Hail to the King, Baby! Dynamite Entertainment is Bringing Back the Deadites with Army of Darkness: The Board Game

Groovy! Fans of Sam Raimi’s cult classic film, Army of Darkness, have a reason to polish their boomsticks and sharpen their chainsaws. Dynamite Entertainment, long-time publisher of the Army of Darkness comic series, is set to unleash a new cooperative board game that lets players relive the iconic battle for Lord Arthur’s castle. Designed by Lynnvander Studios, this game promises a frantic, tower-defense experience that perfectly captures the film’s blend of horror and dark comedy. There is a backerkit preorder up now!

Here’s the lowdown on what you need to know about the upcoming tabletop epic.

Army of Darkness: The Board Game plunges 1 to 4 players into the heart of the action from the end of the film. Players take on the roles of Ash Williams and his medieval allies—characters like Henry the Red—as they desperately defend the castle against the relentless swarm of Deadites, Evil Ash, and Evil Sheila.

Key Gameplay Features:

• Cooperative Tower Defense: The game is a fully cooperative experience, meaning players must work together to succeed. The core challenge is a tower-defense-style setup, where you must coordinate to hold the castle walls against the undead horde.
• Real-Time Planning and Action Queues: The gameplay features a unique “action-assignment” mechanic. Each round, players have a limited time to simultaneously program their actions using cards, before taking turns resolving those programmed moves. This creates a frantic, high-pressure environment reminiscent of the final cinematic battle.
• Use Everything at Your Disposal: Players will move around the 22″ x 22″ game board, utilizing the castle’s defenses, manning the artillery, and even using “modern technology” (from the trunk of Ash’s Deathmobile!) to upgrade their defenses and chop through the Deadites.
• The Ultimate Goal: The overall objective is to survive the onslaught long enough to save Sheila using the Necronomicon and then defeat the main antagonists, Evil Ash and Evil Sheila, before they can steal the Book of the Dead and escape the castle.

What’s In the Box?

The game is packed with components to bring the medieval horror to life.

• Game Board: A large, folding 22″ x 22″ board illustrating the castle and surrounding areas.
• Cards and Tokens: Includes 95 cards and 47 tokens for character abilities, actions, Deadite movements, and defense upgrades.
• Custom Dice: Six custom dice will be used for resolving combat actions.
• Character Boards: Multiple playable character boards to track your hero’s progress and stats.
• Standees or Miniatures: The base game includes 40 character standees, but a separate miniature expansion pack is available for fans who want highly detailed figures to replace the standees. With the expansion, the component count rises to include 44 detailed miniatures!

Release Date: Get Ready to Pre-Order!

The game, which has been in development with Lynnvander Studios for several years, is finally nearing its official release.

While various retailers have had conflicting dates, the most recent information suggests fans can anticipate the release of Army of Darkness: The Board Game around February 2026, with some pre-orders still being fulfilled earlier. Be sure to check with your favorite local game store or online retailer for the most up-to-date pre-order information and availability.

Dynamite Entertainment CEO and Publisher Nick Barrucci expressed the company’s long-standing passion for the franchise, stating, “Army of Darkness is the first license Dynamite acquired over 20 years ago. We have a strong passion for Ash and the AOD fanbase. This new board game is going to be a smash hit with players, so we’re ecstatic to watch it come to life.”

Are You Ready to Face the Deadites?

Whether you’re a tabletop veteran or a die-hard Deadite hunter, this board game offers a fantastic new way to experience the thrills and comedy of the classic film. So, get your pre-orders in, practice your “S-Mart” catchphrases, and prepare for a helluva night defending that castle.

Good… Bad… I’m the guy with the cards.