When it's time to step away from screens and digital devices, board games offer a delightful escape, keeping that sense of adventure and play alive. Fortunately, there's a rich selection of board games inspired by some of the most beloved video games, perfect for continuing your favorite gaming experiences offline. Whether you're in the mood for an extended campaign or a quick, fun party game, these board game adaptations let you immerse yourself in these iconic worlds, offering a refreshing 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
$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 never been a better time to dive into the Wasteland right from your kitchen table. Choose from various scenarios to set up your map, and embark on a journey reminiscent of Bethesda's open-world RPGs. Uncover the map, enhance your skills, battle mutated enemies, engage with different factions, and complete quests, all while vying for control over the Wasteland. This game is perfect for immersive, long-term gaming sessions.
Slay the Spire
### Slay the Spire: The Board Game
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 with players choosing a hero to embark on a Roguelike deck-building adventure up the Spire. Navigate through various rooms—encounters with regular enemies, elite battles, events, campfires, treasure rooms, merchant visits, and boss fights—each affecting your gameplay. With the inherent replayability of Roguelikes, Slay the Spire offers endless hours of fun as you 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
See it at Amazon
Players: 2-4
Age Range: 14+
Play Time: 60-90 minutes
Step into the shoes of a Hunter in Bloodborne: The Board Game, fighting to rid Yharnam of its sinister forces. As a campaign game, it offers endless replay value with its modular map tiles, ensuring no two sessions are the same. With a vast array of cards, tokens, and game pieces, this game challenges players' skills and decision-making as they uncover the secrets of the plague and strive to stop it. The detailed miniatures enhance the immersive experience, making you feel truly part of the dark adventure.
Resident Evil 2
### Resident Evil 2: The Board Game
See it at Amazon
Players: 1-4
Age Range: 12+
Play Time: 90-120 minutes
The success of the Resident Evil 2 board game adaptation by Steamforged Games led to more entries in the series, but this remains the standout. Faithfully recreating the video game, players cooperate as Leon S. Kennedy or Claire Redfield, battling through zombies to escape. Collect weapons, healing items, and keys, navigate the environment, dodge the undead, and solve puzzles. The use of iconic ink ribbons and typewriters adds an authentic touch to your sessions.
PAC-MAN
### Pac-Man: The Board Game
See it at Amazon
Players: 2-5
Age Range: 10+
Play Time: 30 minutes
Brought to life by Buffalo Games, the arcade classic returns to the tabletop. Play in cooperative or competitive modes as Pac-Man navigates the maze, eats pellets, and grabs fruit while the ghosts try to thwart him. The game board, made up of four metal tiles, requires initial setup, but subsequent games are quick to start. The electronic Pac-Man figure even makes its signature “waka waka” sound!
Tetris
### Tetris Board Game
See it at Amazon
Players: 2-4
Age Range: 8+
Play Time: 20-30 minutes
Also from Buffalo Games, this competitive version of Tetris has players maneuvering, rotating, and dropping tetriminos to score the highest. Plan your strategy with the next piece visible on a card. Score points by completing lines, matching pieces to symbols on your tower, and achieving specific goals. Its quick setup and short 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
See it at Amazon
Players: 1-3
Age Range: 14+
Play Time: 90-120 minutes
Originally planned as part of the Dark Souls board game Kickstarter, Tomb of Giants is a standalone adventure perfect for newcomers. Named after the notorious location from the video games, players choose a class and gear, then navigate the catacombs, facing skeleton archers and resting at bonfires. With its limited actions, strategic choices are crucial. True to the source, the game features challenging combat and RPG elements, including a level-up system. It also introduces new 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
$59.99 save 22%
$46.88 at Amazon
Players: 1-4
Age Range: 8+
Play Time: 30-45 minutes
Reflecting the fast pace of its video game counterpart, Cuphead: Fast Rolling Dice Game challenges players to defeat bosses using dice-based mechanics. With a simple setup and unchanging boss deck structure, the game is easy to start. Choose from Cuphead, Mugman, Ms. Chalice, or Elder Kettle, and play through rounds with five phases, setting up attacks and confronting the boss. Timed rounds demand careful dice selection, and the game's high replay value comes from improving scores and upgrading abilities for future runs. See our Cuphead: Fast Rolling Dice Game review for more info.
The Oregon Trail
### The Oregon Trail Card Game
See it at Amazon
Players: 2-6
Age Range: 12+
Play Time: 30-45 minutes
Experience the humorous side of historical hardships with The Oregon Trail Card Game. Work together to reach Oregon without succumbing to various calamities. Quick to set up and play, the game can be challenging and luck-based, with players winning by completing fifty trail cards. A unique twist is that if a player dies early on, they must sit out until the group either succeeds or all perish. It's a fun and faithful recreation of the original game, guaranteed to bring laughter and light-hearted competition.