Matt Sall

Sometimes you just want to rule the world. In these area control board games, there’s no diplomacy here, only conquer or be conquered. Movies have had a lot of famous fictional wars, but few have been as long-lasting as Star Wars, as I assume they are called in fiction. I wouldn’t know, I’ve never seen them. But in Star Wars: Rebellion, two teams work towards opposing goals. The Empire is trying to find and root out the rebel base, while the rebels are trying to garner support.

While everyone is so excited about the 500 Worlds campaign, there are still plenty of us looking back fondly at games like Man O’ War that deserve to be revisited. I’ve been staring at the edge of the water as long as I can remember. Always knowing I just wanted to be an orkish pirate. Fortunately for me, there’s Man O’ War! Unfortunately for me, it’d been mostly lost to the briny deep.

Villainous is easily one of the most fun 2-player games, and getting to be a Sith in Star Wars Villainous is just a bonus. Saving the day? Boring. Rescuing the kidnapped heir to the throne? Overdone. Stopping the chemical plant from poisoning the local ecosystem? Okay, well, let’s not get crazy. The point is, being a goody-two-shoes isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be. And sometimes, it’s fun to get a little Villainous. Villainous is a series of games where you play as the villain, naturally.