There’s nothing like the satisfaction of achieving fictional world domination from your living room. Risk, Hasbro’s simple but simultaneously complex strategy board game, has helped players take over the world since 1957. Much like the object of Risk, the board game itself has made its way across the world in the past 63 years.
Risk has also had a ton of updates and spin-offs since its initial Parker Brothers release. The game has paid homage to more than 20 movie franchises, games, and even television shows (looking at you, Rick & Morty). While some versions have remained popular over the years, others fell by the wayside. Let’s look at 10 of the rarest Risk games out there.
10 Risk Asterix - $55
Risk Asterix, or Hors Serie Risk, was exclusively published in France by Editions ATLAS in 2008. The game covers the Mediterranean Basin and is based on the French comic book series The Adventures of Asterix. In the series, Gaulish warriors document their everyday adventures, including battles with the Roman Empire in the Julius Caesar era.
Although it may not be the most expensive version of the game, Risk Asterix is rather hard to come by in the United States. Dedicated Risk collectors can purchase the game from French sellers for just over $50.
9 Risk Rustic - $112.95
In 2005, a collector’s edition of Risk hit Target stores as part of the Parker Brothers Vintage Game Series. This special Rustic version features wooden armies and a wooden puzzlefit gameboard, all wrapped up in a vintage-inspired wooden box.
The game itself involves the original rules and territories, but its rustic packaging makes Risk worthy of buying and putting out on display. Risk Rustic can now be found through a few online retailers, including Wal-Mart, who lists the game at $112.95.
8 Risk Onyx Edition - $119.95
Risk received a sleek makeover for both its appearance and gameplay in 2009. Aptly called Risk: Reinvention (also known as Risk Factor or Risk Revised Edition) the revamp added two additional ways to play, making for faster gameplay.
7 Risk Halo Wars - $131
A Halo Wars edition of Risk was released in 2009 shortly after the release of Ensemble Studio’s video game of the same name. In this version, playable factions include the UNSC, the Covenant and the Flood as players attempt to take over Arcadia. The 250 game pieces represent different elements of Halo Wars, including Scorpion Tanks, Juggernauts, Grunts, and more.
Risk Halo Wars can be found online at various prices ranging from $40 to $131 at Wal-Mart.
6 Risk Lord of the Rings Trilogy Edition - $200
Two Lord of the Rings Risk games were released in 2002 and 2003, respectively. The second edition, Lord of the Rings Trilogy, includes a map of Middle-Earth, including Gondor, Mordor, and Haradwaith. This expanded version of the original Lord of the Rings Risk game features elements from all three Lord of the Rings films, plus additional cards and an extra board.
Risk Lord of the Rings Trilogy is a rare collector’s item, so fans can expect to pay at least $100 to $200 for a set.
5 Risk Metal Gear Solid - $249.95
A limited edition version of Risk with a few twists based on Metal Gear video games was released in 2011. Risk Metal Gear Solid includes the classic Risk map with an added Outer Haven territory. This version also introduces nuclear strikes on remote territories from the player in control of Metal Gear Rex.
4 Risk Napoleon - $400
Risk Napoleon, published in 1999, is one of the rarest versions of the game. Only 10,000 copies were exclusively released in France. While the game follows traditional risk rules, additional advanced rules are applied in the form of fortress sieges, naval combat, and more. Risk Napoleon is considered an evolution of an earlier version of the game, Castle Risk.
One year later, an expanded version was released with an added Ottoman Empire. This edition can be found online in good condition for $400.
3 Risk Black Ops Limited Edition - $549
Only 1,000 copies of Risk Black Ops were produced in 2008, making it an incredibly rare version of the world conquest game. Most copies were distributed within the board game industry to test out new rules, according to Engadget. Risk Black Ops marked the start of a new way to play the game, where players focus on objectives rather than total world domination.
2 Castle Risk - $800
A variation of the original Risk board, Castle Risk was released in 1986. This special edition was played on a map of Europe and included hidden armies and special cards containing spies and commanders. Castle Risk was later re-released in the late ’90s on the backside of a standard Parker Brothers edition of the original board game.
1 Risk 40th Anniversary Edition - $878
Of course, there’s nothing better than bringing back the board game that started it all. In celebration of Risk’s 40th anniversary, a collector’s edition of the Parker Brothers original was released in 1999. The set includes a redrawn map and special edition battle dice. In addition, each gameboard is marked with a unique limited edition number.
Right now, a used version of the board game is available on eBay for $297, but multiple reports say that a brand new box can cost up to $900.
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