“I’m Nothing Like You!” Is What You’ll Say Playing These Asymmetrical Board Games

Root

Root sits very high on my list of board games in general, and its asymmetry certainly plays a big factor in that. It’s a great competitive strategy game that pits each player against the others for control of the wilderness. But each of the dozen or so factions has its own set of unique mechanics and systems. They each play incredibly differently and require entirely different strategies to excel.

For example, the Woodland Alliance is a small but mighty force of rebels, fighting an uphill battle against the powerful forces keeping them down. Meanwhile, the Lord of Hundreds leads an army of mice to raze and ravage the land, destroying everything in his wake. And alongside them both, the Lizard Cult plants gardens and converts others to their cause. Thematics aside, each of these factions uses its unique mechanics to give the game a wholly different feel with each different combination of factions, making Root one of the most replayable wargame board games.

Tragedy Looper

Tragedy Looper is a 1vAll game where one Mastermind unfolds a mystery while the rest of the players try to figure out what’s going on. The twist is that everything is happening within a time loop that players need to break and find the happy ending. While not every player is on a different wavelength, one is playing an entirely different game than all of the rest. And unfortunately, that’s the only one who really knows what’s going on.

Pandemic (with Bioterrorist)

I admit this one is a bit of a stretch, since it requires the Beyond the Brink expansion. But it turns Pandemic into a fantastic asymmetrical board game, similar to games like Fury of Dracula. The Bioterrorist is hiding around the globe, planting virulent traps in the world’s major cities. It’s up to the remaining players to not only catch this horrible villain but also stop their deadly attack.

It uses hidden movement mechanics to keep the excitement going. Each turn, the hero players will have to plan and strategize on where they think the bioterrorist might be, but the more they openly plan, the more the bioterrorist can eavesdrop on their plans. It’s a delicate balancing act that makes classic Pandemic take on a whole new feel.

Spirit Island

In Spirit Island, players work together as spirits trying to scare away a group of invading colonists from their island. Each spirit character is working in tandem and has the same goal, but they also have highly different abilities and play types. And for more difficult gameplay, players can opt for two adversaries invading the island, so different spirits really can be working on entirely different missions with entirely different powers and abilities in any given turn.

Villainous

There are many games under the Villainous umbrella, from Disney to Marvel to Star Wars. Each player takes the role of a villain from one of those series and each has their own mechanics and victory condition. The players will each need to use the tools they have available to them to slow the other players down while they race to be the first to complete their own win condition.

What makes the game really fun is the sheer number of expansions and options. Like Root, the player interactions within the chosen factions are what make the game so replayable. Each different combination of characters changes the overall feel of the game, making it an entirely new set of challenges to overcome with each game.

Star Wars: Rebellion

Star Wars: Rebellion is like a movie in a box. Players can be either the Empire or the Rebels while secretly plotting their turns and revealing their schemes in deviously exciting “ah-Ha!” moments. The theming is so perfect for this game, and its deeply strategic gameplay will keep even the biggest haters of the Star Wars universe on their toes.

Players will need to lead troops and starships to wage war over 32 iconic systems on a massively impressive gameboard. Alongside the tons of super detailed minis, heroes and villains can sway the fate of the galaxy with a single action.