Explore Future Worlds In These Board Games Of Tomorrow
Tabletop Talks Week 14
There’s nothing more challenging than trying to predict the future, but we here at Tabletop Simulator Blog thought we would take our best shot anyway! And so, we have gathered some up-and-coming board games and mods that represent what we think our future might look like (or what we secretly want it to look like!). Whether it is earthbound sustainability, alien invasions, interstellar mysticism, or post-apocalyptic reclamation, this edition of Tabletop Talks is a board game-guided tour of what should happen, what might happen, and what probably won't happen!
So, without further adieu, our board game-inspired predictions for the world(s) of tomorrow!
Energetic
Building a zero-carbon NYC
Sometimes the best board games are created with the goal of ultimate escapism, a reality so different from our own that all we can do is hope to go there. And sometimes the best games are created to reflect our world and its many intricate realities that may be meant to warn or inspire us. But there are also games that help us think of ways to take our world and make it something better, something worth escaping into, even if it just means imagining a carbon-neutral Earth. Energetic is one of those games! In this realistic, four-player cooperative construction game, you are tasked with decarbonizing New York City by 2035. By balancing your budget, construction costs, and public opinion, you must work, maneuver, and think your way past the challenges that such a large undertaking requires. In addition to its wonderful environmental message, Energetic combines city-planning and worker placement elements to create a cooperative experience that is both rewarding and full of strategy.
Energetic was originally created as a tool to understand the challenges of decarbonizing NYC, but it evolved into a game that combines a well-built theme, careful design, and rewarding gameplay into a comprehensive glimpse of the future. We can guarantee that Energetic’s pairing of engrossing mechanics and powerful messaging will have you taking on the challenge of carbon neutrality as many times as can fit into one game night!
The team at City Atlas used Tabletop Simulator to further develop their green board game. Check out their website for more information on their mission, achievements, and details on how to buy Energetic!
Official Website: CityAtlas.com
Tabletop Simulator Mod: Play Energetic Now On TTS!
Invasion of the Brood
Fight to save earth...or conquer it!
A board game about an alien invasion threatening earth as we know it isn’t necessarily the most optimistic future scenario, but it sure does sound exciting! That is exactly what you can look forward to in Invasion of the Brood from Petersen games! In this asymmetric, futuristic war game, an alien telepath known as Broodmaster Magnalux seeks to take over Earth from its moon base. This two-player game takes each player and puts them in polar opposite roles, with one playing as the humans defending Earth, and one playing as Broodmaster plotting its conquest. Each of these different roles comes with different mechanics and even separate turn structures, giving Invasion of the brood a deep and asymmetric strategy. With the fate of the world in balance, only you can secure the planet’s freedom or guarantee its subjugation.
Invasion of the brood started with the concept of deeply asymmetric sides and how this core mechanic could pair beautifully with a fun and terrifyingly Lovecraftian theme. So, ultimately, this game was created to balance classic wargaming mechanics against the iconic alien-invasion scenario. In addition to the amazingly fun B-movie aesthetic, invasion of the brood’s perfect blend of fast-paced and asymmetric gameplay guarantees that one-playthrough is simply not an option and that you and your friends will come back to fight over the fate of earth again and again!
The team behind Invasion of the brood has used Tabletop Simulator to playtest and demo this game as well as many others. Be sure to check out their mod here! Also be sure to go to their website for more details, purchase options, and other great games!
Official Website: Petersengames.com
Tabletop Simulator Mod: Play Invasion of the Brood Now On TTS!
Dust to Dust
The deckbuilding and disintegration game
Maybe your taste in a grim future is a little less Lovecraftian and a little more of an exciting delve into an Earth (or, more accurately, an Urth) fighting for reclamation from the Dust once it took over. If that brief description calls your name, you need to play Dust to Dust as soon as possible! In this brilliantly designed and expertly themed deck builder, players take on the role of “Divers”, as they race to recover lost relics and fusion shards to keep their floating island home aloft! Forge alliances and face overwhelming odds to build, streamline, and strategize your way to victory in this dusty post-apocalypse. And with a set of deck-building mechanics that balance classic staples with exciting innovations, Dust to Dust pairs its exceptionally rendered world and lore with equally exciting and engrossing gameplay. In all, after one game, you will no longer see a once-familiar world covered in dust, but a thrilling and beautiful post-apocalyptic adventure waiting to be had!
The team behind Dust to Dust took inspiration from their favorite tabletop and digital deck builders and used it to craft an original instant classic. This game design and lore-filled world are also brought to life by breathtaking artwork that captures the hidden beauty in their creation…all you need to do is shake off the dust!
The team behind Dust to Dust has used Tabletop Simulator to playtest their creation and perfect their post-apocalyptic deck-builder. Be sure to check out their mod! Also, be sure to check out their Kickstarter to preorder Dust to Dust and their website to check out all things Urth!
How To Play: Dust to Dust Rules
Official Website: dusttodust.games
Kickstarter: Successful July Campaign
Tabletop Simulator Mod: Play Dust to Dust Now On TTS!
Sodalis
An interstellar strategy game inspired by Tarot
Sodalis is a game that, while it takes place both light-years and galaxies away, combines familiar planet-moving sci-fi and near-world mysticism. This is all to say that, if this is our future, we would have no shortage of epic conflicts and exciting action! Sodalis is a miniature skirmish game that puts players in the role of champions from their home planets as they compete for the favor of their sentient star, Sodalis. This game begins with a heavy focus on Tarot and then pairs science-fiction/fantasy with inventive combat and strategic card mechanics to create one of the most unique tabletop experiences we have ever come across. Sodalis becomes even more remarkable when you look at its eye-catching art (each champion was designed and illustrated by a different artist), guaranteeing that the game’s aesthetic is as immersive and engrossing as its gameplay and worldbuilding! After one playthrough, you might have to remind yourself that you are not actually fighting for your sentient star!
Sodalis was created to both incorporate the mysticism of Tarot into the tabletop world and to offer a streamlined combat experience. Sodalis succeeded at both, balancing its truly breathtaking theming with fighting mechanics that keep the action moving and eliminate the risk of “analysis paralysis” that can come with complex fighting systems. What resulted was a focus on streamlined turns and incentivized communication that is as original as Sodalis’ plot and aesthetic.
The team behind Sodalis used Tabletop Simulator to conduct long-distance playtests and craft a truly pitch-perfect gaming experience in both the digital and physical realms!
Official Website: sodalisgame.com
Kickstarter: Successful May 2021 Kickstarter
Tabletop Simulator Mod: Play Sodalis Now On TTS!
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