Dive into Adventure: The Best Role-Playing Board Games for 2025 and Beyond
Many modern board games focus on strategic resource management or economic optimization. But if you crave exploration and adventure, role-playing board games offer a captivating alternative. These games immerse you in fantastical settings, allowing you to collaborate or compete with fellow players to overcome challenges and quests. While narrative-driven, they retain a satisfying strategic depth. Here are some top contenders for countless hours of fun:
Top Role-Playing Board Games at a Glance
### Gloomhaven: Jaws of The Lion
6See it at Amazon
### WizKids Dungeons & Dragons: Temple of Elemental Evil
1See it at Amazon
### The Witcher: Old World
3See it at Amazon
### Star Wars: Imperial Assault
6See it at Amazon
### HeroQuest
4See it at Amazon
### Arkham Horror: The Card Game
2See it at Amazon
### The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth
2See it at Amazon
### This War of Mine: The Board Game
0See it at Amazon
### Descent: Legends of the Dark
3See it at Amazon
### Mice & Mystics
1See it at Amazon
### Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon
5See it at Amazon
Short on time? Swipe horizontally to view all games listed above.
Gloomhaven Series: Jaws of the Lion and Beyond
### Gloomhaven: Jaws of The Lion
6See it at AmazonThe Gloomhaven series is frequently lauded as a top-tier board game, excelling as a role-playing experience. Players take on the roles of adventurers, collaborating through a complex campaign. Characters retire or perish, impacting the ongoing narrative. The tactical combat system, built around a deck-building mechanic, creates escalating tension. While the original is currently unavailable, Jaws of the Lion (a prequel) provides a similar experience in a more accessible format. Frosthaven (the sequel) expands the gameplay with an explorable, buildable town. Both are excellent choices for solo play.
Dungeons & Dragons: Temple of Elemental Evil
### WizKids Dungeons & Dragons: Temple of Elemental Evil
1See it at AmazonThis cooperative adventure series, based on the popular pen-and-paper RPG, seamlessly blends role-playing and board game mechanics. Random tile placement creates dynamic dungeons filled with traps and monsters. The resulting sense of exploration and discovery mimics a dungeon master-led experience, enhancing the narrative campaign. While all titles in the series are strong, Temple of Elemental Evil, based on a classic D&D scenario, is a standout.
(For classic D&D gameplay, check out our beginner's guide.)
The Witcher: Old World
### The Witcher: Old World
3See it at AmazonThis acclaimed board game adaptation of the popular video game series precedes the events of The Witcher games and novels. Players assume the roles of Witchers, competing to earn fame and fortune by hunting monsters. The game features a compelling deck-building system, allowing players to create powerful card combinations and strategic synergies. A solo mode is also available.
Star Wars: Imperial Assault
### Star Wars: Imperial Assault
6See it at AmazonFor sci-fi enthusiasts, Imperial Assault offers a thrilling alternative to fantasy settings. One player commands the Empire, while others collaborate as Rebel operatives to thwart Imperial rule. The engaging tactical combat system is suitable for individual scenarios, but the campaign mode provides a cinematic narrative experience. Numerous expansion packs introduce iconic characters from the Star Wars universe.
(Explore more Star Wars board games in our comprehensive guide.)
HeroQuest
### HeroQuest
4See it at AmazonThis classic dungeon-crawling game, originally released in 1989, has been re-released with updated miniatures. The game master guides players through a dungeon, revealing sections as they progress. The experience closely resembles a pen-and-paper RPG, blending mystery, narrative, and character progression within a tactical board game framework. Numerous expansions offer extended adventures.
Arkham Horror: The Card Game
### Arkham Horror: The Card Game
2See it at AmazonThis Lovecraftian horror game successfully balances player agency and the immersive horror experience. Players work together to solve mysteries connected to cosmic horrors. The challenging difficulty and bleak narratives contribute to the game's atmosphere. The strategic element lies in deck-building and managing probabilities. This is also a highly-regarded trading card game.
The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-earth
### The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-earth
2See it at AmazonSet within Middle-earth, this game seamlessly integrates into Tolkien's established lore. Players build card decks to represent their characters' abilities, engaging in both above-ground and underground exploration. The app enhances the experience by providing narrative clues and mysteries.
(Read our review of The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying board game.)
This War of Mine: The Board Game
### This War of Mine: The Board Game
0See it at AmazonThis game offers a unique and powerful setting, focusing on survival in a war-torn city. Players scavenge for resources, barricade their hideout, and protect themselves from various threats. The resource management and base-building mechanics are complemented by narrative text, creating a poignant experience.
Descent: Legends of the Dark
### Descent: Legends of the Dark
3See it at AmazonThis game stands out for its exceptional production quality, featuring finely detailed miniatures and impressive 3D terrain. A mobile app guides players through quests, creating a linked narrative campaign.
(See our review of Descent: Legends of the Dark.)
Mice & Mystics
### Mice & Mystics
1See it at AmazonThis game is designed to appeal to younger players, offering a whimsical adventure with simple mechanics. Players assume the roles of mice on a quest to save a fantasy kingdom.
Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon
### Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon
5See it at AmazonThis game prioritizes narrative, weaving together Celtic and Arthurian legends. Players must collaborate to survive, managing resources and navigating a branching campaign with a richly detailed story.
The Evolution of RPGs: Board Games, Tabletop, and Video Games
The term "role-playing game" (RPG) originated with Dungeons & Dragons, which formalized the practice of narrative storytelling using wargame mechanics. These games, often called "pen-and-paper RPGs," emphasized creative freedom but also incorporated strategic elements like skill checks and character advancement. The need for a game master led to the development of board games and video games that automated these functions, providing strategic depth and a self-contained gaming experience. While "role-playing" is a well-established genre in video games, board game RPGs are often categorized as adventure or quest games. Despite this, there's considerable cross-pollination between these different forms of RPGs.
