Top RPG Board Games to Play in 2025

A lot of modern board games are highly strategic, often involving conquering lands for resources or optimizing economic engines to achieve victory. However, if you find these themes dry and prefer the thrill of exploration and adventure, role-playing board games are the perfect fit. These games, much like their pen-and-paper counterparts, immerse you in fantastical settings where you can either compete or collaborate with other players to tackle quests and challenges. Despite their narrative focus, these games still offer a rich strategic experience. Here are our top picks for the best RPG board games, promising endless hours of fun in 2025 and beyond.

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 AmazonDon't have time for reading blurbs? Scroll sideways to see all the games featured on the list above.

Gloomhaven / Jaws of The Lion / Frosthaven

### Gloomhaven: Jaws of The Lion

6See it at AmazonLet's start with the standout series: Gloomhaven is widely acclaimed as one of the best board games ever created, and it's a prime example of a role-playing board game. You step into the shoes of adventurers, collaborating through a complex campaign where characters can retire or meet their demise. The game's tactical combat system involves building a deck of multi-use ability cards, creating tension as your deck depletes. While the original game is currently out of stock, the prequel, Jaws of the Lion, offers a similar experience in a more accessible and affordable package. Meanwhile, the sequel, Frosthaven, expands the gameplay by including a town you can explore, build, and populate. These games are also excellent for solo play when you're without a gaming group.

Dungeons & Dragons: Temple of Elemental Evil

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

1See it at AmazonRole-playing in board games can be quite broad, but the cooperative adventure system series, inspired by the world's most popular pen-and-paper RPG, perfectly blends the two. Each box contains a large set of tiles that you draw randomly to build the dungeon, filled with traps and monsters that follow simple flowchart routines. This dynamic setup creates the feeling of navigating a mysterious labyrinth controlled by a dungeon master. The system guides you through an engaging narrative campaign. While all are excellent, Temple of Elemental Evil, based on a classic D&D scenario, stands out as a top choice.

Check out our beginner's guide to Dungeons and Dragons if you're interested in classic D&D gameplay instead.

The Witcher: Old World

### The Witcher: Old World

3See it at AmazonBlurring the lines further, The Witcher: Old World is an acclaimed board game adaptation of the popular role-playing video game series. Set years before the events of the video games and novels, players take on the roles of Witchers, competing to hunt monsters and earn coin and glory. The game involves deck-building, where you create card combos and strategic synergies to outpace your rivals in battling increasingly formidable foes. There's also a solo mode for those who wish to explore this rich fantasy world and confront its mythical creatures. For more details, see our review of The Witcher: Old World board game.

Star Wars: Imperial Assault

### Star Wars: Imperial Assault

6See it at AmazonNot all role-playing games are set in fantasy worlds; sci-fi fans will appreciate Star Wars: Imperial Assault. Set post the original Star Wars film, one player controls the Empire while others collaborate as Rebel operatives to thwart the Emperor's rule. The tactical combat system is robust enough for standalone scenarios, but the campaign mode truly shines, weaving battles into a cinematic narrative where you can fight alongside iconic characters like Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker. The game's extensive range of expansion packs introduces many other famous figures from the films.

You can check out our guide to the best Star Wars board games overall for more like this one.

HeroQuest

### HeroQuest

4See it at AmazonA classic from 1989, HeroQuest has been revived with enhanced miniatures but retains its RPG-on-a-board essence, complete with a game master. The GM uses a booklet to guide the scenario while other players explore the dungeon, encountering monsters and treasures as they progress. It offers a true role-playing experience with family-friendly rules and tactical depth. After completing the campaign in the box, numerous expansions provide additional adventures.

Arkham Horror: The Card Game

### Arkham Horror: The Card Game

2See it at AmazonHorror-themed role-playing board games are popular, yet balancing player control with horror elements can be challenging. Arkham Horror: The Card Game, inspired by H.P. Lovecraft's works, excels in this regard. Players collaborate to solve mysteries linked to alien worlds and beings, with horror stemming from the game's difficulty and bleak narratives. The strategy involves deck-building and managing the chaos bag's statistical probabilities. This game is also one of the best trading card games available.

The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth

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

2See it at AmazonGiven the popularity of fantasy settings in role-playing board games, it's fitting that Middle-earth, the iconic fantasy world, is featured. This game seamlessly integrates into Tolkien's universe, allowing players to feel part of the epic without altering the original narrative. Players build card decks to represent their abilities, supported by innovative mechanics like tile scale-flipping for exploration and an app that enhances the narrative with mysteries and clues.

You can also check out our review of The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying board game, which we also loved.

This War of Mine: The Board Game

### This War of Mine: The Board Game

0See it at AmazonHeroism takes a different form in This War of Mine, where players struggle to survive in a war-torn city. Inspired by the computer RPG, this board game places you in charge of a group trying to gather resources during the day and defend against threats at night. The mechanics of resource management and base-building are intertwined with a narrative that powerfully depicts the horrors of conflict.

Descent: Legends of the Dark

### Descent: Legends of the Dark

3See it at AmazonThe visual appeal of role-playing board games is significant, and Descent: Legends of the Dark excels with its detailed miniatures and 3D terrain. The game's engine supports a series of quests with narrative links, allowing players to use treasures to unlock new powers and equipment. For more information, see our review of Descent: Legends of the Dark.

Mice & Mystics

### Mice & Mystics

1See it at AmazonRole-playing board games often attract younger players, but many are too complex for them. Mice & Mystics bridges this gap with a whimsical story of adventurers turned into mice, striving to save a fantasy kingdom. The game features simple mechanics and engaging adventures suitable for all ages.

Tainted Grail The Fall of Avalon

### Tainted Grail The Fall of Avalon

5See it at AmazonWhile many RPG board games focus on mechanics, Tainted Grail emphasizes storytelling, blending Celtic legends with Arthurian lore to create a rich, challenging world. Players must manage resources and navigate a vast, branching narrative campaign, ensuring multiple playthroughs offer unique experiences.

How Do RPG Board Games Relate to Tabletop RPGs and Video Game RPGs?

The term "role-playing game" (RPG) originated with Dungeons & Dragons, the first published ruleset to formalize the practice of using miniature wargame rules for narrative, character-based storytelling. These games, often called "pen-and-paper RPGs," emphasize creative and imaginative potential. However, players also enjoy the strategic elements like skill checks and character advancement. The need for a Games Master in these games led to the development of board and video game RPGs, where the board, cards, or computer take on the role of the Games Master, providing a world for players to explore and mechanics to master.

While "role-playing" is a well-established term in video gaming, spawning sub-genres like JRPGs and Rogue-likes, board gaming lacks a similar term, often using "adventure games" or "quest games" instead. This can be confusing, especially with the cross-pollination between tabletop, board, and video game RPGs. Dungeons & Dragons has inspired both board and computer RPGs, which in turn have been adapted back into material for the role-playing game, creating a cycle of influence and adaptation.