Board Games Archives

CMON has parted ways with its biggest title, Zombicide, handing the franchise over to publishing heavyweight Asmodee. The unexpected sale marks a major shift for one of the board game industry’s most recognizable brands, especially as CMON faces delays, layoffs, and halted development across upcoming projects. Good to know Zombicide launched CMON into global fame in 2012 through Kickstarter. CMON is halting all new projects and has laid off creatives due to financial pressure. Asmodee now owns Zombicide, adding it to a lineup that already includes major titles like Carcassonne and Diplomacy. CMON, formerly CoolMiniOrNot.com, built its entire reputation on detailed miniatures and crowdfunded hits. None were more central than Zombicide, a co-op dice-based zombie survival game that exploded on Kickstarter with over $780,000 raised back in 2012. Over the years, CMON turned Zombicide into a franchise machine. The formula was reused across multiple versions—everything from medieval undead to Marvel superheroes to Monty Python’s Flying Circus. For fans, Zombicide was more than a game. It defined CMON’s brand. That is why the sale to Asmodee has landed like a bombshell. While CMON has other successes like Cthulhu: Death May Die, nothing matched the scale and loyalty of the Zombicide fanbase. But recent troubles have piled up. Delays in Kickstarter rewards, rising production costs, and US-China tariffs have all taken a toll. In April, CMON paused all upcoming projects and began laying off creative teams. Selling Zombicide may have been a necessary move to stay afloat—though to fans, it feels as if Sega had sold Sonic to Nintendo. What Asmodee Gains Asmodee is no stranger to iconic titles. Its portfolio includes hits like Catan, Ticket to Ride, and Carcassonne. While it is not known for miniatures-heavy games like CMON, its merger with Fantasy Flight Games did bring Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game under its roof. Now with Zombicide, Asmodee adds a battle-tested miniatures title that already has a global audience. Whether that leads to more editions or digital expansions remains unclear. Asmodee did previously operate a digital division that developed PC adaptations of Scythe and Terraforming Mars. That unit, now called Twin Sails Interactive, went independent in April—so any potential digital future for Zombicide will depend on separate deals.

Board Games

Tabletop Shakeup as Zombicide Moves to Asmodee

NMBR 9++ A Sneak Peek