The Wheel of Time Enters the Grand Strategy Genre With a 2027 Board Game

Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time began as an epic high-fantasy novel series in 1990. Brandon Sanderson later co-authored the final three books, completing the story after Jordan’s death.

The franchise reached a wider audience through Prime Video’s live-action adaptation, which premiered in 2021 and ran for three seasons before being canceled. Despite earning awards and generally positive reviews, the decision prompted an ongoing campaign by fans hoping to see the series revived.

Prime Video has not announced a television return, but the franchise is continuing in another form: a tabletop grand-strategy game scheduled to reach backers in 2027.

The Wheel of Time Moves Into Grand Strategy

Dire Wolf’s War of the Dragon: The Wheel of Time is the first board game based on Jordan’s series. Its Kickstarter campaign attracted 6,156 backers and raised $1,166,993, demonstrating the enduring appeal of the fantasy saga.

The game centers on the conflict between the forces of Light and Darkness, represented by Rand al’Thor, the Dragon Reborn, and his eternal adversary, the Dark One.

Players choose a side and wage war across a world of magic, ancient prophecy, and formidable armies, shaping whether the land is saved or destroyed.

Featuring tableau-building, action-selection, and area-control mechanics, War of the Dragon: The Wheel of Time offers two distinct modes. Hero is intended as the more accessible option for newcomers, while Epic expands the scale with vast armies and large battlefield confrontations.

Shipping Begins in 2027

The Kickstarter campaign has ended, with copies expected to begin shipping to backers in early 2027. A wider release later that same year. Broader availability is planned alongside its full commercial release in the new year. Broader availability planned alongside its full launch in the new year.

Fans on r/boardgames have since debated the game’s premise, design pedigree, and whether its mechanics offer enough information to judge the finished experience.

“The fact that I love both Dune Imperium and Clank gives me reason to back this alone,” one commenter wrote, citing two previous releases from the publisher. “Have not decided yet if I actually will, but the pedigree is there.”

Another wrote, “Wheel of Time is also one of my favorite IPs ever, and I love that the designer clearly loves the series. In the video on the page, I also love that he specifically said it’s strictly from the books and not the show (which sucked big time). But yeah, the gameplay descriptions are just generic board game terms that don’t give any real expectation of play. I’ll likely back it but definitely want to see actual gameplay before doing so.”

Backers are expected to receive War of the Dragon: The Wheel of Time in 2027, while other players will be able to purchase it when the full commercial release begins.

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