Top RPG Board Games to Play in 2025

A lot of modern board games are highly strategic, involving conquering lands for resources or optimizing economic engines to achieve victory. However, if you find such themes dry and prefer the thrill of exploration and adventure, role-playing board games are the perfect fit. These games immerse you in fantastical worlds, where you assume the role of a character and engage in quests and challenges, either competitively or cooperatively. Despite their narrative focus, these games still offer deep strategic elements. Here are our top picks for the best RPG board games, promising endless hours of enjoyment 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 dive into the renowned Gloomhaven series, often hailed as the pinnacle of board games, especially in the role-playing genre. In Gloomhaven, you embody various adventurers, collaborating through a dynamic campaign where characters can retire or face demise in dungeons. The game's tactical combat system revolves around building a deck of multi-use ability cards, escalating tension as your deck diminishes. While the original is currently unavailable, Jaws of the Lion offers a condensed, budget-friendly version with similar gameplay. Frosthaven, the sequel, elevates the experience with a town you can explore, build, and inhabit. These games are also excellent for solo play when you're without a group.

Dungeons & Dragons: Temple of Elemental Evil

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

1See it at AmazonThe term "role-playing" in board gaming can be broad, but the cooperative adventure system inspired by the world's most famous pen-and-paper RPG stands out. Each box includes numerous tiles you randomly draw to construct the dungeon, filled with traps and monsters that operate via simple flowcharts. This setup creates a dynamic experience, simulating a labyrinth controlled by a dungeon master. The game guides you through an engaging narrative campaign. Among the options (see them at Amazon), Temple of Elemental Evil, based on a classic D&D scenario, is particularly noteworthy.

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

The Witcher: Old World

### The Witcher: Old World

3See it at AmazonThe Witcher: Old World adds another layer to the RPG board game scene, adapting the acclaimed video game series. Set before the events of the Witcher games and novels, players assume the roles of Witchers, competing for coin and glory by hunting monsters. The game features deck-building, where you craft card combinations and strategic synergies to outpace rivals in confronting increasingly formidable foes. It also offers a solo mode for those eager to explore its fantasy world. For more details, see our The Witcher: Old World board game review.

Star Wars: Imperial Assault

### Star Wars: Imperial Assault

6See it at AmazonNot all RPGs are bound to fantasy; sci-fi enthusiasts will appreciate Star Wars: Imperial Assault. Set post the original Star Wars movie, one player leads the Empire, while others collaborate as Rebel operatives thwarting the Emperor's rule. The tactical combat system is robust enough for standalone scenarios, but the campaign mode links battles into a cinematic narrative, allowing you to fight alongside iconic characters like Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker. The game's expansive range of expansion packs includes many beloved 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 AmazonOriginally released in 1989, HeroQuest brings back nostalgic dungeon-crawling with enhanced miniatures. It blends RPG elements with board game mechanics, using a game master to unveil the dungeon as players explore, battle monsters, and collect treasure. It remains one of the closest experiences to traditional role-playing, offering mystery, narrative, and hero progression within family-friendly rules and tactical gameplay. After completing the included campaign, numerous HeroQuest expansions offer additional adventures.

Arkham Horror: The Card Game

### Arkham Horror: The Card Game

2See it at AmazonHorror RPGs carve their own niche in board gaming, with Arkham Horror: The Card Game standing out. Inspired by H.P. Lovecraft's works, players collaborate to unravel mysteries linked to alien realms and unspeakable beings. The horror stems from challenging gameplay and dark narratives, with expansions continually evolving the story. Strategic depth comes from deck-building and managing the chaos bag's probabilities. It's also one of the top trading card games currently available.

The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth

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

2See it at AmazonGiven the allure of fantasy settings in RPGs, it's fitting that Middle-earth, the birthplace of modern fantasy world-building, is featured. This adaptation situates players within Tolkien's universe without overshadowing his narratives. The game's core involves building card decks for character abilities, enhanced by innovative mechanics like tile scale-flipping for multi-level exploration and app-supported mystery-solving. For more insights, check out our review of The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying board game.

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 survival in a war-torn city is the focus. Inspired by its computer RPG counterpart, players scavenge resources during the day and defend against threats at night. The game's mechanics of resource management and base-building are complemented by narrative text, offering a poignant exploration of conflict's human toll.

Descent: Legends of the Dark

### Descent: Legends of the Dark

3See it at AmazonDescent: Legends of the Dark excels in visual appeal and production quality, with detailed miniatures and 3D terrain. The game's robust mechanics are supported by a mobile app that guides players through quests with rich narratives and interconnected scenarios. For more information, see our Descent: Legends of the Dark review.

Mice & Mystics

### Mice & Mystics

1See it at AmazonDesigned to appeal to younger players without sacrificing depth, Mice & Mystics offers a whimsical adventure. Players, transformed into mice, navigate a fantasy kingdom to thwart a tyrant and regain their human forms. The game balances simple mechanics with an engaging story, making it suitable for all ages.

Tainted Grail The Fall of Avalon

### Tainted Grail The Fall of Avalon

5See it at AmazonTainted Grail prioritizes storytelling, weaving Celtic legends into an Arthurian backdrop. Players manage resources strategically while navigating a vast, branching narrative campaign. The game's rich text and multiple paths ensure varied experiences with each playthrough.

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 system to formalize narrative storytelling with wargame rules. These games, known as pen-and-paper RPGs, emphasize creative potential, allowing players to craft limitless adventures. However, many players also enjoy the strategic aspects like skill checks and character progression, often facilitated by a Game Master.

The evolution of RPGs led to board and video game adaptations, where the board or computer takes on the Game Master's role. These adaptations satisfy players' strategic desires through character leveling and game mechanics exploitation.

While video games have established sub-genres like JRPGs and Rogue-likes, board games often use terms like "adventure" or "quest" games, despite their popularity in the RPG category. This distinction may stem from the less immediate connection players feel to their board game avatars.

The crossover between tabletop RPGs, board games, and video games is extensive, with Dungeons & Dragons influencing both board and computer RPGs, which in turn inspire new material for the original game. This interrelation highlights the dynamic nature of the RPG genre across different platforms.