The Ultimate Legacy Board Games

The best legacy board games have to have a little of everything – excitement, intrigue, and fantastic gameplay – all to justify the fact that you can only uncover them with the same experience once. The first game sets the stage for the entire legacy experience, often starting off underwhelming but evolving and improving as more games are played. Some of the best legacy games have been released only in the last few years, and we’ve got a round-up of the ones you’ll want to have on your shelves.

What is a Legacy Game?

Firstly, it’s important to understand what a legacy game is. The easiest way to understand it is to play one, but it’s not always possible to rely on someone else having one in order to do so. Instead, it’s more commonly known as a game that you play over multiple sessions, with hidden elements, where components may get altered or destroyed as you play, and where the game is permanently changed as a result of you having played it.

The genre was popularized by Rob Daviau, who was inspired by the game of Clue, wondering why dinner guests kept coming back, when one of them would inevitably be murdered. What if players instead would become suspicious, raising clues over multiple sessions? It asked an interesting question that was the beginning of a genre – one which saw the release of Risk Legacy, Pandemic Legacy, and many more recognisable games (and many fantastic games you may not recognise, too).

To give an example, in a legacy game you may be exploring a map using tiles – but something happens, and an area you explored is destroyed. You might be asked to actually destroy the tile by tearing it up – which means even if you could have gone there before, your actions mean you cannot do so now. If you hadn’t made that decision, and the room was still intact, you could have continued your story that way, and potentially had a wholly different experience! Each game played evolves the narrative and rules, adding depth and excitement.

These games have become popular for their element of surprise (often with hidden elements that are revealed as you progress through the game), and their fantastic storytelling. Not only must stories be robust enough to support your decisions and actions, but you will feel a part of them, as your decisions really matter. Decisions made in one game can significantly affect future games, enhancing replayability and engagement. So, which are the best legacy games?

Definition and Explanation of Legacy Games

Legacy board games are a fascinating evolution in the world of board games, designed to be played over multiple sessions with the same group of players. Unlike traditional board games, legacy games introduce new rules, components, and challenges as the game progresses, creating a dynamic and ever-changing experience. Each game session builds upon the previous one, with players making permanent changes to the game world and their characters. This could mean adding stickers to the game board, tearing up cards, or writing on components, ensuring that no two playthroughs are ever the same. The narrative in legacy games evolves over time, with players’ decisions having lasting consequences, making each campaign a unique and immersive journey.

Brief History of Legacy Games

The concept of legacy games was first brought to life by game designer Rob Daviau. Inspired by the classic game of Clue, Daviau wondered why dinner guests would keep returning despite the inevitable murders. This curiosity led him to create Risk Legacy, released in 2011, which introduced the groundbreaking idea of a game that changes permanently based on player decisions.

The success of Risk Legacy paved the way for Daviau’s next major project, Pandemic Legacy: Season 1, released in 2015. This game received widespread acclaim and solidified the legacy game genre as a favorite among board gamers. Since then, the popularity of legacy games has soared, with many designers and publishers creating their own unique takes on the genre, each offering new and exciting experiences.

Benefits of Legacy Games

One of the standout features of legacy games is their ability to offer deeply immersive storytelling. Unlike traditional board games, where the narrative might be static or minimal, legacy games weave intricate stories that evolve over time. Players become deeply invested in the game world and their characters, making decisions that have permanent consequences. This sense of ownership and engagement is unparalleled, as players feel that their actions are directly shaping the unfolding narrative. The evolving storylines and character development create a rich, immersive experience that keeps players coming back for more.

High Replayability and Variability

Legacy games are renowned for their high replayability and variability. Each game session introduces new rules, components, and challenges, ensuring that players must continuously adapt and evolve their strategies. This dynamic gameplay experience means that no two sessions are ever the same, keeping the game fresh and exciting. The ever-changing circumstances and the need to make impactful decisions create a sense of unpredictability and excitement, making legacy games a favorite for those who enjoy a constantly evolving challenge.

Enhanced Player Engagement and Investment

The permanent changes made to the game world and characters in legacy games lead to enhanced player engagement and investment. Players feel a sense of ownership and responsibility, knowing that their actions have lasting consequences. This deepens their connection to the game, as they are motivated to make thoughtful decisions that will impact the game world. The result is a more immersive and engaging gameplay experience, where players are fully invested in the outcome of the game. This heightened level of engagement makes legacy games a truly unique and rewarding experience for all involved.

Pandemic Legacy 

By: Z-Man Games

Players: 2-4

Time: 60 minutes

Pandemic Legacy will always be considered one of the best legacy games, not least because it’s fantastic but also because it was truly genre defining. Legacy style games have existed in the hobby, and Pandemic Legacy was by far not the first, but with design duo Matt Leacock and Rob Daviau at the helm, this fantastic game pushed the genre to a new level, making it a huge favorite now for board gamers everywhere. Pandemic is a popular game that sees you trying to control the outbreak of a deadly virus (released and loved pre-COVID-19), and the legacy version of it has become many people’s preferred way to play.

Instead of the standard version, you’ll have to use stickers to alter the board as you make your decisions, or will find yourself being told to tear up or write on cards. It was a move that many board gamers were concerned about (after all, no one wants to damage their board games, let alone intentionally), but the amazing gameplay quickly won them over. Pandemic Legacy was not alone, as more games followed it, including a Cold War-based Season Zero that was notably popular. However, all three seasons rank within the top 100 games for board games ever, as rated by gamers – despite being a game that plays best the first time you play it!

Some players might have only played a few games before forming an opinion, highlighting potential dissatisfaction with certain aspects. We’d recommend Pandemic Legacy: Season One, though you wouldn’t go wrong with any of them, and for two-player legacy games, this is a fantastic place to start.

Ticket to Ride Legacy: Legends of the West 

By: Days of Wonder

Players: 2-5

Time: 20-90 minutes

Ticket to Ride is an utter classic in board gaming, popularizing modern board games with its easy-to-understand concepts, fun gameplay and many variations. Initially, the goal for players was to build train routes that spanned North America, and then it spread to Europe, and now even cities far and wide. Despite the popularity of the game and the worldwide appeal it represented, it was still somewhat of a surprise when it received a legacy game treatment, as the two are somewhat different styles.

There was also a concern about taking such a beloved game and making it something with elements that are non-permanent – how would players feel about damaging components of something representing a game they love? – thankfully, these were proven unfounded, and Ticket to Ride Legacy: Legends of the West has proven itself an incredibly popular legacy game in its own right.

With the Ticket to Ride designer Alan R. Moon working alongside the Pandemic Legacy designer Matt Leacock and Rob Daviau, it was no surprise that this Avengers style team up resulted in an exceptional game. You’ll head out on twelve journeys across North America, as 19th century pioneers. As you go, you’ll unlock more and more boxes which will give you more and more game mechanics and surprises, where you’ll be trying to earn money by doing things like completing tickets amongst others.

However, it gives you a remarkable number of options to do so – the choices on where you want to expand alone are significant- making it feel truly distinct from Ticket to Ride, with some fun experiences hidden within boxes for you to uncover along the way. This isn’t the same kind of game as Ticket to Ride, but if you love it and want to experience something new, Ticket to Ride Legacy: Legends of the West might be the way to do it. Compared to other legacy games, it offers unique features and a fresh take on the beloved classic.

Gloomhaven 

By: Cephalofair Games

Players: 1-4

Time: 60-120 minutes

Gloomhaven is well known amongst board gamers for a few reasons – firstly because it was the highest ever funded board game on Kickstarter (until its successor, Frosthaven came along), secondly because it has a box the size of a small dog, and thirdly because it’s absolutely incredible. Gloomhaven takes you on a fantasy journey, as a wandering mercenary, in the way that a roleplaying game might, but instead with board game elements, like even eurogames, which has led to its success in the market.

You’ll be exploring, enhancing your abilities into greater opportunities, and working together to combat vast beasts. It cleverly weaves storytelling with adventure and game play, but packs a ton of surprises into its game. Opening envelopes has never been so exciting. The game sprawls, both physically and narratively, so no two games are ever the same, but all games promise a sense of awe and excitement, and you’ll want to head back into the world at every opportunity, to pick up your character and carry on forwards.

There’s actually some debate as to whether Gloomhaven is fully a legacy game – as it contains legacy elements, including permanent changes – but the game can be reset. Decisions made in Gloomhaven affect future games, intertwining the narrative and enhancing player investment. Options were later available for aspects like removable stickers, so the game can be put back to how it was originally found, and a new adventure embarked on. We’re comfortable that this is a legacy game with some fantastic campaign elements that has well earned its place on this list.

However, if the size and scope of it is somewhat intimidating, we recommend trying…

Jaws of the Lion 

By: Cephalofair Games

Players: 1-4

Time: 30-120 minutes

Not a full entry on this list because it is in essence, Gloomhaven Lite. Not just physically smaller, but quicker to play and with less fuss. You play as one of four characters in events that precede Gloomhaven, meaning you can try it out with Jaws of the Lion, and move on to Gloomhaven. It’s also lighter on legacy elements but wholly embraces the campaign aspect of legacy games. There’s no huge loss on the smaller scale though, the gameplay has been lauded across the board, and if you prefer to keep your dining table for actual food instead of ongoing Gloomhaven, opt for Jaws of the Lion instead (and then get Gloomhaven. Then Frosthaven!)

Zombie Kidz: Evolution

By: Scorpion Masque

Players: 2-4

Time: 5-15 minutes

Zombie Kidz: Evolution is a rare example of a legacy game that’s family friendly. It makes sense of course – when you’re hoping to sell your board game, there aren’t many parents who are happy to purchase a game that can only be played once with their children – but Zombie Kidz accepts this and makes a fantastic game nonetheless, making it a bang for your buck regardless.

In Zombie Kidz Evolution, cartoon zombies are attempting to break into the school, leaving the players to cooperatively try to defend it. It if sounds foreboding or a little scary, it isn’t – the artwork is deliberately bright and cartoonish, making it jovial rather than fear inducing. As you play, trying to stop those zombies, you’ll open envelopes that contain new information and game play options. 

Players also receive a ‘hunter passport’, which they can add a sticker to on their successes, that also provides missions and other opportunities to follow should they want to. It’s described as being more a video game style method of tracking development along the game, but whether it’s this link or the fun of stickers that has led to this proving popular is unknown. Ultimately, everyone loves the thrill of discovery and the feeling of progress, and kids playing as kids fighting Zombies at school are no exception to this rule. Plus, as games to play with the kids go, this is a really great one, because no one knows what’s coming next. 

If you play through Zombie Kidz Evolution, there’s even a follow up legacy game to it, Zombie Teenz Evolution, which has a few changes but ultimately offers more of the very popular same. 

Betrayal Legacy

By: Avalon Hill

Players: 3-5

Time: 45-90 minutes

Betrayal, and its variations, is a modern classic mystery game – what happens if you head to a haunted house? Will you find everything you need? Or will there be a traitor in your midst? Betrayal Legacy makes things interesting by asking what happens as you go through generations, asking you to play as a family, rather than a single character. Will your great grandchild suffer as a result of a decision you’re making in the game today? What are the spooky stories whispered over campfires about that very house? 

The game plays over 14 time periods, from 1666 to the present day, where generations of the family you are playing as, keep returning to the house over the years. That in turn means that the impact of your actions at different stages in the game, which permanently alter the course and outcome of your later play, are then felt by the generations you play as later on in the game. This is even down to heirlooms – where you can make an item all the more important because it now has family significance, and will reappear in generations.

Attaching a meaning to an item, and then being able to use that meaning, is both incredibly fun, and hugely thematic. Betrayal Legacy is hugely thematic, and that means that a balanced win absolutely isn’t guaranteed – but the rather epic version of events you have when it ends is unrivaled. Plus, it’s a perfect game to tempt your friends around Halloween…

Conclusion

Legacy board games are fantastic for you to really feel like you’re making a mark. Whether you prefer the multiple sittings, growing your knowledge or abilities that come from the campaign elements within them, or more knowing that you’ve had a physical impact on the world you’re playing in, and that your decisions really do matter, impacting yourself and your fellow players, Legacy games have a lot to offer. We expect to see many more over the years, with huge games like Risk, Pandemic, and now Ticket to Ride getting a legacy variant, it demonstrates the concept for future. What game do you think will be next?

Legacy Board Games FAQ