The Best RPG Board Games Worth Playing in 2025

Many modern board games offer deep strategic gameplay, focusing on resource management or economic optimization. But if you crave the thrill of exploration and adventure, role-playing board games are your perfect match. Like their pen-and-paper counterparts, these games immerse you in fantastical settings, where you'll collaborate or compete to overcome quests and challenges. However, they also retain the strategic depth expected of a great board game.

Below are our top picks for the best RPG board games, promising countless hours of fun in 2025 and beyond.

Top Role-Playing Board Games at a Glance

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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

The Gloomhaven series is renowned as a top board game, and arguably the best role-playing board game. You'll play as adventurers, collaborating through a labyrinthine campaign, with the roster evolving as characters retire or fall in battle. The compelling tactical combat system uses a deck-building mechanic, creating rising tension with each scenario. While the original is currently unavailable, the prequel, *Jaws of the Lion*, offers a similar experience in a more accessible package. The sequel, *Frosthaven*, expands the gameplay with an explorable, buildable town. Both also excel as solo games.

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Dungeons & Dragons: Temple of Elemental Evil

This cooperative adventure series, based on the popular pen-and-paper RPG, masterfully blends both elements. Randomly drawn tiles create a dynamic dungeon, filled with traps and monsters governed by simple rules. This creates a surprisingly engaging experience, mimicking the feel of a dungeon master-led game. *Temple of Elemental Evil*, based on a classic D&D scenario, is a standout.

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

The Witcher: Old World

This acclaimed board game adaptation of the popular video game series is set before the events of *The Witcher* games and novels. Players become Witchers, hunting monsters and competing for coin and glory. The unique deck-building system encourages strategic card combinations to overcome increasingly challenging foes. A solo mode is also included.

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See our The Witcher: Old World board game review for more information.

Star Wars: Imperial Assault

For sci-fi fans, *Star Wars: Imperial Assault* offers a thrilling alternative. Set after *A New Hope*, one player commands the Empire, while others collaborate as Rebel operatives to undermine Imperial rule. The tactical combat system is engaging in standalone scenarios, but the campaign mode truly shines, weaving battles into a cinematic narrative featuring iconic characters. Numerous expansions add even more depth.

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

HeroQuest

This classic dungeon-crawling game returns with updated miniatures. One player acts as the game master, revealing the dungeon and its challenges as players explore. This offers a true role-playing experience, blending mystery, narrative, and character progression with strategic board game mechanics. Numerous expansions provide additional adventures.

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game

This Lovecraftian horror game blends challenging gameplay with bleak narratives. Players cooperate to solve mysteries connected to otherworldly beings. The difficulty and narrative create a tense atmosphere, while deck-building adds strategic depth. Expansions continue to expand the story and gameplay.

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The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth

This game seamlessly integrates into Tolkien's world, allowing players to experience Middle-earth without disrupting the established narrative. Deck-building mechanics are combined with innovative features, such as tile flipping for above-ground and underground exploration, and a companion app for mystery solving.

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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 game offers a unique and powerful setting, depicting the struggle for survival in a war-torn city. Players must scavenge resources, barricade their shelter, and avoid hostile encounters. The resource management and base-building mechanics are enhanced by narrative text, creating a poignant experience.

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Descent: Legends of the Dark

Descent boasts impressive production values, with detailed miniatures and three-dimensional terrain. A companion app guides players through quests, with narrative links between scenarios. The gameplay is equally strong, with satisfying progression and character development.

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See our Descent: Legends of the Dark review for more info.

Mice & Mystics

This game is ideal for younger players, offering a compelling story with simple mechanics. Players are transformed into mice, tasked with saving a kingdom from a tyrant. The whimsical adventure and straightforward gameplay make it enjoyable for all ages.

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Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon

This game prioritizes narrative, blending Arthurian and Celtic legends to create a rich world. Players must collaborate to survive, managing resources and navigating a branching narrative campaign. The well-written story and multiple playthrough possibilities make it a standout.

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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 mechanics. 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 creation of board and video game RPGs, where the game itself takes on the role of the game master, providing a structured world for players to explore while retaining strategic depth.

While "role-playing" is a well-established genre term in video games, board games lack a similar unifying term, often being categorized as adventure or quest games. The less direct interaction with the game world in board games might contribute to this. Despite this, significant cross-pollination exists between these formats, with games frequently inspiring adaptations across platforms.