Top Video Game-Themed Board Games Worth Playing

When it's time to unplug, turn off the TV, and cut down on screen time, board games are the perfect way to satisfy your need for escapism and keep the gaming spirit alive. Fortunately, there are numerous board game adaptations of popular video games, and we've gathered some of our top picks here. Whether you're in the mood for a long-term campaign or a quick-to-set-up party game, these board games allow you to immerse yourself in these beloved worlds even when you're taking 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: The Board Game

Price: $69.99 save 36% - $44.49 at Amazon
Players: 1-4
Age Range: 14+
Play Time: 2-3 hours

With the recent release of Amazon's Fallout series, now is the perfect time to explore the Wasteland from the comfort of your own kitchen table. Begin by choosing from various scenarios that will set up the map. Much like the beloved open-world RPGs by Bethesda, players will uncover the map, develop numerous skills, battle irradiated enemies, interact with different factions, and complete quests, all while vying for influence over the Wasteland. This game is highly immersive and detail-oriented, making it ideal for long-term gaming sessions.

Slay the Spire: The Board Game

Price: 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 its digital essence by having players assume the role of one of the provided heroes and embark on a Roguelike deck-building ascent through the Spire. Similar to the video game, players will choose from various rooms, each with unique characteristics that affect gameplay—encounters with regular enemies, battles against elites, events, campfires, treasure, visits to the merchant, and confrontations with the boss. The nature of Roguelikes ensures that Slay the Spire offers hours of enjoyment as players experiment with different characters, builds, and items each time.

For a deeper dive into this game, you can read our Slay the Spire: The Board Game review.

Bloodborne: The Board Game

Price: 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 lurking within Yharnam. As a campaign board game, Bloodborne offers endless replay value, as no two sessions should be too similar thanks to its modular map tiles. With hundreds of cards, tokens, and game pieces, this macabre adventure will challenge players' skills and decision-making as they uncover the secret to the relentless plague and strive to stop it. Immersion is key, and the game's highly detailed miniatures ensure that players truly feel in their characters' shoes.

Resident Evil 2: The Board Game

Price: 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 for both the original Resident Evil and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis. 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, taking control of either Leon S. Kennedy or Claire Redfield as they fight through hordes of zombies to escape in multiple 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 influence your sessions!

Pac-Man: The Board Game

Price: 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, gobble up pellets, and collect fruit while the players controlling the ghosts try their best to avoid or catch Pac-Man. Played on four metal tiles that form the game board, it requires some initial assembly and setup, but subsequent games are quick and easy to start. The electronic Pac-Man figure even emits its iconic "waka waka" sound!

Tetris Board Game

Price: See it at Amazon
Players: 2-4
Age Range: 8+
Play Time: 20-30 minutes

Also crafted 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, represented by a card, allowing players to plan their strategy. Points are earned by completing lines, matching pieces to symbols on their tower, and achieving specific milestones. Its quick setup and playtime make it a great choice for parties and younger players.

Dark Souls: The Board Game - Tomb of Giants

Price: See it at Amazon
Players: 1-3
Age Range: 14+
Play Time: 90-120 minutes

Originally planned 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 and draws its name from the infamous location familiar to fans of the video games. Each player begins 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 remains faithful to its source material, with its punishing combat and RPG elements highlighted by 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

Price: $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 to deal damage. Setup is straightforward, as the structure of the boss deck remains constant. The game starts with each player selecting one of the four available characters: Cuphead, Mugman, Ms. Chalice, or Elder Kettle, and is then played through multiple rounds consisting of five phases, where players set up their attacks and battle the boss. Rounds are timed, so choose your dice rolls carefully! Cuphead boasts high replay value, allowing players to improve their score and upgrade abilities that carry over to future runs. For more information, see our Cuphead: Fast Rolling Dice Game review.

The Oregon Trail Card Game

Price: See it at Amazon
Players: 2-6
Age Range: 12+
Play Time: 30-45 minutes

Dying of dysentery has never been so entertaining. In this quick-to-set-up and play card game, players work together to reach Oregon without succumbing to various Calamity cards that spell their doom. The game is oddly challenging and heavily reliant on luck; you win by reaching the end of the Trail after playing fifty trail cards. A downside is that if a player dies on the first turn (which happens more often than you might think), they must sit out the entire session until the party either wins or all die. Nonetheless, it's a great recreation of the source material and is sure to elicit a few laughs.