Cryptozoic will release The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Board Game on December 20th, a week after the movie premieres in theaters on Friday, December 13th, according to hobby industry news website ICv2.com.

Similar to Cryptozoic’s first Hobbit movie board game, this game is designed by Reiner Knizia.  The game is a stand-alone, but can be combined with the Unexpected Journey game.  Players must work cooperatively as they travel to the gold-filled caverns of Erebor (the Lonely Mountain) in search of treasure and the courage to defeat Smaug.  The game is designed for 1 – 4 players, ages 15 and up, and plays in 30 – 45 minutes.

The box contains 2 game boards, a resource board, 4 cheat sheets, tiles, cards, custom dice, markers, a dragon pawn and a rulebook.

Cryptozoic also updated release dates for several of their other Middle Earth related titles.  The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Deck-Building Game and The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King Deck-Building Game are now Q1 2014 releases, and The Middle Earth Expandable Card Game: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Edition Starter Set and Expansions  will also release early next year.