The 14 best dungeon crawler board games, ranked (2023)

From the 1975 classicDungeon!, dungeon crawling board games have been a fascinating and accessible hobby for millions. Dungeon crawling board games are less iconic than their RPG counterparts, but fill a similar niche in storytelling and gameplay with the added benefit of simplicity.

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The dungeon crawler genre has come back to prominence in recent years, fueled in part by several big hits from Fantasy Flight Games. This includes some of the most acclaimed board games of all time. Fans or newcomers to the genre have a wide range of quality titles.

Updated Jan 13, 2022 by Isaac Williams:Dungeon crawlers are one of the most beloved board game genres and they are back in full force. Players may find themselves with many options. As such, this list has been updated with even more of the best dungeon crawler board games. It covers a variety of themes and playstyles to suit all gamers.

14 Dungeon! has a long legacy

1-8 players

Dungeon!is a dungeon crawler related to the beginning of. It is a competitive game that pits players against each other in a race to recover treasure. In fact, it has many concepts in common with the first.D&D. Players enter dungeons for profit, not heroism.

Dungeon!It's a somewhat outdated game. It predates many innovations in board games. However, his competitive nature and unconventional goals help him stand out from the genre. Players are not trying to fight their way through a dungeon. They want to dive in, accumulate treasure, and come out again. Although unconventionalDungeon!worth playing

13 The difficulty of rats and mystics does not detract from its charm

1-4 players

rats and mysticsis a dungeon crawler game designed to be accessible to all ages. It uses much brighter and more charming themes than most other dungeon crawlers. Players control brave fantasy heroes transformed into mice. As mice, they must find a way to save the kingdom.

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rats and mysticsit has a narrative element to it as well as its dungeon crawling. Players explore an ongoing story as they fight their way through dungeons. Despite its whimsical and charming theme,rats and mysticsIt's not an easy or condescending game. It expects players to overcome its challenges and requires careful planning to overcome it.

12 Bloodborne feels like a desperate hunt

1-4 players

Bloodborne: The Board Gamerecreates FromSoftware's beloved video game of the same name. It does not try to exactly recreate the mechanics of the game. Instead, try to capture the same feeling. Players explore the city of Yharnam, wielding strange weapons, and fighting horrifying monsters.

Bloodborne: The Board Game also forces playersBalance resources over time. Each scenario has a time limit before the Blood Moon rises. If that happens, the players lose. However, they need to waste time to heal and improve their abilities.blood borneIt is one of the best dungeon crawler board games because of its fun dynamics, great theme, and a lot of replayability.

11 Claustrophobia 1643 turns dungeon crawling into a head-to-head sport

2 players

Claustrophobia 1643is an unusual dungeon crawler. Most games in the genre are cooperative, or at least include a team of players.Claustrophobia 1643it is only for two players and they compete head to head. One controls a small team of adventurers and the other controls a horde of monsters.

The result is an asymmetrical and tense dynamic. One wrong move from the human player could spell disaster, but a bit of luck could see them succeed with ease.Claustrophobia 1643it is not for everyone. However, it is one of the best dungeon crawling board games for people who like a competitive spin on things.

10 Doom turns real-time gameplay into a turn-based game

2-5 players

Fantastic flying games'ruinThe board game is one of the most faithful adaptations of the fundamental first-person shooter. The 2016 edition of the board game Doom is derived fromDescent: Journeys in the Dark Second Edition, released by Fantasy Flight Games in 2012.

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Update uses 2016ruinvideo game as a base. Most players control marines trying to complete missions in a place overrun by demons. The other player controls the demons and violently tries to stop them. The result is an excellent, fast and competitive dungeon crawler.

9 Descent: Legends Of The Dark Brings Apps To The Table

1-4 players

dark legendsis a spin-off of the acclaimedDescent: Journeys into the Dark.subtitlesmodify theexcursionsformula that adds an app-based game master. This allows all participants to play the game instead of having one in the role of game master.

dark legendsit retains its difficulty and fun while removing its competitive aspects. The game has hours of content for its players and makes the best possible use of its components. A group can spend months playing an epic story in a much easier way than playing a TTRPG.

8 Resident Evil 2: The Board Game Has Players Surviving The Raccoon City Outbreak

1-4 players

resident evil 2it is one of many video games to receive a board game adaptation. However,Resident Evil 2: The Board Gameit does not recreate the game directly. Instead, it uses its story, themes, and characters to make an excellent dungeon crawler.

Resident Evil 2: The Board Gamecombines player tactics with a high degree of randomization. Players never know what will happen when they open a door, fire a weapon, or do anything else. The result is a game that rewards players for getting it right, but also a game where players never know what will happen next.

7 Star Wars: Imperial Assault Pits Imperial Overlords Against Rebel Scum

2-5 players

Star Wars: Asalto Imperialtakes the familiar formula and data mechanics from the beloved Fantasy Flightruinand projects it into a galaxy far, far away.imperial assaultit benefits greatly from using tried and true game mechanics in a familiar setting.

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imperial assaultallows a player to control the unlimited forces of the Galactic Empire. Up to four others serve as soldiers of the rebellion. The game also allows skirmish play. However, its main focus is a narrative dungeon crawling campaign. With an enjoyable story and tight mechanics,imperial assaultit's a good dungeon crawler for anyStar Warsfan.

6 Arcadia Quest Brings Anime-Inspired Design To Dungeon Crawlers

2-4 players

Many dungeon crawlers have highly detailed miniatures that are pretty scary.Arcadian Questhe goes in the opposite direction and models his miniatures after anime characters. They have a fluffy, cuddly appearance that belies their true danger.

Each player controls a guild of three characters. This adds a twist to gameplay not usually seen in the dungeon crawler genre.Arcadian Questit features teamwork not only between players, but within a player's own team of characters. It's a fun twist on a style of play where players typically only play a single character.

5 Mansions Of Madness aumenta el terror

1-5 players

Many dungeon crawling games are in the fantasy adventure genre.mansions of madnessAvoid this approach entirely. Instead, it is a horror game that has a lot in common with the fiction of H. P. Lovecraft and other horror authors. Players control investigators exploring a house and experiencing the terrors within.

mansions of madness, from its second edition, is another game that uses an application to guide and determine threats. The game is lighter on combat than many other dungeon crawlers, but its focus on exploration and overcoming challenges makes it a clear example of the genre.mansions of madnessis an excellent choice for players who want a dungeon crawler game beyond the vein of sword and sorcery.

4 Dungeons & Dragons adventure system adapts fourth edition of D&D

1-5 players

Millions of players every year play. The game introduces more players to role-playing games than any other game in the world. However, it is famous for its large number of rules. EITHERDungeons & Dragons Adventure SystemIt bridges the gap between a complex board game and a full RPG.

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It comes as no surprise to find that several dungeon-based board gamesDungeons & Dragons Fourth Editionfound a home on the game shelves of millions.Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Systemgames likeIra of Ashardalonmiravenloft castleallows players to run simple dungeon crawling games that are easier to get into and do not require a Dungeon Master.

3 Warhammer Quest: Blackstone Fortress takes dungeon crawling into the far future

1-5 players

warhammer missionis a series of board games set in the iconicwar hammeruniverse dating back to 1995. One of the more recent iterations of the game isWarhammer Quest: Fortaleza Blackstone,What really happens in the futuristic spin-offWarhammer 40.000.

Warhammer Quest: Blackstone Fortress es más flexiblethan many dungeon crawlers. It can be played solo or in a group with one player controlling hostiles, making it good for standalone games or longer campaigns.Warhammer Quest: Blackstone Fortressit combines a great theme with tight mechanics and a surprising amount of freedom of choice in how you play the game.

2 HeroQuest brings old school style back to board games

2-5 players

hero questit's more dated than many dungeon crawler board games. Its first iteration dates back to 1989, and that heritage really shows. Even in its most modern versions, it retains the older rules, such as roll to move.

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Nevertheless,hero questIt has a high level of quality that has allowed it to survive these decades. It has one of the best combinations of skill and luck to grace the entire dungeon crawling genre.hero questis a challenging, fun, and well-crafted piece of board gaming history that's more than capable of holding its own with more modern titles.

1 Gloomhaven turns its legacy into a board game

1-4 players

Huge sprawling board game by Isaac ChildersGloom Havenit has one of the largest boxes of any board game. It is packed with boards, cards, pieces, and trackers. It makes great use of every part and is one of the best tactical dungeon crawlers out there.

Omechanics inherited from Gloomhaven add a senseof a true generational transformation for the game world. This is combined with fun and strict rules for everything else.Gloom HavenIt is widely considered to be one of the best dungeon crawling board games ever made. With his deep, long-lasting, and pleasantly fast game, he deserves this recognition.

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