Role-playing games (RPGs) have been popular for decades. However, not everyone has the time or the inclination to devote themselves to an ongoing campaign with a dedicated group of players. Thankfully, there are now board games that offer the immersive experience of an RPG in a more condensed format. Here are some of the best RPG board games for those who want everything in one box.
Gloomhaven
- Players: 1-4
- Ages: 14+
- Play Time: 1+ Hours
- Complexity: Advanced
Gloomhaven is often considered the king of RPG board games, and for good reason. It is a legacy-style game, meaning that the choices you make during one playthrough will affect subsequent games.
It features an innovative card-driven combat system, a branching story campaign, and a huge variety of character classes to choose from.
Gloomhaven is a massive game that can take over 100 hours to complete, making it an excellent investment for those who want a deep and immersive experience.
Mage Knight
- Players: 1-4
- Ages: 14+
- Play Time: 1+ Hours
- Complexity: Advanced
Mage Knight is another great game for those who want the RPG experience in box format, but it focuses more on character building than on story. Players control powerful mages exploring a fantasy world, gathering treasures, and defeating monsters along the way.
Mage Knight features a unique deck-building mechanic, allowing players to customize their abilities throughout the game.
It can be played solo or with up to four players, making it a versatile choice for those who prefer to play alone or with a group.
D&D Adventure System
- Players: 1-5
- Ages: 12+
- Play Time: 1+ Hours
- Complexity: Intermediate
The D&D Adventure System is a series of cooperative board games set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe. They are designed to be played with one to five players, and each game offers a different story campaign with unique scenarios and challenges.
The Adventure System games are easy to learn but offer a lot of depth, making them an excellent choice for beginners or experienced players who want a quick and easy RPG experience.
Sword & Sorcery
- Players: 1-5
- Ages: 12+
- Play Time: 1+ Hours
- Complexity: Advanced
Sword & Sorcery is a cooperative game set in a high fantasy world. Players take on the roles of heroes trying to save their kingdom from a powerful evil.
The game features a unique AI system for enemies, ensuring that every game is different. It also includes an extensive campaign with branching paths, making it a great choice for those who want a deep and immersive story.
Pathfinder Adventure Card Game
- Players: 1-4
- Ages: 13+
- Play Time: 2+ Hours
- Complexity: Intermediate
The Pathfinder Adventure Card Game is a deck-building game set in the Pathfinder universe. Players choose a character class and build a deck of cards representing their abilities and equipment.
They then embark on a campaign, fighting monsters and completing quests. The game is designed to be played with one to four players, making it an excellent choice for solo or group play.
Descent: Journeys in the Dark
- Players: 1-5
- Ages: 14+
- Play Time: 2+ Hours
- Complexity: Advanced
Descent: Journeys in the Dark is a classic RPG board game that has been around for over a decade.
It is a one-vs-many game, where one player controls the evil overlord, and the other players control heroes trying to stop them.
The game features a campaign mode with a branching story and a huge variety of character classes and abilities to choose from.
HeroQuest
- Players: 2-5
- Ages: 14+
- Play Time: 2+ Hours
- Complexity: Beginner
HeroQuest is a classic RPG board game from the 80s that has recently been re-released. It is a simple game that is easy to learn, making it a great choice for families or beginners.
Players take on the roles of heroes exploring dungeons and fighting monsters, all while trying to complete their quest. HeroQuest is a fantastic nostalgic choice for those who want to relive their childhood memories.
Mansions of Madness
- Players: 1-5
- Ages: 14+
- Play Time: 2+ Hours
- Complexity: Beginner
Mansions of Madness is a Lovecraftian horror game set in the 1920s. Players take on the roles of investigators exploring a haunted mansion, trying to solve a mystery and survive the horrors within.
The game features an app that controls the enemies and events, making every playthrough unique. Mansions of Madness is a great choice for those who want a horror RPG board game.
Mice & Mystics
- Players: 1-4
- Ages: 7+
- Play Time: 1+ Hours
- Complexity: Beginner
Mice & Mystics is a charming and whimsical game where players take on the roles of mice trying to save their kingdom from an evil queen.
The game features a storybook-style campaign, with each chapter advancing the plot and introducing new challenges.
It also includes a unique dice-rolling mechanic that adds a lot of tension to the gameplay.
The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth
- Players: 1-5
- Ages: 14+
- Play Time: 1+ Hours
- Complexity: Beginner
The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth is a cooperative game set in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth. Players take on the roles of heroes trying to stop the plans of the Dark Lord Sauron.
The game features an app that controls the enemies and events, making every playthrough unique. It also includes a campaign mode with a branching story and a huge variety of character classes and abilities to choose from.
Star Wars: Imperial Assault
- Players: 1-5
- Ages: 14+
- Play Time: 1+ Hours
- Complexity: Advanced
Star Wars: Imperial Assault is a one-vs-many game set in the Star Wars universe. One player controls the Empire, while the other players control the Rebel heroes trying to stop them.
The game features a campaign mode with a branching story and a huge variety of character classes and abilities to choose from. It also includes a skirmish mode for head-to-head play.
Talisman: Revised 4th Edition
- Players: 2-6
- Ages: 13+
- Play Time: 1+ Hours
- Complexity: Beginner
Talisman is a classic fantasy board game that has been around since the 80s. The Revised 4th Edition includes updated rules and components, making it a great choice for new players.
Players choose a character class and explore a magical realm, trying to reach the center of the board and claim the Crown of Command. Along the way, they fight monsters, collect treasures, and level up their abilities.
Shadows of Brimstone: City of the Ancients
- Players: 1-4
- Ages: 12+
- Play Time: 2+ Hours
- Complexity: Advanced
Shadows of Brimstone is a cooperative game set in a weird west universe. Players take on the roles of cowboys and gunslingers, exploring a haunted mine, fighting monsters, and collecting treasures.
The game includes a unique dice-rolling combat system and a card-driven exploration system that allows for various strategies.