When the screen's glare becomes too much, and it's time for a tech-free escape, board games offer a fantastic alternative. Fortunately, numerous board games draw inspiration from beloved video games, providing a captivating way to continue the adventure offline. Whether you crave an epic campaign or a quick, fun party game, these adaptations will keep you immersed in familiar worlds without the need for a screen.
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 on your kitchen table. Choose from various scenarios dictating map setup. Like Bethesda's RPGs, players uncover the map, develop skills, battle enemies, interact with factions, and complete quests, vying for Wasteland control. Highly immersive and detailed, perfect for extended sessions.
Slay the Spire: The Board Game
Players: 1-4 Age: 12+ Playtime: 45 minutes
A masterful adaptation, Slay the Spire retains the digital experience. Players choose a hero and embark on a roguelike deck-building adventure through the Spire. Navigate rooms with unique characteristics: encounters, elites, events, campfires, treasure, merchants, and bosses. The roguelike nature ensures countless 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 the evil within Yharnam. Bloodborne's modular map tiles offer endless replayability. Hundreds of cards, tokens, and miniatures create an immersive, macabre adventure testing skill and decision-making as you uncover the plague's secrets.
Resident Evil 2: The Board Game
Players: 1-4 Age: 12+ Playtime: 90-120 minutes
A successful adaptation, Resident Evil 2 remains a standout. Cooperatively play as Leon or Claire, battling zombies and escaping in various scenarios. Collect weapons, items, and keys, solving puzzles and using iconic ink ribbons and typewriters.
Pac-Man: The Board Game
Players: 2-5 Age: 10+ Playtime: 30 minutes
The arcade classic returns! Play cooperatively or competitively. Pac-Man navigates the maze, eating pellets and fruit, while ghosts try to catch him. Four metal tiles form the board, with quick setup and gameplay, perfect for parties and younger players. 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 and drop Tetriminos for the highest score. The next piece is displayed, allowing strategic planning. Earn points by completing lines, matching pieces, and achieving specific goals. Quick setup and playtime make it ideal for parties.
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, navigating the catacombs and battling enemies. 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 existing 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-based mechanics. Setup is easy, and the boss deck remains consistent. Choose from four characters and play through timed rounds, carefully selecting dice rolls. High replayability with score-beating and upgradeable abilities.
See our Cuphead: Fast Rolling Dice Game review for more info.
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 sudden death. Win by playing fifty Trail cards. A fun, challenging, and luck-based recreation of the source material.
