice that represents the mythic city of Icarus and each round players draw cards that help determine the progress or regress of the city. The more players get into the unfolding story, the more fun this game is. Use the cards to create scenarios based on how the new one blends with the old ones. When the dice tower falls, Icarus has fallen.
Ace Detective
Featuring awesome art from old detective pulps, Ace Detective uses the mechanic of symbol matching to build and create a mystery story with twists, turns, informants, red herrings, etc. You can play without telling the story, but it's so much more amazing when players really get behind the ongoing narrative and keep it going and growing.
Dinosaur Island
Build your own Jurassic World. But it's not just about the dinos. You also have to get customers, create new exhibits, provide snack shacks, and more. The story in this one is based on how well you continue to create your Dinosaur Island in a way that keeps attracting visitors.
Where would you rank writing on the "Is it an art or it is a science continuum?" Why?
