Have you noticed just how large the universe is? I mean, everywhere you go, there it is. I’m starting to think I’m going to need a bigger map. Hi, I’m Chaz Marler from Pair Of Dice Paradise, and I’ve recently been wondering if the universe is so big that it may not, in fact, revolve around me. Nah, that’s crazy.

But, what’s more, some even consider this universe, that we call home, not to be the only one, referring to the the billions of alternate universes imagined in every book, movie, comic, and community theater production of Les Miserables. Some of these universes exist only in one medium, but some, some are so strong, so vibrant, that they can successfully spill over into multiple forms of entertainment. These crossovers are a great way to expand those universes, while simultaneously selling twelve thousand crates of your top notch merchandise that people will crawl through burning broken glass to purchase, no matter how “forced” the product integration may be.

Some universes are even strong enough that they can be adapted into board games and still retain their distinct flavor and personality. There’s a long list of examples in which this is the case. Heck, Star Wars alone has been adapted into enough board game properties over the years that I could spend the rest of the year just discussing Star Wars game after Star Wars game which is an idea that I hadn’t thought of until just now but would be very tempting because it would give me material months and seriously who among us couldn’t use a vacation every now and then? But regardless, my point is that board games based on the Star Wars universe have historically been hit and miss. Yet, that universe remains strong enough that even characters developed in secondary media have become canon.

One company that’s done a pretty good job of adapting properties from other media into boardgames is Gale Force Nine. Their roster includes: Spartacus, Firefly, Super Showdown, Homeland and Sons Of Anarchy. All decent games based on these universes, but strong enough to stand on their own.

But what about the other way around? Are there any universes that started out in board games that are strong enough to be adapted to other mediums?

"What about the Battleship movie?" Don’t start. No. Just, stop it.

Next time, we’ll travel into that quadrant of the board game universe to explore that idea.