If you've ever played a role-playing game, or RPG, you probably know that it's all about having fun. While the rules of an RPG can be intricate and sometimes daunting, the best rpg board games take away most of that stress to allow everyone to have a good time.
Board games with an RPG theme are great for people who already play RPGs but want something more accessible. These board games do have their own sets of rules and special terms, but they're not nearly as detailed as those found in pen-and-paper RPGs like Dungeons & Dragons or Pathfinder. Even so, the best rpg board games can still be challenging and entertaining in their own right. Some even use common RPG systems like Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition so that players can transfer characters between both types of media without much trouble.
Any seasoned gamer knows how complex some traditional tabletop RPGs can get, especially if you're playing with deep character builds or using complicated rule sets like D&D 3rd edition or 4th edition. Board games offer a different style of gameplay than what you'd experience in video games because they rely on your imagination—something that only gets better when paired with physical components such as miniatures and scenery pieces. The best rpg board games also tend to be shorter than other types of video game RPGs because there's no need for them to go on for hours at a time since players aren't sitting at computers clicking through menus.
So if you're looking for something different from your computer monitor but don't have room for another shelf full of figurines just yet, try one (or several) of the best rpg board games we've selected below!
How We Choose
We've reviewed the best rpg board games so you can find the perfect game for you. Whether you're looking for a deep strategic experience or just want to relax with a fun adventure, there's an rpg board game for you below.
When it comes to Dungeons & Dragons, the role-playing game that spawned a genre, there's one name above all others: Drizzt Do'Urden. The iconic character is the star of R.A. Salvatore's best-selling fantasy novels, and now he stars in his own board game too.
Drizzt Do'Urden was first introduced in 1988 but has since become synonymous with D&D thanks to his starring role in more than 50 novels as well as multiple video games and even a TV show. This box set faithfully recreates the world of Forgotten Realms for you to explore from the comfort of your own home - just make sure your mom doesn't catch you playing this when she's not around!
The gameplay itself is easy to learn but tough to master, with battles taking place on an interlocking dungeon grid that can be built into various configurations. You'll take turns exploring these dungeons and fighting monsters using cards and dice as well as plastic figurines based on some of Salvatore's most famous characters including fan favorites such as Wulfgar and Cattie-brie alongside villains like Yondar Morrilbane who have been revamped for this iteration of D&D.
A heavy shadow falls across the land, cast by a dark spire that belches smoke and oozes fiery lava. A cave mouth leads to a maze of tunnels and chambers, and deep within this monster-infested labyrinth lurks the most terrifying creature of all: a red dragon! In Wrath of Ashardalon, you play a heroic adventurer. With magic weapons and amazing spells, you must explore the dungeons beneath the volcano where you will fight monsters, overcome hazards, find treasure, and eventually face the red dragon – Ashardalon! Are you ready for adventure?
Designed for 1–5 players, this boardgame features multiple scenarios, challenging quests, and cooperative game play.
Pick your character, face the hazards, and gain riches beyond imagining... if you can make it out alive!
The Vault of Dragons board game by Gale Force Nine is a fantasy adventure that pits four players against one another in a race to find a hidden treasure. The goal of the game is to gain the most gold and ascend to the position of Lord or Lady of Waterdeep, though there are other ways to get ahead too.
Players take on roles as members of various factions—the Harpers, Zhentarim, Xanathar's Guild, or the Cult of the Dragon—each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Players visit locations around Waterdeep using their influence cards and send minions into those locations to uncover rumors and treasures. You can even brawl at these locations with other players if you want! And be wary when visiting The City Watch; they'll arrest your party for causing trouble.
The double-sided location tiles give you lots of options each round too. Each side has different terrain that helps mitigate some players' disadvantages such as poor movement or fewer followers available for missions (like weaker magic users). There are also instant-win conditions which help shake things up if it feels like no one is making any progress toward finding the vault.
Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Begins
Cooperative Fantasy Board Game, for 2-4 Players, 10 and Up
The Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Begins board game is a great way to get into the D&D universe without having to play a pen and paper RPG. This cooperative board game features four plastic mini figures which correspond with the heroes featured in gameplay, and you choose from Felbris (Beholder), Orn (Fire Giant), Deathsleep (Green Dragon) and The Kraken.
The game also includes a Boss deck, which has cards for each monster your party of heroes will fight in the end, as well as adventure cards that determine what challenges your party must face before facing the monster at the end. Players can choose and customize their characters with one class card each, plus two race cards. You'll also get six ability cards per character to help them on their journey through Neverwinter.
In this fantasy board game, players work together as they travel through Neverwinter battling iconic D&D monsters such as Beholders and Green Dragons, while experiencing a new adventure every time thanks to its randomized setup system.
Assault of the Giants is a new Dungeons & Dragons board game designed by Andrew Parks, who was also one of the designers on Pandemic: Legacy. This means that if you're looking for something with a similar level of tension and complexity to Pandemic, this could be the game for you.
The aim of Assault of the Giants is to become king or queen over all giant kind by winning battles and collecting resources along the way. The game can be played solo or in teams, although we recommend playing with three other players so that each team has its own giant type.
You get 12 fully painted miniatures to play as giants, which are divided into six different types - Storm, Cloud, Hill, Fire, Stone and Frost. Each type has unique abilities and powers that make them more suited to certain tasks than others. For example, while fire giants are great at battling other giants they aren't very good at gathering food as they burn it all up!
Best RPG Board Games FAQs
You love rpgs, but you're not sure which ones are the best for your group.
It can be hard to know where to start when it comes to picking the perfect board game for your friends and family. People want different things out of their games, so it's tough knowing where to begin looking for the right one.
We've gathered some of the most Frequently Asked Questions below about rpg board games so that you can make an informed decision before making a purchase. With this information, you'll be able to confidently pick a great game for yourself or as a gift!
What Is Considered The Best RPG Game Of All Time?
With so many games to choose from, it can be hard to pick out the best RPG. There are hundreds of games that fall into this category, and appealing to one person may not be the same as another. It's also important to consider what genre you enjoy most. Do you like strategy RPGs where you control a party in combat? Or do you prefer role-playing sims where the focus is on building characters up through a series of quests?
The best game in any category isn't always easy to pick out, but we've done our best to include some suggestions across the board below. Our top pick for best RPG game of all time is Final Fantasy IX, which was released back in 2000 for PlayStation and PC (although it has since been remastered). We've included links below if your interested in picking it up!
Is RPG Good For Brain?
An RPG will definitely exercise your brain, as one of the main draws of the genre is its puzzle solving. However, some people are concerned that playing too many video games can have a negative impact on cognition, so an important question to ask is whether RPGs are good for your brain? Studies suggest that moderate gaming has little to no impact on memory or problem solving skills in adults, but can cause harm when played in excess by increasing stress and blood pressure.
As long as you play RPGs no more than an hour a day, though, you should be fine. The biggest concern is for children who spend hours glued to their screens watching movies and playing games; any time spent reading books should be balanced with other activities like sport and physical play.
What Is The Deepest RPG Board Game?
The most confusing thing about answering this question is that there's no agreed-upon definition of what exactly constitutes a board game. Some people might consider video games to be “board games,” while others would say only traditional tabletop games qualify. So for the sake of argument, let's assume we're talking about classic board games here.
The deepest and most intricate RPG-style board game - which we'll define as having multiple player characters with action points and tactical combat - is either Arcadia Quest or Legends of the American Frontier.
Arcadia Quest has a dungeon crawl theme and does away with dice in favor of card-based action resolution; it also features cooperative play (not just PvP) and up to 16 playable roles in each adventure.
Legends of the American frontier pits different groups of cowboys against one another in a persistent world over the course of many adventures; players can customize their characters' equipment, learn new abilities, and even change jobs entirely.
Conclusion
The best RPG board games offer a fantastic way to enjoy role-playing adventures with friends. Whether you're looking for an epic adventure or something more light-hearted, there's something out there that will suit your needs. With plenty of great components and strategic gameplay, these games will provide hours of entertainment for any avid tabletop gamer. So if you're looking for a new way to explore the world of RPGs then check out our top picks for the best RPG board games available today!
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