Legacy games are some of the most exciting experiences in board gaming. They evolve over time, tell a story, and introduce permanent changes based on your choices. Each session leaves a mark on the next — whether it’s new rules, new components, or a shifting narrative.
We’ve seen some incredible legacy games already — Pandemic Legacy, Clank! Legacy, and Charterstone come to mind — but it’s hard not to imagine what it would be like if other favorites got the same treatment.
Here are five modern board games that would absolutely shine in a legacy format, along with how I envision that transformation unfolding.
Azul: Legacy of the Royal Workshop
Why it works: Azul is already a beautiful game of patterns, pacing, and puzzle-solving — and the tile-laying system is a natural fit for narrative arcs. Imagine turning your basic wall into a royal commission that changes and expands as you play.
Legacy twist ideas:
- Introduce new pattern public goals to complete based on royal demands.
- Earn noble titles or favor that give you persistent perks (or penalties) based on who wins each game.
- Add personal boards that evolve based on your choices from game to game with stickers or alternate floor/wall patterns.
🎨 Grab the original Azul here: Amazon affiliate link
Terraforming Mars: The Long Campaign
Why it works: Terraforming Mars is practically built for a legacy experience. It’s already a long-term project with shifting priorities, evolving strategies, and a shared canvas. Why not make that canvas permanent?
Legacy twist ideas:
- Each session covers a different decade of the planet’s colonization.
- Winning corporations gain long-term benefits; others might go bankrupt or get absorbed.
- Tiles placed on Mars stay from game to game — shaping strategy across generations.
- Introduce planetary events like dust storms, climate shifts, or alien discoveries that change the landscape of Mars.
🌍 Get Terraforming Mars here: Amazon affiliate link
Dune: Imperium — Rise of the Houses
Why it works: With its blend of deck-building, worker placement, and political tension, Dune: Imperium is begging for a sprawling narrative. The setting is already rich with betrayal, prophecy, and long-term power struggles.
Legacy twist ideas:
- Each player builds a persistent House, gaining alliances or enemies based on game outcomes.
- Story events introduce changing win conditions or new strategic dilemmas.
- Unlock new factions, cards, or mechanics that shift the balance of power.
- Choose narrative paths that branch the campaign in meaningful ways.
🔥 Find Dune: Imperium here: Amazon affiliate link
Space Base: Galactic Legacy
Why it works: Space Base is already about building your empire one ship at a time. Now imagine if you were doing that across a full campaign — building from humble beginnings into a sprawling galactic saga.
Legacy twist ideas:
- Begin in one sector of space, expanding your reach with new cards and regions.
- Track rivalries, trade routes, and missions between players.
- Unlock new technologies and modules over time, adding wild new combos.
- Introduce events like alien invasions, black holes, or diplomatic incidents that change the board (and your plans).
🚀 Launch your fleet with Space Base here: Amazon affiliate link
7 Wonders: Age of Empires
Why it works: 7 Wonders already has the feel of building a civilization through different ages. A legacy version could stretch that into a full empire saga, where choices echo through time.
Legacy twist ideas:
- Each game represents a new historical era — Ancient, Classical, Medieval, etc.
- Wonders evolve based on how they’re used and upgraded over time.
- Players unlock new leaders, technologies, or cultural shifts each session.
- Decisions in early games could affect what resources or actions are available in later ones.
🏛️ Begin your legacy with 7 Wonders here: Amazon affiliate link
These five games are already excellent, but with the narrative depth and progression of a legacy system, they could become all-time greats. Whether it’s reshaping Mars, building out a space sector, or watching your wonder grow across centuries, the possibilities are exciting — and honestly, I’d love to see any one of these happen.
🗨️ What game would you love to see get a legacy version? Drop a comment and let’s dream big together.
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