Several months ago, I wrote an article detailing what I'd like to see in an Assassin's Creed board game. I still think that the series has a ton of potential on the tabletop, but for now I figured it might be fun to create a playlist of board games for each title in the series.
Here goes!
1. Assassin's Creed- Crusader Kings
Surprisingly, outside of heavier war games there really aren't a ton of popular titles about the Crusades.
However, it looks like the popular PC series Crusader Kings is finally coming to the tabletop soon. I don't know a ton about this game yet, but it appears to be set in Europe during the Crusades, and will features playing as factions that have fragile alliances with each other. Peace and diplomacy seem to be key strategies here, but there's no doubt that war will eventually erupt.
Keep an eye on this one!
2. Assassin's Creed II- The Princes of Florence
The Princes of Florence pits players against each other as they try to improve their villas, attract artists to work for them, and become a true Renaissance Man.
Sound a little familiar?
3. Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood- Condottiere
The Condottiere were fearsome enemies in Brotherhood, and in this game you get to play as the returning crusaders during the 13th century. Vying for land and power after the war, players immerse themselves in a brutal area of control game featuring "double or nothing"-style bidding, to demonstrate the wagers of sending troops into conflict.
For something that resembles a war game, this title should take under an hour to play through, which is actually pretty impressive.
4. Assassins' Creed: Revelations- Assassin's Creed: Arena
Maybe this one is cheating, but since Assassin's Creed Arena's theme is clearly based on Revelations it seems like an obvious pick.
In Arena, players take on the role of an Abstergo agent training in the Animus, not unlike the old AC multiplayer. The goal is to achieve victory points by collecting treasure, assassinating targets, and yes, even hunting down each other.
Utilizing an interesting mechanic where cards represent attack ability, movement potential, and health remaining, Arena is actually a lot more intense than its modest price tag might initially make it seem.
5. Assassin's Creed III- Liberty or Death: The American Insurrection
There are a lot of board games based on the American Revolution, but this COIN game (based on GMT's counter insurgency series) has been extremely popular lately. And for good reason!
Offering players control over one or more of four factions (solo play is possible), Liberty or Death manages to truly capture the feel of the rebellion through assymetrical gameplay. Players on the British side have abundant resources, but are spread thin across the frontier, as the outnumbered patriots are able to surgically strike where it hurts. Meanwhile, the French can pester the British.
Most importantly, much like in Assassin's Creed III, the Native American faction must decide their own fate- do they help the British to maintain the status quo, or side with the Patriots in the hope of improving their future?
Lots of variable in this game, and an incredible link between theme and gameplay!
6. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag- Pirate's Cove
Days of Wonder are one of my favorite publishers because they make really unique games with absolutely stunning components. Pirates Cove is no exception, though it can be tough to find a copy right now (hopefully there's a reprint soon!).
This game features players each taking on the helm of a ship and sailing around secretly trying to gather treasure and other piratey things. If two ships accidentally head to the same objective, though, a fierce combat ensues!
With the ability to upgrade your ship's various features, gather gold, regroup at the local tavern, Black Flag players should feel right at home in this beauty of a game.
7. Assassin's Creed: Rogue- The Resistance
This one's more based on Rogue's story themes than its historical setting, but The Resistance manages to capture the intrigue and betrayal that Shay experiences pretty well.
In The Resistance, players are each secretly assigned a role: Loyal or Traitor, with the majority of the players being Loyal. Then, based on the round, a certain number of players must be sent on a mission, one in which a Traitor could choose to sabotage... or to succeed in, and sow more seeds of doubt among the Loyalists.
There are a ton of games like this, and they're always the hit of the parts. One Night Ultimate Werewolf and Secret Hitler are two other awesome examples of this style of hidden role game, but the Resistance is great because it's very easy to learn and extremely inexpensive.
8. Assassin's Creed: Unity- Love Letter
Again, there aren't a ton of board games based on the French Revolution, outside of some heavier war games (and given the historical nature of Assassin's Creed, I could almost certainly fill this entire list with war games if I wanted to).
If we go conceptual again and consider the somewhat forbidden love between Arno and Elise in Unity, though, I think Love Letter would be a good fit.
Love Letter, generally considered a "filler game" for how short it is, has nonetheless gained a ton of popularity. The game is basically "Card Counting 101". With an incredibly small deck of only 16 cards, players try to deduct who has what card and what has been spent already. In the end, the player with the highest card wins, and gets to send their love letter to the princess.
Arno would be proud.
9. Assassin's Creed: Syndicate- Letters from Whitechapel
Fantasy Flight Games brings the terror of Jack the Ripper to the tabletop in this revised edition of Letters from Whitechapel.
In this game, one player takes on the role of the infamous Jack, while everyone else plays a policeman investigating the crimes. Jack's goal is to take five victims before getting caught- but giving the large size of the board, he's got plenty of room to slip away from trouble.
Unfortunately, the police don't have Evie Frye to assist them in their investigations- a lot of lives could probably be saved, otherwise.
10. Assassin's Creed: Origins- Kemet
Blood soaks the sands of Egypt in Kemet, Matagot's are of control game based on Egyptian mythology is as exhilarating as its board of the Nile is gorgeous .
As one of five factions, players go head to head trying to gain as much ground is possible to gain more power. Mythological creatures like giant scorpions can be added to armies to increase their efficiency... again, sound familiar?
In the end, conquest and construction all contribute to victory points for the winning team.
11. Assassin's Creed: Odyssey- Cyclades
Cyclades is Matagot's Hellenistic sister-game to Kemet. Much like the Egyptian game, Cyclades features mytholocial elements like centaurs, minotaurs, and even a kraken (which seems more inspired by pop culture than actual Greek mythology, but oh well).
While Kemet encourages ferocious combat, Cyclades almost discourages it. A bidding mechanic to see your faction's favored god each turn determines what actions you're capable of doing. For instance, you cannot move ships unless you have Posiedon's favor. You can's initiate a combat unless you have earned Ares' favor. And of course, by building structures and gaining philosophers, it's entirely possible to win the game without winning a single battle. In this way, I've heard Kemet described as an all out brawl in a telephone booth, while Cyclades is describes as a knife fight where you can only move one limb at a time. Battles are very rare, but when they happen the can be extremely decisive.
Really though, the components of this game are beautiful, and the slow pace of it allow for some really incredible strategic depth late game.
Here's to hoping Alexios/Kassandra's journeys are just as fulfilling!
Anyway, just a little note: I've been super busy lately, with work, writing for a new site, and other general life things, so sorry I haven't posted much here. It's probably going to be like this for a little while, but rest assured the blog is still alive and well!
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- Thomas
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