With The X-Files set to return to filming this summer, Mulder and Scully are firmly back on pop culture’s radar. Fans impatient for new content from the show need not wait long, however, thanks to a new game based on the paranormal drama.
The X-Files game is a straightforward matter of investigating conspiracies, where one player, as the “cigarette-smoking man”, faces off everyone else, who co-operate as agents. It’s simple fare that is easy to teach. Production quality is good, with plenty of quality illustration, though the theme and the mechanics can feel disconnected. Ultimately, The X-Files game is engaging and accessible, but not the epic some will have hoped for.
A board game that does fuse theme and mechanics superbly is second world war strategy title Quartermaster General, which focuses on warfare’s logistics and lines of supply over the combat. It’s an engrossing, thoughtful title, perfect for a more considered table gathering, without daunting levels of complexity.
Utterly different again is Elysium, an intricate card game set in the realm of Greek mythology that challenges players to climb the gods’ food chain. It presents considerable variety, and thus boasts much potential for longevity. It, too, has a snappy pace, and the intricacy is complemented by relatively short game times.
