Is a JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure board game possible?

The manga JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure board game continues to gain followers and continues to recruit new fans in the world. In 2021, the arrival of the anime on Netflix put it back in the spotlight to introduce it to a less knowledgeable audience.

In its quest for popularity, manga is gradually opening up to geek culture via derivative products. However, there is one area in which it is not found: the board game.

Mangas and derived products a classic alliance

To help manga sagas gain a recurring place on the various markets, the creation of complete merchandising around the titles has always been one of the favourite axes of publishers. It is enough to see how a Dragon Ball Z has been able to diversify derivative products to understand that the strategy is omnipresent. Apparel, mugs, books, backpacks, and even sculptures are all available to keep the “business” in the public eye.

If one could believe that this search for notoriety is above all the strategy of “ blockbusters ”, it is however also very much used by more modest or older titles to continue to make it live with its fan base. In this quest for knowledge and recognition, pop culture and manga, in particular, are increasingly positioning themselves around our tables for board game evenings.

Board games and manga: competition very present on set

If for a time, the porting of manga into board games was above all a pretext to offer a derivative product rather than the fruit of built-up background work, the trend has reversed. The manga/board games couple is starting to gain momentum and we find titles with promising gameplay with real added value.

In addition to the classics of the genre revisited with manga sauce (Monopoly Naruto and other Cluedo Dragon Ball), some board games have become playful works in their own right. We will think in particular of Naruto Ninja Arena, a fighting game, the Attack of the Titans, the Last Rampart, and Death Note Confrontation or, on the comic side, the sublime Okko Chronicles and its 5 extensions. In short, real board games deserve to linger.

At the same time, the market for collectable card games has completely exploded, in part thanks to collaborations between publishers and manga licensing. In France, we will find the pillars that are Yu-Gi-Oh where still Pokémon, as well as the game Dragon Ball. But internationally (especially in Japan) Saint Seiya, One Piece, Sailor Moon, and Olive and Tom all have their own games.

But what about JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure in board game version?

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure as a board game, is it possible?

Clearly, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventures has not taken the turn of board games and those for our greatest sadness. There is absolutely no proposal that takes up the universe of the manga. The only game around the franchise is a tarot game with illustrations of characters from the saga. Nothing that makes us wants to project ourselves at the present time.

Unfortunately, the question will there be a JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure board game in the near future; we are forced to answer no. Although a surprise is always possible. We will then be the first to let you know.