Die Hardis getting an officially licensed tabletop game. The classic action-adventure film starring Bruce Willis kicked off a successful franchise, as well as solidified Willis’ career as an action star. To date, there are five films in the Die Hard canon, with a sixth and final Willis film, titled simply McClane, reportedly in development.
Over the years, the franchise has built up quite a following, though some fans will argue that the sequels never did manage to recapture the intensity and thrills of the first film. That first installment has also managed to position itself at the center of a long-running debate, regarding Die Hard’s classification as a Christmas film. For many, Die Hard’s setting, dialogue and tone all indicate a Christmas film, despite Willis himself having spoken up and rejected the idea. The notion doesn’t seem to be disappearing, however, and at one point a Die Hard illustrated Christmas storybook was also created, adding further fuel to the festive argument’s fire.
Related: Is Die Hard A Christmas Movie?
While the Die Hard Christmas debate may never be solved, a new addition is on its way to the franchise, though this time it’s not a movie (or anything Christmas related, for that matter.) Game makers USAopoly have just announced a new, official Die Hard-licensed tabletop game called Die Hard: The Nakatomi Heist Board Game. The new game will be released in the spring of 2019 and The OP’s Lead Game Designer, Pat Marino, had this to say about the game’s creation:
“Die Hard’s influence over the action-thriller genre is staggering, so we were beyond excited for the opportunity to harness the movie’s expert blend of action, intelligence and drama into a unique tabletop experience. We are developing a game that will deeply resonate with Die Hard enthusiasts, incorporating even the slightest details to create a rich and entertaining experience that properly pays tribute to arguably the greatest action movie of all time.”
The licensed creation of Die Hard: The Nakatomi Heist Board Game is a first for the beloved film franchise. The game reportedly pays “distinct homage” to the first film, and allows for one-versus many, asymmetric gameplay in which one player takes on the role of John McClane, while the other players cooperate as the film’s villains in order to stop McClane before he can ruin their Nakatomi Plaza heist. According to The OP, everything from lines of dialogue to actual events in the film have been incorporated into the game, making for gameplay that closely resembles Die Hard.
For Die Hard fans, everything about The OP’s latest tabletop game is enticing. Whether you’re a fan of tabletop games or not, loving Die Hard will be enough incentive for many to give this a try. As the film franchise continues to attempt to push itself forward, those fans who feel as though the series peaked long ago can now take on Die Hard: The Nakatomi Heist Board Game whenever they want to commemorate the excitement and fun of the great action-adventure (Christmas) film.
More: 20 Little Details Behind The Making Of Die Hard
