The popular tabletop seriesVillainousis getting a revamp this year, with new, smaller boxes to help you get into the game for cheaper. It’s also releasing a new version of its’ beginner-friendly box, Villainous: Introduction To Evil.
Dubbed the “expandalone format”, new releases for Disney Villainous and its Star Wars sibling will feature a smaller number of playable characters than before, but still be playable right out the box and be on offer for much cheaper.
Villainous is an asymmetrical game where each player takes charge of a Disney, Marvel, or Star Wars villain. You have your own goals to complete, meaning everybody will be following different strategies and plots as they vie to complete their objectives. A large part of the game is not only knowing what you need to do, but also knowing the best way to throw the wrench into the works of your opposing villains.
Disney Villainous: Sugar And Spite
Introducing King Candy and Shere Khan to Disney Villainous, this first ‘expandalone’ features two characters ready to play straight out the box, or played against any other villain in the Disney Villainous lineup.
The first expandalone release for Disney Villainous is coming in June, with Sugar and Spite. The box includes two new villains, with Wreck It Ralph’s King Candy and The Jungle Book’s Shere Khan joining the roster. As with previous expansions, both will be fully compatible with other characters added to Disney Villainous, like Professor Ratigan, Ursula, Prince John, and Mother Gothel.
Meanwhile, Star Wars Villainous will be getting a currently-unrevealed expandalone this summer, the second expansion released for the game following2023’s Scum and Villainy. As Star Wars includes its own take on Villainous, it isn’t compatible with their the Disney orMarvelbranches of the game, but these will be playable with both the base Star Wars game and Scum and Villainy’s characters.
Talking about the expandalones, head of new games marketing at Ravensburger Lysa Penrose said “We want to make board gaming as approachable as possible. ForVillainousas an introductory game, the adjusted format lowers the price of entry and offers an easier option for couples or smaller groups of friends to enjoy gameplay, while still offering the exciting, immersive mechanics… and a few surprises… that core fans have grown to love.”
These expandalones will come in at a lower price point than previous, meatier expansions, costing just $19.99 when they launch exclusively in Target. For the moment, there’s no word on whether expandalones will also be coming to the Marvel Villainous range.
Disney Villainous: Introduction To Evil
A streamlined way to get into Disney Villainous, Introduction to Evil includes Ursula, Captain Hook, Prince John, and Maleficent to choose from, alongside video tutorials to help learn the game quicker than ever. Introduction to Evil is compatible with every other Disney Villainous release, letting you mix and match your villains in endlessly replayable games.
On top of expandalones, publisher Ravensburger has confirmed it’ll release the regular edition of the Introduction to Evil later this year. Launching asa limited-edition Disney100 version in 2023, Introduction to Evil has a smoother onboarding experience for new players, with streamlined video tutorials helping you get to grips with its four characters: Ursula, Prince John, Captain Hook, and Maleficent.
Introduction To Evil is effectively identical to the Disney100 edition, but comes at a lower cost of $29.99 and has new “refreshed” packaging that will be the standard for the box going forward.
It’ll launch in August, meaning you can expand it with Sugar and Spite straight away.
