Top RPG Board Games to Play in 2025

A lot of modern board games are highly strategic, focusing on conquering lands or building economic engines to secure victory. However, if you find these themes unappealing and are drawn to exploration and adventure, role-playing board games (RPGs) are the perfect choice. These games allow you to step into the shoes of a character in an imaginative setting, tackling quests and challenges either competitively or cooperatively. Beneath their engaging narratives, these games offer rich 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 AmazonLet's start with the acclaimed Gloomhaven series, often hailed as the best board game ever created, especially in the RPG genre. In Gloomhaven, you and your fellow players take on the roles of adventurers navigating a complex campaign, with characters retiring or facing perilous fates in dungeons. The game's tactical combat system revolves around building a deck of versatile ability cards, creating tension as your deck depletes. While the original is currently out of stock, Jaws of the Lion offers a more accessible and affordable introduction to this gameplay, and Frosthaven expands the experience with town-building elements. These games are also excellent choices 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 Dungeons & Dragons cooperative adventure series perfectly blends RPG elements with board game mechanics. Each box includes tiles to construct dynamic dungeons filled with randomly placed traps and monsters, mimicking the experience of exploring a labyrinth guided by a dungeon master. This system supports a narrative campaign, with Temple of Elemental Evil standing out as a favorite due to its connection to a classic D&D scenario.

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 AmazonBlurring the lines further, The Witcher: Old World adapts the beloved video game series into a board game set before the events of the novels and games. Players assume the roles of Witchers competing for coin and glory by hunting monsters and building strategic card decks. The game's solo mode allows players to delve into this rich fantasy world at their own pace. See our The Witcher: Old World board game review for more information.

Star Wars: Imperial Assault

### Star Wars: Imperial Assault

6See it at AmazonFor sci-fi enthusiasts, Star Wars: Imperial Assault offers a thrilling RPG experience set in the iconic universe. One player controls the Empire, while others collaborate as Rebel operatives working against the Emperor's rule. The game's tactical combat system supports standalone scenarios, but its true strength lies in the interconnected campaign that unfolds like a cinematic narrative, featuring beloved characters from the Star Wars saga.

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 launched in 1989, HeroQuest has returned with enhanced miniatures but retains its classic RPG-on-a-board approach. A designated Game Master guides the scenario, revealing the dungeon as players explore and battle monsters, making it one of the closest board game experiences to traditional role-playing. After completing the included campaign, numerous expansions offer additional adventures.

Arkham Horror: The Card Game

### Arkham Horror: The Card Game

2See it at AmazonHorror RPGs pose a unique challenge in balancing player control with atmospheric tension. Arkham Horror: The Card Game, inspired by H.P. Lovecraft's works, excels at this, as players collaborate to unravel mysteries linked to otherworldly horrors. The game's difficulty and dark narratives create an immersive horror experience, while strategic deck-building and the chaos bag add depth to the gameplay. This is also one of the best trading card games 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 features prominently. Journeys in Middle-Earth offers a compelling adaptation, allowing players to explore Tolkien's world through deck-building and innovative mechanics like tile scale-flipping and app-supported mysteries.

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 AmazonThis War of Mine presents a unique RPG experience set in a war-torn city, focusing on survival and resource management. Players must scavenge during the day and defend their hideout at night, navigating a narrative that powerfully illustrates the challenges of living in a conflict zone.

Descent: Legends of the Dark

### Descent: Legends of the Dark

3See it at AmazonDescent: Legends of the Dark stands out with its high-quality miniatures and detailed terrain, creating an immersive visual experience. The game's mechanics, supported by a mobile app, guide players through a narrative campaign, enhancing the RPG experience with strategic depth. See our Descent: Legends of the Dark review for more info.

Mice & Mystics

### Mice & Mystics

1See it at AmazonDesigned to appeal to younger players, Mice & Mystics tells a whimsical tale of transformed adventurers fighting to save a fantasy kingdom. Its simple mechanics and engaging story make it a delightful choice for players of all ages.

Tainted Grail The Fall of Avalon

### Tainted Grail The Fall of Avalon

5See it at AmazonTainted Grail focuses heavily on storytelling, blending Celtic legends with Arthurian lore to craft a compelling narrative. Players must manage resources and navigate a branching storyline, ensuring multiple playthroughs offer fresh experiences.

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 the practice of narrative storytelling using wargame rules. These games, known as pen-and-paper RPGs, emphasize creative and imaginative play, allowing limitless storytelling possibilities. However, the strategic aspects and character progression also attracted players, leading to the development of board and video game RPGs.

In these adaptations, the board or computer replaces the Game Master, using programmed narratives or random events to create immersive worlds. Players can level up their characters and engage with game mechanics to achieve victory. While video games have established sub-genres like JRPGs and Rogue-likes, board games often use terms like "adventure games" or "quest games" for RPGs, possibly due to the different level of immersion compared to screen-based games.

The cross-pollination between tabletop, board, and video game RPGs is extensive, with many games inspiring and being adapted across these platforms, creating a rich and interconnected gaming ecosystem.