Dungeons & Dragons is a popular pen and paper roleplaying game, but D&D isn't only a pen and paper game; Dungeons & Dragons is a world where many other games take place. Pen and paper game was the first D&D game, but now there are also D&D video games and numerous Dungeons & Dragons board games out there.
The sheer number of D&D products can easily intimidate a Dungeons & Dragons newbie. Even people experienced in one aspect of D&D can be confused when choosing another type of product. This article is here to help all of you who can't decide what Dungeons & Dragons board game is right for you. We will go over some of the best Dungeons & Dragons board games and talk about their pros and cons. Hopefully, by the end of this article, you will know what is the best dungeons and dragons board game for you.
If you are more interested in learning how to play the Dungeons & Dragons pen and paper game, some of the games on this list could also catch your eye. At the very least you will find out which games come with great miniatures you can use in your pen and paper adventures.
Tyrants of the Underdark
Players: 2 - 4
Playing time: 60min
Age: 14+
Tyrants of the Underdark is a game where you lead one of four Drow houses in a struggle to control Underdark, a vast network of caverns and tunnels that is homeland to Drow. The game combines board control with deck-building mechanics. Each card represents a minion you can recruit to aid you in controlling parts of Underdark. Each minion belongs to one of the aspects of Drow society.
There are several strategies (that correspond to aspects of Drow society) you can use to emerge victorious in the Tyrants of Underdark game. Assassinations, control of territories, recruiting allies, and promoting your minions to the inner circle earn players points in the game. Whoever has the most points at the end of the game wins.
A combination of deckbuilding and board control mechanics works well in this game and brings a breath of fresh air to both genres. Board control mechanics leave some things to be desired; after a few games area control element feels repetitive and you will usually end up fighting for the same city every game.
Dungeons & Dragons: Waterdeep – Dungeon of the Mad Mage
Players: 1 - 5
Playing time: 60 min
Age: 14+
Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage is a game designed for single-player or cooperative play. In this game, you will play an adventurer or group of adventurers who search for treasure in the domain of the mad wizard Halaster Blackcloak. Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage is best rated D&D Adventure System co-op board game.
You can combine this game with other D&D adventure board games to create new challenges once you believe you have explored all the options this game offers. Tomb of Annihilation, The Legend of Drizzt, Wrath of Ashardalon, Castle Ravenloft, and Temple of Elemental Evil are all excellent games in their own right, but they can get even more fun when you combine them!
Dungeon of the Mad Mage comes with miniatures you can use for your D&D pen and paper adventures. The game includes 31 monster miniatures, 7 villain miniatures, and 5 hero miniatures.
Dungeon of the Mad Mage expands is an excellent stand-alone game that is made better by the option to combine it with previous installments in the series. It has better character development than any other game in the series. Considering all the high-quality miniatures it comes with, it has a great value for money. The only drawback this game has is the complexity that can be intimidating to boardgame newbies.
Dungeons & Dragons: Tomb of Annihilation
Players: 1 - 5
Playing time: 60 min
Age: 14+
Tomb of Annihilation is another Dungeons & Dragons adventuring co-op board game. This title will take your group on an adventure to uncover the Tomb of the Nine Gods in the jungles of Chult. Your group will solve quests and encounter monsters in a randomly generated dungeon. As you progress through the game, your characters will become stronger. This is counterbalanced with dungeons evolving alongside your characters and throwing stronger monsters and deadlier traps at your group.
Tomb of Annihilation is compatible with the Dungeon of the Mad Mage and other games listed there. You can use monsters, characters, traps, and other resources from any of those games to tailor the difficulty and challenges of the game to the taste of your playgroup. The game comes with a 20 sided die and 42 high-quality miniatures you can use in your Dungeons & Dragons pen and paper adventures.
This game shares the pros and cons of the Dungeon of the Mad Mage. If you are trying to decide between the two, it will come down to whether you prefer adventuring in the jungle or through caverns.
Lords of Waterdeep
Players: 2 - 5
Playing time: 60 - 120 min
Age: 12+
Waterdeep, the City of Splendors is home to two outstanding board games; the previously mentioned Dungeon of the Mad Mage and Lords of Waterdeep. Lords of Waterdeep is a strategy game that will have you assume the role of one of the secret rulers of the city. You will compete with other players in increasing your influence over the city. Through the eight rounds of play, you will earn points by; playing intrigue cards, completing quests, constructing buildings, and having other players use buildings you have constructed. The game is won by having the greatest number of points at the end of the last round.
Appealing elements of this game are its intuitive design, quick turns, and simple rules that are easy to learn. On the other hand, the simple rules may be a turn down for experienced board gamers who are on the hunt for a more complex game.
Dungeons & Dragons: Temple of Elemental Evil
Players: 1 - 5
Playing time: 60 min
Age: 14+
Temple of Elemental Evil is another board game in the series of Dungeons & Dragons co-op adventure games. In this installation, you will cooperate with other adventures to complete goals in different scenarios. As your party ventures deeper into the dungeon beneath the Sword Coast, the quests you are completing will become increasingly difficult.
A strong point of Temple of Elemental Evil compared to the other D&D adventure games is the great set of campaign rules that comes with the game. Miniatures included in the game suffer from a lack of variety compared to the other games in the series, so if you are on the hunt for miniatures you might prefer another game from the D&D adventure board game series.
Dungeons & Dragons: The Legend of Drizzt
Players: 1 - 5
Playing time: 60 min
Age: 12+
The Legend of Drizzt is the third installment in D&D adventure system games. This game will take you on the adventures of R. A. Salvatore’s Drizzt Do’Urden and his friends. As you explore a monster-infested labyrinth, you will emerge victoriously or succumb to dangers alongside your companions.
As Legend of Drizzt is older, it suffers from the lack of campaign rules that are present in more recent installments. Despite that, it is an excellent addition to the series. It stands out for its beautiful miniatures, and it is not unheard of that some people buy it exclusively for the miniatures.
Dragonfire
Players: 2 - 6
Playing time: 60 - 90 min
Age: 13+
Dragonfire is a cooperative deck building game where you go on different adventures with other players. Each adventure has a different setup and rules. The game revolves around players planning how to best utilize the cards they have to successfully clear encounters placed in front of each of the players.
Dragonfire is a delight for anyone who enjoys collaborative puzzle-solving. You will have to consider all the cards and equipment each player has at their disposal and make a plan on how to best approach the problems you're facing if you want to successfully bet the game. Another strong point of Dragonfire is the huge amount of replayability.
The biggest drawback of the game is that it can be very punishing for players who expect a casual board game, To enjoy this game you will have to really get into it, so I wouldn’t recommend it to people who plan to play it once every few months.
Betrayal at Baldur’s Gate
Players: 3-6
Playing time: 60 min
Age: 12+
Betrayal at Baldur’s Gate is a game where one player might betray others. You start the game as a co-op team with other players. During the first part of the game, players will work together to improve their characters through leveling, gearing up, and acquiring traits.
The second part of the game starts with an event called the haunt. The haunt decides which of the different 50 scenarios will take the place. In some scenarios, one of the players will become a traitor who will fight against the players.
The haunt is the most interesting mechanic of the game. Because of the haunt, you won’t know what kind of game you are playing during the first part of the game. This can also be the main drawback of the game. Occasionally the game will end up being completely one-sided. In such cases neither winning nor losing the game will feel satisfying.
Dungeons & Dragons: Wrath of Ashardalon
Players: 1-5
Playing time: 60 min
Age: 12+
With Wrath of Ashardalon, we return to the D&D adventure board game series. This installment’s orc and demon theme will take you into the lair of a red dragon Ashardalon. The mechanics of the Wrath of Ashardalon are the same as in other D&D adventure board games, so what sets it apart?
Wrath of Ashardalon has some of the best hero choices in the series. You will often find yourself using Arshadalon heroes if you own multiple D&D adventure board games. The game also comes with great treasures. On the other hand, Wrath of Ashardalon’s campaign system isn’t as good as some others. Another drawback is that monsters and tiles are somewhat generic.
Dungeons & Dragons: Castle Ravenloft
Players: 1 - 5
Playing time: 60 min
Age: 12+
Finally, we come to the game that started the whole Dungeons & Dragons adventure board game series: Castle Ravenloft. Castle Ravenloft takes you to undead-infested Barovia. There you will explore dungeons under the castle, retrieve relics, and slay vampire lords.
Castle Ravenloft is the first game in the series, so it isn’t as polished as other installments. This is most apparent in the lack of a campaign. Although it is the first game in the series, it has some strong points that make it stand out among other games in the series. The variety of monsters, bosses, and quests is one of the best in the series. This makes the game a worthy addition to any D&D fan’s collection.
Dungeon Mayhem
Players: 2 - 4
Playing time: 10-20 min
Age: 8+
Dungeon Mayhem is a simple tactical card game with fast gameplay that comes in handy when you need to kill half hour. The game has four decks that each represent a character. The gameplay of Dungeon Mayhem Revolves around managing your hand and playing action cards. Since you are forced to play at least one action card each turn, you have to think about politics around the table from the beginning of the game.
The game is quite simple, so it won’t impress players who enjoy complex board games and card games. The game is designed as a filler game that is easy to learn and play. Dungeon Mayhem expansions Monster Madness and Battle for Baldur’s Gate add replayability to the games, so you might want to get them if you like the core game.
Dungeons & Dragons Dice Masters: Tomb of Annihilation
Players: 2
Playing time: 30 min
Age: 14+
If you are familiar with WizKids Games Dice Building Game, you already know how Dice Masters: Tomb of Annihilation works. It is a two-player card game and dice game where you take a role of a warlord, purchase dice throughout the game and use it to battle the other player.
It is similar to other card battle games where the point of the game is to reduce your opponent’s life to zero. The difference between dice masters and other card battle games is the mechanic of purchasing action dice throughout the game. This mechanic will give you a deck-building experience as you play the game.
A drawback of Dice Masters Tomb of Annihilation compared to other games on this list is that it is a collectible card game, so you don’t get all the content in one nice box. On the other hand, many players enjoy drafting cards, and Dice Masters: Tomb of Annihilation is an interesting choice for drafting enthusiasts who love D&D to scratch that itch!
