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Top 10 Best Legacy Board Games You Should Play – Destructoid

Legacy board games are influenced, at least in some way, by previous games played, meaning that they are shaped and changed over time. Some of these games have more permanent and drastic effects than others, but they are all fantastic games.

my urban legend board game
Image: KOSMOS

My city is at its core a tile-placement game, where each player must place various tetromino-shaped buildings in their green pasture in order not to lose points. The layout, order, And The color of the buildings is important and the building that everyone has to place is randomly revealed one by one.

The legacy element in My city manifests itself in six different secret envelopes that are unlocked as you and your dedicated group play through the game. What starts out as simple quickly turns into convoluted and tedious as new mechanics and features are drip-fed into the game. Also, whoever wins or loses in certain matches will change certain aspects of the game for the rest of the campaign.

For a delightfully concise yet complex tile-placing game, My city should definitely be the next game in your collection.

jaws of the lion legacy board game
Image: Cephalofair Games

I usually have a hard time recommending Darknesshaven to everyone thanks to my intense relationship with the game, but Jaws of the lion presents a much cheaper and standalone extension that is undeniable Darknesshaven and undeniably awesome.

The heritage elements of Darknesshaven And Jaws of the lion are essentially the same, with your choices unlocking and ignoring different scenarios and missions as you progress through the campaign. While there may not be as many boxes or envelopes to open as in Darknesshaventhe old elements are still just as impactful.

Take on the role of one of four mercenaries as you fight tooth and nail through disastrously difficult campaign scenarios. Just make sure you always believe in your choices. There is little room for regret here.

ticket to ride legacy legends of the west legacy board game
Image: Days of Wonder

Ticket to Ride Legacy: Legends Of The West has everything you would expect from a standard legacy title. It has a campaign that spans 12 games with mechanics, rules, and additions that are unlocked as you play.

If you are a fan of Ticket to drivethen the legacy edition would be a logical next step. As you play, more and more of North America will be opened up to you and the other players, allowing for more railroads and connections and bigger games.

Once you are ready Ticket to Ride Legacy: Legends Of The Westyou get more playing time Ticket to drive with a card unique to your players’ efforts.

Rise of Queensdale best board game legacy
Image: Ravensburger

The Rise of Queensdale presents a monumental game of development, where all players compete to build their part of Queensdale Valley.

The old features of The Rise of Queensdale are amazing, because not only do your land and dice pieces get upgraded, but you also get access to new types of actions and different specialists that will help you. The game just keeps getting more expansive and incredibly satisfying to work with.

It really feels like you are developing your country in The Rise of Queensdaleand I can’t get enough of it.

risk inheritance best
Image: Hasbro

Risk inheritance takes one of the most popular war games of all time and adds a ton of personalization and generational consequences.

It can be played as a standard Risk for the most part, but with the ability to found cities, name continents, permanently upgrade areas, and more, any game is Risk inheritance will provide different benefits to different players.

You also don’t need the same group of players to keep enjoying Risk inheritancealthough it is recommended, as there are secret card games that can only be unlocked after completing specific objectives. I’m sure no one would want to miss out on those.

clank legacy board game best
Image: Renegade Game Studios

For a game about digging up treasure, Clank! Legacy: Acquisitions Incorporated is a true treasure trove of boxes, envelopes and secrets just waiting to be revealed to you and your friends.

The campaign of Clank! Legacy: Acquisitions Incorporated involves at least ten games and at the end you will have a unique Clink! game influenced by the legacy aspects of the campaign, with things permanently destroyed and permanently marked.

A semi-cooperative legacy game leaves room for betrayals that have generational effects and could haunt players in future games.

betrayal legacy board game
Image: Avalon Hill

Betrayal Legacy streamlines the Deception game process and adds effects and abilities that are passed on to the next generations of those who continue to explore the haunted house on the hill.

This game requires a dedicated group, as you and other players play as one of five families obsessed with exploring the House of Madness. Investigate its rooms to uncover the secrets of its origins while betraying your friends.

With secret decks and unlockable features, the twisting mysteries of Betrayal Legacy will tell everyone surprising and shocking stories. I hope you are ready for it.

pandemic legacy board game
Image: Z-Man Games

The last thing you want is probably another Pandemic board gamehowever, the Pandemic legacy series is a must-try, despite the general pandemic fatigue.

There are a few mentions in the Pandemic legacy series of board games, but they’re all separate stories in a connected world, so you can play them in any order you like. Pandemic Legacy Season 0 is the final, and that’s why I would recommend this game out of the three, because it’s an astonishingly good game.

Whether you’re fed up with the Pandemic system or have yet to try it out, Pandemic legacy offers the best experience.

the king's dilemma legacy board game
Image: Horrible Guild

If you and your group are not afraid of role playing, then The King’s Dilemma might just be the perfect board game for you.

The King’s Dilemma requires a dedicated group, as each player represents a different house with different backgrounds and ideologies. The core of this game is in the discussions and constant consequences for different loyalties and voting decisions.

The more players, the merrier for this colossal role-playing and diplomatic experience. Just make sure they all enjoy opening secret envelopes, because there’s a lot of it.

oath best legacy board game
Image: Leder Games

Vow is what I consider to be simply the best legacy board game out there. It is an asymmetric wargame with some of the best mechanics I have seen to date. With one player as the Chancellor and the other players as Exiles (or loyal citizens!), usurpation or domination of the countries will affect the game to its core.

The inheritance elements in Vow are quite dramatic. The locations players can visit change as regions are conquered and liberated. Depending on who wins, cards are removed and added to the decks, and buildings are built and destroyed. The loyalties and statuses of each role change throughout the games, making the beginning of each game wonderfully different.

What’s great about it Vow is that it can be easily reversed and that it does not require the same players. Because games are played with different groups and players, everyone has the chance to participate in the history of the game, to experience the consequences of games of the past and to make their own mark.

With this comprehensive list of the best board games of the past, you can make all your future games even more interesting.


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