Need an Escape? These Fantasy-Themed Games Are for You!
Author: Ludwig Rene - October 22, 2020

It’s no secret that we are living through trying times. When we turn on the TV, or listen to the radio, we’re reminded of the current state
of the world, which can be disheartening to say the least. While staying positive is crucial, occasionally we need to take a break and disconnect from life’s sometimes harsh realities.
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Fantasy board and card games, by their very nature solicit the imagination and bring us into fantastical worlds, providing a great way
to unplug for a few hours and find a little respite from the news of the day. Whether by solving an escape room, figuring out the clues
to uncover the culprit in a murder mystery, or battling to reign supreme over enemies, these fantasy titles are sure to satisfy that need
to get away.

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NOTE FOR NEW PLAYERS
Because titles in the fantasy genre tend to delve deep into a storyline and game mechanics, if you’re new to the hobby, we recommend focusing on the first five games presented here. And, while seasoned gamers can certainly appreciate all the titles featured, if you’re looking for a deeply immersive experience, the last three are sure to captivate your attention for hours.
 
Regardless of your experience level, each of our top fantasy game picks will require your undivided attention, as they engage your mind and imagination, taking you on an extraordinary journey!

Grandbois

The hunt for golden chestnuts is ON!
 
In Grandbois, a uniquely enticing tile-laying game, players secretly choose a clan and place their tiles in a manner that will allow their members to have the greatest presence in the forest. Once all the tiles are on the table, players receive a golden chestnut for each clan cluster. The player with the most chestnuts wins the game.
 
Sounds easy enough, right? Of course it is … just avoid forest bears, maintain your clan’s secret identity for the duration of the game and successfully place your clan’s lookout tower at the right time! No problem!
 
It’s time to conquer the Grandbois!
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Unlock! Epic Adventures

If you’re escape room fan, Unlock! is for you, bringing the experience straight to your table. In the seventh edition of the Unlock! series, players rely on their deduction skills, attention to detail and the trusty companion to app to:
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  • Attend the premiere of “The Werewolf’s Final Night” and figure out a way to get through the movie unharmed (The Seventh Screening).
  • Prove themselves worthy of Master Li’s teachings by completing various challenges to become Li’s new, revered disciple (The Dragon’s Seven Tests).
  • Find the mole who has infiltrated the secret organization known as EAGLE before it’s too late! Remember: no one can be trusted (Mission #07).
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Each scenario is increasingly difficult, so make sure to focus on the cards and the clues included in the box to help you. Your freedom depends on it!​

Unlock! Star Wars Escape Game

If you’re a Star Wars fan and you also love the Unlock! series, then we have some great news for you. Unlock! and Star Wars have come together to create an escape room game based in the Star Wars universe. Along with the companion app, you can either:

  • Ride your tautaun mount and find the Rebel stronghold, Echo Base, located on the ice planet, Hoth (Escape from Hoth).
  • Play as smugglers who must escape an Imperial Star Destroyer with Jabba the Hutt’s stolen cargo (An Unforeseen Delay).
  • Work as an imperial spy, infiltrate the Holy city of Jedha, and retrieve the valued kyber crystals (Secret Mission on Jedha).
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Whether or not you are a Star Wars fan, this game will allow you to take on new aspects of the Star Wars universe and stretch your imagination to a galaxy far, far away.

Mysterium

The year is 1920 and Mr. Macdowell, a gifted astrologer, has called upon psychic investigators to solve an old, mysterious crime that took place in the home he
​recently purchased.
 
The team of investigators has an unfamiliar advantage to solve the mystery: a friendly, yet amnesiac ghost summoned to provide visions and clues to catch the culprit. However, the connection with the ghost only lasts for a short time.
 
Pay close attention to the ghost’s clues to be able to guess who the murderer is and solve the mystery before time runs out!
 
This game’s beautiful artwork and distinct game pieces add to the overall experience, allowing players to dive deep into Mysterium.
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Keyforge: Mass Mutation

The world of the Crucible is a place that grants immeasurable powers to anyone bold enough to forge three keys that will unlock the vault of knowledge and all of its rewards. In order to forge the keys, however, you need Ӕmber, and lots of it.
 
Take control of creatures and various characters and duel against other players to collect Ӕmber shards by any means necessary to forge your keys.
 
Whether you’ve played other versions KeyForge in the past or you’re just starting out, KeyForge: Mass Mutation will grant you access to over 200 new characters with dark Ӕmber mutations that make this game fascinating, to say the least.
 
If you’re new to KeyForge world, make sure to begin with the 2-player starter set, which comes with all the tokens and additional elements needed for your first game.
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Small World of Warcraft

Based on the popular massive multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), World of Warcraft®, and the award-winning board game, Small World®, comes a recipe for success: Small World of Warcraft.

Welcome to the realm of Azeroth! Home to Humans, Dwarves, Orcs, Elves, Trolls and many more races who all desire to rule the realm. There is one major issue: Azeroth is not big enough for everyone.

Therefore, players must choose a race and, using the race’s special powers, battle one another to take over territories on the board and gain control of the realm. 
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Prepare for battle because only the bold are victorious in Small World of Warcraft!
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Gloomhaven

The town of Gloomhaven is on the brink of chaos! Players enter the game as adventurers tasked with defending the town from evil forces planning to overrun it.
Team up with like-minded individuals to form a party and rid the town of this looming threat! In addition, players also have their own goals and story lines to follow that will later coincide with the overall picture of the game.
 
This game is not for the faint of heart, as ridding the town of Gloomhaven of nefarious forces is a time-consuming task that you should play over multiple gaming sessions. Beloved by seasoned game fans, its intricate “Choose your own adventure” format provides players with countless hours of entertainment, so you’ll be here a while.
 
Gloomhaven is a beautifully designed game with cards and matching game pieces that engulfs players into its universe.
 
Gloomhaven needs you. Heed its call and, as they say, “Fulfill your quest to leave your legacy!”

Res Arcana

​Created by Thomas Lehmann, the designer of Race for the Galaxy and New Frontiers, comes Res Arcana.

 Enter a world where you play a powerful, magical being looking to collect the essences needed to create unique artifacts, control distinctive creatures, and conquer places of power to gain victory points!

 Res Arcarna requires that you assess the pieces on the table and play the cards at your disposal to collect enough points and earn the top spot.
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 So, if you’re an Alchemist who needs to enlist a bone dragon to collect gold or the Life essence, that’s just business as usual in Res Arcana.
With all these options at your disposal, your escape to a fantasy world is only a few clicks away! Visit our Where to Buy page to find out where you can purchase any of these games and keep checking our blog for more news and information!