Top RPG Board Games to Play in 2025

A lot of modern board games are highly strategic, often involving conquering lands for resources or building economic engines to secure victory. However, if you find these themes dry and prefer the thrill of exploration and adventure, role-playing board games (RPGs) are perfect for you. These games, inspired by their pen-and-paper counterparts, immerse you in fantastical settings where you can either compete or cooperate with other players to overcome quests and challenges. Despite their narrative focus, these games still offer deep strategic gameplay. Here are our top picks for the best RPG board games, promising endless hours of fun 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 AmazonThe Gloomhaven series is renowned as one of the best board games ever created, particularly in the RPG genre. In this game, you assume the roles of adventurers navigating a complex campaign, with characters retiring or facing peril in dungeons. The game's tactical combat system involves building a deck of multi-use ability cards, creating tension as your deck depletes. While the original game is currently unavailable, the prequel, Jaws of the Lion, offers a similar experience in a more accessible and affordable format. Meanwhile, Frosthaven (see it at Amazon) expands the gameplay by including a town to explore, build, and populate. These games are also excellent for solo play when you're without a gaming group.

Dungeons & Dragons: Temple of Elemental Evil

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

1See it at AmazonThe term "role-playing" can be broad in board gaming, but the cooperative adventure system series, inspired by the world's most popular pen-and-paper RPG, perfectly blends the two. Each box contains numerous tiles that you draw randomly to build the dungeon, filled with traps and monsters that follow simple flowchart routines. This dynamic setup creates the feeling of exploring a mysterious labyrinth controlled by a dungeon master, guiding you through an engaging narrative campaign. Temple of Elemental Evil, based on a classic D&D scenario, stands out among the series (see them at Amazon).

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 AmazonThis acclaimed board game adaptation of the popular video game series is set years before the events of The Witcher games and novels. Players take on the roles of Witchers, competing to hunt monsters and earn coin and glory. The game involves deck-building, where you create card combos and strategic synergies to enhance your power and tackle increasingly formidable foes. A solo mode is also available for those who wish to explore this fantasy world independently. See our The Witcher: Old World board game review for more information.

Star Wars: Imperial Assault

### Star Wars: Imperial Assault

6See it at AmazonNot all RPGs adhere to fantasy themes; sci-fi fans will enjoy this game, which replaces dungeons with starship interiors and high-tech bases. Set post the original Star Wars film, one player controls the Empire while others collaborate as Rebel operatives to undermine the Emperor's rule. The tactical combat system supports 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 extensive range of expansion packs includes many famous 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 has returned with enhanced miniatures but retains its RPG-on-a-board approach. A game master uses a booklet to guide the scenario while other players explore the dungeon, fighting monsters and collecting treasure. This game offers a true role-playing experience with family-friendly rules and tactical gameplay. After completing the campaign in the box, numerous HeroQuest expansions offer additional adventures.

Arkham Horror: The Card Game

### Arkham Horror: The Card Game

2See it at AmazonHorror RPGs are a popular genre, but balancing player control with horror elements can be challenging. Arkham Horror: The Card Game, inspired by H.P. Lovecraft's works, excels in this regard. Players collaborate to solve mysteries linked to alien worlds and beings, with horror derived from challenging gameplay and bleak narratives. The game's strategy revolves around deck-building and managing the chaos bag's statistical probabilities. This is one of the best 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 popularity of fantasy settings in RPGs, it's fitting that Middle-earth, the setting that popularized fantasy world-building, is featured. This game allows players to feel part of Tolkien's epic world without altering his narratives. Players build card decks to represent their powers, supported by innovative mechanics like tile scale-flipping for exploration and an app that enhances 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 AmazonIn This War of Mine, heroism is about surviving in a war-torn city. Inspired by the computer RPG, this game places you in charge of a group trying to stay alive. During the day, you scavenge for resources, and at night, you defend your hideout from raiders and soldiers. The game's mechanics, supported by narrative text, offer a poignant look at the horrors of conflict, making the survival experience deeply personal.

Descent: Legends of the Dark

### Descent: Legends of the Dark

3See it at AmazonThe appeal of RPG board games lies in their tangible components and immersive visuals. Descent: Legends of the Dark excels with its detailed miniatures and 3D terrain, creating a vivid tabletop experience. The game's engine, supported by a mobile app, guides players through quests with narrative links, allowing you to use treasures to unlock new powers and equipment. See our Descent: Legends of the Dark review for more info.

Mice & Mystics

### Mice & Mystics

1See it at AmazonRPG board games often attract younger players, but many are too complex for them. Mice & Mystics bridges this gap with a story of adventurers turned into mice trying to save a fantasy kingdom. The game features simple tactical mechanics and whimsical adventures, making it enjoyable for all ages.

Tainted Grail The Fall of Avalon

### Tainted Grail The Fall of Avalon

5See it at AmazonWhile many RPGs focus on mechanics, Tainted Grail emphasizes storytelling, blending Celtic legends with Arthurian lore to create a rich world. Players must manage resources and navigate a branching narrative campaign, supported by well-crafted text, offering multiple playthroughs with different outcomes.

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 ruleset to formalize narrative character-based stories using miniature wargame rules. These games, often called "pen-and-paper RPGs," emphasize creative and imaginative potential. However, players also enjoy the strategic elements like skill checks and character advancement. The need for a Games Master in these games led to the development of board and video game RPGs, where the board, cards, or computer take on the role of the Games Master, providing a world for players to explore and mechanics to master.

While "role-playing" is an established term in video gaming, spawning sub-genres like JRPGs and Rogue-likes, board gaming lacks a similar term, often using "adventure games" or "quest games" instead. This can be confusing, especially with the cross-pollination between tabletop, board, and video game RPGs. Dungeons & Dragons has inspired both board and computer RPGs, which have, in turn, influenced new material for the original game. Many board game RPGs have computer versions, and vice versa, creating a rich ecosystem of interconnected gaming experiences.