Devir Games

Devir Games: Building Worlds Through Story, Strategy, and Art

For more than three decades, Devir Games has stood as one of the most influential names in international tabletop publishing. Founded in Barcelona, Spain, in 1987, Devir began as a small distributor of comics and role-playing games and has since evolved into a global publishing powerhouse with offices in the United States, Brazil, Chile, and Portugal. Today, Devir’s catalog spans every corner of tabletop gaming—from Euro-style strategy titles and immersive role-playing games to collectible card games and family favorites.

Their newest release, Covenant, marks a striking statement of creative ambition—a dark fantasy strategy game that brings together the tactical depth of Euro design with narrative intensity and cinematic presentation. With Covenant, Devir not only showcases its world-class production values but also reaffirms its long-standing commitment to storytelling, quality, and innovation in the modern board game landscape.

From Comics and Dice to a Global Brand

The Devir story begins in the late 1980s, when founders Jordi Deu and Xavi Garriga recognized the rising interest in fantasy role-playing games in Spain. Early on, Devir served primarily as a local distributor for Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, and other imported titles, helping to seed a tabletop culture in Iberia that was still in its infancy.

Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, the company’s role expanded from distribution to localization, and eventually to original publishing. Devir became known for adapting major English-language games for Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking audiences, offering translations that were not only linguistically precise but culturally resonant. This effort opened the door for a generation of players across Latin America and Europe to experience the global tabletop phenomenon in their own language.

By the mid-2010s, Devir had begun developing original titles under its own label, producing standout releases like The Red Cathedral, Bitoku, and 3 Ring Circus. Each showcased the publisher’s focus on deeply thematic Eurogames with tight mechanics, lush artwork, and elegant design. These successes elevated Devir from a regional player to a respected creative force in the global hobby market.

Covenant: The Rise of Devir’s Darkest Fantasy

Covenant, released in 2025, represents Devir Games at the height of its creative power. A narrative-driven strategy board game set in a realm torn by ambition, betrayal, and divine intervention, Covenant fuses classical resource management with modern cinematic storytelling. Designed by Víctor Català and illustrated by David Ardila, the game delivers a brooding atmosphere and intricate systems that reward foresight, diplomacy, and daring.

The World of Covenant

At its heart, Covenant is a game about power and oaths. Players assume the roles of rival leaders seeking to claim dominion over a fractured land where ancient gods once ruled. Each faction holds a tenuous pact with a slumbering deity—an allegiance that grants unique powers but demands unbreakable loyalty. As the tides of faith and war shift, players must balance political intrigue, military conquest, and supernatural influence to determine the fate of their realms.

The board itself depicts the Realm of Thalenor, a detailed map divided into provinces filled with ruins, strongholds, and sacred sites. Each session unfolds across several Ages, with players gathering resources, forging alliances, and waging strategic wars while managing the fragile bonds of their divine Covenants.

Gameplay and Design Philosophy

Covenant combines area control, engine-building, and asymmetric powers to create a deeply layered strategic experience. Every choice carries consequences: a broken oath may unleash wrathful gods or shift the balance of the celestial pantheon. Devir’s signature design sensibilities—streamlined rules supporting complex decision trees—shine throughout.

What makes Covenant particularly striking is its faith mechanic. Players are constantly tempted to betray their divine patrons in exchange for temporary power. Yet doing so risks triggering cataclysmic “Rifts,” world-changing events that can destroy entire provinces or rewrite alliances. This moral tension adds psychological drama rarely seen in Euro-style games.

Covenant is not app-assisted or reliant on hidden content; instead, it uses layered physical components, modular event decks, and branching objective cards to keep the world evolving organically. Each playthrough feels like a new chapter in a living epic.

Art and Production

Devir’s visual presentation has always been among the best in the industry, and Covenant raises the bar. Every card, token, and miniature carries rich detail that evokes the tone of a fading empire on the brink of divine reckoning. Ardila’s artwork blends Gothic architecture with ethereal cosmic motifs, capturing both the grandeur and decay of Thalenor.

The game’s production is equally meticulous: dual-layered boards, screen-printed faction pieces, and deluxe inserts reflect Devir’s commitment to quality that appeals to both collectors and everyday players.

Reception and Impact

Since its debut at Essen Spiel 2025, Covenant has drawn acclaim from critics and fans alike. Reviewers praise its tight mechanical balance, evocative setting, and thematic cohesion. Many have compared its political tension and moral ambiguity to genre-defining classics like Twilight Imperium and Root, yet Covenant distinguishes itself through its accessibility and narrative focus.

In online communities, players highlight the replay value of the faith mechanic, which ensures no two games unfold the same way. Covenant has quickly climbed ranking charts across BoardGameGeek and regional award lists, signaling that Devir has achieved its most ambitious success yet—a game that combines philosophical storytelling with competitive intensity.

More than just a commercial hit, Covenant has also solidified Devir’s position as one of the few publishers able to balance Euro-style precision with cinematic fantasy. It stands as a culmination of lessons learned from years of designing elegant, thematic games that appeal to both strategists and storytellers.

The Path That Led to Covenant

Bitoku (2021)

Before Covenant, Bitoku represented Devir’s first major breakthrough on the global stage. Set in a mythic forest inspired by Japanese folklore, Bitoku blended engine-building and hand management into a visually lush tableau. It was celebrated for its originality and depth, earning nominations for multiple international awards and becoming a staple of modern Euro collections.

Bitoku’s success established Devir as a serious creative force outside the Iberian market. It proved that their internal design teams could deliver world-class experiences on par with Europe’s best studios.

The Red Cathedral (2020)

Designed by Israel Cendrero and Sheila Santos, The Red Cathedral offered a more compact but equally satisfying challenge. Players acted as builders competing to construct Moscow’s iconic cathedral, balancing resource management, dice-based actions, and area influence. Its tight design and portable format made it one of Devir’s most successful titles to date.

3 Ring Circus (2023)

Another standout, 3 Ring Circus, transported players into the vibrant world of 19th-century traveling circuses. With a blend of tactical card play and set collection, it captured the charm and hardship of a bygone era. This game reflected Devir’s evolving interest in historical themes and the human stories within them.

These titles—each with distinct settings and mechanical cores—paved the way for Covenant. Together, they illustrate Devir’s commitment to games that reward mastery without sacrificing narrative richness.

A Global Publisher with Local Roots

One of Devir’s greatest strengths lies in its global reach and cultural adaptability. With branches in North and South America, Europe, and Asia, Devir operates as both a publisher and distributor, bringing international titles to new audiences while exporting Spanish and Portuguese creations to the world.

Devir USA, based in Seattle, has become a key hub for English-language editions and collaborations with North American designers. Meanwhile, Devir Brasil and Devir Chile have played pivotal roles in expanding access to premium hobby games across Latin America, fostering vibrant local communities.

This global infrastructure allows Devir to operate on both indie and industry levels—able to champion small creative voices while delivering large-scale, polished products. Their multilingual teams ensure every translation, rulebook, and visual element retains cultural nuance, making their releases accessible across continents.

The Devir Design Philosophy

Devir’s creative philosophy can be distilled into three guiding principles:

1. Elegance through Depth – Their games aim for intricate layers of strategy without overwhelming players. Each title is built on intuitive rules that reward long-term planning.

2. Narrative Integration – Even their most abstract Eurogames are anchored in strong themes, often inspired by real-world cultures, myths, or moral questions.

3. Art and Material Excellence – Devir treats visual design and tactile quality as storytelling tools. From illustrator selection to component texture, every detail enhances immersion.

Covenant embodies all three principles. Its streamlined rule set supports deep political and ethical gameplay, its narrative premise invites introspection, and its art direction turns every session into a visual spectacle.

Community and Cultural Influence

Beyond publishing, Devir plays a major role in promoting gaming culture worldwide. The company sponsors tournaments, conventions, and educational programs aimed at introducing tabletop games to new audiences. Their presence at major events like Gen Con, Essen Spiel, and DAU Barcelona is marked by inclusive demo areas and multilingual staff, emphasizing the universal language of play.

In Latin America, Devir has been instrumental in supporting local designers, offering mentorship and production partnerships that help regional voices reach global markets. This grassroots approach has helped shape vibrant gaming communities from São Paulo to Santiago.

Their commitment extends to environmental responsibility as well: recent print runs use FSC-certified paper, and the company has taken steps toward reducing plastic in packaging, signaling a forward-looking sustainability ethic in production.

The Future After Covenant

With Covenant establishing a new creative benchmark, Devir shows no signs of slowing down. The publisher has hinted at upcoming expansions that will deepen the lore of Thalenor and introduce new gods, heroes, and faith systems. Parallel development is underway on several upcoming titles—one rooted in pre-Columbian mythology and another exploring maritime exploration during the Age of Discovery.

Devir’s long-term strategy involves expanding designer partnerships across continents while maintaining its artistic identity. They continue to bridge cultural boundaries through game design that celebrates diversity of setting, mechanic, and perspective.

Conclusion: A New Era of Storytelling Strategy

From its roots as a small Iberian distributor to its current stature as a global publishing leader, Devir Games has never stopped evolving. Each decade has seen them broaden their horizons—first through localization, then through original creation, and now through visionary works like Covenant that redefine what thematic strategy games can achieve.

Covenant stands as more than a flagship release—it is a statement of purpose. It proves that deep, narrative-driven design can coexist with mechanical precision; that moral weight and strategic mastery can intertwine to create experiences both intellectually demanding and emotionally resonant. In every sense, it represents the next great chapter in Devir’s ongoing mission: to tell unforgettable stories through the language of play.