The Best Dungeon Crawler Board Games for an Epic Tabletop Adventure

Dungeon crawler board games offer a rich and diverse gaming experience, encompassing tactical combat, character progression, rewarding loot acquisition, and the exploration of intricate dungeons. The genre's appeal extends beyond traditional fantasy settings, incorporating horror, sci-fi, and even beloved franchises like Marvel and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This abundance of choice can make selecting a starting point challenging, but this list highlights some of the best options available.

TL;DR: The Best Dungeon Crawler Board Games

Frosthaven

Descent: Legends of the Dark

Star Wars: Imperial Assault

Slay the Spire: The Board Game

Mansions of Madness

Massive Darkness 2: Hellscape

Nemesis

Cthulhu: Death May Die

Clank! Catacombs

Marvel Zombies - A Zombicide Game

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Change is Constant

Resident Evil: The Board Game

Arcadia Quest

While definitions vary, these games typically feature tactical combat, character progression, loot gathering, and dungeon exploration (though the "dungeon" can take many forms). They are often rich in lore and complex mechanics, ideal for those seeking lengthy, immersive cooperative campaigns.

Frosthaven / Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion

Frosthaven

Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion

Age: 14+
Players: 1-4
Play Time: 60-120 mins

Gloomhaven, while currently out of print, set a high bar for dungeon crawlers. Frosthaven, its successor, offers a similarly engaging campaign in the same universe. Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion provides a streamlined experience with reduced setup time. Both games are interconnected, allowing character transfers between them. Jaws of the Lion is a great entry point for newcomers, while Frosthaven offers a deeper challenge for experienced players. Both excel as cooperative experiences, ideal for 2-4 players. For a deeper dive, explore our Gloomhaven review and Frosthaven impressions.

Descent: Legends of the Dark

Descent: Legends of the Dark

Age: 14+
Players: 1-4
Play Time: 120-180 mins

This fully cooperative Descent iteration boasts impressive 3D cardboard scenery and a cleverly designed blend of tactical combat, dice rolling, and app-based resource management. The app seamlessly handles crafting and leveling, while randomized dungeon layouts and an engaging narrative campaign keep the experience fresh. Read our in-depth Descent: Legends of the Dark review for more details.

Star Wars: Imperial Assault

Star Wars: Imperial Assault

Age: 14+
Players: 2-5
Play Time: 60-120 mins

This Star Wars-themed dungeon crawler trades fantasy settings for the labyrinthine corridors of an Imperial base. Rebel operatives collaborate against an Empire-controlling player in scenario-based campaigns. While the weapons change (lightsabers and blasters instead of swords and bows), the core gameplay—looting, exploration, and tactical combat—remains true to the genre. The inclusion of beloved Star Wars characters adds extra appeal. See our review for more details.

Slay the Spire: The Board Game

Slay the Spire: The Board Game

Age: 12+
Players: 1-4
Play Time: 30-150 mins

This adaptation of the popular video game retains the addictive deck-building mechanics, allowing players to collaboratively ascend the spire, battling monstrous denizens and bosses. The social aspect enhances the strategic gameplay, making it a fun and engaging experience for all. Read our review for more insight.

Mansions of Madness: Second Edition

Mansions of Madness: Second Edition

Age: 14+
Players: 1-5
Play Time: 60-360 mins

This cooperative mystery horror game features eight investigators solving puzzles, collecting weapons, and battling monsters and insanity. The app-driven narrative adds to the immersive experience, managing actions and providing eerie soundscapes. This streamlined approach makes the game accessible while maintaining a high level of engagement.

Massive Darkness 2: Hellscape

Massive Darkness 2: Hellscape

Age: 14+
Players: 1-6
Play Time: 60 mins

This sequel offers a refreshing take on the dungeon crawler formula. Six unique character classes provide diverse gameplay experiences, while the satisfying loop of monster slaying, looting, leveling, and gear upgrades ensures replayability. The varied classes make each playthrough feel distinct.

Nemesis

Nemesis

Age: 14+
Players: 1-5
Play Time: 60-180 mins

Nemesis captures the suspense of sneaking through corridors, avoiding dangerous aliens. Hidden objective cards introduce an element of betrayal, forcing players to question trust. While survival is the primary goal, teamwork is often necessary, creating a tense and engaging atmosphere. Numerous expansions and miniatures further enhance the experience.

Cthulhu: Death May Die

Cthulhu: Death May Die

Age: 14+
Players: 1-5
Play Time: 90-120 mins

This cooperative horror game, inspired by H.P. Lovecraft, involves preventing a dangerous ritual. The unique mechanic of characters gaining strength as sanity dwindles adds a layer of risk and reward. Its accessibility and varied scenarios make it a great choice for players of all skill levels.

Clank! Catacombs

Clank! Catacombs

Age: 13+
Players: 1-4
Play Time: 45-90 mins

Clank! Catacombs blends monster fighting, prisoner freeing, gold collecting, and dragon avoidance. The tile-based map expands during gameplay, creating a roguelike experience with high replayability. Its smaller footprint makes it ideal for those with limited storage space.

Marvel Zombies – A Zombicide Game

Marvel Zombies - A Zombicide Game

Age: 14+
Players: 1-6
Play Time: 60 mins

This Zombicide entry features Marvel heroes (and even lets you play *as* the zombies!). New mechanics streamline the classic gameplay, providing a fresh experience even for veteran Zombicide players. The high-quality miniatures are a significant draw for comic book fans. Numerous expansions are available.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Change is Constant

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Change is Constant

Age: 14+
Players: 1-5
Play Time: 45-150 mins

This underrated dungeon crawler offers a unique mechanic where dice rolls affect adjacent teammates, emphasizing cooperative play. It can be played cooperatively or as a one-versus-many game. The high-quality components and thematic elements will appeal to TMNT fans.

Resident Evil: The Board Game

Resident Evil: The Board Game

Age: 14+
Players: 1-4
Play Time: 60-90 mins

Set in the Spencer Mansion, this cooperative survival horror game features iconic characters and puzzles, limited resources, and plenty of zombies. It's a strong entry point for fans of the franchise.

Arcadia Quest

Arcadia Quest

Age: 13+
Players: 2-4
Play Time: 60 mins

Arcadia Quest offers a lighter, more whimsical approach to the genre with its chibi art style and accessible gameplay. The inclusion of PvP quests adds a competitive element, although it's not playable solo and requires consistent player groups for campaign progression.