Campaign Board Games Completed Over Multiple Sessions

Campaign and legacy games differ from simply splitting a long game over several days in that previous choices affect subsequent rounds. Legacy games often involve applying stickers and making permanent changes to cards or rules, while campaign games typically preserve the initial state with record sheets and save systems. When player participation frequently changes or if there are long breaks, there can be a burden to reacquaint with the story and rules.

This list categorizes eight actual products by cooperation vs. competition, whether permanent changes occur, and the length of each session. It explains the differences from one-time games like Pandemic Legacy to those that offer repeatable alternate versions like My City, and The Crew, which allows missions to be replayed without damage. Before purchasing, it's structured to help you assess if a fixed group is possible, the time needed per session, and how to save or reset the game.

The representative experience of permanent change is found in Pandemic Legacy and Charterstone, while My City lowers the entry barrier with short episodes and repeated alternate modes. Gloomhaven: jaws of the lion and Clank! Legacy contain a lot of tactical and deck-building rules, while Sleeping Gods and Stuffed Fables emphasize story and exploration. The Crew is great for a light start with its series of short missions without damaging components.

Before starting a campaign, first decide on participants, day of the week, expected rounds, and storage location. Do not open sealed boxes or stickers until instructed, and when pausing, leave a record of the current objective and rule changes in photos and record sheets to make it easier to return. Purchasing used games may pose challenges due to previously used stickers and opened components, so check if reinitializing is possible and if a recharge pack is provided.