When the screens dim and it's time for a tech-free break, board games offer a fantastic way to continue the escapism and fun. Fortunately, numerous board games draw inspiration from popular video games, and we've compiled some of our favorites. Whether you crave an epic campaign or a quick party game, these options let you stay immersed in familiar worlds without the digital glare.
TL;DR – Top Video Game Board Games
- Fallout
- Slay the Spire
- Bloodborne
- Resident Evil 2
- Pac-Man
- Tetris
- Dark Souls: The Board Game: Tomb of Giants
- Cuphead: Fast Rolling Dice Game
- The Oregon Trail
Fallout: The Board Game
Players: 1-4 Age: 14+ Playtime: 2-3 hours
Following the success of Amazon's Fallout series, explore the Wasteland from your kitchen table. Choose from various scenarios dictating map setup. Like Bethesda's RPGs, you'll uncover the map, develop skills, battle enemies, interact with factions, and complete quests, vying for Wasteland control. Immersive and detailed, perfect for lengthy sessions.
Slay the Spire: The Board Game
Players: 1-4 Age: 12+ Playtime: 45 minutes
A masterful board game adaptation, Slay the Spire mirrors its digital counterpart. Players choose a hero and embark on a roguelike deck-building climb through the Spire. Select from various rooms: encounters (regular enemies), elites (stronger foes), events, campfires, treasure, a merchant, and the final boss. Roguelike nature ensures hours of replayability with diverse characters, builds, and items.
Read our Slay the Spire: The Board Game review for more details.
Bloodborne: The Board Game
Players: 2-4 Age: 14+ Playtime: 60-90 minutes
Become a Hunter battling Yharnam's evil. As a campaign game, Bloodborne offers endless replayability with its modular map tiles. Hundreds of cards, tokens, and miniatures create an immersive, challenging adventure testing skill and decision-making as you uncover secrets and fight the plague. Highly detailed miniatures enhance the experience.
Resident Evil 2: The Board Game
Players: 1-4 Age: 12+ Playtime: 90-120 minutes
A successful adaptation, Resident Evil 2 is arguably the best in Steamforged Games' series. Cooperatively control Leon or Claire, battling zombies to escape in multiple scenarios. Collect weapons, items, and keys, evade the undead, and solve puzzles, even using ink ribbons and typewriters!
Pac-Man: The Board Game
Players: 2-5 Age: 10+ Playtime: 30 minutes
This arcade classic returns to the tabletop in cooperative or competitive modes. Pac-Man navigates the maze, eating pellets and fruit, while ghost-controlling players try to catch him. Played on four metal tiles, setup is simple, and gameplay is quick. The Pac-Man figure even makes its iconic sound!
Tetris Board Game
Players: 2-4 Age: 8+ Playtime: 20-30 minutes
A competitive game where players maneuver, rotate, and drop tetrominos for the highest score. The next piece is displayed, allowing strategic planning. Earn points by completing lines, matching pieces to symbols, and achieving specific goals. Quick setup and playtime make it ideal for parties and younger players.
Dark Souls: The Board Game - Tomb of Giants
Players: 1-3 Age: 14+ Playtime: 90-120 minutes
A standalone adventure perfect for newcomers. Choose a class and gear, navigate the catacombs, battle enemies, and rest at bonfires. Limited actions require careful choices. Faithful to the source material with punishing combat and RPG elements, including a level-up system. Features new characters and cards compatible with other Dark Souls board games.
Cuphead: Fast Rolling Dice Game
Players: 1-4 Age: 8+ Playtime: 30-45 minutes
A fast-paced cooperative game where players defeat bosses using dice mechanics. Setup is easy, and gameplay involves timed rounds with five phases. Choose from Cuphead, Mugman, Ms. Chalice, or Elder Kettle. High replayability with score-beating and upgradeable abilities.
See our Cuphead: Fast Rolling Dice Game review for more.
The Oregon Trail Card Game
Players: 2-6 Age: 12+ Playtime: 30-45 minutes
A quick-playing card game where players cooperate to reach Oregon without dying. Sessions are fast-paced, with "Calamity" cards causing deaths. Win by playing fifty trail cards. While a player's death on the first turn requires them to sit out, it's a fun recreation of the source material.
