The Best RPG Board Games Worth Playing in 2025

Many modern board games offer deep strategic gameplay, focusing on resource management or economic optimization. But if you crave the thrill of exploration and adventure, role-playing board games are your perfect match. Like their pen-and-paper counterparts, these games immerse you in fantastical settings, where you'll collaborate or compete to overcome challenges and quests. However, unlike pen-and-paper RPGs, they offer a structured strategic layer beneath the narrative. Here are some top-tier RPG board games guaranteed to provide countless hours of enjoyment in 2025 and beyond.

Top Role-Playing Board Games at a Glance

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### 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

Note: Numbers indicate a subjective ranking for this list.

Gloomhaven/Jaws of the Lion/Frosthaven

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### Gloomhaven: Jaws of The Lion
6See it at Amazon

The Gloomhaven series is renowned as a top-tier board game, and for good reason. In this game, you become adventurers, collaborating and facing challenges as characters retire or fall in battle throughout the extensive campaign. The tactical combat system, based on a deck-building mechanic, creates escalating tension as your abilities dwindle. While the original Gloomhaven is currently unavailable, the prequel, *Jaws of the Lion*, provides a similar experience in a more accessible package. The sequel, *Frosthaven*, expands the gameplay by adding a town to explore, build, and manage. Both also offer excellent solo play options.

Dungeons & Dragons: Temple of Elemental Evil

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### WizKids Dungeons & Dragons: Temple of Elemental Evil
1See it at Amazon

This cooperative adventure series, based on the iconic pen-and-paper RPG, masterfully blends role-playing and strategy. Randomly drawn tiles create dynamic dungeons filled with traps and monsters, mimicking the experience of a dungeon master-led game. The included narrative campaign drives the gameplay. While all entries are excellent, *Temple of Elemental Evil*, based on a classic D&D scenario, is a standout choice.

The Witcher: Old World

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### The Witcher: Old World
3See it at Amazon

This 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 fame and fortune. The deck-building system allows for strategic customization and synergy, while a solo mode lets you explore the world at your own pace.

Star Wars: Imperial Assault

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### Star Wars: Imperial Assault
6See it at Amazon

This sci-fi RPG swaps fantasy settings for starships and bases. Set after *A New Hope*, one player commands the Empire, while others collaborate as Rebel operatives to fight against the Emperor. The tactical combat system is engaging, but the campaign mode, linking battles into a cinematic narrative, is a true highlight, featuring iconic characters like Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker. Numerous expansions add even more characters and adventures.

HeroQuest

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### HeroQuest
4See it at Amazon

A classic dungeon-crawler, now updated with improved miniatures, *HeroQuest* offers a game master-driven experience. The GM controls the dungeon's secrets, while players explore, battle monsters, and gather treasure. This game delivers a true role-playing experience with narrative elements and character progression, all within a family-friendly ruleset. Expansions add even more adventures.

Arkham Horror: The Card Game

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### Arkham Horror: The Card Game
2See it at Amazon

This Lovecraftian horror game blends challenging gameplay with bleak narratives. Players cooperate to solve mysteries linked to otherworldly beings. The difficulty and grim storylines provide a truly terrifying experience, while the deck-building mechanics offer strategic depth. Numerous expansions continue the story.

The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-earth

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### The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-earth
2See it at Amazon

This game sets players within Tolkien's Middle-earth, allowing exploration and adventure without disrupting the established lore. The deck-building system is enhanced by innovative mechanics, including tile flipping for above and below-ground exploration and app-based mysteries.

This War of Mine: The Board Game

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### This War of Mine: The Board Game
0See it at Amazon

This powerful game depicts the struggle for survival in a war-torn city. Players manage resources, scavenge for supplies, and defend their shelter. The resource management and base-building mechanics are complemented by a narrative-driven storyline, offering a poignant reflection on the realities of conflict.

Descent: Legends of the Dark

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### Descent: Legends of the Dark
3See it at Amazon

Descent boasts impressive production value, featuring high-quality miniatures and detailed 3D terrain. The app-supported campaign guides players through a series of quests with a linked narrative, allowing for character progression and equipment upgrades.

Mice & Mystics

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### Mice & Mystics
1See it at Amazon

This game is perfect for families, offering a whimsical adventure with simple mechanics suitable for younger players. The story follows a group of mice who must save a kingdom while battling against a tyrant and cockroaches.

Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon

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### Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon
5See it at Amazon

This game prioritizes storytelling, blending Celtic and Arthurian legends into a rich, challenging world. Players must collaborate to survive, managing resources while navigating a vast, branching narrative campaign.

RPG Board Games: Tabletop, Video Game, and the Blurred Lines

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The term "role-playing game" (RPG) originated with *Dungeons & Dragons*, which formalized the practice of narrative storytelling using wargame mechanics. These games emphasized creative potential and character development, but also incorporated strategic elements like skill checks and character progression. The need for a game master led to the development of board games and video games that replaced this role, using programming or random factors to generate the game world. While "role-playing" is a well-established genre term in video games, board games lack a similar consistent term, often using "adventure" or "quest" instead. The lines between tabletop, video game, and board game RPGs are heavily blurred, with frequent adaptations and cross-pollination between these formats.