Top 11 Dungeons & Dragons-Style Board Games to Play in 2025

Dungeons & Dragons is an iconic brand, a powerhouse that has inspired countless fantasy campaigns across myriad unique worlds crafted by players. Despite its widespread popularity and success, there are moments when both players and dungeon masters have pondered: isn't it all a bit too much work? Wouldn't it be wonderful to enjoy the thrill of exploration, the adrenaline of combat, and the satisfaction of looting and leveling up without the extensive effort of world-building and managing complex rules?

The answer is a resounding yes: consider playing a board game. There's a plethora of board games that capture the essence of the fantasy quest, yet many fall short—either too abstract to truly satisfy that Dungeons & Dragons craving, or so intricate they demand a lifestyle commitment. Here, we present a curated list of games that strike the perfect balance. From officially licensed spin-offs to timeless classics, these selections are ideal for those nights when you crave fantasy without the heroic effort of playing.

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

If you prefer a straightforward list without the detailed descriptions, the horizontally scrolling catalog above has you covered. However, for those interested in learning more 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 looking for a board game that recreates the Dungeons & Dragons experience, the Adventure System games are your best starting point. These games are essentially a streamlined version of the 4th edition rules in a box, complete with a board. There's no need for a Dungeon Master; you draw tiles randomly as you explore the dungeon, and monsters follow simple yet varied AI routines printed on their cards. Despite the lack of a DM, there's still a narrative campaign divided into individual scenarios, full of secrets to uncover, monsters to defeat, and treasures to loot. Dungeons of the Mad Mage is the latest in this series, and all of them are a blast to play.

HeroQuest Game System

1 See it at Amazon

One of the joys of D&D board games is that you don't always need someone to take on the Dungeon Master's role. Yet, having someone narrate and control the adversaries can enrich the experience. The modern reprint of the 1989 classic HeroQuest offers this option. Mechanically, it's almost identical to the original, with one player controlling the evil wizard and his minions, while others play as heroes exploring dungeons to gain experience, treasure, and ultimately defeat the evil. It's also delightfully simple, making it a great choice for family game nights.

Clank! Legacy: Acquisitions Incorporated

1 See it at Amazon

For those seeking a more contemporary experience, Clank! Legacy: Acquisitions Incorporated combines the branding of the popular Dungeons & Dragons podcast with the legacy structure. As you progress through the campaign, the game physically changes, ensuring your copy and adventures are uniquely yours. It blends the thrilling, chaotic deck-building and adventure of the original Clank! with a richer, more humorous narrative framework. For more details, check out our Clank! buying guide.

Dungeons & Dragons Onslaught

0 See it at Amazon

While the Adventure System games adapted 4th edition D&D into a traditional adventure format, Onslaught brings the 5th edition rules into a skirmish board game where two adventuring parties vie for dominance in a dungeon room. Although not typical of the role-playing game, every player has experienced a party-on-party clash at some point, and Onslaught captures this with treasure chests to loot and characters to level up, enhancing the authenticity. The tabletop adaptation of the 5th edition rules is both engaging and tactically challenging.

Descent: Legends of the Dark

0 See it at Amazon

Modern adventure games increasingly delegate game management to apps, freeing players to focus on the fun. Descent: Legends of the Dark is a prime example, with its comprehensive app handling dungeon reveals, monster control, narration, and resource tracking, even incorporating an item construction feature. The physical components are exceptional, featuring a fully 3D cardboard dungeon and detailed miniatures that bring the adventure to life on your tabletop.

The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth

1 See it at Amazon

Dungeons & Dragons owes part of its inspiration to Tolkien's epic novel, and this board game mirrors that with its blend of overland and dungeon adventures, combat, and character advancement. Powered by an app, it allows players to focus on the fun while challenging the group with puzzles and riddles beyond the scope of purely physical games. Set in the time between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, it lets players craft their own slice of Middle-earth.

Tiny Epic Dungeons

0 See it at Amazon

If you're looking for a more budget-friendly dungeon crawl, the Tiny Epic series offers a compact yet expansive experience. A band of heroes ventures into a unique dungeon, aiming to level up enough to challenge the boss, all while racing against a dwindling torch. With a quick playtime and a novel combat system allowing for bad result mitigation, it feels like a vast dungeon adventure packed into a small box.

Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion

3 See it at Amazon

Gloomhaven and Frosthaven are renowned for their expansive, acclaimed gameplay, blending adventure narrative, challenging tactics, and innovative mechanics. Each class has a unique deck of cards, requiring players to choose two actions each turn. While these games are RPG-length campaigns, Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion offers the same mechanics at a lower cost and with a more manageable campaign. As a prequel, it's a perfect entry point, and if it sparks your interest, you can continue the story with the larger games.

Legacy of Dragonholt

0 See it at Amazon

Familiar with choose-your-own-adventure books? Legacy of Dragonholt expands this concept into a multiplayer setting, offering a detailed campaign with numerous options and branching paths. With an activation token system that ensures everyone participates in decision-making, and strategic elements regarding skill and ability deployment, it's the ultimate text adventure to enjoy with friends or solo, evoking that classic old-school feel.

Betrayal at Baldur’s Gate

0 See it at Amazon

This game diverges slightly from the typical fantasy quest, but it captures the essence of a particular D&D session with its Forgotten Realms setting. Your team of heroes explores the cursed city of Baldur’s Gate, flipping tiles and collecting items, until a haunt begins, revealed by a narrative book. This often leads to one player becoming a traitor, setting up an exciting, varied game that culminates in a thrilling showdown between heroism and darkness.

Dungeons & Dragons: Bedlam in Neverwinter

0 See it at Amazon

Focusing more on puzzles than adventure, this escape-room style game challenges you to solve various traps, tricks, and riddles while investigating a mystery in the iconic Icewind Dale setting. Designed for all ages and playable only once, it offers a unique twist on the genre, mixing exploration, role-playing, and combat for a genuine tabletop RPG feel. The narrative builds towards an epic conclusion, making it a memorable experience.