Best RPG Board Games of 2024: Top 9 Picks
Finding the perfect rpg board game can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. We’ve spent countless nights playing through the best rpg board games with friends, focusing on story depth, game mechanics, and how fun they are to play. These games bring adventure, excitement, and some seriously cool moments to your tabletop. Whether you love battling monsters, solving mysteries, or crafting epic tales, our list has something for everyone. So grab your dice and let’s explore the fantastic world of rpg board games.
On this list:
- Gloomhaven
- Mansions of Madness: Second Edition
- Descent: Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition)
- Star Wars: Imperial Assault
- Arkham Horror: The Card Game
- Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Rise of the Runelords
- Legendary Encounters: An Alien Deck Building Game
- Kingdom Death: Monster
- Dungeons & Dragons: Wrath of Ashardalon
9 Gloomhaven
Gloomhaven is a massive game that offers a deep and rich story. The game mechanics are well thought out, and each session feels like an epic quest. The legacy aspect gives you a long campaign with real consequences for your choices. Expect to spend many hours delving into its mysteries and fighting its creatures.
8 Mansions of Madness: Second Edition
This game is perfect for those who love horror and mystery in their RPG board games. It has an app that takes care of the bookkeeping, letting players focus on the story and their characters. The game scenarios are varied and make you feel like you’re in a Lovecraftian tale.
7 Descent: Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition)
Descent is a classic dungeon-crawling game with strong RPG elements. It’s easy to learn but hard to master, making it a great choice for both new and experienced players. The game offers plenty of replay value with different scenarios and expansions.
6 Star Wars: Imperial Assault
For Star Wars fans, this is the ultimate RPG board game. The missions are engaging, and the campaign mode offers a great blend of tactical combat and storytelling. The use of iconic characters and settings makes every game feel like an adventure in a galaxy far, far away.
5 Arkham Horror: The Card Game
This one is a card game, but it packs a lot of RPG elements. Each game is a new mystery set in the Lovecraft universe. The game allows for good replayability as you can change your character and deck. The campaigns are deeply engaging and filled with spine-chilling moments.
4 Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Rise of the Runelords
This game lets you experience the classic Pathfinder RPG in a card game format. It’s cooperative and has a great story that progresses with each session. The character progression and deck-building aspects make each playthrough unique. Plus, the game offers a lot of content for the price.
3 Legendary Encounters: An Alien Deck Building Game
If you love the Alien movies, this game is a must. It mixes deck-building with RPG elements perfectly. The game has a tense atmosphere that captures the essence of the films. It’s cooperative, so you’ll need to work together to survive the xenomorph onslaught.
2 Kingdom Death: Monster
Kingdom Death: Monster is not for the faint-hearted. This game is dark, brutal, and incredibly rewarding. The character and settlement progression systems are deep, and the combat is strategic. The miniatures are also some of the best you’ll find in any board game.
1 Dungeons & Dragons: Wrath of Ashardalon
We picked this as the best RPG board game because it offers all the classic D&D elements in a streamlined format. It’s accessible for beginners and has enough depth to keep veterans interested. The scenarios are varied, and the component quality is top-notch.
