Hi! I’m Duane, and I’m a huge fan of board games and Dungeons & Dragons. One thing I always struggle with? Finding a Dungeon Master! And sometimes, I just don’t want to be the forever DM, I just want to play and enjoy the adventure. HAHAHA.
Fantasy role-playing games have always fired up the imagination of players who love epic quests, rich storytelling, and unforgettable characters. But lately, fantasy RPG board games have stepped up as a great way to capture that same thrill, especially through co-op gameplay. You and your party can team up against monsters, solve magical problems, and shape your own shared story... no game master required!
Whether you're a seasoned dungeon crawler or just dipping your toes into fantasy adventures, these co-op board games bring a whole lot of magic to the table. Here are some of my favorites, plus a few that are definitely on my wishlist!
What Are Fantasy Role-Playing Games?
At their core, fantasy role-playing games let you step into the shoes of a hero, rogue, or spellcaster in a world full of magic, danger, and adventure. You take on a role, explore a story-rich setting, and make meaningful choices along the way. Traditionally, these games come in the form of tabletop RPGs like Dungeons & Dragons, or digital video games—but now more than ever, we’re seeing board games bring that same magic to the table.
These fantasy board games usually have:
- Character classes and progression – You get to pick a role like a warrior, cleric, or wizard, each with their own powers that grow and evolve over time.
- Story-driven campaigns – Many games are played over multiple sessions, with decisions you make shaping the ongoing story.
- Cooperative gameplay and enemy AI – Instead of battling each other, players work together against the game’s built-in enemies, traps, or events.
- Exploration and quests – You’ll venture into new areas, uncover loot, and complete missions in immersive, fantasy-filled worlds.
It’s the best of both worlds: a structured board game with the freedom and storytelling of an RPG.
Why Cooperative Fantasy Board Games Are Great for RPG Fans
The heart of role-playing games has always been about shared storytelling and overcoming challenges together. That’s why I love co-op board games that capture that same feeling, teaming up with friends to take on dragons, curses, and all sorts of magical chaos. Everyone gets a say in how the story unfolds, and with good teamwork and a bit of character immersion, the adventure just gets more epic.
Lately, I’ve been diving deeper into board games that mix fantasy and RPG vibes, kind of following in the footsteps of classics like HeroQuest and Gloomhaven. I’ve been especially drawn to the more “sandboxy” experiences like Lands of Galzyr or Skyrim: The Adventure Game, and the big story-driven campaigns like Tainted Grail, Roll Player Adventures, and Sleeping Gods.
But here’s the thing I keep noticing: it’s still pretty rare to find board games that really encourage you to roleplay the way D&D does. I mean really stepping into your character’s shoes—making choices in character, talking like them, fully immersing in the world. That kind of stuff? That’s what makes a game unforgettable for me.
Sure, I get that most board games aren’t built for that level of immersion. But that never stops us. My friends and I almost always add our own flair, giving voices to our characters, acting out scenes, the whole shebang. Even when it’s not required, it just makes the whole thing way more fun and memorable.
Board games these days tend to go in one of two directions, which makes sense, given the format:
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A heavy focus on tactical combat, like in Gloomhaven
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Or long narrative entries with choose-your-own-adventure choices, like Roll Player Adventures or Legacy of Dragonholt
8 Best Co-op Fantasy Board Games
For those who love traditional RPGs but struggle with scheduling long campaigns or finding a game master, these games offer a rewarding alternative. Here’s our curated list of the top fantasy RPG board games that bring cooperative fantasy adventures to life.
Gloomhaven / Frosthaven
These epic monster-slaying campaigns are legendary in the board game world. You create a hero, level up, unlock new abilities, and explore a shifting map with branching storylines. Both games nail tactical combat and RPG-style progression. Gloomhaven pioneered this dungeon-crawl-meets-character-growth formula, while Frosthaven builds on it with a harsher winter survival theme and deeper content. Their legacy-level campaigns, evolving world, and heavy replay value make them modern classics.
Mage Knight
A monster of a game—pun intended—Mage Knight blends deck-building with exploration, combat, and powerful character abilities. Think RPG in a box: you explore a modular map, battle enemies, recruit units, learn spells, and level up. Its challenge and depth are rewarding for experienced players. The narrative is player-driven—choose your path and watch your hero evolve in a gritty fantasy world.
Descent: Legends of the Dark
Descent offers full-on RPG fantasy: even a light app drives the campaign, NPCs, AI enemies and story beats for immersive gameplay. You take on character classes, gain loot, complete quests, and unlock narrative paths. It nails the feel of D&D without the need for a human GM. Tactile minis, robust scenarios, and a true character growth arc make it a must-try for RPG fans who want digestible entry into heroic fantasy storytelling.
Sleeping Gods
Charting your own course on a massive, open-world ocean voyage, Sleeping Gods is RPG storytelling meets sandbox exploration. You captain the airship Manticore, gather crew, solve mysteries, and pursue different endings. The game tracks choices and consequences across a sprawling narrative played over multiple sessions. It’s the ultimate personal storytelling sandbox, full of character moments and resilient team dynamics, while still remaining fully cooperative.
5 Minute Dungeon
Set in a chaotic dungeon crawl, 5 Minute Dungeon squeezes the tension and tactics of RPGs into a frantic, real-time 5-minute race. Players pick fantasy archetypes—mage, barbarian, rogue—and combine decks to slash through monsters, traps, and bosses. It’s fast, light-hearted, and perfect for warming up before diving into meatier RPG experiences.
Zombicide: White Death
Set in medieval Russia during a zombie apocalypse, Zombicide: White Death blends survival horror with RPG-lite progression. You and your team-level up survivors, learn new skills, collect loot, and work together to survive. The ultra-tactical missions, growing character abilities, and narrative setup make it engaging for fans of gritty, squad-focused fantasy RPGs.
World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King
This board game captures the World of Warcraft RPG experience in a Pandemic-style format. You embody iconic heroes like Thrall or Jaina, quest across Northrend, and battle Scourge forces. Each hero has unique powers and progression. Cooperative mission-based gameplay and strong thematic ties to WoW’s lore make it a natural RPG board game for fans of the franchise.
Mice and Mystics
A fairytale gem, Mice and Mystics transforms you into a mouse hero on a quest to save your kingdom. It plays like a storybook RPG: chapter-based, with narrative arcs, character upgrades, and lightweight tactical combat. It’s perfect for families or groups who crave fantasy RPG vibes without the complexity, and its charming story keeps everyone engaged.
Mansions of Madness: Second Edition
Step into a chilling Lovecraftian mystery with app-driven horror. Mansions of Madness lets you explore haunted mansions, solve puzzles, fight monsters, and follow story-driven campaigns at your own pace. It’s immersive, atmospheric, and leaderless—meaning everyone plays cooperatively, reacting to events as they happen. If you love investigative RPGs and horror fantasy, this one delivers.
Ready to Dive into Fantasy Role-Playing Board Games?
Whether you're just starting out or trying to get your friends into the world of co-op fantasy board games, it's actually way easier (and way more fun) than it looks. Here are some tips to help you get started:
Choose the Right Complexity
Not all fantasy RPG board games are built the same. Some are light, fast, and silly (looking at you, 5 Minute Dungeon), while others go deep with campaign stories and tactical battles that stretch over multiple sessions. If you're a newbie, try something easy to pick up like Mice and Mystics. But if you're into longer sessions with layered mechanics and drama, Zombicide or Mansions of Madness might be more your speed.
Match It to Your Group
Some games work best with just two players, while others shine when you have a full table (Wrath of the Lich King, for example). The difficulty in many games scales with the number of players and often caps at four. Before grabbing a game, check how well it scales with your usual game night crew. Finding that sweet spot for player count makes a big difference!
Add a Bit of Roleplay
You don’t have to be a full-on voice actor, but adding a bit of roleplay really levels up the experience. Try talking in character, making decisions like your hero would, or even dressing up for the session if you’re feeling it. We even set the mood with ambient sounds and background music. It makes the story feel more real—and honestly, it’s just more fun that way.
Make It Your Own
Once you’ve got the basics down, don’t be afraid to tweak the game to suit your group. Add house rules, mash up expansions, or throw in bonus challenges. A lot of games are built with modular systems for this exact reason. The more personal your campaign becomes, the more unforgettable the adventure will be.
Step Into Your Next Adventure!
Fantasy RPG board games offer the magic of storytelling, the thrill of teamwork, and the joy of conquering challenges together. The best co-op fantasy board games prove that you don’t need a DM or a digital screen to live out your heroic fantasies. So gather your party, grab the dice, and check out the incredible selection at Gaming Library to start your own epic journey today.
About Gaming Library
Gaming Library aims to be the go-to resource for board games, providing not only titles that can be enjoyed by families, but also to be enjoyed by friends both newcomers and veterans alike. By pulling from different resources from all over the world, we at Gaming Library curate an impressive collection of games for consumers to choose from, suitable for anybody from casual players to hardcore hobbyists. In doing so, we hope to provide the best means to foster activities that strengthen family ties and friendships, while teaching relevant skills and practical critical thinking that can be applied to your everyday life.
