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 if you crave the thrill of exploration and adventure, role-playing board games offer a compelling alternative. These games transport you to fantastical settings, where you collaborate or compete to overcome challenges and quests. While rich in narrative, they also provide satisfying strategic depth. Here are our top picks for the best RPG board games, promising 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

Gloomhaven Series: Jaws of the Lion and Frosthaven

### Gloomhaven: Jaws of The Lion

6See it at AmazonThe Gloomhaven series is renowned as a top-tier board game, excelling in role-playing mechanics. Players become adventurers, collaborating through a complex campaign. The tactical combat system, using a deck-building mechanic, creates escalating tension. While the original is currently unavailable, Jaws of the Lion (a prequel) offers a streamlined, affordable experience. The sequel, Frosthaven, expands the gameplay with a town to explore and develop. 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 game, based on the popular pen-and-paper RPG, seamlessly blends role-playing with strategic gameplay. Random dungeon tile placement and monster encounters create dynamic, unpredictable experiences. The game features a captivating narrative campaign. Temple of Elemental Evil, adapted from a classic D&D scenario, is a standout among the series.

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 books. Players take on the roles of Witchers, hunting monsters and competing for fame and fortune. The deck-building mechanic adds strategic depth, and a solo mode is available.

Star Wars: Imperial Assault

### Star Wars: Imperial Assault

6See it at AmazonFor sci-fi fans, Imperial Assault offers a thrilling role-playing experience set in the Star Wars universe. One player commands the Empire, while others collaborate as Rebel operatives. The tactical combat system is engaging, and the campaign mode provides a cinematic narrative experience. Numerous expansion packs add iconic characters and scenarios.

HeroQuest

### HeroQuest

4See it at AmazonThis classic dungeon-crawling board game, re-released with updated miniatures, provides a captivating role-playing experience. A game master guides the heroes through a dungeon, revealing the scenario as they progress. The game blends narrative, mystery, and character progression with strategic gameplay. Expansions offer additional adventures.

Arkham Horror: The Card Game

### Arkham Horror: The Card Game

2See it at AmazonThis horror-themed board game successfully integrates role-playing elements with strategic decision-making. Players work together to solve mysteries linked to Lovecraftian horrors. The challenging difficulty and bleak narratives enhance the horror atmosphere, while deck-building adds strategic depth.

The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth

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

2See it at AmazonSet in Middle-earth, this game allows players to experience Tolkien's world without interfering with the established narratives. Deck-building mechanics are complemented by innovative gameplay elements, including tile-flipping for combined above-ground and underground exploration, and app-supported mystery solving.

This War of Mine: The Board Game

### This War of Mine: The Board Game

0See it at AmazonThis unique game depicts the struggles of survival in a war-torn city. Players manage resources, fortify their shelter, and navigate the dangers of a conflict zone. The narrative-driven gameplay offers a powerful and impactful experience.

Descent: Legends of the Dark

### Descent: Legends of the Dark

3See it at AmazonThis game stands out for its exceptional production quality, featuring detailed miniatures and three-dimensional terrain. The mobile app supports the gameplay with quests, narrative elements, and inter-scenario links.

Mice & Mystics

### Mice & Mystics

1See it at AmazonThis whimsical game is accessible to younger players, offering a compelling story of mice on a quest to save a kingdom. Simple mechanics and charming themes make it a crowd-pleaser for all ages.

Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon

### Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon

5See it at AmazonThis game prioritizes narrative, weaving a rich story based on Celtic and Arthurian legends. The branching narrative campaign, supported by well-written text, provides a highly replayable experience.

RPG Board Games: A Comparison

The term "role-playing game" originated with Dungeons & Dragons, evolving from experimental narrative storytelling using wargame rules. Pen-and-paper RPGs emphasize creative freedom, but also involve strategic rule manipulation and character progression. The need for a game master led to the development of board and video game adaptations, where the game or computer takes on the game master's role. While "role-playing" is a well-established genre in video games, board games often use terms like "adventure" or "quest" games. Despite the varied terminology, there's significant cross-pollination between these genres.