Rock Hard: 1977 has one of the best origin stories in modern board gaming. It was designed by Jackie Fox, the bassist of 1970s rock band The Runaways, who later became an entertainment lawyer and a Jeopardy! champion. Her worker-placement game about clawing your way to fame in 1977 turned into a surprise hit out of Gen Con, and now it is getting a new expansion. Ear Candy lands at Gen Con 2026 this August.
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Set up your group for freeIn the base game (from publisher Devir, for two to five players) you guide a rising musician around a grimy 1970s scene, rehearsing, playing gigs, indulging in the era's vices and chasing the fame that wins the game. Ear Candy adds a new route to the top: songwriting. Using life-experience cards you can write new songs in styles from hard rock to glam, then push them up an Indie Promo chart, with a hefty bonus for whoever drags a track to number one.
The expansion also brings two new playable characters with their own asymmetric powers, two extra managers (taking the pool to eight, with six in play each game), fresh candy types that give you more control over what your rocker, ahem, consumes, and new hangout cards for the existing locations. There is even a solo and co-op mode, offered as a print-and-play on BoardGameGeek, for nights when you fancy chasing a record deal alone.
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Start organising for freeRock Hard already sits in a sweet spot for groups who like a thematic euro with a bit of grit, and a songwriting subsystem is exactly the sort of thing that earns a loved game another trip to the table. Ear Candy debuts at Gen Con (30 July to 2 August) before reaching shops, so round up the crew you game with and start planning the comeback tour.
Sources: Devir | Stereogum | Dude! Take Your Turn
