When it's time to unplug, turn off the TV, and reduce screen time, board games are the perfect antidote to your escapist cravings and desire to keep playing. Fortunately, there are numerous board game adaptations of some of the most popular video games out there, and we've gathered some of our top picks for you. Whether you're in the mood for an extensive campaign or a quick party game, these board games will keep you immersed in your favorite worlds, even when you need a break from technology.
TL;DR – These Are the Best 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
Fallout: The Board Game
1
$69.99 save 36%
$44.49 at Amazon
Players: 1-4
Age Range: 14+
Play Time: 2-3 hours
With the buzz around Amazon's Fallout series, there's no better time to dive into the Wasteland from the comfort of your own kitchen table. Begin by selecting from a variety of scenarios that dictate the map setup. Much like Bethesda's beloved open-world RPGs, players will explore the map, enhance their skills, battle irradiated foes, engage with various factions, and complete quests, all while vying for dominance in the Wasteland. This game is perfect for long, immersive sessions, thanks to its detailed and engaging gameplay.
Slay the Spire
Slay the Spire: The Board Game
9
See it at Contention Games
Players: 1-4
Age Range: 12+
Play Time: 45 minutes
Arguably the most fitting video game to transition to a board game, Slay the Spire captures the essence of its digital counterpart. Players choose from available heroes and embark on a Roguelike deck-building ascent through the Spire. Each room presents unique challenges: encounters with regular enemies, elite battles, events, campfires, treasures, merchant interactions, and ultimately, the boss. The nature of Roguelikes ensures hours of replayability as players experiment with different characters, builds, and items.
You can read our Slay the Spire: The Board Game review for more about this game.
Bloodborne
Bloodborne: The Board Game
1
See it at Amazon
Players: 2-4
Age Range: 14+
Play Time: 60-90 minutes
In the Bloodborne board game, players assume the role of Hunters fighting to eradicate the evil within Yharnam. As a campaign game, Bloodborne offers endless replay value, with no two sessions feeling the same thanks to its modular map tiles. With hundreds of cards, tokens, and game pieces, this dark adventure challenges players' skills and decision-making as they uncover the secrets of the unrelenting plague and strive to stop it. Immersion is key, and the highly detailed miniatures make you feel as though you're right in the thick of it.
Resident Evil 2
Resident Evil 2: The Board Game
1
See it at Amazon
Players: 1-4
Age Range: 12+
Play Time: 90-120 minutes
The success of the Resident Evil 2 tabletop adaptation led Steamforged Games to create similar experiences for the original Resident Evil and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis. However, like the video games, Resident Evil 2 remains the standout. Players cooperate, taking control of either Leon S. Kennedy or Claire Redfield, as they battle through hordes of zombies to escape in various scenarios. Collect weapons, healing items, and keys, navigate the environment, evade the undead, and solve puzzles. You can even use iconic ink ribbons and typewriters to influence your sessions!
PAC-MAN
Pac-Man: The Board Game
0
See it at Amazon
Players: 2-5
Age Range: 10+
Play Time: 30 minutes
From Buffalo Games, the arcade classic makes a triumphant return to the tabletop. Enjoyable in both cooperative and competitive modes, the player controlling Pac-Man aims to navigate the maze, eat pellets, and collect fruit, while ghost players try to avoid or catch Pac-Man. Played on four metal tiles forming the game board, it requires some initial setup, but subsequent games are quick to start. The electronic Pac-Man figure even makes its iconic "waka waka" sound!
Tetris
Tetris Board Game
1
See it at Amazon
Players: 2-4
Age Range: 8+
Play Time: 20-30 minutes
Also from Buffalo Games, Tetris is a competitive head-to-head game where players maneuver, rotate, and drop tetriminos to score the highest. As in the video game, the next piece is visible, represented by a card, allowing strategic planning. Points are earned by completing lines, matching pieces to symbols on the tower, and achieving specific goals. Its quick setup and playtime make it ideal for parties and younger players.
Dark Souls: The Board Game - Tomb of Giants
Dark Souls The Board Game: Tomb of Giants
1
See it at Amazon
Players: 1-3
Age Range: 14+
Play Time: 90-120 minutes
Originally part of the Dark Souls board game Kickstarter, the Tomb of Giants core set is a standalone adventure perfect for newcomers. Named after a notorious location from the video games, players choose a class and gear before navigating the catacombs, battling skeleton archers, and resting at bonfires. With limited actions, every choice matters. The game stays true to its source material with its challenging combat and RPG elements, including a level-up system. Tomb of Giants introduces new playable characters and over a hundred new cards, all compatible with existing Dark Souls board game products.
Cuphead: Fast-Rolling Dice Game
Cuphead: Fast Rolling Dice Game
3
$59.99 save 22%
$46.88 at Amazon
Players: 1-4
Age Range: 8+
Play Time: 30-45 minutes
Mirroring its digital counterpart, Cuphead: Fast Rolling Dice Game is a rapid-fire cooperative game where players aim to defeat bosses using dice-based mechanics. The boss deck's structure remains constant, making setup a breeze. Players select from four characters—Cuphead, Mugman, Ms. Chalice, or Elder Kettle—and play through multiple rounds with five phases, setting up attacks and confronting the boss. Timed rounds add urgency to your dice rolls. With high replay value, you can improve your score and upgrade abilities for future runs. Check out our Cuphead: Fast Rolling Dice Game review for more details.
The Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail Card Game
0
See it at Amazon
Players: 2-6
Age Range: 12+
Play Time: 30-45 minutes
Dying of dysentery has never been more entertaining. In this quick-to-set-up card game, players collaborate to reach Oregon without succumbing to various Calamity cards. Sessions are fast-paced and often end quickly due to the unpredictable nature of the calamities. Though challenging and luck-based, you win by playing fifty trail cards. A drawback is that if a player dies on the first turn (which happens more often than expected), they sit out the entire session until the group either wins or all perish. Nonetheless, it's a fun recreation of the source material that's sure to elicit plenty of laughs.
