Image Composition: Ross Miller and Will Joel/PolygonAmazon’s October Prime Day has officially come and gone — that’s the bad news. The good news is, a majority of our favorite board games are still on sale, albeit at a lower discount. If you had your eye on a certain worker placement strategy game or a spooky card game, there’s still a chance for some big savings.The discounts fall squarely in the realm of what we like to call “modern classics” like 7 Wonders and Azul — excellent board games from major publishers that came out in the last 10-15 years. We’ve also found more than few great horror-themed games on sale like Mysterium (an Overboard favorite), Unfathomable, and Arkham Horror The Card Game, all perfect for the spooky season.Polygon’s Prime Day PicksThe best modern classic board game deals of Prime DayThe best strategy board game deals of Prime DayThe best Star Wars games of Prime DayThe best card game deals of Prime DayThe best party game deals of Prime DayThe best two-player game deals of Prime DayThe best modern classic board game deals of Prime Day7 Wonders$38$6037% off$38Back in 2019, Polygon asked four leading board game designers for their picks for the most influential board games of the decade. What did Rob Daviau, Elizabeth Hargrave, and Jamey Stegmaier’s lists all have in common? 7 Wonders, a game they all credited for opening up their eyes as tabletop game designers. The base game accommodates up to seven players, and with its signature brand of simultaneous play everyone can feel engaged the whole way through.Read More$38 at AmazonSpirit Island$40$7043% off$40Everything you’ve heard about Spirit Island is true. We consider it at once one of the best cooperative games and one of the best solo games, so there’s no bad time to play. Take on the role of spirits fighting against colonizers. If you’re looking to upgrade your Spirit Island experience, the Jagged Earth expansion is on sale, too.Read More$48 at Amazon (Base Game)$40 at Amazon (Jagged Earth)Arkham Horror, once among the most daunting cooperative adventure board games around, is much improved and streamlined in this 3rd edition version for $69.99 (was $79.99).Azul, the charming tile-laying game and one of our 22 best modern board games, is just $23.99 (was $39.99).Catan, the favored game of the 2015 Green Bay Packers and the 2024 Buffalo Bills, is just $32.99 (was $59.99).King of Tokyo asks 2-6 players the ultimate question — who is the best monster, and why is it Space Penguin? It’s just $28.30 for Prime Day (was $44.99).Love Letter, a diminutive card game that you can fit in a single pants pocket, is just $13.46 (normally $14.99).Mansions of Madness 2nd edition, a miniatures-heavy game that uses a nifty little mobile app to drive the narrative action at the table, is 20% off — down to $87.99 from $109.99.Mysterium$30$5545% off$30Mysterium, a favorite of the Overboard crew, will have you set up for a seance in no time. Up to 7 players can become psychics and interpret cryptic clues to solve crimes. Perfect for the spooky holiday!Read More$30 at AmazonMatt Leacock’s Pandemic, on sale for $26.99 (normally $39.99), should already be on your shelf by now as it’s an exceptional gateway game to introduce new players to the hobby. If it isn’t, now’s a great time to fix that problem.While Pandemic Legacy Season 1 is no longer on sale, you can still jump into Pandemic Legacy Season 2 without concern, which you’ll find on Amazon for just $53.99 (normally $79.99).Already finished Pandemic Legacy Seasons 1 and 2? Then you should check out the prequel, Pandemic Legacy Season 0, on sale for $69.60 (was $79.99).Unfathomable$64$8020% off$64Unfathomable is a reskin of Corey Konieczka’s Battlestar Galactica: The Board Game, a legendary best-selling hidden role game. But while the cultural relevance of the Cylons has seemingly vanished into the vacuum of space, this Cthulhu-inspired version of the game remains just as playable as the original.Read More$64 at AmazonWhitehall Mystery$30$313% off$30Whitehall Mystery is an overlooked gem of a hidden movement game, where one player secretly plots their course on a hidden map and everyone else tries to hunt them down. The theming here is key, however, as it puts players on the hunt for a mysterious murderer in Victorian London. It’s a fast-moving experience that rewards repeating the game after switching up roles at the table.Read More$30 at AmazonThe best strategy board game deals of Prime DayAssassin's Creed: Brotherhood of Venice$70$8013% off$70Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood of Venice is a 26-chapter (!) campaign for up to four Assassins to do what they do best — or you can play solo and have all the glory for yourself. It’s also a great entry point for painting miniatures.Read More$70 at AmazonBloodborne: The Board Game is exactly what it says on the box — an adaptation of FromSoftware’s highly-beloved (and yet to be remastered) adventure — and is on sale for $82.31 (was $109.99). Looking for more? The Hunter’s Dream expansion is $39.99 (was $45.86) while the Chalice Dungeon expansion is $62.90 (was $79.99).Blood Rage, from the prolific Eric Lang, is another one of Polygon’s 22 best modern board games. The rarely discounted title is just $64.93 (was $89.99). Descent: Legends of the Dark is an ambitious update to the classic dungeon crawler. You can find the app-driven Gloomhaven-like for $132.46 (was $174.95).The original Disney Villainous is an award-winning, family-friendly strategy board game that has “the teach” built right in. Snag it for $29.99 (normally $39.99).Dive utilizes some novel transparent ocean cards and an adorable pitch: “catch a ride on a sea turtle or dolphin.” Who can say no to that? It’s on sale for $24.98 (was $34.99).Agricola$53$6518% off$53Uwe Rosenberg’s masterpiece Agricola is one of those board games that you need to play at least once to really understand how much it has influenced a generation of players and designers. First released in 2007, this newly revised edition is a mountain of meeples that brings order and a surprising amount of complexity to subsistence farming.Read More$53 at AmazonThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – The Adventure Game is a mechanically robust game from Modiphius Entertainment, an experience well worth the $92.35 (normally $139.99).Far Cry: Escape from Rook Islands is a cooperative game for up to four players (there’s also a solo mode) that takes you back to Far Cry 3 and … is that Vaas? Oh heck yes! There’s also an optional friendly fire mode if you want to make it more chaotic. Far Cry is on sale for $37.99 (was $63.95).Deluxe Fire Tower, a “competitive firefighting game” that has some clever fire tokens and gorgeous watercolor illustrations by Kevin Ruelle, is on sale for $39.99 (was $39.99).The Initiative, from Corey Konieczka’s new Unexpected Games, has game elements hidden inside the box for you to find as its story unfolds. Grab it for $47.96 (was $59.95).More than 25,000 people contributed nearly $6 million to CMON for Marvel United: X-Men. Now you can have it all to yourself for just $30.99 (was $34.99).Fallout: The Board Game$60$7014% off$60First released way back in 2017, Fallout The Board Game is a surprisingly solid offering from Fantasy Flight Games that tells a number of compelling little stories from the Fallout universe using an elaborate deck of numbered cards.Read More$60 at AmazonPotion Explosion uses marbles in lieu of actual dangerous concoctions — thankfully, given how often the eponymous chaos happens — and is currently discounted to $37.99 (was $49.99).Rallyman: DIRT gives you dice and lets you drift with up to five friends. Courses are made with hex tiles, and if I’m being very honest, we’re suckers for games that use hexagons. Truly the bestagons. Anyway! It’s on sale for $36.09 (was $45.31).Twilight Imperium is the gold standard for 4x space operas, and has served as inspiration for countless computer games and board games alike. Lock down an entire weekend with four of your closest friends for $131.99 (was $164.99).Not interested in a three-to-five-hour struggle? Try Twilight Inscription instead, a faster roll-and-write version of the original strategy game. This is the first time we’ve seen it discounted for Prime Day, coming in at a measly $51.99 (normally $64.99)Zombicide’s 2nd edition refreshes the raucous action game, first released in 2012. Grab the latest version for just $83.95 (originally $109.99).The best Star Wars games of Prime DayStar Wars Villainous: Scum and Villainy$25$3017% off$25Star Wars Villainous: Scum and Villainy isn’t just the only Star Wars board game up for grabs this October Prime Day — it’s also among the newest games on this list. Released last summer, the standalone expansion stars Boba Fett, Cad Bane, and the Seventh Sister. It’s also compatible with all other version of Star Wars Villainous.Read More$25 at AmazonStar Wars Legion is a great entry point into miniature strategy games. This core set has everything you need to wage epic familial battles between Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, and their respective armies — and right now it’s on sale for $95.99 (was $119.99).Star Wars Outer Rim is about becoming the most (in)famous leader in the underworld of a galaxy far, far, away. We love the novel “outer rim” board and a clever solo mode (though it is best played with up to four players). It is discounted down to $59.99 (was $74.99) for Prime Day.The best card game deals of Prime DayArkham Horror The Card Game Revised Core Set$48$6020% off$48A two-player take on a classic, Arkham Horror: The Card Game’s Lovecraftian themes are sure to delight any horror fan with cultists, ancient monsters, madness, and more. Choose a character and work together to build decks to rival the forces plaguing the city of Arkham. The unpredictability of the encounter deck helps keep playthroughs fresh and outcomes uncertain.Read More$48 at AmazonLet’s Go! to Japan tasks you and up to four friends to plan the most fulfilling dream vacation in Tokyo and Kyoto, with over 100 illustrated cards that might inspire some actual travel. (It’s worth it, trust us!) Let’s Go! to Japan is on sale for $43.08 (was $49.99).Embark on epic quests in Middle-Earth, The Lord of the Rings: Card Game’s revised core set has everything you need to immediately embark on a four-player adventure — no boosters required. This new version boasts increased contents and quality-of-life improvements and beautiful artwork on every card. You can pick it up for $44.94 (was $59.99).The Mind is an easy-to-pick up, family-friendly game about working together without communicating — no speaking, no pantomiming, nothing — and is available for $8.97 (was $14.95).The best party game deals of Prime DayJust One$12$2552% off$12Just One, the hit word-guessing game, is a snappy little gem that can easily kick off a night of longer games with a bang. Or kick back with a few beverages and play it all night, your call.Read More$12 at AmazonConcept$36$4520% off$36A favorite of Polygon’s Overboard team, Concept is a hilarious party game based on the classic Charades, but with the charming physicality of a physical game board to track your guesses.Read More$36 at AmazonThe best two-player game deals of Prime DayCatan: Starfarers Duel$28$3520% off$28Catan: Starfarers Duel is the unlikely reboot of an obscure 2001 game called Starship Catan. This two-player variant has solid reviews, but the 75-minute playtime seems like it might be a bit of a tough sell for all but the most dedicated players.Read More$28 at AmazonPatchwork$30$3514% off$30Another Uwe Rosenberg classic, Patchwork is a tile-laying game inspired by quilting that plays quickly and teaches well.Read More$30 at AmazonSplendor Duel$28$307% off$28Finally, Splendor Duel turns the beloved gem-buying game Splendor into a taught little two-player experience knife fight of a strategy game.Read More$28 at AmazonLooking for more deals? Check out all of Polygon’s favorite October Prime Day 2024 deals right here, and subscribe to our newsletter below to get great deals delivered to your inbox every week.
Related Posts
Firaxis has just made a cameo during Gamescom Opening Live 2024 to give us all a first look at the gameplay of Civilization 7 via a fresh trailer and offer a concrete release date of February 11, 2025.We knew this trailer would be coming, as the studio and publisher 2K said as much in advance after announcing the game at Summer Game Fest, just to make sure no one missed out on getting to gasp in awe at little folks from history moving about on a map, likely as a real life friendships implode based on who’s sacking whose city.To see this content please enable targeting cookies.Manage cookie settings Ed Beach of Firaxis Games took to the stage to talk introduce our first look at Civilization 7, as well as sharing that this is the “biggest, most ambitious game Firaxis has ever made.”Enj…
Read moreEver natter to yourself while you’re playing Skyrim? It’s ok, we all do it, even if it’s just yelling expletives whenever we’re playing on legendary difficulty and get ambushed by a dragon while overcumbered. Now, though, a Twitch streamer’s taken this kind of thing to the next level, by turning their broadcasts into a live vlog from Tamriel thanks to a mod that lets them voice the Dragonborn in real time.Add in the fact that their Twitch chat’s able to voice NPCs in the game, and you’ve got a recipie for a fun playthrough, if not a very lore-friendly one.To see this content please enable targeting cookies.Manage cookie settings The streamer in question, Blurbs, had already drawn a lot of attention when they managed to perfect having random stream watchers insult them and generally talk bo…
Read moreDespite what you might have heard about a potential The Batman game, the man at the top of DC Studios has downplayed any such thing.After many years of Marvel putting out films that have relied so heavily on fixing it in post, making everything have a surprisingly fake quality to it, The Batman came out in 2022 showing that yes, you can actually make a good superhero film that actually looks like a movie. It certainly proved itself at the box office too, with both critics and fans alike being won over by it. So when Puck claimed that there was a game in development “rooted in the 2022 The Batman movie,” that obviously drew the excitement of a number of people. The only problem? According to James Gunn himself, there isn’t a game in development. Womp, womp!To see this content please enable …
Read moreThe longer-than-usual wait for Arcane season 2 has been rough, and chances are you’ll need to rewatch the first set of episodes ahead of its November return to make sense of all the plot lines and characters involved, but its first full trailer is so good that it might send you straight into Netflix to do so.The first proper look at the long-anticipated second season runs for about two minutes and is jam-packed with even more drama, style, and action, which is everything we could’ve asked for after that wild season 1 finale. Just keep that s**t coming in.To see this content please enable targeting cookies.Manage cookie settings We already know this is the end of the line for Arcane, but the folks at Riot Games have fortunately stated in the past they’re interested in expanding the world of…
Read moreJason Damron, the voice actor behind The Storyteller – the main character of a long-running and popular fan-made Fallout lore video series on YouTube – appears to have died.This is according to a tweet posted earlier today by Damron’s account, which uses his online handle Kankennon and is the same one credited in the descriptions of the most recent Storyteller videos starring him.To see this content please enable targeting cookies.Manage cookie settings “Hello everyone, I am Emily Damron, Jason Damron’s (the Storyteller) daughter,” it reads, “I just wanted to share that on Saturday September 7, my father passed away after a horrible year of health. He was diagnosed with stage four adrenal cancer that spread to the liver.”For those unfamiliar, The Storyteller series is one that holds a simi…
Read moreEA has finally started talking about the next Battlefield in no uncertain terms. The project, which is aiming for release sometime in 2025, will bring the series back to its modern day roots. Apart from the setting, the next game will ditch the Specialists/hero characters, which debuted with Battlefield 2042.EA also released the first piece of concept art for the game, showing clear Battlefield 4 inspirations.To see this content please enable targeting cookies.Manage cookie settings The art, which EA revealed to IGN, doesn’t tell us much. You can see attack helicopters in the distance, and a city – seemingly somewhere in Europe – being ravaged by wildfires on one side and combat on the other.Vince Zampella, who took over franchise leadership in 2021, following a restructuring that t…
Read moreThe PC version of God of War Ragnarok has officially arrived on PC. The game launched Thursday, September 19 on Steam, as well as the Epic Games Store. Ragnarok is the latest Sony first-party PlayStation title to make it to PC, but it doesn’t look like the audience showed up for this one.The game’s Steam numbers have been rising since Thursday, but its peak concurrent on Valve’s platform has plateaued without reaching the heights achieved by the original God of War.To see this content please enable targeting cookies.Manage cookie settings As of the most recent count, God of War Ragnarok has achieved a peak concurrent of 35,615 players (via SteamDB), which isn’t a small figure by most accounts, but definitely makes it sit towards the lower end of Sony’s PC cata…
Read moreGood news, people who own an Xbox, like a good JRPG, and have all the time in the world. Xbox has announced during its Tokyo Game Show broadcast that four classic Square Enix titles that’re technically actually nine classic Square Enix titles are dropping on the platform today and in the near future.This isn’t confusing at all, what are you talking about. Here, let me explain. I played a bit of trick on you. Since, you know, the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster is actually the first six games wearing one big trench coat so they can sneak into a grown-up movie at the cinema.To see this content please enable targeting cookies.Manage cookie settings As announced during today’s Xbox thing at the Tokyo Game Show, Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster arrives on Xbox Series X/S and PC as of September 26, but…
Read moreHold those tears back, everyone, as Tom Hardy appears to have confirmed that Venom: The Last Dance is in fact the last dance.Look, I understand that the Venom movies are trash. They’re a mess, they’re everything a good story shouldn’t be in some ways, but I love them all the same – yes, even Let There Be Carnage. So when I say that I’m sad to hear that Venom: The Last Dance is the final film in the series, I’m honestly a little bit sad. Over on Instagram, Eddie Brock and Venom himself Tom Hardy shared a post with a trailer for the third film, with an honestly quite sweet caption that does confirm this will be the last film we’ll be getting about the character.To see this content please enable targeting cookies.Manage cookie settings “Thank you for a great time – and 7 years,” wrote Hardy. …
Read moreFinally, it’s here, the announcement all you Mario and Zelda fans have been waiting for… the Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo.Nintendo Switch 2? Never heard of it, but what I have heard of is the freshly announced Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo, a literal alarm clock from the Mario makers themselves. No, you haven’t just skipped a few months to April 1, this is a very real product that Nintendo has announced, and it is literally just an alarm clock. Well, that’s maybe being a bit reductive, because it’s an alarm clock done in a Nintendo Way, of course. You see, the alarm clock watches you as you sleep, and by that I mean it has motion sensors. Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo – Announcement Trailer Watch on YouTubeWhen the alarm goes off at your chosen time, it’ll play a theme from one …
Read more