"Top 11 Board Games Similar to Dungeons & Dragons for 2025"

Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) is an iconic brand that has sparked countless fantasy campaigns across diverse and imaginative worlds crafted by its players. Despite its widespread popularity and success, there are moments when both players and dungeon masters find themselves pondering: Isn't this all a bit too much work? Wouldn't it be wonderful to enjoy the thrill of exploration, the excitement of combat, and the satisfaction of looting and leveling up without the extensive effort required for world-building and managing intricate rules?

The answer is a resounding yes: consider playing a board game instead. There are numerous board games that draw inspiration from the classic fantasy quest, yet many either oversimplify the experience or are so complex they demand a significant commitment. Here, we present a curated selection of board games that strike the perfect balance—ranging from official D&D spin-offs to timeless classics—ideal for those evenings when you crave fantasy without the heroic effort of playing.

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D&D Waterdeep: Dungeon of The Mad Mage Adventure System Board Game

2See it at Amazon!

HeroQuest Game System

1See it at Amazon!

Clank! Legacy: Acquisitions Incorporated

1See it at Amazon!

Dungeons & Dragons Onslaught

0See it at Amazon!

Descent: Legends of the Dark

0See it at Amazon!

The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth

1See it at Amazon!

Tiny Epic Dungeons

0See it at Amazon!

Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion

3See it at Amazon!

Legacy of Dragonholt

0See it at Amazon!

Betrayal at Baldur’s Gate

0See it at Amazon!

Dungeons & Dragons: Bedlam in Neverwinter

0See it at Amazon!

For a clean list without detailed descriptions, the horizontally scrolling catalog above is at your service. If you're 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

2See it at Amazon!

If you're looking for a board game that truly captures the essence of the Dungeons & Dragons experience, the Adventure System games are your best bet. These games offer a streamlined version of the 4th edition rules in a box, complete with a board. No Dungeon Master is needed here; instead, you draw tiles randomly as you explore the dungeon, and monsters follow simple yet diverse AI routines outlined on their cards. Despite the absence of a DM, there's still a compelling narrative campaign, segmented into individual scenarios, with secrets to uncover, monsters to defeat, and treasures to claim. The most recent set, Dungeons of the Mad Mage, is a joy to play, but the entire series offers delightful experiences.

HeroQuest Game System

HeroQuest Game System

1See it at Amazon!

While D&D board games often shine because they eliminate the need for a Dungeon Master, having someone to narrate and control the adversaries can enrich the experience. If you prefer this traditional setup, the modern reprint of the 1989 classic, HeroQuest, is perfect. Mechanically, it remains nearly unchanged, with one player taking the role of the evil wizard and his minions, while others play as heroes embarking on a quest to explore dungeons, gain experience, collect treasure, and ultimately vanquish evil. Additionally, it's straightforward enough to be an excellent choice for family game nights (check out our family board game recommendations for more options).

Clank! Legacy: Acquisitions Incorporated

Clank! Legacy: Acquisitions Incorporated

1See it at Amazon!

For a more contemporary take, consider Clank! Legacy: Acquisitions Incorporated. This version of the acclaimed deckbuilding game Clank! incorporates the branding of the popular Dungeons & Dragons podcast, Acquisitions Incorporated, and adopts a legacy format. This means the game evolves as a campaign, physically altering components as you progress, making your copy uniquely yours. The game combines the excitement and chaos of the original Clank! with a richer, more humorous narrative framework. For more details, explore our Clank! buying guide.

Dungeons & Dragons Onslaught

Dungeons & Dragons Onslaught

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Unlike the Adventure System games, which simplify the 4th edition D&D, Onslaught adapts the 5th edition rules into a skirmish board game. Here, two adventuring parties battle for supremacy within a dungeon room. While this isn't the typical D&D role-playing scenario, it captures the thrill of party-on-party clashes, a common experience for many players. The game includes treasure chests to loot and character leveling, enhancing its authenticity. The tabletop adaptation of the beloved 5th edition rules is both engaging and tactically challenging.

Descent: Legends of the Dark

Descent: Legends of the Dark

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Modern adventure titles increasingly delegate game management to apps, allowing players to focus on the adventure and character progression. Descent: Legends of the Dark stands out with its comprehensive app, which handles dungeon reveals, monster control, narrative downtime, and resource tracking for item crafting. The game's physical components are exceptional, featuring a fully 3D cardboard dungeon and intricately detailed miniatures that bring the adventure to life on your tabletop.

The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth

The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth

1See it at Amazon!

Dungeons & Dragons owes much of its inspiration to Tolkien's epic novels. A board game that offers both overland and dungeon adventures, along with combat and character advancement, is a fitting parallel. The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth, set between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, is another app-driven experience that lets players focus on the fun while challenging them with puzzles and riddles not possible in a purely physical game. It allows players to carve out their own slice of Middle-earth.

Tiny Epic Dungeons

Tiny Epic Dungeons

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One common trait among our selections, aside from their D&D parallels, is their often steep price. For a more budget-friendly dungeon crawl, consider Tiny Epic Dungeons, part of the acclaimed Tiny Epic series that excels in packing big themes into small boxes. A group of heroes ventures into a unique dungeon to level up and challenge the boss, racing against a timer represented by a burning torch. With a quick playtime and an innovative combat system that allows for mitigating bad outcomes, this game feels expansive despite its modest size.

Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion

Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion

3See it at Amazon!

Gloomhaven and Frosthaven are known as some of the largest and most acclaimed board games, offering a mix of narrative adventure, challenging tactics, and innovative mechanics. Each class in these games uses a unique deck of cards, requiring players to strategically select two actions per turn. While both are extensive RPG-length campaigns, Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion provides all these elements at a lower cost and with a more manageable campaign. As a prequel, it sets the stage for further exploration if you're enticed by the longer adventures.

Legacy of Dragonholt

Legacy of Dragonholt

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If you're familiar with choose-your-own-adventure books, where you make choices to navigate your story, Legacy of Dragonholt takes this concept to new heights and makes it multiplayer. It offers a detailed campaign with numerous options and branching paths. An activation token system ensures everyone participates in decision-making, while strategic elements involve deploying skills and abilities. This game serves as the ultimate text adventure, suitable for group play or as a solo board game for that nostalgic, old-school feel.

Betrayal at Baldur’s Gate

Betrayal at Baldur’s Gate

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This game deviates slightly from the typical fantasy quest, yet it captures the essence of certain D&D sessions and carries the Forgotten Realms branding. Players start by exploring the cursed city of Baldur’s Gate, flipping tiles and collecting items, but a 'haunt' eventually triggers, revealed from a narrative book. This sets the win conditions and often turns one player into a traitor against the others. The game's setup offers variety and culminates in a thrilling conclusion of heroism versus darkness.

Dungeons & Dragons: Bedlam in Neverwinter

Dungeons & Dragons: Bedlam in Neverwinter

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This unique pick emphasizes the puzzle aspects of dungeoneering over traditional adventure. An escape-room style board game, it challenges players to solve various traps, tricks, and riddles as they investigate 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. Its distinctive approach blends exploration, role-playing, and combat mechanics to deliver a genuine tabletop RPG experience, building toward an epic narrative conclusion.