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.
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The first big-ish patch to arrive following the launch of Diablo 4’s fifth season is dropping tomorrow, August 20. Assuming you won’t be too busy keeping up with all the Gamescom Opening Night Live goings on, this one is actually going to get you to play.Update 1.5.1 focuses on Infernal Hordes, the new endgame activity that’s the major feature the season is named after. It also has some quality of life changes that I genuinely thought were already in the game because of how basic they are.To see this content please enable targeting cookies.Manage cookie settings Before we get into the Infernal Hordes tweaks, it’s worth highlighting the small, but massively impactful changes patch 1.5.1 makes to the UI and user experience. For starters, party leaders will now be able…
Read moreNintendo is appearing to forgo its usual September Direct with a pair of presentations coming tomorrow, all in one livestream.There are pretty much two times a year you can expect a Nintendo Direct: June, which is non-E3 season, and September, which probably has some kind of financial reason, but any which way, there’s pretty much always a September Direct. But it seems like Nintendo is doing things a little differently this year, as it has announced today that tomorrow, August 27, there will be not one, but two Nintendo Directs. Kicking things off at 7am PT/ 10am ET/ 3pm BST is an Indie World presentation, which as you can probably tell from the tin, is all about indie games. If you’re expecting a new Mario game here, I can’t help you.To see this content please enable targeting cookies.Ma…
Read moreWell, you’ve read the headline. Have you been affected by the early access patch issue that led some PS5 Star Wars Outlaws players to end up being forced to start new playthroughs or rish getting stuck in space? If so, you might now have an email from Ubisoft offering you some compensation that…er…it’s not nothing.As you might have read about on this fine website yesterday, some of those who’d invested in early access to the game – it’s out for non-swanky special edition regular folks on August 30 – on PS5 had ended up being advised by Ubisoft to start new saves following the deployment of Patch 1.000.002 on the platform, in order to avoid issues with save files initially made on the old version of the game.To see this content please enable targeting cookies.Manage cookie settings “If …
Read moreIf you enjoy standing by virtual bodies of water and praying that you’ve picked the right worm to tempt what dwells within to take a little nibble, the latest update for No Man’s Sky is definitely for you. Dubbed Aquarius, it arrives today, September 4, and is all about reeling in alien fish via a bunch of new mechanics.Following on from the pretty popular Worlds Update part one – which revamped planet biomes with stuff like fresh weather effects and more immersive water – Hello Games has been inspired by a bit of Reddit fan art to give folks the chance to embrace their inner angler.To see this content please enable targeting cookies.Manage cookie settings As outlined in the patch notes and the trailer below, Aquarius adds fishing to the game via new systems that’ll let players “explore th…
Read moreThe Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is, perhaps unsurprisingly, supposedly going to be split into two films, according to Ian McKellen.It seems like Warner Bros is looking to continue its tradition of stretching out Lord of the Rings films into slightly too long with its next project, The Hunt for Gollum – you might remember that The Hobbit was turned into a trilogy, despite there not being quite enough book to actually manage that, but hey ho, there’s money to be made. And there’s even more money to be made, as the Gollum-centric film announced earlier this year will apparently be two films. This comes from Gandalf himself, Ian McKellen, who recently made an appearance on ITV’s This Morning where he was asked about whether he’ll be appearing in the film.To see this content please e…
Read moreYou’ve probably never played Professor Layton and the Mansion of the Deathly Mirror, but thanks to some dedicated fans, you might soon be able to.Prior to the advent of smartphones, Japan was very ahead of the game when it came to mobile phones. They could do things that are commonplace these days like email, stream live video, take pictures, and even play games. In-depth games too, with even big names like Final Fantasy having exclusive releases on Japan-only phones (also known as Keitai phones), like the Final Fantasy 7 title Before Crisis – there were a few Kingdom Hearts games too, the most notable being the original version of Kingdom Hearts Coded (with the rest just sort of being minigames). A lot of these have sort of been lost though, as hardly any of them were released outside of …
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Read moreDC is ramping up its casting process a bit for its new cinematic universe, with progress being made on both its Green Lanterns series and Supergirl.There’s been lots of rumours about how might be cast as Hal Jordan in the upcoming Green Lanterns show, simply titled Lanterns, with early reports claiming Josh Brolin had been offered the role, and later reports saying he turned it down. However, Deadline reported earlier this week that Kyle Chandler, known for series like Bloodline and films like Godzilla: King of Monsters, is currently in talks to star as Hal. He hasn’t been 100% confirmed just yet, but it is sounding like he’s the most likely one to take on the role. If he is cast, this’ll be the first time that character will appear in a live-action DC property since the 2011 version with …
Read moreWarning: Minor spoilers for the opening few missions of Starfield Shattered Space lie ahead.Starfield’s Shattered Space DLC arrived yesterday, and there’s a good chance you’ve already started it, or binged it in one night if you’re nonplussed about sleep. While I haven’t done the latter, I did bring along the one base game companion that has a connection to House Va’ruun for the bits I’ve played so far. Should you bring her along too? Well, kinda, and you seemigly might end up running into a bug that makes it totally pointless.Andreja’s the companion I’m talking about here, since her whole thing is that she’s Constellation’s resident House Va’ruuner and would surely be a good candidate to bring back home to Va’ruun’kai, right? After all, it is her home planet, and if you’ve ended up good m…
Read moreDid you get off on outsmarting enemies, tiptoeing around the xenomorph, and praying that your save file isn’t going to get permenantly screwed by a misjudged visit to a terminal in the original Alien: Isolation? Yes? Well then, you’re going to be thrilled to find out that a sequel is real, and in production at Sega.Many of us have been asking for a follow-up to 2014’s survival horror masterclass, Alien: Isolation, pretty much since we hit credits in the first game back on the PS4, Xbox One or PC – and now, I’m psyched to report, our prayers have finally been answered. Anyone that was a fan of the lo-fi, retro-futuristic vibes of Alien, as realised by Creative Assembly, is going to want to keep their eyes peeled on this.To see this content please enable targeting coo…
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