BOARD GAMES
Here is a list of the current themed boardgames I currently own.
Shadows of Brimstone is set in early America during the Wild West with the addition of mystical creatures and portals to other worlds. Playable co-op or solo the game has players controlling a group of heroes with various actions and abilities entering mines on various missions. This game is tough and every win is well earned. I have several of the expansions for this game and Flying Frog Productions keeps bringing out more. It's an amazing game, I highly recommend it.
The Adventurers: The Temple of Chac is a fast and frantic race through an ancient temple filed with traps. Players take on the role of treasure hunters trying to grab as much loot as they can carry and still get out alive. This game is more of a player vs. board than player vs. player in that there is little to no player interactions until the end when players compare how much treasure they acquired (at least those that survived). It's a good game and works really well with younger players as the board is covered with interactive bits.
Might be pushing it a bit with this one as far as considering it a pulp game, but to me the old classic horror fits in so why not? A Touch of Evil is set in colonial America with players trying to discover and destroy some horrific creature that is plaguing the area. The game is a balance of investigation and preparation that leads to a boss fight at the end.
Lost Ruins of Arnak is a worker placement / deck building game set on a newly discovered island. Players gather resources, explore, fight monsters, research, and buy supplies and artifacts in an effort to accumulate more points than everyone else. There's a lot going on in this game and new players can get a little overwhelmed the first game or two, but it's a fun game with a lot of strategy. The solo version is a bit easy, but still enjoyable. I've heard the expansion makes this game even better, but I haven't picked it up yet.
Another game that sits on the edge of pulp is Scythe. Scythe is set in an alternate 1920's period. The game is a territory control game with a strong economic focus. I haven't played this one too often, but I remember having a good time with it, but territory games tend to take more time than I normally have to play.
I think I was in my early teens when I found this game at a Flea Market in the south. Source of the Nile is about exploring the inner part of Africa. Players control an expedition and must outfit them as best they can to deal with all the hazards and threats they might face. The board is mostly blank hex grid at the start of the game with players using crayon to draw in the type of terrain they discover in each hex. This game takes a while but is easily stored so it can be played over multiple sessions. If you are lucky enough to find a copy pick it up, it's one of the most unique board games I own.
Whenever I try to explain what Pulp is I inevitably bring up Indiana Jones, and if there is a board game that comes close to those movies this is it. In the game players are seeking an ancient artifact traveling around the world collection allies and gear while fighting vile villains.
Tannhauser is a Weird World War II board game with players controlling squads of troops on tactical missions. I loved everything about this game except the game-play itself.
The Lost Expedition has players trying to survive and escape the jungle. It can be played solo, co-op, or competitively with players racing to be the first to get out of the jungle. This game may well be one of the hardest games to win mainly because there is a strong luck element and sometimes you lose for no other reason than drawing the wrong card and not being able to do anything about it.