Dungeons & Dragons is an iconic brand that has inspired countless fantasy campaigns across a myriad of unique worlds created by its players. Despite its immense popularity and success, there are moments when both players and Dungeon Masters wonder if the game requires too much effort. Wouldn't it be wonderful to enjoy the thrilling exploration, exciting combat, and rewarding loot and leveling without the extensive world-building and rules management?
The answer is a resounding yes: consider playing a board game instead. There's a wide range of board games that capture the essence of fantasy quests. However, many of these games are either too abstract to satisfy the D&D enthusiast or so complex that they demand a significant commitment. Here, we present a curated list of board games that strike the perfect balance, offering both licensed D&D spin-offs and timeless classics. These games are ideal for those evenings when you crave the fantasy adventure without the heroic effort of playing D&D itself.
Featured in this Article
D&D Waterdeep: Dungeon of The Mad Mage Adventure System Board Game
2 See it at Amazon
HeroQuest Game System
1 See it at Amazon
Clank! Legacy: Acquisitions Incorporated
1 See it at Amazon
Dungeons & Dragons Onslaught
0 See it at Amazon
Descent: Legends of the Dark
0 See it at Amazon
The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth
1 See it at Amazon
Tiny Epic Dungeons
0 See it at Amazon
Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion
3 See it at Amazon
Legacy of Dragonholt
0 See it at Amazon
Betrayal at Baldur’s Gate
0 See it at Amazon
Dungeons & Dragons: Bedlam in Neverwinter
0 See it at Amazon
For those who prefer a straightforward list without detailed descriptions, the horizontally scrolling catalog above is perfect. For more in-depth information about each game, continue reading.
D&D Waterdeep: Dungeon of The Mad Mage Adventure System
D&D Waterdeep: Dungeon of The Mad Mage Adventure System Board Game
2 See it at Amazon
If you're seeking a board game that truly recreates the Dungeons & Dragons experience, the Adventure System games are the ideal starting point. These games are essentially a streamlined version of the 4th edition rules in a box, complete with a board. No Dungeon Master is required; you draw tiles randomly as you explore the dungeon, and monsters follow simple yet varied AI routines printed on their cards. Despite this simplicity, there's still a narrative campaign, divided into individual scenarios, with secrets to uncover, monsters to defeat, and treasures to collect. Dungeons of the Mad Mage is the latest set, but all of these games offer a thrilling experience.
HeroQuest Game System
HeroQuest Game System
1 See it at Amazon
While one of the appealing aspects of D&D board games is the absence of a DM, having a dedicated narrator and villain controller can enrich the experience. This modern reprint of the 1989 classic HeroQuest allows for this. Mechanically, it remains nearly identical to the original, with one player taking the role of the evil wizard and his minions, while others play as heroes exploring dungeons to gain experience, treasure, and ultimately vanquish evil. It's also remarkably simple, making it an excellent choice for family game nights (check out our picks for more family board games).
Clank! Legacy: Acquisitions Incorporated
Clank! Legacy: Acquisitions Incorporated
1 See it at Amazon
If you're looking for a more contemporary option, consider this version of the fantastic deckbuilding game Clank! It features the branding of the popular Dungeons & Dragons podcast Acquisitions Incorporated and a legacy structure, meaning the game evolves as you play, altering its components to create a unique experience. This game blends the exciting, chaotic deck construction and adventure of the original with a narrative framework full of surprises and humor. For more information, see our Clank! buying guide.
Dungeons & Dragons Onslaught
Dungeons & Dragons Onslaught
0 See it at Amazon
While the Adventure System games adapt 4th edition D&D into a traditional format, Onslaught brings the 5th edition rules to a skirmish board game where two adventuring parties battle for supremacy within a dungeon room. Although this isn't typical of the role-playing game, it captures the excitement of party clashes, complete with lootable treasure chests and character leveling for authenticity. The translation of the 5th edition rules to the tabletop is both engaging and tactically challenging.
Descent: Legends of the Dark
Descent: Legends of the Dark
0 See it at Amazon
Modern adventure games increasingly use apps to manage the game, freeing players to focus on the story and character development. Descent: Legends of the Dark stands out as one of the most advanced. Its app handles dungeon revelation, monster control, narrative downtime, and resource tracking, which feeds into an item construction feature. The game's physical components, including a fully 3D cardboard dungeon and detailed miniatures, bring the adventure vividly to life on your tabletop.
The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth
The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth
1 See it at Amazon
Dungeons & Dragons owes much to Tolkien's epic novel, and this board game echoes that inspiration with its blend of overland and dungeon adventures, combat, and character progression. It's another app-driven game, allowing players to concentrate on the fun while tackling puzzles and riddles that would be challenging to implement in a purely physical format. Set between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, it lets players craft their own slice of Middle-earth.
Tiny Epic Dungeons
Tiny Epic Dungeons
0 See it at Amazon
One commonality among our picks so far is their high cost. For a more affordable dungeon crawl, consider this entry in the popular Tiny Epic series, known for packing big themes into small boxes. In this game, a group of heroes delves into a unique dungeon to level up and confront the boss, all while racing against a diminishing torch. With its quick playtime and innovative combat system that lets you mitigate bad outcomes, it feels like a grand dungeon adventure from a modest box.
Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion
Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion
3 See it at Amazon
Gloomhaven and Frosthaven are renowned for their size and acclaim, offering an engaging mix of adventure narrative, challenging tactics, and unique mechanics. Each class has a distinct deck of cards, requiring players to choose two actions per turn. These games are long campaigns, but their prequel, Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion, delivers the same quality at a lower cost and with a shorter campaign. It's perfect for those who want a taste of the experience before diving into the longer games.
Legacy of Dragonholt
Legacy of Dragonholt
0 See it at Amazon
Familiar with choose-your-own-adventure books? Legacy of Dragonholt expands this concept into a multiplayer format, offering a highly detailed campaign with numerous choices and branching paths. It incorporates an activation token system that ensures everyone participates in decision-making and adds strategic depth through skill and ability deployment. It's the ultimate text adventure for groups, though it also works well as a solo game for that nostalgic, old-school feel.
Betrayal at Baldur’s Gate
Betrayal at Baldur’s Gate
0 See it at Amazon
This game differs from the typical fantasy quest games on our list, yet it evokes the feeling of a specific type of D&D session and carries the Forgotten Realms branding. Your team of heroes begins by exploring the cursed city of Baldur’s Gate, flipping tiles and collecting items. Eventually, a haunt begins, revealed from a narrative book that outlines win conditions, often pitting one player as a traitor against the others. It's an exciting setup with plenty of variety, leading to thrilling conclusions where heroism battles the encroaching darkness.
Dungeons & Dragons: Bedlam in Neverwinter
Dungeons & Dragons: Bedlam in Neverwinter
0 See it at Amazon
This game takes a unique approach by focusing on the puzzle aspects of dungeoneering rather than the adventure. It's an escape-room style board game where you solve various traps, tricks, and riddles while investigating a mystery in the iconic Icewind Dale setting. Designed for all ages, it's playable only once, after which you can trade or sell it. It offers a fresh take on the genre, blending exploration, role-playing, and combat for that authentic tabletop RPG feel, culminating in an epic narrative conclusion.
