The Best RPG Board Games Worth Playing in 2025

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 for those craving exploration and adventure, role-playing board games offer a captivating alternative. These games immerse players in fantastical settings, encouraging both competition and cooperation to overcome challenges and quests. While narrative-driven, they retain significant strategic depth. Here are our top picks for the best RPG board games, promising countless hours of enjoyment.

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

Gloomhaven Series: Jaws of the Lion and Beyond

### Gloomhaven: Jaws of The Lion

6See it at Amazon

The Gloomhaven series consistently ranks among the best board games, excelling as a role-playing experience. Players become adventurers, collaborating through a complex campaign, with character rosters evolving as heroes retire or perish. The tactical combat system, featuring a deck-building mechanic, creates escalating tension. While the original is currently unavailable, Jaws of the Lion (a prequel) offers a streamlined, affordable alternative. The sequel, Frosthaven, expands the experience by introducing a town to explore, build, and manage. Both also provide excellent solo gameplay options.

Dungeons & Dragons: Temple of Elemental Evil

### WizKids Dungeons & Dragons: Temple of Elemental Evil

1See it at Amazon

This cooperative adventure series, based on the popular pen-and-paper RPG, masterfully blends role-playing and board game mechanics. Randomly generated dungeon tiles, filled with traps and monsters, create dynamic gameplay, mimicking the experience of a dungeon master-led adventure. Temple of Elemental Evil, adapted from a classic D&D scenario, stands out among the excellent offerings in this series.

The Witcher: Old World

### The Witcher: Old World

3See it at Amazon

This acclaimed board game adaptation of the popular video game series precedes the events of The Witcher games and novels. Players embody Witchers, competing to gain wealth and fame by hunting monsters. The deck-building mechanic allows for strategic customization and synergy, enhancing the competitive aspect. A solo mode is also available for single-player exploration.

Star Wars: Imperial Assault

### Star Wars: Imperial Assault

6See it at Amazon

For sci-fi enthusiasts, Star Wars: Imperial Assault offers a compelling alternative to fantasy settings. One player controls the Empire, while others team up as Rebel operatives to challenge Imperial rule. The tactical combat system supports both standalone scenarios and a larger campaign, weaving together battles into a cinematic narrative. Numerous expansion packs add iconic characters and scenarios.

HeroQuest

### HeroQuest

4See it at Amazon

A classic dungeon-crawling board game, HeroQuest returns with updated miniatures. The game master uses a scenario booklet to guide players through the dungeon, revealing challenges and treasures as they progress. This provides a close approximation to a true role-playing experience, blending mystery, narrative, and character progression with strategic gameplay. Expansions offer additional adventures.

Arkham Horror: The Card Game

### Arkham Horror: The Card Game

2See it at Amazon

This game successfully blends horror and role-playing elements. Players cooperate to solve mysteries connected to Lovecraftian lore. The challenging difficulty and bleak narratives contribute to the horror atmosphere, while deck-building adds strategic depth. A series of expansions further expands the narrative.

The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth

### The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth

2See it at Amazon

Set in Middle-earth, this game seamlessly integrates into Tolkien's established narrative. Players build decks to represent their characters' abilities, exploring both above and below ground. The game incorporates innovative mechanics, including tile manipulation and app-supported mysteries.

This War of Mine: The Board Game

### This War of Mine: The Board Game

0See it at Amazon

This game offers a unique perspective on heroism, portraying the struggle for survival in a war-torn city. Players scavenge resources, fortify their shelter, and evade hostile encounters. The resource management and base-building mechanics, combined with narrative text, create a powerful and impactful experience.

Descent: Legends of the Dark

### Descent: Legends of the Dark

3See it at Amazon

Descent: Legends of the Dark stands out for its exceptional production quality, featuring detailed miniatures and three-dimensional terrain. The gameplay is equally impressive, with a mobile app guiding players through quests and linking scenarios.

Mice & Mystics

### Mice & Mystics

1See it at Amazon

This game is designed to be accessible to younger players, offering a whimsical adventure story with simpler mechanics. Players, transformed into mice, must save a fantasy kingdom.

Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon

### Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon

5See it at Amazon

Tainted Grail prioritizes narrative, blending Celtic and Arthurian legends. Players must cooperate to survive in a challenging world, managing resources and navigating a vast, branching campaign.

RPG Board Games: A Broader Perspective

The term "role-playing game" originated with Dungeons & Dragons, evolving from experimental narrative storytelling using wargame rules. Pen-and-paper RPGs emphasized creativity and imagination, but also incorporated strategic elements like skill checks and character advancement. The need for a game master and the desire for strategic depth led to the development of board game and video game RPGs. While "role-playing" is a well-established genre term in video games, its use in board games is less consistent. Despite this, there's significant cross-pollination between these different RPG formats.