In December 2025, “Cyberpunk 2077 — The Board Game” will be launched, inviting players to immerse themselves in the world of Night City. Players can assume the roles of V, Panam Palmer, Jackie Wells, or Judy Alvarez. Interestingly, this board game is an adaptation of CD Projekt RED’s video game, which itself was derived from the tabletop game “Cyberpunk 2020,” showcasing a recursive trend in adaptations. This is just one instance among many where top-tier video games have their origins in renowned board games.
Vampire | The Masquerade — Bloodlines
- Original board game | Vampire | The Masquerade;
- Genre | role-playing game;
- Release date | November 16, 2004.
The board game Vampire | The Masquerade has inspired numerous adaptations, ranging from visual novels to battle royales. Yet, the standout is the 2004 release by Troika Games. This team, comprising former Interplay employees who created the original Fallout series, set their game, Bloodlines, in a modern-day Los Angeles populated by vampires. These vampires are split into clans, each with unique traits, traditions, and preferences, including the cultured Toreadors, the insane Malkavians, and the grotesque Nosferatu. Bloodlines is lauded for its versatility, dark ambiance, faithful adherence to the Masquerade lore, and intricate gameplay offering various paths to completion.
Nevertheless, the game’s technical aspects were disappointing. It was plagued with slowness, bugs, and critical glitches. Consequently, amidst the other 2004 gaming hits, Bloodlines went largely unnoticed, impacting Troika Games’ finances severely. By February 2005, the studio had shut down. However, thanks to mods and fan patches, Bloodlines has been refined. If you overlooked it initially, it’s worth trying now, as it remains relevant even after two decades.
Warhammer 40,000 | Dawn of War
- Original board game | Warhammer 40,000;
- Genre | Real-time strategy;
- Release date | September 20, 2004.
Warhammer 40,000-based games have been around since 1992, but it was Relic Entertainment’s first Dawn of War that truly captured the vast scale of the perpetual conflict between humans, xenos, and treacherous heretics. As a real-time strategy game, it features hundreds of infantry and dozens of vehicles onscreen. Victory hinges on seizing strategic points for resources, and passive defense won’t suffice — aggressive, multi-directional assaults are necessary.
Each of Dawn of War’s three expansions introduced new factions, culminating in the final add-on, Soulstorm, which showcased nine distinct factions. For those interested in revisiting the game today, it’s advisable to install the fan remaster, which updates the game’s graphics to contemporary standards.
Baldur’s Gate 3
- Original board game | Dungeons & Dragons;
- Genre | role-playing game;
- Release date | August 3, 2023.
Numerous iconic RPGs, such as Icewind Dale and Neverwinter Nights, are based on the board game Dungeons & Dragons. However, if we were to highlight a single project, it would be Baldur’s Gate 3. We believe it represents the finest adaptation of D&D into an interactive medium. The developers at Larian Studios meticulously adapted the board game’s universe, crafted an engaging storyline, and provided the freedom to experience it through countless approaches. This is complemented by compelling gameplay.
MechWarrior 5 | Mercenaries
- Original board game | BattleTech;
- Genre | mech simulator;
- Release date | December 10, 2019.
The MechWarrior series, rooted in the tabletop game BattleTech, transports players to a distant future where combatants clash in massive exoskeletons. While mech simulators were abundant in the 90s and early 2000s, they are scarce today. Thus, MechWarrior 5 | Mercenaries, released five years ago, remains a fresh and unique experience. It offers a comprehensive view of the BattleTech universe. Whether you long for exoskeleton battles or are new to the genre and eager for something novel, MechWarrior 5 | Mercenaries is worth exploring.
Shadowrun Returns
- Original board game | Shadowrun;
- Genres | turn-based tactics, role-playing game;
- Release date | July 25, 2013.
The original Shadowrun uniquely melds science fiction with classic fantasy. The initial games set in this universe debuted on the SNES and Sega Mega Drive. However, we’d like to highlight Shadowrun Returns. This game is a turn-based tactical experience akin to the recent XCOM titles, yet it incorporates RPG elements. The distinctiveness of the setting renders combat unpredictable, with some heroes depending on technology and others on magic. Nevertheless, the game’s high difficulty level makes it particularly appealing to fans of tactical strategy games.
Total War | Warhammer
- Original board game | Warhammer Fantasy Battle;
- Genre | strategy;
- Release date | May 24, 2016.
Besides Warhammer 40,000, Games Workshop also creates board games set in a dark fantasy universe. They feature their own Empire, green-skinned orcs, and Chaos, portrayed as the ultimate evil threatening all life. Since 1995, there have been video games based on Warhammer Fantasy, but many were not successful and thus may not merit attention.
However, this perception shifted when Creative Assembly assumed control of the series. Moving from historical to fantasy settings proved advantageous for the studio — against the backdrop of the second “Rome,” Warhammer emerged as a welcome change. The developers preserved the iconic blend of strategic global management and expansive real-time battles, with the addition of vampires, beastmen, and elves, injecting the variety that recent Total War installments were missing.
Torment | Tides of Numenera
- Original board game | Numenera;
- Genre | role-playing game;
- Release date | February 28, 2017.
“Torment | Tides of Numenera” was introduced as a spiritual successor to “Planescape | Torment” from the outset. The game draws its setting from the tabletop game “Numenera,” released in 2013. It is set in a distant future where advanced technologies are indistinguishable from magic, giving the “Torment” universe a fantasy rather than a science fiction feel. In terms of gameplay, it offers a classic role-playing experience rich in dialogue and features measured, strategic combat.
