Best 13 Narrative Board Games to Play in 2025
In the world of board games, finding the right narratives-based adventure can be like searching for treasure. When picking games for our list, we look at story depth, replayability, and player involvement. We want you to feel like you’re part of the unfolding story, whether you’re solving mysteries, battling monsters, or exploring strange lands. With immersive narratives promising hours of fun, the games on our list will satisfy both seasoned gamers and newcomers. So, gather your friends, roll the dice, and let the stories begin!
On this list:
- Mysterium
- Arkham Horror: The Card Game
- Gloomhaven
- The 7th Continent
- Chronicles of Crime
- T.I.M.E Stories
- Descent: Journeys in the Dark
- Above and Below
- Mansions of Madness: Second Edition
- Dead of Winter
- Legacy of Dragonholt
- Clank! Legacy: Acquisitions Incorporated
- Tales of the Arabian Nights
- Pandemic Legacy: Season 1
13 Mysterium
Mysterium is like playing Clue with a ghostly twist and extra sass! You’re solving a whodunnit, but the twist is the spirit’s giving you vision cards. We had a blast trying to interpret what the ghost was hinting at—it was like charades but with pictures instead of acting. One time, we mistook a chicken for a murder weapon, which had us in stitches. It’s a fun game that makes everyone feel like they’re starring in their own mystery novel. Narratives unfold as you connect clues, creating an engaging storytelling experience.
12 Arkham Horror: The Card Game
We love Arkham Horror: The Card Game because it’s a gripping story-driven experience where narratives come alive. You become an investigator trying to save the world from Lovecraftian horrors. Each game session felt like a chapter in a thrilling book, complete with plot twists and nail-biting suspense. The mechanics allow you to play solo, which is great if your friends mysteriously disappear when it’s game time. Our favorite moment was when we narrowly avoided being devoured, which led to cheering… and a bit of screaming. The evolving storyline keeps you hooked, making each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.
11 Gloomhaven
Gloomhaven is epic in both size and story. With a massive box filled with narrative-driven quests, it’s like embarking on a tabletop RPG journey. The game master is tossed out the window, replaced with a system that keeps the plot bubbling like a witch’s cauldron. In one session, our group got so invested, we binged through several scenarios like it was a TV marathon. The stories you and your friends create while battling monsters are unforgettable. Action-packed narratives unfold, and every choice impacts the world, making it a must-play for story-lovers.
10 The 7th Continent
The 7th Continent is one for the explorers who love a good narrative twist. Imagine an escape room where the room is the size of a continent! We often found ourselves pausing to discuss the next step, as each card flip might change the outcome. Once, we got hopelessly lost because someone (who shall remain unnamed) thought they saw treasure… it was just sand. The game encourages replayability, so each expedition feels like unraveling a fresh new story. Its engaging plot and immersive setting make each game feel like a grand adventure!
9 Chronicles of Crime
Chronicles of Crime mixes old-school detective work with modern technology. Using a smartphone app, players examine crime scenes and solve cases, making narratives feel like a digital detective’s dream. In our game nights, we loved scanning clues and debating who the culprit was, often hilariously wrong before the big reveal. Once, we even convinced ourselves the butler didn’t do it, only to be proven exactly wrong. The plot changes with every decision, offering different endings, so the game never gets stale. It’s a perfect blend of storytelling and sleuthing!
8 T.I.M.E Stories
T.I.M.E Stories combines a board game with a choose-your-own-adventure book. The game feels like a movie where you control the action. On one occasion, our whole group was stuck in the 1920s asylum and couldn’t stop giggling over bad accents and mistaken clues. Each new mission changes the plot, causing us to shift gears and tactics, and making us feel like time-traveling detectives unraveling a mystery. The narratives unfold in unexpected ways as you encounter surprises and hurdles, making it a fun challenge for friends who love a story with twists.
7 Descent: Journeys in the Dark
Descent: Journeys in the Dark is a dungeon crawler with role-playing elements. It’s fast-paced, with plenty of action and narratives that make it feel like you’re starring in a fantasy novel. One game night, our hero was so poorly equipped that she became the game’s comic relief, bumbling her way through. Despite this, our group had a hilarious time navigating twists and turns of the plot. This game shines through its rich storytelling and the cooperation needed to tackle epic quests. The blend of story and strategy keeps everyone on their toes.
6 Above and Below
In Above and Below, you’re part of a community building above ground while exploring vast underworld tunnels. The narrative component kicks in with each journey underground, offering stories full of decisions. Picture this: our entire group once backed out from a menacing wraith encounter, leading to a running joke about being the scardiest adventurers ever. The game combines resource management with storytelling, where every choice affects your village’s fate. Each playthrough brings new tales to life with its engaging mix of strategy and plot twists.
5 Mansions of Madness: Second Edition
Mansions of Madness: Second Edition is great for experiencing terror without leaving your living room. With an app-driven system, the game provides a spooky, atmospheric experience. The horror narratives are perfect for drama lovers—we screamed (and laughed) as monsters ambushed us from shadows during one very tense session. It’s a cooperative game, so we had to work as a team to solve puzzles, unravel the plot, and escape with our sanity. The app keeps the surprises coming, making each game session unique and spine-chilling.
4 Dead of Winter
Dead of Winter is survival horror where players cooperate—and sometimes betray—to survive in a post-apocalyptic world. Narratives unfold through crossroads cards that test your moral compass. One game, our team got too comfy and trusted the wrong person, leading to chaos and some hilarious meltdowns. You never truly know who to trust, keeping everyone on their toes. It’s a game filled with tension, laughter, and unique stories every session. The game’s strength lies in its ability to bring out the best, and worst, in friends.
3 Legacy of Dragonholt
Legacy of Dragonholt is story-driven with a strong sense of adventure and narratives at its core. Imagine a ‘choose your own adventure’ book but with group roleplay elements. We had a blast writing our characters’ stories and seeing how choices impacted the world. Remember when a simple picnic decision led to an epic battle? Who knew sandwiches could be so dangerous? It’s perfect for friends who love storytelling and prefer a lighter game night, allowing for creativity and camaraderie.
2 Clank! Legacy: Acquisitions Incorporated
Clank! Legacy: Acquisitions Incorporated blends deck-building with legacy game mechanics to deliver engaging narratives. As players progress, their choices permanently alter the board and plot, making each game unique. During one session, we discovered a plot twist that turned rivals into allies—only to end on a cliffhanger! The mix of humor, strategy, and story made every playing session special, and watching the board evolve over time added an exciting layer of depth.
1 Tales of the Arabian Nights
Tales of the Arabian Nights is filled with magical stories and unexpected turns. It’s like a bedtime story gone wild, where players create their own narratives while advancing through a world of wonder. I recall how one decision led to a flurry of events that turned our character into a monkey prince. Imagine the laughter and chaos! Its endless narrative possibilities make it highly replayable, and you never know where the story will take you. It’s a fantastic mix of storytelling and adventure.
0 Pandemic Legacy: Season 1
Pandemic Legacy: Season 1 is unmatched when it comes to narratives. Picture this: a world collapsing under deadly diseases, and it’s up to you and your group to save it. The game evolves over time, with each choice impacting story arcs and board conditions. Remember when our team cured a disease, only to find a new outbreak that made us gasp in disbelief? The anticipation and suspense make it the best on our list. It marries strategy with storytelling, offering an experience that changes with every play—a true masterpiece of board gaming.
