Summer may not be over, but the tabletop gaming world is already buzzing with new releases and announcements. Unlike video games, there's no summer drought for board game enthusiasts, with dozens of new titles hitting shelves and crowdfunding platforms.
Video Game Adaptations Lead the Charge
Recent months have seen a surge in video game adaptations, including XCOM: The Miniatures Game and Cult of the Lamb: The Board Game. Animation crossovers for Justice League and Ghost in the Shell have also made waves, alongside new Warhammer and Pokémon Trading Card Game releases.
The Disney Store on Oxford Street even had to close its doors temporarily as crowds from across Europe rushed to get the latest Lorcana offerings, highlighting the growing popularity of Disney's trading card game.
Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon Launch Box
Games Workshop's 11th Edition of Warhammer 40,000 arrives with the Armageddon launch box, featuring a clash between the Imperium and the Orks. The set includes two complete armies, with newly sculpted Space Marine units and a brutal Ork force. Priced at £150, it's designed to be accessible for newcomers while offering updated sculpts for veterans.
Riftbound: League of Legends TCG Vendetta
Riot Games continues to expand its League of Legends trading card game with Riftbound: Vendetta. This expansion introduces over 160 new cards, focusing on legendary rivalries with champions like Shen, Zed, Mel, and Ambessa. New mechanics such as flow, burn, and empower add strategic depth, with Showcase cards for collectors.
Disney Lorcana – Set 13: Attack of the Vine!
Disney Lorcana's 13th set brings Spooky Season early with Attack of the Vine. The expansion features dual-named characters like Sulley & Boo, and introduces new abilities like temporary shift and floodborn shift. With over 200 cards, chase cards include a singing red Panda Meilin and a Belle and Beast card that can fetch up to $2,000 on eBay.
Pokémon 40,000-Piece Jigsaw Puzzle
Ravensburger's 40,320-piece Pokémon jigsaw puzzle is one of the largest officially licensed puzzles ever made. Depicting every Pokémon region from Kanto to Paldea, it measures 6.8m by 1.9m and weighs around 20kg when complete. Priced at £549.99, it's available from 1st September.
Warhammer: The Old World – Fantasy Battles
The new core set for Warhammer: The Old World pits Grand Cathay against the Warriors of Chaos, featuring 54 miniatures and an updated rulebook. The game offers deeper tactical gameplay than Age of Sigmar or Warhammer 40,000, with a new lower-point Battle March mode for more manageable games.
Ghost In The Shell: Tabletop Roleplaying Game
Based on the original Masamune Shirow manga, this RPG puts players in the cyber-enhanced boots of Section 9 operatives. It focuses on themes of identity, AI, and what it means to be human in a digital world, with customisable cybernetic upgrades and tactical combat in futuristic Tokyo.
XCOM: The Miniatures Game
XCOM: The Miniatures Game transforms the beloved strategy series into a tactical tabletop battle. Built on the Five Parsecs From Home ruleset, it's playable solo or cooperatively, with an asymmetric mode for alien invasion. Pre-orders are £185, with release in January 2027.
Cult Of The Lamb: The Board Game
Paper Fort Games' Kickstarter for Cult Of The Lamb: The Board Game captures the video game's mix of cute and creepy. Players balance expeditions with managing a cult, recruiting followers, and making morally questionable decisions. The all-in pledge is £249, with release in December 2027.
Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution-Pitch Black
The Pokémon Center Elite Trainer Box for Mega Evolution-Pitch Black is now available for £49.99. It features Mega Pokémon ex cards like Mega Darkrai ex and Morpeko ex, offering a mix of nostalgia and competitive potential ahead of the World Championship.
Justice League Unlimited: The Roleplaying Game
Co-written by Mark Waid, this is the first officially licensed Justice League RPG in nearly 20 years. Players create original heroes from lineages like Kryptonian or Amazonian, with mechanics like tacit clauses and an entropy system for chaotic twists. The all-in pledge is $320 (£238), with release in May 2027.
