Modern board games often delve into strategic realms, whether it's through territorial conquests or economic optimization. However, for those who crave the thrill of exploration and adventure over traditional strategy, role-playing board games (RPGs) offer a captivating alternative. These games, akin to their pen-and-paper predecessors, immerse you in fantastical worlds where you take on the roles of diverse characters, embarking on quests and facing challenges. While they maintain a narrative focus, RPG board games also offer a rich strategic experience, blending storytelling with tactical gameplay. Here are our top picks for the best RPG board games, each promising 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 Amazon!

Don'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 Amazon!

Let's start with the titan of the genre: The Gloomhaven series, widely acclaimed as one of the best board games ever, particularly in the RPG category. In Gloomhaven, you step into the shoes of various adventurers, navigating a labyrinthine campaign where characters retire or meet their end in dungeons. The game's tactical combat system revolves around building a deck of multi-use ability cards, creating a tense atmosphere as your deck depletes. While the original is currently out of stock, Jaws of the Lion offers a more accessible and affordable entry point with similar gameplay. Meanwhile, Frosthaven (see it at Amazon) expands the experience by adding a town to explore, build, and populate. These games are also excellent for solo play, perfect for when you can't gather a group.

Dungeons & Dragons: Temple of Elemental Evil

WizKids Dungeons & Dragons: Temple of Elemental Evil

1See it at Amazon!

Role-playing in board games can be broadly defined, but the cooperative adventure system inspired by the world's most famous pen-and-paper RPG is a standout. Each box contains a large set of tiles, drawn randomly to create dynamic dungeons filled with traps and monsters controlled by simple flowcharts. This setup creates an immersive experience, akin to navigating a labyrinth guided by a dungeon master. The included narrative campaign adds depth, with Temple of Elemental Evil standing out for its connection to one of D&D's iconic scenarios.

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 Amazon!

Blurring the lines further, The Witcher: Old World is a celebrated board game adaptation of the renowned role-playing video game series. Set before the events of the Witcher video games and novels, players assume the roles of Witchers, competing to hunt monsters and earn glory and coin. The game's deck-building mechanic allows for strategic card combinations, enhancing your Witcher's abilities to tackle increasingly formidable foes. A solo mode is also available for those who wish to delve into the game's rich fantasy world alone. For more details, see our review of The Witcher: Old World board game.

Star Wars: Imperial Assault

Star Wars: Imperial Assault

6See it at Amazon!

Not all RPGs adhere to the fantasy archetype; sci-fi fans will find Star Wars: Imperial Assault a thrilling alternative. Set post the original Star Wars film, players can either command the Empire's forces or control a team of Rebel operatives striving to undermine the Empire. The game's tactical combat system is robust enough for standalone scenarios, but its campaign mode truly shines, weaving battles into a cinematic narrative featuring iconic characters like Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker. Expansion packs introduce even more beloved figures from the franchise.

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

HeroQuest

HeroQuest

4See it at Amazon!

Originally released in 1989, HeroQuest is a nostalgic dungeon-crawler that has been revamped with new miniatures. This game combines the role-playing experience with board game mechanics, featuring a game master who guides the heroes through a dungeon filled with secrets, monsters, and treasure. It's a family-friendly game that retains the depth of a true RPG, with additional expansions offering new adventures once the core campaign is complete.

Arkham Horror: The Card Game

Arkham Horror: The Card Game

2See it at Amazon!

Horror-themed RPGs pose a unique challenge in balancing player control with the genre's inherent unpredictability. Arkham Horror: The Card Game, inspired by H.P. Lovecraft's works, strikes this balance well. Players collaborate to solve mysteries linked to otherworldly horrors, with the game's difficulty and bleak narrative enhancing the horror experience. The strategic element comes from deck-building and managing the chaos bag's statistical probabilities. This game is also one of the best trading card games available today.

The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth

The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth

2See it at Amazon!

Given the popularity of fantasy settings in RPGs, it's no surprise that Middle-earth features prominently. This game allows players to feel part of Tolkien's world without retreading his stories. Players build decks representing their heroes' abilities, navigating a world filled with innovative mechanics, such as tile scale-flipping for exploration and an app that enriches 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 Amazon!

This War of Mine offers a stark departure from traditional heroism, focusing on survival in a war-torn city. Inspired by the computer RPG of the same name, players must scavenge during the day and defend their hideout at night. The game's mechanics, supported by a narrative text book, provide a poignant exploration of life in a conflict zone, emphasizing the struggle to keep your group alive.

Descent: Legends of the Dark

Descent: Legends of the Dark

3See it at Amazon!

The visual and tactile appeal of board games is a significant draw, and Descent: Legends of the Dark excels with its detailed miniatures and 3D terrain. The game's engine is robust, supported by a mobile app that guides players through quests linked by narrative threads. This allows for character progression and equipment upgrades, enriching the role-playing experience. See our review of Descent: Legends of the Dark for more insights.

Mice & Mystics

Mice & Mystics

1See it at Amazon!

RPG board games often appeal to younger players, but many can be too complex. Mice & Mystics strikes a balance, offering a whimsical tale of adventurers transformed into mice, working to save a kingdom from a tyrant. With simple mechanics and engaging storytelling, it's a game that can captivate players of all ages.

Tainted Grail The Fall of Avalon

Tainted Grail The Fall of Avalon

5See it at Amazon!

Tainted Grail emphasizes storytelling, weaving Celtic legends into an Arthurian setting. Players must manage resources and navigate a branching narrative campaign, supported by richly written text. The game's expansive story offers multiple playthroughs, each potentially revealing new paths and outcomes.

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

The term "role-playing game" (RPG) originated with Dungeons & Dragons, which formalized the practice of narrative storytelling using wargame rules. These games, often called "pen-and-paper RPGs," emphasize creativity and imagination, with no limits to what players can create. However, the strategic elements and character progression also appealed to many players, leading to the development of board and video game RPGs. These versions used boards, cards, or computer algorithms to replace the Games Master, offering structured worlds for players to explore and conquer.

While video game RPGs have established sub-genres like JRPGs and Rogue-likes, board game RPGs are often categorized as adventure or quest games. This distinction may stem from the different levels of immersion provided by physical versus digital media. The cross-pollination between these formats is significant, with many RPGs inspiring adaptations across different mediums, creating a rich, interconnected gaming landscape.