Each one is a critical hit!
Dungeons and Dragons is without a doubt one of the most popular things in the world right now. Interest in the game has exploded in the last ten years or so and it’s almost impossible to avoid. The dragons brand, encompassing the historical evolution and adaptations of the Dungeons & Dragons franchise, has seen dozens of licensed books, and hundreds of unlicensed ones, everyone and their uncle are streaming campaigns on Youtube or Twitch, and it’s been merchandised in almost every way imaginable. It’s a far cry from the days when people would huddle in their basement and be made fun of, or even labelled as Satanists, for simply playing using their imagination, some figures, and dice to play a game with friends. Well, the tables have certainly turned and now us nerds rule it’s time to take revenge and sacrifice the normies to our benevolent Dragon God Tiamat! I mean…look at some DnD board games…
The early addition of the fantasy supplement to the game Chainmail, developed by Gary Gygax, included key elements that would later influence the formation of Dungeons & Dragons. This supplement played a foundational role in establishing the game’s structure and gameplay mechanics.
Although Dungeons and Dragons at its core is predominantly a roleplaying game where action takes place in the imaginations of its players, there have been many times over the years when the mechanics, characters, and settings have been made into something more physical. There are plenty of instances where fans of fantasy may like the idea of playing a Dungeons and Dragons-esque game, but don’t like playing the traditional game. They may be too young to understand the concepts, find the idea of roleplaying difficult or uncomfortable, or not be able to fully visualise everything that’s being described. That’s where the board games come in! Players can have a similar experience with clearer-cut rules and something to look at which will streamline gameplay for everyone.
What are the Best DnD Board Games?
Below are a handful of Dungeons and Dragons board games that we feel are worth trying out. Whether you’re a fan of the franchise or not, you should find at least a few of these fun games enjoyable. Players can spend countless hours exploring various game scenarios and creating memorable experiences.
Dungeons and Dragons: Adventure Begins
Players: 2-4 Time: 60 minutes Age: 10+
Set in the lands of Neverwinter, Adventure Begins is a cooperative board game that serves as a fast introduction to Dungeons and Dragons. Play through several different scenarios as one of four heroic adventurers and defeat the terrifying boss monster. Each player character is pre-generated and comes with their own abilities, attacks, and personalities to give players a taste of roleplaying. They’ll navigate their way through a series of tiles representing the dungeon which will vary from adventure to adventure. Not only that, but each tile comes with it’s own set of adventure cards, which will dictate the encounter or scenario that plays out on that tile. Once complete, players can experience a dungeon crawl, navigating through tile after tile until meeting the boss. If defeated, the players win!
Adventure Begins is a great entry point to the franchise for younger players and those not familiar with Dungeons and Dragons. It gives players a taste of what a typical game might look like but compacts a whole game into a couple of hours. Some of the more in-depth or complex mechanics, like combat, are scaled down or removed and allows players to focus on the basics gameplay-wise. Although seasoned players may not feel the game is meaty enough, it’s a great way for players to test the waters as both players and DMs.
The Legend Of Drizzt Board Game
Players: 1-5 Time: 60 minutes Age: 12+
Based on the popular novels featuring the eponymous Drow Elf, The Legend of Drizzt takes ‘The Adventure Begins’ and ramps the experience up a few notches. Set in the rich fantasy setting of the Forgotten Realms, players step into the shoes of Drizzt Do’Urden or one of his companions, completing various quests and challenges whilst fending off mercenaries, Mind Flayers, and Dragons! As with ‘The Adventure Begins’, each character is unique and pre-generated so everything is ready to go and they just need to pick their favourite character. Playing through one of the scenarios in the adventure book, players will move around the underdark, laying new cavern tiles as they progress, and face all kinds monsters. They’ll collect treasure and become more powerful as they defeat their foes, but come face to face with all manner of dangerous challenges as well. Everyone will have to work together to make it back to Icewind Dale alive.
Another game in the Dungeons & Dragons Adventure System is Castle Ravenloft, which features cooperative gameplay and a gothic horror theme.
This and the other Adventure System games offer a great immersive experience. Legend of Drizzt is a more in-depth version of ‘The Adventure Begins’, putting more emphasis on combat, providing a campaign type adventure with characters levelling up, and adding more rules and mechanics to broaden the game. It feels like what a D&D board game should be without being overly complicated at the same time. The great thing is all Adventure System games play similarly and are compatible, so when you’ve finished the adventures in this game you have plenty of others to keep you busy.
Betrayal at Baldur’s Gate: Forgotten Realms Setting
Players: 3-6 Time: 60 minutes Age: 12+
Wandering the streets and alleys of Baldur’s Gate adventurers work together to try and survive the terrors awaiting them. That is of course until one of the party turns on the rest of them…Based on the award winning Betrayal at House on the Hill, Betrayal at Baldur’s Gate challenges players to help rid the city of the evil that has infected it. With their character, players will move through the city, encountering all kinds of events along the way: some good and some not so good. Some tiles will cause special events to trigger, including playing omen cards. Eventually when enough of these cards are drawn, an errant die roll will cause the haunt to begin. This is when the traitor in the group is revealed and granted powers to carry out their own malicious intentions. The remainder of the game is a race between the traitor and the rest of the group to complete their mission
Betrayal at Baldur’s Gate combines mystery, horror, action, and roleplaying into a fast paced game that takes the best of D&D and Betrayal at House on the Hill into an epic adventure. It does a wonderful job of keeping the tension and intrigue at a boiling point all the way through the game. With over fifty scenarios to play through and plenty of different characters to try, this game provides a unique experience every single time.
Tyrants of The Underdark
Players: 2-4 Time: 60 minutes Age: 14+
Lead your house to supremacy and become the most powerful Drow of the Underdark. In this competitive strategy game, players will try to control strategic points, recruit minions, and assassinate enemy troops to gain as many victory points as possible. Resources come in the form of power and influence and these are used throughout the game to carry out various actions, including assassinating enemies. Players will deploy and move their troops around the board to try and gain control of different locations by amounting the most units. Everyone will also have a small deck of cards they use during their turn to carry out various actions that will either help them or hinder their opponents. Additional cards can be purchased from the market to add to the deck and the players strategy over time. Once a player has deployed their last unit or the marketplace is empty of cards the game comes to an end and whoever has the most points is the winner.
Tyrants of the Underdark is a great game that blends several different gameplay mechanics together perfectly. The game world is an immersive setting where players interact with various characters and elements. Unit placement, resource management, and playing the right cards all come into play when planning the right strategy. A great game where playing as the bad guys is a lot of fun.
Onslaught
Players: 2 Time: 60-90 minutes Age: 14+
The newest game on this list: Onslaught is a competitive skirmish game where each players adventuring party delves into dungeons, battles rival adventurers, and confronts fearsome monsters for the sake of glory and treasure. Players control an adventuring party of six and take on one of the ten scenarios in the adventure guide. Each adventure has a set length, a list of objectives, and describes how to set the map up. Players will move around the map and use their characters unique abilities to try to fulfil objectives or outright eliminate the opposing faction in order to be declared victorious. Action and combat are the main focus of the game and there are plenty of things to consider, including line of sight, elevation, and the range and area of effect with attacks and spells. This adds plenty of strategy to gameplay and with most adventures being 6-8 rounds long, the added pressure of time means each move has to count.
Another game that involves exploring dungeons and battling monsters is Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage. This game highlights the presence of the infamous character Halastar Blackcloak, also known as the Mad Mage, adding a significant and menacing element to the gameplay.
A skirmish game in the truest sense, Onslaught is full of no nonsense action with well crafted mechanics to resolve combat, manage battles, and interactions. Each scenario is easily playable within an hour or so, and with ten included in the game it’ll keep players busy for a while. Not only that but despite a release in 2023, there are already extra factions to purchase and new scenarios on the website to try, so it’s clear this game still has a lot to offer in the future.
Dungeon Mayhem: Dungeon Crawl
Players: 2-4 Time: 10 minutes Age: 8+
Play as a barbarian, paladin, rogue, or wizard in this card game where the winner is the last one standing. It’s every adventurer for themselves with plenty of treasure up for grabs, as long as you can dodge the magic missiles heading your way! The aim of the game is to bring every other players health total from 10 down to 0. Each class has it’s own unique pre-made deck that players will play cards from each turn. These cards can be used to attack others, defend against attacks, heal damage, or enable the player to play more than one card. There are also special ability cards specific to the class that can have a major effect on the battlefield. Whoever is left standing at the end of the game is declared the winner.
Dungeon Mayhem is a simple and easy to learn card game that practically anyone can play as there isn’t a huge amount of strategic depth. Light on rules and easy to fit a few games in, in one sitting, it’s a great game to play regardless of how much time you have spare. Drawing inspiration from the rich history of role playing games, it captures the essence of adventure and strategy in a quick, accessible format.
Another engaging card game is Rock Paper Wizard, which incorporates Dungeons & Dragons lore, where players embody duelling sorcerers competing for a dragon’s treasure hoard.
Lords of Waterdeep
Players: 2-5 Time: 120 minutes Age: 12+
Powerful masked lords that rule from the shadows vie for control of the City of Splendours known as Waterdeep. Over eight rounds of gameplay players will try and score as many victory points as possible by completing quests and expanding the city, which in turn will gain them more influence and allow them to take more actions each turn. Throughout the game, players will distribute agents to the different buildings across the board that represents the titular city. There they can accept quests, collect resources, construct other buildings, or play intrigue cards. Quests can be resolved by agents purchasing enough of the correct mercenaries, and constructing new buildings generates victory points and comes with certain benefits. Intrigue cards are used to throw other players a curve ball that can deeply affect their future plans. Whether through tactical planning or more underhanded methods, whoever scores the most points at the end of the game wins!
Lords of Waterdeep is a strategic worker placement game where every move counts. Much like a Dungeon Master in Dungeons & Dragons, players must understand the advantages of each building and collect enough of the right mercenaries to achieve victory. Offering well balanced gameplay and a learning curve that’s not as steep as similar games, this is an excellent game that most will enjoy.
Conclusion
So those are some of the best Dungeons and Dragons board games out there. With a franchise so large though, there are plenty of other games out there, so if there are any we haven’t listed that you really enjoy we’d love to hear about them.
Also Read: Top IP Board Games You Need to Play
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can these games be played solo?
A: While most of the games listed are designed for multiplayer experiences, some may have solo variants or adaptations. It’s best to check the instructions or the game’s official website for details on solo play options.
Q: How long does it take to learn the rules of these games?
A: The learning curve varies by game. Simple games like Dungeon Mayhem can be picked up quickly, often within a matter of minutes, while more complex titles like Lords of Waterdeep may take longer, typically around 30 minutes to an hour to fully grasp.
Q: Are these games suitable for younger players?
A: Yes, many of these DnD board games are family-friendly. Dungeon Mayhem, for instance, is suitable for players aged 8 and older. However, it’s advisable to review the age recommendations for each game to ensure they match the intended audience.
Q: What is the typical player interaction like in these games?
A: Player interaction varies; some games like Onslaught emphasize direct competition and combat, while others like Lords of Waterdeep involve indirect interaction through strategy and resource management. Most games encourage engagement between players, making for a dynamic gaming experience.
Q: What is the ‘Temple of Elemental Evil’ game about?
A: The ‘Temple of Elemental Evil’ is a notable title in the Dungeons & Dragons Adventure System. It allows players to explore dungeons and battle monsters, featuring unique scenarios and satisfying dungeon-crawling experiences. This game stands out for its engaging gameplay mechanics and is highly regarded among D&D board games.
Q: How do ‘RPG adventures’ fit into Dungeons & Dragons board games?
A: ‘RPG adventures’ are integral to Dungeons & Dragons board games, offering unique narratives and gameplay mechanics. These adventures often complement the main gameplay and integrate with broader campaign strategies, enhancing the overall experience with rich storytelling and strategic depth.
Q: Where can I purchase these games?
A: These games can generally be found at local game shops, online retailers, and their respective publisher websites. Staying updated on new releases and expansions can also be done through dedicated board game communities and forums.