Step aside superheroes and explosions, there’s a new contender in town for the title of blockbuster inspiration:tabletop board games! Yep, those dusty boxes of cardboard and plastic hiding in your attic are spawning a new wave of films, and they’re not your childhood sing-alongs.
From murder mysteries to escape room challenges, these games are being transformed into thrilling adventures on the big screen. Want to know which classic games are getting the Hollywood treatment, and whether the movie versions actually measure up? Settle in, grab your popcorn (and maybe a die or two), because we’re about to delve into the fascinating world of board games turned box office hits!
Dungeons & Dragons: Temple of Elemental Evil Board Game
A Fun Dungeon Crawl in the Forgotten Realms
Explore a monster-filled dungeon, conquer quests, and level up your character in this cooperative board game for 1-5 players.
Dungeons & Dragons has inspired several movie adaptations, including the most recent release,Honor Among Thieves. In this movie, a charismatic thief with his mismatched team attempts an epic heist for a lost relic, but their plans go awry when they encounter dangerous enemies. It’s one of the better adaptations of the board game, with a 91 percent Tomatometer rating.
Now, Temple of Elemental Evil might not exactly be the movie’s source material. However, it does showcase the flexibility and massiveness of the D&D universe. (Your imagination is literally the limit!)
Exit: The Abandoned Cabin
Secrets in the Snow
Exit: The Abandoned Cabin is a one-time use escape room game for 1-4 players. Players work together to solve riddles and puzzles using the included materials to escape a locked cabin.
The movie Escape Room takes clear inspiration from the surge in popularity ofescape room experiences. Just like the games, the movie throws a group of strangers into a series of increasingly complex puzzles and challenges with a ticking clock.
We can also see this influence in the movie’s focus on teamwork, creative problem-solving under pressure, and the constant sense of urgency as the characters race against time to escape the deadly rooms. EXIT: The Abandoned Cabin is just one of thetabletop escape room gamestoday. If you’re interested in other EXIT games, we have a wholeguide you can check out here.
Hasbro Classic Battleship Game
Sink Your Opponent’s Fleet!
This exciting game is perfect for aspiring young commanders ages 7 and up. Players take turns calling out coordinates and firing shots, trying to sink all of their opponent’s hidden ships before they sink theirs.
The classic Battleship game laid the groundwork for the 2012 sci-fi action film Battleship but with a much more explosive twist. The core mechanic of the game – strategically placing your fleet of ships on a hidden grid and calling out coordinates to try and sink your opponent’s ships – is present in the movie. But it takes things to a whole new level.
Instead of toy battleships, the film features high-tech naval warfare between humans and a fleet of alien ships that crash-land on Earth. It incorporates some strategic elements, as the human characters need to use their knowledge of the ocean and their remaining firepower to outmaneuver the aliens. However, the focus is more on action-packed battles with giant spaceships and creative weaponry.
Battleship is an amazing gateway,push-your-luck board game. If you have young kids at home who you want to introduce to the lovely tabletop world, this is a great choice!
Winning Moves Games - Ouija
Uncover Mysteries with a Blast from the Past
Channel the spooky vibes of the 90s with this Classic Ouija board featuring original artwork from Winning Moves Games. This iconic game invites you to connect with the unseen world, asking questions and receiving messages through the movement of the planchette.
Remember that creepy Ouija board gathering dust in your attic? The one with the planchette that always seemed to move a little too easily? Yeah, that’s the one that inspired the movie “Ouija: Origin of Evil.” Except in this flick, the game isn’t just spooky basement vibes – it’s a full-on gateway to some seriously nasty stuff.
Now, the real Ouija board? Opinions are all over the place. Some folks swear it’s a harmless party game, good for a giggle or two. Others get the chills just thinking about that little planchette spelling out cryptic messages. But “Ouija: Origin of Evil” takes the scary route, big time. The movie uses the classic Ouija board as a vessel for a malevolent spirit. We’re talking dark forces and demonic possession – not exactly the kind of thing you want hanging around your next game night.
Hasbro Gaming Retro Series Clue 1986 Edition
Solve a Classic Case
Relive the nostalgia of the 1980s with the Hasbro Gaming Retro Series Clue: 1986 Edition board game. This classic whodunit puts you right in the heart of a suspenseful mansion murder, where you must use your wits and deduction skills to solve the crime.
The classicmurder mystery tabletop gameClue isn’t just about rolling dice and moving little pewter people around a board. It’s a recipe for hilarious accusations, dramatic reveals, and maybe even a little bit of table-flipping if someone keeps accusing you of whacking Mr. Boddy with a wrench in the library (not cool, Mrs. Peacock!). This finger-pointing frenzy is exactly what translates so well to the big screen in the movie adaptation, “Clue.”
Just like the game, the movie throws a group of eccentric characters – a shady butler, a flamboyant socialite, a war hero with a secret – into a spooky mansion. Instead of using detective notes and a plastic magnifying glass, the movie characters use their wits and flamboyant personalities to zero in on the killer. It’s a hilarious whodunit with multiple endings, just like the game can have different solutions depending on who rolls the dice (or secretly peeks at the cards!).
Amerous 15-inch Magnetic Wooden Chess Set
Play Chess Anywhere, Anytime!
Challenge your mind and have fun with the AMEROUS 15-Inch Magnetic Wooden Chess Set. This handcrafted set is perfect for both beginners and experienced players, offering a blend of portability, quality, and style.
Chess isn’t your typical high-drama material. Sure, there’s strategy and competition, but let’s be real, it doesn’t exactly scream “action-packed thriller.” But then came “The Queen’s Gambit,” a miniseries that puts chess center stage and somehow makes it totally captivating.
The story follows Beth Harmon, a young orphan who discovers a hidden talent for the game. The chessboard becomes her battleground, and the pieces, her weapons. We see her strategize, analyze, and dominate opponents, all while battling personal demons.
The show cleverly captures the intensity of a chess match. The ticking clock, the furrowed brows, the silent mind games – it all translates to the screen in a way that makes you feel like you’re right there with Beth, strategizing your next move. Chess goes from being a board game to a psychological battleground, and that’s what makes “The Queen’s Gambit” so darn bingeable.
FAQ
What was the first game turned into a movie?
Pinpointing the absolute first is tricky, but there have been films referencing or inspired by games since the early 20th century. One contender for an early adaptation is the 1927 silent film “The Cheaters,” loosely based on the popular card game of the same name.
What are some board games that have flopped as movies?
Not every board game adaptation is a critical or commercial success. Here are a few examples that didn’t quite capture the magic of the original game:
These are just a few examples, and it’s important to remember that taste is subjective. What one person finds disappointing, another might enjoy. However, they do highlight the challenges of translating a beloved game experience into a successful film.
