Modern Games
Browse all Modern board games in the Meeple Pulse database.
Styles
Themes
AbstractAdventureAncientAnimalsArtBusinessCard GameCo-operativeComic BookCooperativeCrimeEconomicEnvironmentalismExplorationFantasyHistoricalHorrorHumorIntrigueLiteraryMagicMarvelMedievalModernMuseumMysteryMythologyNatureNauticalPoliticalPress Your LuckSatireSci-FiSocial CommentarySocial InteractionSpaceSuperheroesThematicTravelWarWesternWord-Guessing
Mechanics
3D PlacementActingAction / DexterityAction DraftingAction Point AllowanceAction Point Allowance SystemAction Point SystemAction PointsAction ProgrammingAction QueueAction RetrievalAction SelectionAction/EventAlliancesAlternate ActivationApp-AssistedApp-DrivenArea ControlArea InfluenceArea MajorityArea Majority / InfluenceArea MovementArgumentationAsymmetricAsymmetric FactionsAsymmetric GameAsymmetric PowersAsymmetrical PowersAuction & BiddingAuction/BiddingAuctioningBag BuildingBettingBetting and BluffingBetting and WageringBetting and WagersBiddingBingoBlind BiddingBluffingCampaign / Battle Card DrivenCampaign / LegacyCampaign / Legacy GameCampaign / Mission-basedCampaign / ScenariosCampaign GameCampaign PlayCard DraftingCard DrawingCard DrivenCard Driven ActionCard Driven CombatCard Driven Dice AllocationCard Driven MovementCard ManagementCard PlayCard Play / Hand ManagementCard Play Conflict ResolutionCard SheddingCard-Driven MovementCharacter CreationCharacter ProgressionChit-Pull SystemCo-op PlayCo-operative GameCo-operative PlayCode-breakingCombat ResolutionCombo ChainCommand CardsCommodity SpeculationCommunication LimitsContract FulfillmentContractsCooperative GameCooperative GameplayCooperative PlayCooperative Trick-takingDebateDeck BuildingDeck ConstructionDeck, Bag, and Pool BuildingDeck-BuildingDeductionDexterityDice DraftingDice PlacementDice RollingDiplomatic InfluenceDraftingDynamic Battle SystemEnclosureEnd Game BonusesEngine BuildingEngine-BuildingEscape RoomEvent DrivenExplorationFarmingFlip and WriteFollowFollow ActionGrid CoverageGrid MovementHand ManagementHex-and-CounterHexagon GridHidden MovementHidden RolesI Cut You ChooseIncomeInfluence / Area MajorityLadder ClimbingLegacyLegacy ElementsLegacy GameLegacy SystemLimited CommunicationLine DrawingLine of SightMancalaMap MovementMarketMarket DraftingMarket ManipulationMarket MechanicMarket SpeculationMatchingMeasurement MovementMemoryMission ObjectivesModular BoardModular Board ConstructionMovement TemplatesMulti-Use CardsMulti-use CardsMultiple ScenariosMust FollowNarrative ChoiceNarrative Choice / ParagraphNegotiationNegotiation MechanicsNetwork & Route BuildingNetwork BuildingNetwork and Route BuildingOne vs ManyOne vs. ManyOpen DraftingPaper-and-PencilPartnershipsPattern BuildingPattern RecognitionPick-up and DeliverPlayer EliminationPlayer InteractionPlayer JudgePoint SaladPoint to Point MovementPolyominoesPush Your LuckPush-Your-LuckPuzzlePuzzle-LikePuzzle-SolvingRaceReal-TimeRecipe FulfillmentResource ManagementRole PlayingRole SelectionRoll / Spin and MoveRondelRoute BuildingRoute-BuildingRoute/Network BuildingSanity SystemScenario / Campaign PlayScenario / Mission / Campaign GameScenario / Mission FunctionSecret Unit DeploymentSemi-Cooperative GameSet CollectionSheddingSimulationSimultaneous ActionSimultaneous Action SelectionSimultaneous Hidden AllocationSocial DeductionSocial InteractionSolo / Solitaire GameSpace ExplorationStat Check / Skill CheckStock HoldingStorytellingStrategic PlanningTableau BuildingTactical Decision-MakingTake ThatTargeted CluesTeam PlayTeam-Based GameTeam-Based GuessingTeamworkTech TreesTech Trees / Tech TracksTechnology & Armament TracksTechnology TreeTension & Aggression TracksTile DraftingTile LayingTile PlacementTime TrackTime TravelTower DefenseTrack MovementTradingTrick-takingTug of WarTurn Order: PassTurn Order: Stat-BasedUnit PlacementVariable Phase OrderVariable Player PowersVariable Set-upVariable SetupVictory Point TracksVotingWord AssociationWord GameWord GuessingWord-GuessingWord-guessingWordplayWorker Placement

Ready Set Bet: Let It Ride is an expansion that supercharges the already thrilling, real-time experience of its parent game, Ready Set Bet. It doesn't alter the fundamental goal: to walk away from the track with the most money after four frenetic horse races. Instead, it enriches the experience by throwing open the betting windows with a host of new wagers, strategic wrinkles, and game-changing powers. Players still find themselves in a chaotic flurry of placing bets as a caller (or an app) rolls dice to move the horses down the track. This expansion, however, ensures that the path to riches is far more varied and unpredictable, demanding more from veteran players while retaining the infectious energy that makes the original game a party favorite. It’s for anyone who felt the thrill of a photo finish and thought, 'I wish there were even more ways I could have bet on that.'
The heart of the Let It Ride expansion lies in its significant additions to the betting system. The core gameplay loop of placing tokens during a real-time race remains, but the decision space is vastly expanded. Players can now place highly specific "Exacta" bets, predicting the first and second-place finishers in precise order for a massive payout. For those who enjoy schadenfreude, a new "Last Place" bet allows you to profit from failure. New betting tokens also debut, such as "Box" chips for covering the top two horses in any order and "Baa" tokens that cleverly hedge a bet across two adjacent horses. Perhaps the most significant addition is a deck of 14 new VIP cards, which grant each player a unique special ability for the game. These powers can be dramatic, allowing a player to move an ill-fated bet mid-race or even trigger a one-time, game-altering power to completely restart a race just as it concludes.
The unique appeal of Let It Ride is how seamlessly it layers more strategic depth onto a light and accessible party game. It amplifies the excitement and player interaction without sacrificing the speed and simplicity that defined the original. The new wager types provide more avenues for clever risk assessment, while the asymmetric VIP powers give players a distinct identity and a reason to try different strategies each game. This added variety creates incredible replayability, as the combination of powers and available bets changes every session. The expansion is a perfect next step for groups who love Ready Set Bet and are ready to raise the stakes. It introduces just enough new rules to make the experience feel fresh and challenging again, ensuring that the shouts and groans around the table are louder and more frequent than ever before.
2-9 60m⚖️ 1.8

Fools' Fuel
2025Dive into the chaotic, magic-fueled streets of a post-Soviet urban fantasy world with Fools' Fuel, a vehicular skirmish miniatures game. Set in the unique "Slav Borg" universe, this title casts players as daring drivers in high-stakes, objective-based races where victory is about more than just being the fastest. Players must outmaneuver, outwit, and outgun their rivals on a dynamic battlefield, completing specific goals to claim supremacy. The game was envisioned as a complete experience, offering deep lore and a distinct thematic setting that blends gritty, futuristic vehicle combat with powerful and unpredictable magical abilities. It's a contest of speed, strategy, and survival in a world where fantastical power meets industrial decay.
The core of the gameplay revolves around a strategic dice pool management system. Each turn, players allocate dice to perform a variety of actions, from accelerating down a straightaway to activating potent vehicle upgrades. Movement is a critical phase, governed by a vehicle's "Speed" value. Players spend these points to move, make tight 90-degree turns, or even reverse out of trouble. Pushing your vehicle to its limits introduces a thrilling risk-reward element; consecutive forward movements or turns can result in 'Burn' or 'Drift' tokens. Accumulate too many, and you'll face a 'Drive Test' at the end of your turn. Failure means a catastrophic loss of control, adding a palpable layer of tension to every decision and creating cinematic moments of vehicular chaos.
What makes Fools' Fuel stand out is its deep customization and the seamless integration of its bizarre theme into the mechanics. The game promised extensive options for vehicle upgrades, allowing players to build a machine perfectly suited to their preferred playstyle, whether it be a heavily armored brawler or a nimble speedster. The magic-infused setting isn't just window dressing; it introduces game-changing abilities like teleportation and flight, completely altering tactical possibilities. This fusion of familiar vehicular combat with extraordinary powers creates a truly unique tabletop experience. Designed to be accessible to hobbyists of all kinds, the project planned for both high-quality physical miniatures and 3D-printable STL files, inviting players to fully immerse themselves in its vibrant and dangerous world.
1-4 60m⚖️ 2.4

RISK G.I. JOE: Special Missions is a high-stakes, thematic reimagining of the classic game of global domination, pivoting the focus from total territorial conquest to precise, mission-driven objectives. In this version, players are thrust into the iconic conflict between the heroic G.I. Joe team and the villainous Cobra organization. Unlike the sprawling, indefinite nature of traditional RISK, this game is structured over three intense rounds, where victory is determined by the accumulation of Objective Points (OP). With 252 detailed miniatures representing the various forces, the game brings the beloved franchise to life on the tabletop, offering a narrative-heavy experience where every move counts toward a larger strategic goal.
The gameplay mechanics introduce a significant twist to the familiar RISK formula. While area control and dice-driven combat remain core elements, players must now prioritize 'Special Missions' and 'Plots' that appear throughout the game. Each faction, whether G.I. Joe or Cobra, has unique tactical objectives that require more than just sheer numbers; they require careful positioning and resource management. Instead of merely trying to wipe an opponent off the map, you might find yourself racing to secure a specific research facility, rescuing a captured operative, or disrupting a global terror plot. This shift creates a much more dynamic board state where players must decide between defending their current holdings or launching a risky strike to secure high-value mission points before the round ends.
Fans of the G.I. Joe universe and tactical board games alike will find plenty to love in this box. The unique appeal lies in the modernization of the RISK engine, making it feel faster, more focused, and significantly more thematic. The three-round limit ensures that the game doesn't overstay its welcome, providing a clear climax and a satisfying sense of progression. It captures the energy of the franchise perfectly, allowing for cinematic moments where a single heroic push can flip the tide of battle. By blending nostalgic flair with a refined objective-based scoring system, RISK G.I. JOE: Special Missions offers a sophisticated mid-weight strategy experience that rewards both tactical flexibility and aggressive maneuvers.
2-4 90m⚖️ 2.6
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