February 10, 2025: The Ultimate Case Of “Oops, All Bards!”

I've been a Blind Guardian fan for a while now, but it's only recently that I learned that these German power-metal legends have their own board game.

Yes, you read correctly! It looks like the band has teamed up with Italian game company Scribabs Boardgames to create From The Other Side, a cooperative game that sees players team up to stop an evil dragon from destroying the Realms of Imagination. As the dragon and his minions wreak havoc, the realm's protector, known as the Blind Guardian (yes, really), summons four heroes – the Minstrel, the Blacksmith, the Spellcaster, and the Warden – to fight back and save the day.

I haven't yet played From The Other Side, and I'm not sure when I'll get a chance. (It looks like it's only available in Europe for now.) That's a bit of a shame, because I'd love to see what it's like. The description and tone definitely fit the band's oeuvre – I'd expect nothing less from a group inspired by Lord of the Rings, Dragonlance, and The Witcher series – and the artwork for the player cards is clearly based on the band members themselves. It's more than a little nerdy, but that winking self-awareness is part of why I love Blind Guardian in the first place.