Video Game Champion is a board game that nostalgically brings back the spirit of the ’90s and the video gaming days when we used to rent games from local stores and read magazines full of gameplay tips. The game was designed by Patrick Matheus and André Negrãoplays.
The game is a love letter to retro video game culture. Players take on the roles of young gaming enthusiasts striving to become the “Video Game Champion” over the course of five weeks of play. Everything is infused with references to 16-bit games, parody covers, and mechanics that mimic the experience of playing and collecting games from that era.
The gameplay combines card and tile management, set collection, and action selection.
Players choose button tiles with actions such as renting games, buying magazines, doing homework (to pay off debts), playing games, and collecting crystals. To play a game, players must discard tiles in certain color or numerical patterns (e.g., three of the same color or four consecutive numbers). Magazines can replace missing tiles, while crystals are collected in a “password notebook,” which grants additional points. Each week, the game refreshes with new games, magazines, and tiles, and weekends allow extra gaming opportunities. At the end of the game, points are tallied based on the number of games completed, public objectives achieved, crystals collected, and completed rows/columns in the notebook.
If you enjoy thematic games with a retro touch, Video Game Champion might be the perfect choice for a nostalgic evening at the table. 🎮✨
