- 14 years and older
- For 3 to 6 Players
- 3 hours of gameplay
- 14 years and older
- For 1 to 8 Players
- 2-4 hours of gameplay
- 8 years and older
- For 1 to 8 Players
- Family classic
- 14 years and older
- For 1 to 5 Players
- 1-2 hours of gameplay
- Advance
- For 2 to 6 Players
- For family and friends
Choose the Best Fantasy Board Game
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Table of Contents
A Game of Thrones: Board Game Second Edition– the best for new players!
Three to six players carry on the positions of the main homes of the seven kingdoms of Westeros in the second version of A Game of Thrones: The Board Game as they seek possession of the Iron Throne by negotiation and battle. It is an exciting board game, where you need to conquer the positions with your mind.| Pros | Cons |
| Simple enough for beginners | Not suitable for family gaming nights |
| Favorite heroes and familiar plotlines | Balancing issues are possible |
| Includes all packs and expansions since it is a second edition | Elimination of players is as harsh as it is in the show |
| Tactical RPG game with a great level of replay | – |
| An interesting action selection system | – |
| Political conflicts seem very real | – |
Eldritch Horror– the best for a large group!
Arkham Horror, another popular title, influences this board game. Ancient Evil is stirring across the world of Eldritch. Now, you have to fly across the globe alongside your loyal team of friends fighting against all odds to stop the coming terror. You will be driven to the limits and beyond by foul beasts, violent battles and mysterious mysteries.How to play: Each Ancient Evil god has its unique mystery and research card decks, which draw you deeper into the love of every disgusting creature. Discover on the high seas the real name of Azathoth or Cthulhu war. Along with the positions of the world’s other exits, threatening monsters and valuable hints, these mystery card activities remind both your preparations on your journeys and your hazards.
| Pros | Cons |
| Fast-paced | Not suitable for kids |
| Interesting plot | The campaign mode is a bit boring |
| Equally good for solo play and co-op experience up to 8 playersn | – |
| The game includes all previous expansions | – |
Wizards of the Coast Dungeon– the best for family gaming nights!
Wizards of the Coast Dungeon is in many ways a lot like Dungeons & Dragons, but it was simplified and turned into a board game. All the participants explore a dungeon divided into increasingly difficult levels, fighting monsters for a precious treasure. The more players wander into the dungeon, the more difficult the monsters become, the more valuable the treasure.How to play: Combat is initiated with dice; players roll the monster’s dices and when they fail to do so, the dice is rolled to determine the counter-attack effect of the monster. The first player needs to return a certain amount of treasure to the entrance to the dungeon of the winner.
| Pros | Cons |
| A decent remake of a classic family-friendly board game | The cards are a bit messy to figure out and sort |
| Good for the kids aged over 8 years | A bit simplified, compared to other fantasy board games |
| Short sessions are good for newbies | – |
| Good replayability | – |
Descent Journeys in the Dark Second Edition– the best for asymmetrical gameplay!
Descent: Journeys in the Dark presents new heroes, monsters, classes, quests, etc. Heroes can find and examine secret rooms and rumors while the overlord infections are propagated and a strong new lieutenant into the game: the Bol’Goreth massive troll!How to play: This is a board game in which one player plays the role of the dramatic overlord, while up to 4 other players are the brave heroes.
| Pros | Cons |
| A unique mechanic of asymmetrical gameplay – 1 vs 4 | The models lack details |
| A lot of expansions | The rules can be tricky for newcomers |
| The basic campaign is quite interesting | Disbalanced dice-based system |
| It is well-supported by the manufacturer and community | – |
| The combat system is simple and funny | – |
Talisman: The Magical Quest Game 4th edition– the best for replayability!
The new 4th edition of Talisman contains plastic figures for each champion and even new figures for all toads! The strength and force changes with the new stackable markers are even easier to track and the add-on Fate Tokens gives the players some control over the randomness of the dice.| Pros | Cons |
| Good replayability | Has many economic mechanics |
| A nice pick for geek parties | Not good for a solo play |
| Classic fantasy settings | – |
| Top-notch plastic figure | – |
The Buyer’s Guide
Age appropriateness
Surely, such a factor mostly concerns kids who play board games. This is a fairly subjective factor since all children are different, someone at the age of 5 is already reading books, and someone is just starting to learn letters – it depends on a specific child. Always check the age recommendations before buying a fantasy board game that you are going to play with kids younger than 14 years.
Number of players
The number of participants may differ from solo to 10-12 players per gaming session. A game designed for 2-6 players can be boring if two are playing, or too long with six players. And the rules can always be changed a little to make the game fit the required number of players.
Playing time
A board game should correspond to the time you are willing to spend playing. The playing time of the game depends on the number of players, and on whether everyone is familiar with the rules of the game, as well as only the layout of some games can take about 10 minutes. And then it becomes more interesting what genre the game belongs to, in other words, what skills are required to complete the game. The average session time of fantasy board games for teens and adults may last from 30 minutes to 2 hours.
Category of the game
A game of any genre can be either for solo play, or cooperative (when everyone is against the game or everyone is against one of the players), or for team plays (where a few participants are divided into 2-3 teams to compete).
It is no secret that the board games with the same mechanics are offered in different “wraps”. The classic title can be about pirates, cute animals, vampires or space – it doesn’t change the mechanics. The main thing here is to choose an interesting game theme for you and your child and not duplicate it with a similar game with a different theme.
Quality
Quality applies to every piece of board games – components, miniatures, cards, tokens, tiles, and a board. Before you buy a board game, especially if it is not cheap, try to hold it in your hands. Or, at least, check the video review. Naturally, people want to play a colorful and bright game made of top-notch materials.
How much space do you have?
The place and size of the surface that the game takes in the process are what you need to know in advance since a card game from a tiny box may take up the entire floor in a room.
It is important to figure out where you are going to play the board game – outside or at home, on the lawn or table. Also, keep in mind that board games should be played on a flat surface, especially Jenga or games with maps.
Gaming experience and balance
The board game balance is the balance between characters, teams, game tactics, and other objects. One of the tasks of game balance is that all players need to be interested as long as possible so that players have equal chances of winning throughout the game. Check the user reviews of fantasy board games to find out about the balance and experience.
Final thoughts
Now you have at least 5 fantasy board games to play solo or with friends/family. Check the rules and reviews of board game experts before making the final decision. If you are a newbie, you may want to start with the popular title with simple rules.
Video Tutorial: A Game of Thrones board game Strategy Guide
