15 Amazing Games That Tell (and Play) an Equally Amazing Story!

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.

Purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0042UIE3O?tag=itemtext-boardgamegeek-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1

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. 

Purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/Mercury-Games-1802MCY-Galactic-Scoundrels/dp/B07KCSWVCD

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. 

Purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/Wizards-Coast-266330000WOC-Betrayal-House/dp/B003HC9734

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. 

Purchase link: https://www.flamesofwar.com/gf9online_store.aspx?CategoryID=13463

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.

Purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1589944607?tag=itemtext-boardgamegeek-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1

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. 

Purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/Ravensburger-Horrified-Universal-Monsters-Strategy/dp/B07QQHTD4Q

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. 

Purchase link: https://www.renegadegamestudios.com/icarus

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. 

Purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/8th-Summit-8TH0002PGS-ACE-DETECTIVE/dp/B009CYLA2C

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. 

Purchase link: https://pandasaurusgames.com/products/dinosaur-island

Taking the Story from the Page to the Board Game

I've recently begun designing board games, but never fear. For me, a good board game is still all about telling an enjoyable story. 

Do the heroes defeat the villains? Do the villains conquer the world? Does the mouse fall in love with the frog and live happily ever after? Do the players cooperate or turn on each other? 

All these kinds of questions go into a strong, replay-worthy board or card game for me. Yes, I know not all games require them, and some might cite Cards Against Humanity as an example, but even then the story unfolding isn't about the game -- it's about the players. 

So, here are the games I currently have in development (just because you're special and get a sneak peek behind the curtain). 

The Battle for Classic City

Build your team of heroes from a cadre of public domain heroes of the past -- featuring Lady Fairplay, Man o' War, Spider Queen, Zor the Mighty, Moon Girl, and many more. Fight for your place as the preeminent team of heroes in Classic City!

This one plays like a Magic or YuGiOh card game without having to buy packs to refresh your decks to stay up to date. Players share the single provided deck to create and rebuild their hands to allow their leaders and sidekicks to attack and defend. 

Matinee

In this deck builder, create your own theater and present the best films to leave your competitors in the dust. Need an advantage? Sell a permanent seat and lock down a stack from the other players or force them to buy directly from you! 

This one is a classic deck builder with a twist. Earn enough money from your theater and you can buy a permanent seat that forces players to buy from you using earned gold or by card trading. Plus it's based on all those great public domain movies you're probably watched spoofed on MST3K!

Cap'n Kelly's Custom Critters

A battling game with a best in show twist! Create your own Custom Critters and then compete in themed competitions as you move around the tiles to initiate battles with the other custom critters. Then make your pets even more special (you know, by adding bat wings or extra legs). The more trophies you earn, the more Custom Critters you can create and increase your ability to cover the board.

For this battling game you will have to constant build and rebuild you custom critters for an ever changing board of competition opportunities. Even though your octopus with lasers and tap shoes won the nightmare battle, it might not help you when it's time for an athletic competition!

Last Mouse on the Left

While Petunia and Penelope Mousekawitz were in the kitchen searching for cheese, Kitty the Killer Cat caught them, and well... it's the circle of life (or perhaps for Kitty, the circle of lunch). But this time, the remaining Mousekawitzes aren't taking it lying down. Armed with every kitchen utensil they can find, they're going to get revenge on that killer cat. Or course, that’s not going to be easy, because, as we all know, cats are notoriously hard to kill with those nine lives... The bigger and more elaborate the trap you set, the more likely you are to get your revenge on Kitty!

Place your workers to set traps, attack directly, draw additional cards, heal your mouse, or even control the cat and send him after your opponents. This one uses a basic worker placement mechanic streamlined for beginning players of that game type. 

Shark Detective

Did Little Jimmy Jellyfish steal Sara Seahorse's pearls from the Undertow Club? Or did Agatha "Angel" Angler steal Ollie Ollie Octopus' gold doubloon at Rad Reef Park? It's an under the sea crime adventure only you can solve as you take the role of one of Ocean City's most brilliant Shark Detectives to catch the right criminal, investigate the right crime scene, and return the stolen merchandise to the victim. Why sharks? Because they're the smartest hunters in the sea, and it will take all those smart to close this case!

The rules are simple on this one, and it's designed for quick, easy family and group play for all ages. Manipulate the line up and when it matches your case card, you win!