When it's time to unplug, turn off the TV, and reduce screen time, board games are the perfect way to satisfy your desire for entertainment and escapism. Fortunately, there are numerous board game adaptations of popular video games that can keep you engaged in your favorite digital worlds. Whether you're in the mood for an extended campaign or a quick party game, these board games offer a delightful 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: 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 release of Amazon's Fallout series, now is the perfect time to explore the Wasteland right at your own kitchen table. You'll start by choosing from various scenarios that determine the map setup. Much like Bethesda's beloved open-world RPGs, tabletop players will uncover the map, develop numerous skills, fight irradiated enemies, interact with different factions, and complete quests, all while battling for influence over the Wasteland. This game is highly immersive and detail-oriented, making it ideal for long-term sessions.
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 video game on this list most deserving of a board game adaptation, Slay the Spire captures the essence of its digital counterpart by having players assume the role of one of the provided heroes and embark on a Roguelike deck-building climb through the Spire. Similar to the video game, players choose from various rooms, each with unique characteristics that affect gameplay, including encounters with regular enemies, elites, events, campfires, treasures, merchants, and bosses. The nature of Roguelikes ensures hours of enjoyment as players experiment with different characters, builds, and items each time.
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 take on the role of a Hunter, fighting to vanquish the evil stirring within Yharnam. As a campaign-style board game, Bloodborne offers endless replay value, with no two sessions being alike thanks to its modular map tiles. With hundreds of cards, tokens, and game pieces, this macabre adventure tests players' skills and decision-making as they uncover the secret to the unyielding plague and strive to stop it. Immersion is key here, and the highly detailed miniatures ensure a truly immersive experience.
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 paved the way for Steamforged Games to create similar experiences covering both the original Resident Evil and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis stories. However, much like the video games, Resident Evil 2 is arguably its best entry. Faithful to the source material, the game has players work cooperatively, controlling either Leon S. Kennedy or Claire Redfield as they fight their way through hordes of zombies to escape in multiple available scenarios. Collect weapons, healing items, and keys as you navigate the environment, evade the undead, and solve puzzles. You can even use the iconic ink ribbons and typewriters to affect 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 its 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 the players controlling the ghosts try to avoid or catch Pac-Man. Played on four metal tiles that make up the game board, it requires some initial assembly and setup, but repeat games are quick and easy 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 made by Buffalo Games, Tetris is a competitive head-to-head game where players maneuver, rotate, and drop their tetriminos to achieve the highest score. Just like the video game, the next piece is displayed on a card, allowing players to plan their strategy. Points are earned by completing lines, matching pieces to symbols on their tower, and achieving specific goals. With quick setup and playtime, this game is perfect 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 envisioned as content for the original Dark Souls board game Kickstarter campaign, the Tomb of Giants core set is a standalone adventure that's great for newer players. Named after the infamous location familiar to fans of the video games, each player starts by choosing a class and gear, then navigates the catacombs, facing skeleton archers or resting at the bonfire. Actions are limited, so choose wisely. This game is very faithful to its source material, featuring punishing combat and RPG elements that shine through the level-up system. Tomb of Giants also 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
Much like its digital counterpart, Cuphead: Fast Rolling Dice Game is an extremely fast-paced cooperative game where the objective is to defeat all the bosses using dice-heavy mechanics. Setup is straightforward, as the structure of the boss deck remains constant. The game begins with each player choosing one of the four available characters: Cuphead, Mugman, Ms. Chalice, or Elder Kettle, and is played through multiple rounds consisting of five phases, where players set up their attacks and confront the boss. Rounds are timed, so choose your dice rolls carefully! Cuphead offers high replay value, allowing you to reattempt levels to beat your score and upgrade your abilities for future runs. See our Cuphead: Fast Rolling Dice Game review for more info.
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 so fun. In this quick-to-set-up and play card game, players work together to make it to Oregon without perishing. Sessions are relatively quick, as you will die hard and fast from the various Calamity cards waiting to spell your doom. Oddly challenging and very luck-based, you win by playing fifty trail cards to reach the end of the Trail. One downside is that if a player dies on the first turn (which is more common than you'd think), they have to sit out that entire session until the party either wins or all die. Nevertheless, it's a great recreation of the source material and is sure to elicit a few laughs.
