11 Best Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) Board Games
Hey there, fellow strategists! After countless nights battling it out on the tabletop arena with our friends, we’ve embarked on the quest to round up The 11 best Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) board games. Bringing to life the thrill of digital MOBAs, but with the tactile fun of physical pieces, the chosen titles expand the right mix of strategy, teamwork, and the delightful chaos of battle. Everything from character diversity, intricate game mechanics, to the depth of play has been considered. We’ve launched minions, unleashed spells, and captured points, all to ensure that the games listed bring out the very essence of what makes MOBAs so incredibly addictive!
Games on this list:
11 Rum & Bones
Rum & Bones kicks off our top list with its thrilling pirate-themed MOBA action. We had such a blast mastering unique abilities and controlling swarms of crew, drawing parallels to the specialized heroes in digital MOBAs but with a nautical twist. The level of strategy and depth here, combined with quality components and an immersive theme, makes it an ideal start for MOBA fans venturing into board games.
10 Kaosball: The Fantasy Sport of Total Domination
The chaos and strategy we enjoyed in Kaosball was unforgettable. For lovers of MOBAs and sports, this was an excellent bridge. The game brilliantly meshes team management with reveal strategies akin to picking champions in MOBAs, creating an intense and competitive atmosphere. Its high replayability and diverse teams were always something we looked forward to exploring.
9 Guards of Atlantis: Tabletop MOBA
Guards of Atlantis nails the MOBA essence as a purely competitive experience with no luck factors. Our sessions were intense, with tight teamwork and hero skirmishes that reminded us of LoL or Dota 2 clashes. With card-driven mechanics over dice rolls, the emphasis on strategy really shines here, mirroring the skill-and-tactics foundation of video game MOBAs.
8 Cloudspire
We found Cloudspire to be not just a tabletop MOBA game but also an awesome tower defense hybrid. It combines solo, cooperative, and PvP modes, which immensely enriched our gameplay variety. We were particularly gripped by its narrative-driven aspects and the leveling of heroes within each match, simulating a MOBA’s progression. Also, the chip-based mechanics added a satisfying tactical layer.
7 Skytear
Skytear truly stands out with its card-driven gameplay and a strong MOBA flavor. Its clever integration of enemy AI for minions and unique heroes provided alternate avenues for victories, resembling the strategic depth of MOBAs that our group longs for. Experiencing the collected deck of cards change into potent hero upgrades felt immensely satisfying, weaving well into MOBA lovers’ expectations.
6 Battle for Biternia
Combining chit-pull mechanisms and classic MOBA gameplay, Battle for Biternia brought us many evenings of fun. The character draft, map control, and team-based tactics delighted our MOBA enthusiast friends especially. Its accessibility without sacrificing strategic depth provided a refreshing tabletop equivalence to the video game genre we all adore.
5 Doomtown: Reloaded
It’s a great fit as a replacement because even though it’s not a typical MOBA, it offers a similar deep strategic experience layered with a plethora of choices, akin to MOBA GM. Players manage hands of cards that represent their crew, with elements like territory control and character abilities driving a tug-of-war that is very reminiscent of the lane-pushing in MOBAs.
4 Mechs vs. Minions
Mechs vs. Minions delivered a fusion of cooperative tactics and engaging programming gameplay that captivated us for hours. Its prodigious production values and intuitive tickets system for executing moves gave us champions-versus-creep action that’s neatly packed into an expansive campaign. It particularly stood out for our group due to its light-hearted narrative woven into serious strategic play.
3 Last Saga
Set in a rich sci-fi universe, Last Saga gripped us with its tactical squad combat and unique unit abilities that easily resonated with MOBA tactics. Customizing squads and performing calculated maneuvers across visually compelling terrain made each encounter thrilling. It captured the spirit of a MOBA’s lane-and-jungle warfare on a hex grid battlefield.
2 Asgard’s Chosen
Asgard’s Chosen presented us with a compelling blend of MOBA-like battles and deck-building mastery. Its semi-cooperative nature added a twist since we could enjoy both teamwork and competition within the same game. The mythological theme layered with strategic depth created a memorable scenario each time we explored this Norse-themed offering.
1 Guards of Atlantis II
Topping our list is Guards of Atlantis II. Building upon its predecessor, this game provided us with a vastly enhanced tabletop MOBA experience. Its elimination of randomness in favor of pure strategy and teamwork drew us in deeply. The characters are more distinctive, the gameplay is nuanced, and this has given us endlessly competitive play sessions packed with key MOBA elements. It’s become our group’s go-to for a highly strategic MOBA board game fix.