14 Best Role Playing Board Games to Try in 2026
Looking for board games with role playing? We share our funniest moments and help new players pick the perfect adventure for game night.
Our group has spent way too many nights swapping stories and snacks while playing the best role playing board games. We looked for games that really make you feel like you’re inside the story, with choices that matter, fun adventures, and teamwork where you yell at your buddy for running off alone. We picked these role playing games because they turn your table into a world full of monsters, heroes, and wild twists. If you want to laugh, argue, and maybe save the world (or ruin it), these games are perfect for both new and seasoned players alike.
On this list:
- Gloomhaven
- Betrayal at House on the Hill
- Mice and Mystics
- Descent: Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition)
- Arkham Horror: The Card Game
- Stuffed Fables
- Star Wars: Imperial Assault
- Dead of Winter: A Crossroads Game
- Forgotten Waters
- Legends of Andor
- T.I.M.E Stories
- Shadows of Brimstone
- Kingdom Death: Monster
- Pandemic Legacy: Season 1
14 Gloomhaven
Gloomhaven is a titan in the role playing board game world. We got hooked right after setting up that first massive scenario. This game gives you legacy-style storytelling and some crunchy tactics. You’ll craft a party, unlock piles of stuff, and fight beasties. It’s massive, but also rewards you for working together and thinking things through. The best part? Each player gets to craft their own class identity, and our group still laughs about our badly timed card plays. It’s for folks who love planning and drama, with deep, ongoing role playing action.
13 Betrayal at House on the Hill
This spooky classic puts players in a haunted mansion, exploring rooms and dealing with creepy surprises. We have had wild fun, especially when one of us flips to the traitor side and suddenly tries to destroy the rest. Every game is different, because the haunt changes. The role playing is light but thrilling, and even new players can jump in and get the chills. It’s not heavy on rules, so everyone in our group could focus on being scared or silly, or both.
12 Mice and Mystics
If you like storybook vibes and family-friendly role playing, you can’t beat Mice and Mystics. You’re mice heroes trying to save your kingdom from an evil queen (who is a human, which is somehow more scary). We loved how the story unfolds as you play, with characters leveling up and making choices. We laughed so much, especially when someone tried to attack a cat with a thimble. It’s best for groups that enjoy lighthearted fantasy and teamwork.
11 Descent: Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition)
Descent brings classic dungeon crawling to your table, with one person running the monsters and the rest as the heroes. It’s full of loot, exploration, and overdramatic villain speeches (we really went all out with those). Our group spent hours arguing over who would open the next door and probably get a face full of traps. It’s a great pick for players who like a little more structure in their role playing and want spectacular plastic miniatures.
10 Arkham Horror: The Card Game
This one surprised us. It’s a card game, but full of role playing elements. You’re all investigators facing mystery and madness in the Cthulhu mythos. The story is nuts, and deck-building lets each player lean into their character. We still talk about that time we all ran from a cultist after drawing too many tentacles from that cursed bag. If you want role playing with horror, suspense, and good storytelling, this will hit the spot.
9 Stuffed Fables
Stuffed Fables is cute, but don’t let that fool you. This is a proper role playing board game where you play as stuffed animals protecting their child. The narrative is strong, and the gamebook style kept us jumping from page to page. The story had us laughing and tearing up, sometimes at the same time. It’s perfect for families or friends who want a story-focused adventure with role playing and charm.
8 Star Wars: Imperial Assault
Board game plus Star Wars plus role playing? Sign us up! Imperial Assault puts players into big Star Wars stories, complete with heroes, villains, and epic blaster fights. We were instantly in character, quoting lines and arguing over whether Han would shoot first (he would). The campaign mode lifts it to proper role playing greatness, and the tactical battles kept us on our toes. It’s a space fantasy blast for every Star Wars fan.
7 Dead of Winter: A Crossroads Game
We picked Dead of Winter because it throws us into a creepy post-apocalyptic world. It’s packed with role playing and tough decisions, just like Mansions of Madness. We had to balance survival and trust—while one friend insisted he was NOT the traitor, even as he hoarded all the food. The game forces everyone to cooperate, but suspicion is always high. If you like tense moments, a great story, and don’t mind a little betrayal, this is a blast.
6 Forgotten Waters
Forgotten Waters is all about pirates, and silly ones at that. If you want a board game where role playing shines, this is it. Every turn our group took turns doing terrible pirate voices and arguing over buried treasure. The storybook app throws fun choices at you, and your character gets to shine. Role playing here is fun, not serious, which is exactly what we want on a Friday night after too much pizza.
5 Legends of Andor
In Legends of Andor, teamwork is everything, and so is looking like a fool reading event cards with dramatic voices. This fantasy game keeps the rules simple, but the story and missions make it feel like an epic tale. We liked how each hero feels a bit different, and the campaign keeps us coming back for more. There’s role playing, strategy, puzzles, and a shared sense of victory or defeat.
4 T.I.M.E Stories
T.I.M.E Stories takes role playing to a different level with time travel and wild stories. You hop into characters and try to solve mysteries before running out of hours. We spent hours debating which clues to follow, and the group got way too into our characters (one of us still answers to “Agent Steve”). It’s a board game, but it really feels like a story told by your group.
3 Shadows of Brimstone
If you want monsters, old west style, and role playing, Shadows of Brimstone is wild. We loved the mix of gunfights and tentacle horrors popping out of mines. Your character grows stronger (or weirder) after every session. It’s got buckets of loot, and lots of weirdness. We even started dressing as cowboys for the sessions, but that is optional. It’s a solid pick if you like long campaigns and strange stories.
2 Kingdom Death: Monster
Kingdom Death: Monster is not for the faint of heart. This giant, brutal board game drops you into a world full of nightmares, where role playing is survival. Our group survived (barely) and still has battle scars from the monsters that ate our best gear. Over the long campaign, your group shapes the story, and every victory feels earned. This game is hard, but also glorious if you want deep, dark role playing with horror.
1 Pandemic Legacy: Season 1
We pick Pandemic Legacy: Season 1 as the best role playing board game because it’s the perfect blend of teamwork, story, and decisions that matter. The world changes as you play, and your choices have consequences—sometimes hilarious, sometimes heartbreaking. We named our characters, invented backstories, and genuinely cared about what happened next. This game made us sweat, laugh, and yell at each other (in a good way). For new players, it’s easy to learn but creates memories you’ll never forget. If you want to try role playing with a modern twist, this is our top pick.
