12 Best Fantasy Board Games to Play in 2026
Discover epic adventures with our top fantasy board games. Easy to learn, full of magic, perfect for new players and dreamers.
The 12 Best Fantasy Board Games for Beginners and Dreamers Alike
We’ve all wanted to escape to a fantasy world, whether for dragons, brave heroes, or just to avoid doing the laundry. When picking fantasy board games for this list, we looked for games that sweep you into new worlds, whether you’re tossing dice, plotting strategy, or arguing about rules with your friends. We picked games with clear instructions, loads of replay value, and settings that make your imagination run wild. Each game gives you a taste of magic, danger, and adventure—no passport required, just a snack and a bit of bravery.
On this list:
12 Gloomhaven
Gloomhaven takes fantasy to the next level by stuffing a dungeon crawl, a giant story, and tactical battles into one box big enough to build a fort with. Our group spent what felt like a full season working through its scenarios. Each session feels like a choose-your-own-adventure, but with more monsters and less guilt for blowing up the town. With its campaign style, you’ll build characters, open mysterious boxes, and realize just how bad we are at keeping secret envelopes sealed. It’s a beast, but worth it.
11 Root
Root is not your average fantasy game. It’s woodland critters at war, and it works. Picture us arguing over squirrel alliances and plotting raccoon rebellions. This game mixes strategy with mischief. Each player has a totally different play style, meaning every game is a new story. It’s got the charm of Saturday morning cartoons mixed with the cutthroat politics of a family dinner. The art is adorable, but don’t be fooled—there’s sharp strategy under those fluffy tails.
10 Small World
Small World is all about fantasy races battling it out for control of a land that’s, well, way too small. We found ourselves giggling as we mixed up combos like Flying Trolls and Wealthy Elves, each with weirdly accurate results. The rules are simple, but the strategy runs deep. Territories shrink fast and so do friendships—temporarily, of course! It’s colorful, unpredictable, and a great fantasy game for new players.
9 Talisman: The Magical Quest Game
Talisman is the board game version of that old-school fantasy adventure every RPG fan dreams about. It’s a classic, with dice rolling, loot collecting, spell casting, and a whole bunch of near-death mishaps. We lost track of time (and hope) trying to reach the center of the board. It can be random and wild, but it shines when you’re looking for an old-fashioned quest with friends where anything can (and will) happen.
8 Lords of Waterdeep
Lords of Waterdeep drops you into the political mess of a D&D city, but you don’t need to know your lich from your halfling. It’s a worker placement fantasy game, so we were busy sending agents on shady quests and scheming against each other. Turns are fast, the theme is rich, and the strategy is satisfying. If you want fantasy flavor without a rulebook thicker than a spellbook, this is it.
7 Descent: Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition)
Descent lets one player become the evil overlord, which gets a little too real for some of us. The others become heroes fighting monsters and exploring dungeons. We loved how every scenario feels like a mini action movie—traps, treasures, and tense dice rolls. It’s fantasy to the core, and the story-telling moments always stick. If you like classic dungeon crawling with a twist, Descent delivers big time.
6 The Quacks of Quedlinburg
We didn’t expect a fantasy game about potion brewing to be so addictive, but here we are. The Quacks of Quedlinburg has us drawing ingredients from bags, pushing our luck, and shouting when our potions explode. It’s pure chaos and luck, but with just enough tactics to keep things interesting. The fantasy theme is wacky and fresh, and it’s a big hit with everyone we’ve introduced to it.
5 Sword & Sorcery
Sword & Sorcery brings those epic fantasy battles to life with a modular board and epic miniatures. We loved how heroes come back from the dead as ghosts trying to finish their business (very relatable after too much pizza). The campaign play has a lot of depth, and the rules let you feel clever, not confused. It’s fantasy overload in the best way, especially if you want a challenging co-op adventure with friends.
4 Aeon’s End
Aeon’s End tosses us into a fantasy world fighting off monsters by building decks (and not shuffling them, which feels so wrong it’s right). The co-op play is tense, and we got very invested in keeping our city safe. Each boss feels unique and tough, so you’ll need clever card combos and good teamwork. It’s a great fantasy game for folks who love both deck-builders and saving the day.
3 Mice and Mystics
Mice and Mystics shrinks you down into a fantasy storybook where you play tiny heroes—mice! Our group felt like knights in shining fur, braving creepy basements and giant rats. The story-driven play is a treat, and the scenes are both charming and surprisingly tense. If you love fantasy but want something that feels magical and different, this one’s a hit for families and friends.
2 Clank!: A Deck-Building Adventure
Clank! mixes deck-building with dungeon crawling, all wrapped up in a light fantasy story. You sneak into a dragon’s cave, grab loot, and try not to make too much noise (spoiler: we always do). It’s got just the right balance of risk and reward, and nobody can resist the thrill of escaping with one hit point left. If you want a fantasy game that’s fast, funny, and always changes, Clank! is perfect.
1 The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-earth
This one is the best because it nails everything we love about a fantasy board game: adventure, story, and nail-biting cooperation. You get to explore Middle-earth, face iconic villains, and make choices that actually change how the game plays out. The app integration means no one’s stuck as the rulebook reader (thank goodness), and it keeps the pace moving. We felt like real heroes—except when we ran from a giant spider, but that just felt like true fantasy. If you only play one, pick this one.
