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Popular franchises have your back when it comes to keeping your favorite TV shows and movies alive. Whether it’s an anticipated reunion show like HBO Max’s “Friends Reunion Special” or a video game-turned-feature-film-epic like “Mortal Kombat,” fans go crazy over the idea of interacting with their favorite shows and movies in novel formats, which is why screen-adapted board and card games can feel so exciting.
Take Netflix’s “The Witcher” which already raised $3.2 million on Kickstarter for its upcoming five-player game set “The Witcher: The Old World” based on the show’s medieval story arcs. Developed by Poland’s Go on Board and CD Projekt Red, the game is set before Geralt of Rivia’s time and is scheduled for shipping in July 2022.
But if you don’t want to wait that long, there’s more than enough board games inspired by your favorite characters to buy in the meantime. From “Game of Thrones” Monopoly to a “Stranger Things” card game, we rounded up the best TV-inspired games to play before you’re ready for another re-watch.
‘Game of Thrones’ Monopoly
Courtesy of Amazon
Fans can transport themselves to the lands of Westeros in this interactive board game as players buy, sell and trade locations within the seven kingdoms. Game tokens are a reference to the Honorary sigils of the fantastical houses, while money takes the form of dragon and silver stag-shaped coins. And of course, in true “GOT” fashion, the board game’s usual houses and hotels are replaced by holdfasts and castles.
‘Bob’s Burgers’ Clue Board Game
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In this modern iteration of everyone’s favorite game “Clue,” players attempt to solve the crime of who killed Ned Boddy. The game board is custom illustrated to include iconic “Bob’s Burgers” elements that any fan of the comedy will appreciate.
‘The Walking Dead’ The Board Game
Courtesy of Amazon
Courtesy of Amazon
Inspired by the ultra-popular drama from AMC, “The Walking Dead” board game takes players through a zombie apocalypse. Just like the show, those that have died come back to life to hunt down survivors. Three sets of cards (encounter, scrounge and walker) and one die determine the fates of players, each armed with various weapons to defend themselves.
Jumanji The Game
Courtesy of Amazon
Play at your own risk. This meta game follows the same rules featured in the movie, as players each pick a pawn to guide them through the danger-riddled jungle. A pile of danger cards sits in the middle, waiting to wreak havoc on whoever is unlucky enough to draw them. Whoever makes it to the middle of the game board without reaching their demise wins.
‘Stranger Things’ Card Game
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The Netflix-inspired card game has players attempt to escape the Upside Down and get rid of all their eggo cards in a strategy-free card game similar to Uno. The set from the acclaimed Hasbro gaming includes 106 eggo cards and seven character cards for a fast game and easy game.
‘Jurassic Park’ Strategy Game
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Just like Steven Spielberg’s massive blockbuster, this strategic board game is full of cinematic adventures. One player controls savage dinosaurs as the rest of the group works together to outsmart the dinosaurs and survive. Play with up to 10 people, each given their own characters with unique objectives and backgrounds.
‘Goosebumps’ Movie Game
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Whether you have a kid who’s experiencing the eerie drama of R.L. Stine’s “Goosebumps” for the first time, or you’re feeling nostalgic for the popular children’s series yourself, this game is the perfect way to transport yourself to the supernatural. Pick between your favorite monsters (Slappy, Werewolf of Fever Swamp, Abominable Snowman of Pasadena, The Mummy, Fifi the Vampire Poodle or The Haunted Mask) before battling each other in a frantic race along the Trail of Mayhem
‘Harry Potter’ Deck Building Card Game
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If you’re tired of the muggle life, travel to Hogwarts and become a power-bearing wizard. Pick between Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley and Neville Longbottom before starting on the battle-filled adventure. You can enhance your abilities with over 140 cards (which you might need if you’re Ron…) and gain influence over the other players by mastering powerful spells, recruiting allies and uncovering magical items. Plus, seven successive game adventures offer progressive difficulty so it never gets old.
‘Friends’ Wheel of Mayhem
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Every “Friends” fan thinks they know the game better than anyone so if you’re a true “Friends” snob who feels like you’re an honorary member of the Central Perk gang, then try your hand at this fast-paced trivia game that will put your knowledge to the test. In addition to familiar questions pulled from the iconic “The One With the Baby Shower” episode, the game also includes a motorized Wheel of Mayhem that offers tougher questions and weird bonuses. Full “Friends” gift guide here.
‘The Hunger Games:’ Training Days
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Based off the beloved trilogy, Training Days has each player choose a district to represent before taking a tribute card that will rank them by random in four attributes: strength, ability, cunning and charm. Move through the game by taking challenge cards that parallel the trials that Katniss and Peeta endure under the authoritarian government of Panam.
