Unveiled: Top RPG Board Games Dominating 2025

Dive into the Thrilling World of Role-Playing Board Games in 2025 and Beyond!

Many modern board games offer deep strategic gameplay, focusing on resource management or economic optimization. But for those craving exploration and adventure, role-playing board games offer a captivating alternative. Similar to pen-and-paper RPGs, these games immerse you in fantastical settings, allowing you to collaborate or compete with fellow players to conquer quests and overcome challenges. However, unlike their pen-and-paper counterparts, they retain a significant strategic element within their narrative framework. Here are some of the best RPG board games to enjoy for countless hours of fun:

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

Short on time? View all games listed above via horizontal scrolling.

Gloomhaven/Jaws of the Lion/Frosthaven

### Gloomhaven: Jaws of The Lion

6See it at AmazonThe Gloomhaven series is widely considered a top-tier board game, and arguably the best role-playing board game. Players assume the roles of adventurers, collaborating through a complex campaign. Characters retire or perish, impacting the roster throughout the game. The strategic combat system involves deck-building with multi-use ability cards, creating escalating tension as the game progresses. While the original is currently unavailable, the prequel Jaws of the Lion provides a similar experience in a more accessible format. The sequel, Frosthaven, expands the experience by incorporating a town to explore, build, and populate. These games also offer excellent solo gameplay options.

Dungeons & Dragons: Temple of Elemental Evil

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

1See it at AmazonThis cooperative adventure game, based on the popular pen-and-paper RPG, seamlessly blends role-playing and board game mechanics. Randomly drawn tiles create a dynamic dungeon, filled with traps and monsters governed by simple flowchart rules. This creates a sense of exploring a mysterious labyrinth, similar to a dungeon master-led game. The game features a narrative campaign. While all titles in the series are excellent, Temple of Elemental Evil, based on a classic D&D scenario, stands out.

The Witcher: Old World

### The Witcher: Old World

3See it at AmazonThis acclaimed board game adaptation of the popular video game series is set before the events of The Witcher games and novels. Players take on the roles of Witchers, hunting monsters and competing for glory and wealth. The game features deck-building mechanics, allowing players to create powerful card combinations and strategic synergies. A solo mode is also available.

Star Wars: Imperial Assault

### Star Wars: Imperial Assault

6See it at AmazonThis sci-fi RPG board game replaces fantasy settings with starships and high-tech bases. One player commands the Empire, while others control Rebel operatives working to overthrow the Emperor. The engaging tactical combat system supports standalone scenarios, but the game’s campaign, linking battles into a cinematic narrative, is a key draw. Numerous expansions add iconic characters.

HeroQuest

### HeroQuest

4See it at AmazonThis classic dungeon-crawling game, originally released in 1989, has been remastered with improved miniatures. One player acts as the game master, revealing the dungeon to the other players (heroes) as they progress, encountering monsters and treasure. It offers a strong role-playing experience with family-friendly rules and tactical depth. Many expansions offer additional adventures.

Arkham Horror: The Card Game

### Arkham Horror: The Card Game

2See it at AmazonThis horror-themed game, loosely based on H.P. Lovecraft's works, has players collaboratively solving mysteries connected to alien entities. The challenge level and bleak narratives contribute to the horror atmosphere. The game features deck-building mechanics, adding strategic depth. Numerous expansions extend the storyline.

The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth

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

2See it at AmazonSet in Middle-earth, this game allows players to experience Tolkien's world without altering the established narrative. Players build card decks to represent their characters' abilities. Innovative features, such as tile flipping for above-ground and underground exploration, and a supporting app for solving mysteries, enhance the gameplay.

This War of Mine: The Board Game

### This War of Mine: The Board Game

0See it at AmazonThis game offers a unique perspective on heroism, focusing on survival in a war-torn city. Players scavenge for resources during the day and defend their hideout at night. The resource management and base-building mechanics are complemented by narrative text, creating a powerful portrayal of life in a conflict zone.

Descent: Legends of the Dark

### Descent: Legends of the Dark

3See it at AmazonThis game boasts exceptional visual presentation, with high-quality miniatures and detailed 3D terrain. A mobile app guides players through quests, providing narrative and inter-scenario connections.

Mice & Mystics

### Mice & Mystics

1See it at AmazonThis game is designed to appeal to younger players with its whimsical story of mice on a quest to save a kingdom. Simple mechanics and a captivating narrative make it enjoyable for all ages.

Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon

### Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon

5See it at AmazonThis game prioritizes narrative, blending Celtic and Arthurian legends to create a rich world. Players must collaborate to survive, managing resources and navigating a branching narrative campaign supported by extensive written text.

The Relationship Between RPG Board Games, 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. Pen-and-paper RPGs emphasize creative potential, but many players also appreciate the strategic elements of rule manipulation and character progression. The need for a game master led to the creation of board games and video games, where the game itself or a computer assumes this role. While "role-playing" is a well-established genre term in video games, there's no direct equivalent in board games, although the games are often categorized as adventure or quest games. The lines between these game types are blurred, with significant cross-pollination and adaptations occurring across all three mediums.