TOP 10: Long-Form Tabletop Games
BY Jared Tannenbaum
To all of you tabletop game fans out there, our episode on the Best Modern Tabletop Board Game has dropped, but I’d like to take a moment to give some love to all of those games that take longer than 3 hours to play. The ones that are not typically chosen by the casual gamer, but provide some very enjoyable and epic experiences to those with friends willing to commit to a game that could last over 12 hours—or across multiple sessions.
When thinking about this Top 10, I came across a number of games that were more than 3 hours because of their expansions. Though I’m not including them, I’d like to give some honorable mentions to “Battlestar Galactica: The Board Game,” “Firefly: The Game,” and “Fortune & Glory: The Cliffhanger Game.” These three games provide a great experience that really ropes you into the game theme while providing enjoyable game play. Now for the top 10 long form tabletop games.
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10. Risk 2210 A.D.
Growing up, when people thought of games that just took a long time, the game of Risk would be one of the first options named. Negotiating world conquest takes time -- and a lot of dice rolling. Published nearly 50 years after the original game, Risk 2210 A.D. has some new mechanics that add a little more strategy to the game. However, the change from traditional armies to Machines of Destruction (MODs) or the addition of powers was not the most memorable. The thing that drew me to this game in the early 2000s was the ability to battle for control of the moon in a Risk game.
9. Star Wars: Rebellion
Commonly referred to as the epic game of galactic hide and seek, Star Wars: Rebellion does an amazing job of pulling you into the Star Wars universe while also having enjoyable gameplay. Though it is a long-form game with a lot of pieces, I found the rules and design of the game made it easy to learn and start playing. It’s an amazing feeling when you’ve successfully hidden your base from the Empire because nobody would suspect the rebels to be hiding on Dagobah with Yoda. Yet, there is the strange feeling of satisfaction and horror when you use the Death Star on a planet that you only guessed was the Rebel Base.
8. Civilization
The original Civilization board game was published in 1980 by Avalon Hill and was expanded by Advanced Civilization in 1991. As a huge fan of Sid Meier’s Civilization video games, I discovered this board game in the late 90s. I was so excited to find a board game with the complexity of the video game. For me, this was one of the first long-form games that brought the turn-based strategy video games to life… and yet, it came before many of those games.
7. Diplomacy
Over 60 years old, Diplomacy remains one of the most well-known games that takes forever to play. A long-form tabletop game Top 10 would not be complete without it. A game based almost entirely on negotiating with other players has strained many friendships, yet we keep coming back for more. Set in pre-WWI Europe, the game's complexity and length is determined by the friends you play with. How long does it take to negotiate the control of Europe? Who will be your ally? Will they betray you before the end?
6. Talisman
Originally created in the early ‘80s, Talisman has been revised a few times (5th Edition being released this year) and has survived the rise of adventure video games. The play time has improved with each version, but expansions have brought more diversity and alternate endings for a wide range of adventures and fun. I grew up with D&D and games like Hero Quest, that tried to recreate the RPG experience in board-game form. But, Talisman manages to feel like a full adventure in one sitting, rather than a series of episodes.
5. Axis & Allies
I can’t even count the number of times I’ve been asked about this game. I sometimes wonder if it’s the only long-form game that casual gamers know about. Another game from the ‘80s, it remains one of the most well-known WW2 strategy games around. I know a number of friends that lost entire weekends playing this game in college, and years later. There have been a number of versions and expansions, but the team play and strategic decision making has kept the popularity of this game alive. I know this isn’t everyone’s thing, but the game even managed to have a zombie version, giving everyone the opportunity to survive the zombie apocalypse in the midst of a world war.
4. Eurorails
A list would not be complete without a railroad game, and this one brings the “crayon rail” genre to the list. Eurorails is part of Mayfair’s Empire Builder rail games, giving players a chance to use crayons to draw all over the board. I remember how surprised I was the first time I realized I was going to draw on the board itself. Since then, I’ve played a number of games involving pencils and crayons to create railways and/or connections between locations on a board. Many of those games are only part of the experience you get playing Eurorails, but if you have the time, find some friends, draw some track, and start delivering things around Europe.
3. Arkham Horror
As the only fully cooperative game on the list, Arkham Horror is another game initially published in the 80’s with a number of expansions and revisions. The game centers around the town of Arkham, MA, within the Lovecraft universe, while the most recent spin-off Eldritch Horror takes adventurers around the world to combat the Ancient One and his minions. For me, this game was another great game that took you on a full adventure in one sitting. With a number of side quests that dictate the horrors you’ll face or the paths you’ll take, the game provides a variety of stories and experiences each time you play. Like a number of games on this list, setup to play this game can take nearly an hour depending on the expansions and how you put away the game. Setup and cleanup efficiency is a game all its own!
2. Star Trek: Ascendancy
From the first time I put Star Trek: Ascendancy on the table, I felt connected to the franchise’s universe. The various mechanics given to each race included in the game and expansions (total of 10 races so far) really bring them to life as they appear in the franchise. I promise if you let my Ferengi ships stay in orbit, we’ll all profit “equally.” I don’t actually want to go to war, but my Klingon ships need to destroy you for the resources. I’m not conquering your planets, my Federation ships are just politely convincing your planets to join me. I’ve been very happy with Gale Force Nine’s ability to bring franchises to life in tabletop form. Another really great aspect of this game is that it takes about 10 minutes to setup. I think that is the shortest setup time on this Top 10, and it’s a game that takes 1 hour per player on average. Also, the board starts with just home worlds and is created as you explore the universe.
1. Twilight Imperium
Twilight Imperium has been my No. 1 long-form tabletop game for more than 20 years. I’ve played 2nd, 3rd, and 4th editions with a variety of expansion mechanics and rule variants. The first time I saw this game on a table, it felt like playing the Masters of Orion video game with physical pieces. The game draws you in with the beautiful artwork and rich backstories, but holds you with the game play and production quality. Each race provides for a fairly different play style and experience. The ship units have been fashioned after a number of different science-fiction franchises, which is a fun easter egg for fans. The most recent edition has streamlined a number of things, which makes it easier for new players to pickup.
Disagree with our rankings? Which games did we forget? Drop a comment below!