Top RPG Board Games to Play in 2025

A lot of modern board games are highly strategic affairs, often involving conquering lands for resources or optimizing economic engines to secure victory. However, if you find these themes dry and crave the thrill of exploration and adventure, role-playing board games (RPGs) are the perfect fit. These games immerse you in fantastical settings where you embody different characters, tackling quests and challenges either competitively or cooperatively. Beneath their narrative-driven surfaces, these games offer deep strategic gameplay, ensuring hours of enjoyment in 2025 and beyond. Here are our top picks for the best RPG board games:

Top Role-Playing Board Games at a Glance

Gloomhaven: Jaws of The Lion

6 See it at Amazon!

WizKids Dungeons & Dragons: Temple of Elemental Evil

1 See it at Amazon!

The Witcher: Old World

3 See it at Amazon!

Star Wars: Imperial Assault

6 See it at Amazon!

HeroQuest

4 See it at Amazon!

Arkham Horror: The Card Game

2 See it at Amazon!

The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth

2 See it at Amazon!

This War of Mine: The Board Game

0 See it at Amazon!

Descent: Legends of the Dark

3 See it at Amazon!

Mice & Mystics

1 See it at Amazon!

Tainted Grail The Fall of Avalon

5 See 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

6 See it at Amazon!

The Gloomhaven series is renowned as one of the best board games ever created, particularly in the realm of role-playing. In this game, you step into the shoes of adventurers navigating a complex campaign where characters can retire or meet their demise. The tactical combat system involves building a deck of multi-use ability cards, adding tension as your deck depletes. While the original game is currently out of stock, the prequel, Jaws of the Lion, offers a similar experience in a more affordable package. Meanwhile, Frosthaven (see it at Amazon) expands the gameplay with an explorable town. These games are also excellent for solo play.

Dungeons & Dragons: Temple of Elemental Evil

WizKids Dungeons & Dragons: Temple of Elemental Evil

1 See it at Amazon!

Role-playing in board games can be quite versatile, and the cooperative adventure system based on the world's most popular pen-and-paper RPG is a prime example. Each box includes tiles that you draw randomly to build the dungeon, filled with traps and monsters controlled by simple flowcharts. This dynamic setup creates a sense of exploring a mysterious labyrinth. The game includes a narrative campaign, with Temple of Elemental Evil standing out as a top choice due to its connection to a famous 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

3 See it at Amazon!

This 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 earn coin and glory by hunting monsters. The game features a compelling deck-building mechanic, where players create card combos and strategies to outpace their rivals. It also offers a solo mode for those who wish to explore the fantasy world independently. See our The Witcher: Old World board game review for more information.

Star Wars: Imperial Assault

Star Wars: Imperial Assault

6 See it at Amazon!

For sci-fi enthusiasts, this game swaps fantasy dungeons for starship interiors and high-tech bases. Set post the original Star Wars film, one player controls the Empire while others collaborate as Rebel operatives. The tactical combat system supports both one-off scenarios and a campaign that weaves battles into a cinematic narrative, featuring iconic characters like Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker. Expansion packs offer even more famous 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

4 See it at Amazon!

Originally released in 1989, HeroQuest has been re-released with enhanced miniatures. This dungeon-crawling game features a games master who guides the narrative while other players explore the dungeon, fighting monsters and collecting treasure. It offers a true role-playing experience with family-friendly rules and tactical gameplay. Additional expansions provide new adventures once the base campaign is complete.

Arkham Horror: The Card Game

Arkham Horror: The Card Game

2 See it at Amazon!

Horror-themed RPGs are popular, and this game, inspired by H.P. Lovecraft's works, is a standout. Players collaborate to solve mysteries linked to alien worlds and beings. The horror is enhanced by challenging difficulty and bleak narratives, while strategy revolves around deck-building and managing the chaos bag. This game 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

2 See it at Amazon!

Set in Tolkien's Middle-earth, this game allows players to feel part of the epic fantasy world without altering the original stories. Players build card decks to represent their abilities, and the game introduces innovative mechanics like tile scale-flipping for exploration. The supporting app enhances the experience with narrative-driven 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

0 See it at Amazon!

In this game, heroism is about survival in a war-torn city. Players must scavenge resources during the day and defend their hideout at night. The game's mechanics, supported by narrative text, create a powerful experience that reflects the harsh realities of living in a conflict zone.

Descent: Legends of the Dark

Descent: Legends of the Dark

3 See it at Amazon!

This game stands out for its stunning visuals and production values, featuring detailed miniatures and 3D terrain. The gameplay is supported by a mobile app that guides players through quests and narratives, allowing them to gain new powers and equipment. See our Descent: Legends of the Dark review for more info.

Mice & Mystics

Mice & Mystics

1 See it at Amazon!

Designed to appeal to younger players, this game tells the story of adventurers turned into mice trying to save a fantasy kingdom. With simple mechanics and a whimsical narrative, it's perfect for players of all ages.

Tainted Grail The Fall of Avalon

Tainted Grail The Fall of Avalon

5 See it at Amazon!

This game focuses on storytelling, blending Celtic legends with Arthurian lore. Players must manage resources and navigate a branching narrative campaign, 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 for narrative character-based stories using miniature wargame rules. These games, often called "pen-and-paper RPGs," emphasize creativity and imagination. However, many 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.

While video games have established sub-genres like JRPGs and Rogue-likes, board games often use terms like adventure or quest games. 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. This interconnectedness highlights the rich evolution of RPGs across different platforms.