Image Composition: Ross Miller and Will Joel/PolygonAmazon’s October Prime Day has officially come and gone — that’s the bad news. The good news is, a majority of our favorite board games are still on sale, albeit at a lower discount. If you had your eye on a certain worker placement strategy game or a spooky card game, there’s still a chance for some big savings.The discounts fall squarely in the realm of what we like to call “modern classics” like 7 Wonders and Azul — excellent board games from major publishers that came out in the last 10-15 years. We’ve also found more than few great horror-themed games on sale like Mysterium (an Overboard favorite), Unfathomable, and Arkham Horror The Card Game, all perfect for the spooky season.Polygon’s Prime Day PicksThe best modern classic board game deals of Prime DayThe best strategy board game deals of Prime DayThe best Star Wars games of Prime DayThe best card game deals of Prime DayThe best party game deals of Prime DayThe best two-player game deals of Prime DayThe best modern classic board game deals of Prime Day7 Wonders$38$6037% off$38Back in 2019, Polygon asked four leading board game designers for their picks for the most influential board games of the decade. What did Rob Daviau, Elizabeth Hargrave, and Jamey Stegmaier’s lists all have in common? 7 Wonders, a game they all credited for opening up their eyes as tabletop game designers. The base game accommodates up to seven players, and with its signature brand of simultaneous play everyone can feel engaged the whole way through.Read More$38 at AmazonSpirit Island$40$7043% off$40Everything you’ve heard about Spirit Island is true. We consider it at once one of the best cooperative games and one of the best solo games, so there’s no bad time to play. Take on the role of spirits fighting against colonizers. If you’re looking to upgrade your Spirit Island experience, the Jagged Earth expansion is on sale, too.Read More$48 at Amazon (Base Game)$40 at Amazon (Jagged Earth)Arkham Horror, once among the most daunting cooperative adventure board games around, is much improved and streamlined in this 3rd edition version for $69.99 (was $79.99).Azul, the charming tile-laying game and one of our 22 best modern board games, is just $23.99 (was $39.99).Catan, the favored game of the 2015 Green Bay Packers and the 2024 Buffalo Bills, is just $32.99 (was $59.99).King of Tokyo asks 2-6 players the ultimate question — who is the best monster, and why is it Space Penguin? It’s just $28.30 for Prime Day (was $44.99).Love Letter, a diminutive card game that you can fit in a single pants pocket, is just $13.46 (normally $14.99).Mansions of Madness 2nd edition, a miniatures-heavy game that uses a nifty little mobile app to drive the narrative action at the table, is 20% off — down to $87.99 from $109.99.Mysterium$30$5545% off$30Mysterium, a favorite of the Overboard crew, will have you set up for a seance in no time. Up to 7 players can become psychics and interpret cryptic clues to solve crimes. Perfect for the spooky holiday!Read More$30 at AmazonMatt Leacock’s Pandemic, on sale for $26.99 (normally $39.99), should already be on your shelf by now as it’s an exceptional gateway game to introduce new players to the hobby. If it isn’t, now’s a great time to fix that problem.While Pandemic Legacy Season 1 is no longer on sale, you can still jump into Pandemic Legacy Season 2 without concern, which you’ll find on Amazon for just $53.99 (normally $79.99).Already finished Pandemic Legacy Seasons 1 and 2? Then you should check out the prequel, Pandemic Legacy Season 0, on sale for $69.60 (was $79.99).Unfathomable$64$8020% off$64Unfathomable is a reskin of Corey Konieczka’s Battlestar Galactica: The Board Game, a legendary best-selling hidden role game. But while the cultural relevance of the Cylons has seemingly vanished into the vacuum of space, this Cthulhu-inspired version of the game remains just as playable as the original.Read More$64 at AmazonWhitehall Mystery$30$313% off$30Whitehall Mystery is an overlooked gem of a hidden movement game, where one player secretly plots their course on a hidden map and everyone else tries to hunt them down. The theming here is key, however, as it puts players on the hunt for a mysterious murderer in Victorian London. It’s a fast-moving experience that rewards repeating the game after switching up roles at the table.Read More$30 at AmazonThe best strategy board game deals of Prime DayAssassin's Creed: Brotherhood of Venice$70$8013% off$70Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood of Venice is a 26-chapter (!) campaign for up to four Assassins to do what they do best — or you can play solo and have all the glory for yourself. It’s also a great entry point for painting miniatures.Read More$70 at AmazonBloodborne: The Board Game is exactly what it says on the box — an adaptation of FromSoftware’s highly-beloved (and yet to be remastered) adventure — and is on sale for $82.31 (was $109.99). Looking for more? The Hunter’s Dream expansion is $39.99 (was $45.86) while the Chalice Dungeon expansion is $62.90 (was $79.99).Blood Rage, from the prolific Eric Lang, is another one of Polygon’s 22 best modern board games. The rarely discounted title is just $64.93 (was $89.99). Descent: Legends of the Dark is an ambitious update to the classic dungeon crawler. You can find the app-driven Gloomhaven-like for $132.46 (was $174.95).The original Disney Villainous is an award-winning, family-friendly strategy board game that has “the teach” built right in. Snag it for $29.99 (normally $39.99).Dive utilizes some novel transparent ocean cards and an adorable pitch: “catch a ride on a sea turtle or dolphin.” Who can say no to that? It’s on sale for $24.98 (was $34.99).Agricola$53$6518% off$53Uwe Rosenberg’s masterpiece Agricola is one of those board games that you need to play at least once to really understand how much it has influenced a generation of players and designers. First released in 2007, this newly revised edition is a mountain of meeples that brings order and a surprising amount of complexity to subsistence farming.Read More$53 at AmazonThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – The Adventure Game is a mechanically robust game from Modiphius Entertainment, an experience well worth the $92.35 (normally $139.99).Far Cry: Escape from Rook Islands is a cooperative game for up to four players (there’s also a solo mode) that takes you back to Far Cry 3 and … is that Vaas? Oh heck yes! There’s also an optional friendly fire mode if you want to make it more chaotic. Far Cry is on sale for $37.99 (was $63.95).Deluxe Fire Tower, a “competitive firefighting game” that has some clever fire tokens and gorgeous watercolor illustrations by Kevin Ruelle, is on sale for $39.99 (was $39.99).The Initiative, from Corey Konieczka’s new Unexpected Games, has game elements hidden inside the box for you to find as its story unfolds. Grab it for $47.96 (was $59.95).More than 25,000 people contributed nearly $6 million to CMON for Marvel United: X-Men. Now you can have it all to yourself for just $30.99 (was $34.99).Fallout: The Board Game$60$7014% off$60First released way back in 2017, Fallout The Board Game is a surprisingly solid offering from Fantasy Flight Games that tells a number of compelling little stories from the Fallout universe using an elaborate deck of numbered cards.Read More$60 at AmazonPotion Explosion uses marbles in lieu of actual dangerous concoctions — thankfully, given how often the eponymous chaos happens — and is currently discounted to $37.99 (was $49.99).Rallyman: DIRT gives you dice and lets you drift with up to five friends. Courses are made with hex tiles, and if I’m being very honest, we’re suckers for games that use hexagons. Truly the bestagons. Anyway! It’s on sale for $36.09 (was $45.31).Twilight Imperium is the gold standard for 4x space operas, and has served as inspiration for countless computer games and board games alike. Lock down an entire weekend with four of your closest friends for $131.99 (was $164.99).Not interested in a three-to-five-hour struggle? Try Twilight Inscription instead, a faster roll-and-write version of the original strategy game. This is the first time we’ve seen it discounted for Prime Day, coming in at a measly $51.99 (normally $64.99)Zombicide’s 2nd edition refreshes the raucous action game, first released in 2012. Grab the latest version for just $83.95 (originally $109.99).The best Star Wars games of Prime DayStar Wars Villainous: Scum and Villainy$25$3017% off$25Star Wars Villainous: Scum and Villainy isn’t just the only Star Wars board game up for grabs this October Prime Day — it’s also among the newest games on this list. Released last summer, the standalone expansion stars Boba Fett, Cad Bane, and the Seventh Sister. It’s also compatible with all other version of Star Wars Villainous.Read More$25 at AmazonStar Wars Legion is a great entry point into miniature strategy games. This core set has everything you need to wage epic familial battles between Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, and their respective armies — and right now it’s on sale for $95.99 (was $119.99).Star Wars Outer Rim is about becoming the most (in)famous leader in the underworld of a galaxy far, far, away. We love the novel “outer rim” board and a clever solo mode (though it is best played with up to four players). It is discounted down to $59.99 (was $74.99) for Prime Day.The best card game deals of Prime DayArkham Horror The Card Game Revised Core Set$48$6020% off$48A two-player take on a classic, Arkham Horror: The Card Game’s Lovecraftian themes are sure to delight any horror fan with cultists, ancient monsters, madness, and more. Choose a character and work together to build decks to rival the forces plaguing the city of Arkham. The unpredictability of the encounter deck helps keep playthroughs fresh and outcomes uncertain.Read More$48 at AmazonLet’s Go! to Japan tasks you and up to four friends to plan the most fulfilling dream vacation in Tokyo and Kyoto, with over 100 illustrated cards that might inspire some actual travel. (It’s worth it, trust us!) Let’s Go! to Japan is on sale for $43.08 (was $49.99).Embark on epic quests in Middle-Earth, The Lord of the Rings: Card Game’s revised core set has everything you need to immediately embark on a four-player adventure — no boosters required. This new version boasts increased contents and quality-of-life improvements and beautiful artwork on every card. You can pick it up for $44.94 (was $59.99).The Mind is an easy-to-pick up, family-friendly game about working together without communicating — no speaking, no pantomiming, nothing — and is available for $8.97 (was $14.95).The best party game deals of Prime DayJust One$12$2552% off$12Just One, the hit word-guessing game, is a snappy little gem that can easily kick off a night of longer games with a bang. Or kick back with a few beverages and play it all night, your call.Read More$12 at AmazonConcept$36$4520% off$36A favorite of Polygon’s Overboard team, Concept is a hilarious party game based on the classic Charades, but with the charming physicality of a physical game board to track your guesses.Read More$36 at AmazonThe best two-player game deals of Prime DayCatan: Starfarers Duel$28$3520% off$28Catan: Starfarers Duel is the unlikely reboot of an obscure 2001 game called Starship Catan. This two-player variant has solid reviews, but the 75-minute playtime seems like it might be a bit of a tough sell for all but the most dedicated players.Read More$28 at AmazonPatchwork$30$3514% off$30Another Uwe Rosenberg classic, Patchwork is a tile-laying game inspired by quilting that plays quickly and teaches well.Read More$30 at AmazonSplendor Duel$28$307% off$28Finally, Splendor Duel turns the beloved gem-buying game Splendor into a taught little two-player experience knife fight of a strategy game.Read More$28 at AmazonLooking for more deals? Check out all of Polygon’s favorite October Prime Day 2024 deals right here, and subscribe to our newsletter below to get great deals delivered to your inbox every week.
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By Alana Semuels
Jane and her husband loved the house they bought in central Los Angeles in 2022, until they noticed the cats. Lots and lots of cats. At any given time, more than a dozen would be lounging in their yard, peeing on their packages, leaving dead birds in the grass and fleas on their outdoor furniture. “The amount of cat feces we’re exposed to is truly insane,” says Jane, who asked that her real name or the name of her neighborhood not be used because of the ensuing battle over feeding the cats.
A family in the neighborhood had left their pet cat behind when they moved, neighbors told her. That cat had multiplied into two, then four, then more. Now, a cat colony rules the neighborhood. Ja…
Read morePlayStation’s 30-anniversary collection presale came and went, selling out within minutes, and this drove demand even higher. With the limited amount being only 12,300 units, some parts of the collection like controllers and PlayStation Portable have made their way to eBay with prices reaching wild amounts of money. There’s even a seller who, for $50,000, will personally drive it to you…once he gets his new car. Japan wants to be different though.
In response to the demand and wanting to strike down the number of scalpers, Sony has decided to restrict preorders to those who can prove they are previous PlayStation owners and played games for a minimum of 30 hours over the last 10 years.
If you’ve signed into a PS4 or PS5 console between February 22, 2014, and September 19, …
Read morePlayer First Games and Warner Bros. made a risky decision last year by deciding to put its platform fighter MultiVersus on hiatus and pull it from digital stores–especially when some players had spent real-world money on characters and cosmetics. With MultiVersus set to return next week, Player First has revealed what returning players can expect to see when they log in to the game for the first time.
Speaking with GameSpot during a recent preview session, Huynh confirmed that “all characters and cosmetics players purchased before May 28 will still be there when [players] come back to the game.” That’s not all, however, as Huynh also confirmed some new content will be offered free of charge to those who choose to return. Come from Read more
Keanu Reeves: actor, person with excellent taste in motorcycles, video game star, and soon-to-be published novelist. Best known for his work on the big screen in The Matrix and John Wick as well as the rebel rocker Johnny Silverhand in Cyberpunk 2077, Reeves has now co-authored a book with China Miéville, an award-winning writer of speculative fantasy and science fiction. The Book of Elsewhere releases next Tuesday, July 23, and is available to preorder in hardcover at Amazon for $21, which is 30% off its $30 list price.
The Book of Elsewhere is inspired by the Boom Studios comic book series BRZRKR, which Reeves co-created with Matt Kindt and Ron Garney. BRZRKR also happens to be receiving a new limited-edition hardcover edition later this year.
“There have always been whis…
Read morePalworld will have you duking it out against all creatures great and small. Of course, it’s totally fine to just start with baby steps, especially in the first few hours of the game. Here’s our guide on the best early-game weapons in Palworld, out now on PS5 following several months on Xbox and PC.
What are the best early-game weapons in Palworld
The best early-game weapons in Palworld are the Stone Spear, Old Bow, and Common Shield. Do take note that all of these need to be unlocked first in the Technology menu, which means leveling up a bit to spend the points you’ve earned.
Once unlocked, you can craft them via the Primitive Workbench Come from Sports betting site VPbe…
Read moreIn 2021, the South Korean thriller Squid Game raced to the top of Netflix’s charts to become the streamer’s most-popular series of all time. While Netflix has now finally set a post-Christmas premiere for Squid Game Season 2, it also comes with word that the show will come to a conclusion following Season 3.
Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk made the announcement about the series’ end on the show’s social media media pages. In his message, Hwang shared the set up for Season 2 and confirmed that Season 3 will arrive in 2025.
“Seong Gi-hun, who vowed revenge at the end of season one, returns and joins the game again,” said Hwang. “Will he succeed in getting his revenge? Front Man doesn’t seem to be an easy opponent this time either Come from Read more
World of Warcraft: The War Within’s next content update has been detailed, and in addition to introducing a whole new zone to explore (something usually reserved for major raid tier patches), it will add a mount first teased over a decade ago.
Update 11.0.7 will bring players to the Siren Isle, where an expedition is underway to investigate a mysterious signal and discover what happened to the Kul Tiran forces that once occupied the island. The update will introduce two new questlines that will continue The War Within’s story, one dealing with the aftermath of the destruction of Dalaran and the mages of the Kirin Tor, and another that will serve as a prologue to the game’s 11.1 update, with Blizzard teasing the return of a “familiar face.”
The S…
Read moreMost of the early research into video games seemed to be designed to find a link between in-game violence and its effects on players in the real world. More recently, there have been studies about the adverse affects of gaming addiction. However, there’s now research that suggests playing games may actually be beneficial for players, depending upon the type of the game.
According to Reuters, the majority of the research into the benefits of gaming focuses on cozy video games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons. These casual games are designed to be soothing to play and almost impossible to lose. That genre also avoids putting players into overly stressful situations. Come from Sports betting site VPbet
Read moreAt Gamescom 2024, Everspace 2 developer Rockfish Games revealed the next chapter in the space shooter-RPG’s story. Titans is the game’s first paid add-on, and it brings something we’ve strangely never seen before in the game.The DLC expands the scale of Everspace 2 in some exciting new ways, offering massive new encounters, and it will be available for purchase in September.To see this content please enable targeting cookies.Manage cookie settings Titans is made up of two story chapters: Dreadnought, and Leviathan. Dreadnought will have you join a group of freelancers to investigate a rumour about a massive ship that’s unlike anything else in the game. This multi-stage boss fight will be challenging, and is designed for players with well-balanced ship loadouts.Levia…
Read moreSilent Hill 2 is a bit tricky to play these days, but the PC version’s fan-made Enhanced Edition is finally complete.While you’ve been able to play the Enhanced Edition of Silent Hill 2, a to-be-honest half-remaster of the awful PC port of the game, for quite a while now, earlier this week the team behind it released the 10th and final update for it, somehow bringing in even more quality of life improvements to the already impressive overhaul. The whole goal of the project was to add in things like high def resolutions, upscaled images, widescreen camera fixes, and restored effects missing in the PC port, which it had already achieved as well as much more than that. To see this content please enable targeting cookies.Manage cookie settings Now, its final update is here, which includes “enh…
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