Board-gaming in 2025 offers a wild variety: cinematic space operas, tense cooperative puzzles, medieval strategy, and even bomb-diffusing teamwork. Below is a curated take on each of the games you asked about- what they are, how they play, and what kind of mood they fit.

Star Wars: Rebellion- Rise of the Empire- Thematic– $50.99

If you’re a fan of sci-fi epic storytelling, political intrigue, and asymmetric conflict- this expansion delivers. The original game Star Wars: Rebellion is already a heavyweight, letting two to four players enact the grand struggle between the Galactic Empire and the Rebel Alliance. The “Rise of the Empire” expansion deepens that war significantly.

With this expansion, you get new leaders, new missions, and “cinematic combat”- adding units like U-wings, TIE Strikers and Nebulon-B frigates, and injects fresh cinematic tension into each battle.

Why it stands out: If you already love Star Wars lore- or simply enjoy complex, long-form strategy games lasting 3-4 hours- this box lets you expand your galactic war and play out dramatic, large-scale showdowns. At $50.99, it offers a lot of content per dollar.

Note: This is an expansion, so you’ll need the base game to make full use of it.

Bomb Busters – $49.99

Switching gears drastically- from space empires to portable, pulse-racing bomb-defusal! In Bomb Busters, 2- 5 players take on the role of bomb-disposal experts (yes, there’s a little bit of a “spy movie” vibe here), working cooperatively under communication constraints to diffuse bombs across 66 different missions.

Mechanically, you and your teammates hold numbered “wires,” and must deduce which wires belong together- but mistakes bring you closer to a detonation. It’s a game of deduction, memory, careful reasoning, and trust.

Why it stands out: It’s quick (about 30 min per mission), low on setup, and ideal when you want a lighter, more social- but still tense-  gaming session. Great for casual game nights, or when you don’t have hours to spare.

Given its recent acclaim (it even won the prestigious Spiel des Jahres 2025) and the intense collaborative tension it offers, playing Bomb Busters with friends in a cozy Canadian winter evening could be a blast.

At $49.99, it’s solid value for a coop game that’s easy to learn, quick to play, and highly replayable.

The Old King’s Crown – $99.99

For those who enjoy intrigue, power struggles and strategic bluffing, The Old King’s Crown offers a more cerebral- yet tense- experience. The game casts you as heirs vying for a vacant throne in a decaying kingdom. Players move “Heralds” across a map of the kingdom and use hand-management and bluffing to claim regions- but everyone’s playing cards simultaneously, so secrets, deception, and cunning matter.

You accumulate influence, and whoever ends with the most influence after a number of rounds wins. The choice of card plays, hidden intentions, and the variable powers of factions make each game a dance of strategy and deception.

Why it stands out: It’s great for groups who like negotiation, bluffing, hidden information, reading others- more than dice-rolling or random luck. It’s also stylishly thematic: if you enjoy fantasy settings or stories of crumbling dynasties and secret ambitions, this fits perfectly.

At $99.99, it’s pricier- but given the depth and replayability, it could be a strong centerpiece for your collection, especially with a consistent group of 2–4 players.

Zombicide (2nd Edition) – $131.99

Zombies. Guns. Dice. Survival. Zombicide 2nd Edition is perhaps the quintessential cooperative zombie-apocalypse board game for 1-6 players. Survivors (you and your friends) roam modular city/town maps, scavenge gear, fight hordes of the undead, and try to complete mission objectives. The zombies are controlled by the game itself, spawning more as time and player actions increase danger.

This 2nd Edition revamps the original with streamlined rules, better components (like plastic dashboards, modular tiles, clearer rules), and still captures the chaotic, thrilling energy of zombie survival: the more you succeed, the tougher- and more dangerous- things get.

Why it stands out: If you love cooperative campaigns, intense action, and gaming nights that can stretch over an hour or more, Zombicide delivers. It’s also quite flexible- you can play with a big group for total chaos, or even solo if you wish.

At $131.99, it’s the most expensive on this list- but it’s also arguably the most content-rich: dozens of minis, many scenarios, high replay value, and hours of gameplay, making it worth it if zombie-apocalypse thrill is your thing.

Quacks: All‑in Edition – $120.99

If you’re after something lighter but still strategic- maybe with a dash of silliness and risk- Quacks: All-in Edition is a cocktail-themed push-your-luck game (with a bit of drafting and resource management), where players brew potions by drawing ingredients from a bag- the more you draw, the better the potion… but draw too much, and your potion explodes.

This “all-in” edition collects expansions and extra content for the base game, giving players a rich, fully loaded potion-brewing adventure.

Why it stands out: It’s perfect for casual game nights, for 2–4 players, when you want something engaging but not too heavy. It’s clever, fun, full of tension and laughter, and often balances on the edge between reward and disaster- making for memorable sessions. The $120.99 price reflects the extra content and replay value packed into this complete edition.

Subway Surfers: The Board Game – $32.99

Based loosely on the vibe of endless-runner video games, Subway Surfers board game brings a lighter, more casual board-gaming experience. It’s a fun pick if you want a fast, easy-to-learn game that’s more about quick enjoyment than deep strategy.

At $32.99, it’s the most wallet-friendly game on this list- great as an entry-level game for newcomers, or as a filler when you don’t want to commit a long evening. If you have younger players, or want something simple and fun for a casual group, this can fit well.

Dragon Eclipse– $228.99

If you’re looking for something premium, immersive, and long-term- Dragon Eclipse seems to aim high. At $228.99, it’s the most expensive board game from your list. While there’s less widely available public information about it compared to older classics, the price suggests a deluxe, perhaps epic-scale game- probably with deep mechanics, rich components, and possibly campaign-style play.

Games at this price point often target hobby-gamers and dedicated groups who enjoy long sessions, complexity, and high replay value. If you want something that feels like a major centerpiece on your shelf- or a “game of the year” candidate- Dragon Eclipse might be it.

The Castles of Burgundy: Special Edition- Acrylic Tiles – $68.99

For lovers of classic euro-style strategy: Castles of Burgundy is already a landmark game by designer Stefan Feld- and this Special Edition ups the ante. Players take the role of medieval aristocrats, building settlements, castles, trading along rivers, exploiting mines, and managing resources to grow their princedom across 1-4 players.

The Special Edition boasts premium materials- bigger tiles, improved components, nicer artwork, and special upgrades like metal coins and double-layered player boards. These upgrades make the game not just more enjoyable, but also more tactile and immersive.

Why it stands out: It’s a deep, strategic game that’s fairly easy to learn but offers massive replayability. Good for 2-4 players who like planning, optimizing moves, and building toward long-term goals. At $68.99, it’s a great balance of price and quality- making it a smart addition if you like eurogames.

Final Thoughts & Why “boardgamesnmore” Still Matters

Whether you prefer dramatic space battles, tense bomb-defusing missions, zombie survival horror, or thoughtful medieval strategy, this list has something for you. From under-$35 filler games to sprawling, immersive experiences- there’s a game for nearly every mood, group size, and time-commitment.

If you’re shopping for these titles online, you might find them on boardgamesnmore– a shop that carried several of these versions at the stated prices- which makes it a useful resource whether you’re ordering to UK or simply browsing for ideas.

Happy gaming nights, and may your dice roll high (or your bombs stay un-exploded)!