Best Fantasy Board Games

Board games can be as close to reality, or as far from it as possible, depending on the gaming experience and theme they carry. Some of the usual board games have a fairly simple gameplay and do not allow much to help your imagination flourish. However, there are other options that have unbelievable moves and turns to make your journey across thd gaming board. If you are tired of the usual mental gameplays and the games that become boring, you should probably overturn your gaming collection jn exchange for some much better options. From knights to dungeons and dragons, there’s always a new fantasy theme in the best board games that you can play on your game night in with family or a sleepover with friends. Strategic games, such as fantasy ones, are also beneficial for the brain, so there’s no waste of time or brain cells, either! If you are looking for some inspo on where to start the hunt, we’ve got you covered! We took a little tour of the market to see which games really hit the right nerves for different players. However, you need to straighten a few priorities before you add the item to your cart.

What Should You Look for in a Fantasy Board Game?

Fantasy board games are extensively varied and rich in their themes, gameplay, victory criteria, and other elements. Although their intent is often similar to those of regular board games, there are certain characteristics that set apart fantasy games from those counterparts. So if you’ve never bought a brain-enhancing strategic-fantasy game before, you need to know what makes up a good one so you can enjoy your first experience to the fullest. Here are some of our primary concerns that filter out unwanted board game options from your Amazon cart in the fantasy genre:

1. Characters

Fantasy gaming sets and boards often have broad themes within which they have plenty of characters that exhibit a range of strengths, weaknesses, and utilities. There are two apsecrs to consider here. First, the types of players you may have. Some fantasy board games have a heirarchy of characters divided into players. Multiple players share the same character or title, such as an army, a family, or any other order. Other games have singular roles, with some sharing equal status despite havin opposing powers, and other characters with single positions in the power hierarchy. Contrarily, you may find all players with equal powers playing on a level field, and occasionally, some in backup positions. Another point to note is the number of players. Fantasy games can attract both large crowds and small groups, so you need an idea of how many people will usually play the game. The least number of players begins at 3 or 4, and then goes up, usually in even numbers, right up till 10, 12, or sometimes 20.

2. Plot

This is the most exciting part of your fantasy board gaming journey. The best fantasy board games are considered that way essentially because their plots are memorable and enticing, and often have lasting effects on the players. When it comes to fantasy, the range of plots is only limited by your imagination. You can find an impressive variety in this regard. You may break this down into two parts; the storyline, and the setting. As for the first part, you can find storylines in urgent and laidback situations. Apocalypses, wars, invasions, and death escapes are some examples of an urgent, rushed gameplay. As for the latter, you may find kingdom families, adventures, quests, empire building, and similar themes where the game often builds up gradually. As for the setting, this is purely an aesthetic decision. Forests, underwater life, volcanoes, intergalactic settings, and other far flung ideas are what make this niche so beautiful and worthwhile. The settings you opt for will also impact the characters you get. Some games revolve around dragons, centaurs, and similar fantasy animals. Some have fairies, witches, and wizards. Others have plants, trolls, and similar forest-themed ideals. If you look for games based on novels and movies, you can find Game of Thrones, Star Wars, Avatar, Jurassic World, Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and almost all popular themes available!

3. Game Time

Game time is a matter of high importance in fantasy board games. You see, while regular board games typically take about 15-30 minutes, or an hour tops, to end. If some other games are designed to last longer, they do so in phases, while stretching over several hours or days. Fantasy board games, though, can take hours to set up, understand, and explanations alone. Therefore, with most fantasy games, you need to sey aside a good few hours if you want small-scale plays. Most fantasy games easily go on for several days. However, some of them may have phases, too, to keep you from gettinh bored of repetitive gameplay. Some fantasy games break down the play into different parts of the board. Each part takes a certain number of hours to reach a verdict. You can pause or stop the game there without feeling you’ve wasted your time. Similarly, there are also games that build up on entirely different setups or spin-offs. While these fantasy games can take months to reach the end of the campaign, every single sitting feels like a complete mini-game on its own. Therefore, you may take your pick based on your availability, patience, dedication, and interest. Some short-term games may get tedious pretty quick, too, while some others that go on for long may still manage to keep you hooked!

 4. Ages

Fantasy may not be much of an age concern in children’s books and activities, but during fantasy board game plays, you might come across options that aren’t appropriate for the young ones in your crowd. Contrarily, there might be games that are great for families, including your 7-year-olds. The target audience for each game depends on the characters, the storyline, activities, and the general nerve and IQ required by the game. You may come across 7+ aged games, 10+ aged games, and 12+ aged games. These games have mild themes, often including characters from kid’s storybooks, and themes that are usually aimed towards goodwill and positive character building. These games are intended to promote confidence and critical thinking in groups and as individuals. Then, you find games for 16+, 18+, and 21+ age groups. At these different levels, you may come across games involving mature language, sexual triggers, and other adult-appropriate triggers. Their storyline may also involve serious themes, including murders, suicide, alcoholism, and themes that may trigger rage, disappointment, and bitter resentments. Put another way, these options aren’t the vanilla category of fantasy board games. Still, their intention is to promote strategic thinking, but not in an easygoing manner.

5. Goals

What are you playing the game for? Fantasy games are all about creativity and uniqueness. You may find no two games are entirely similar in how they reach an end. As you will see in the list below, the sheer difference in the themes and intents of different games implies that you may not experience the same ending twice with any game, let alone different ones. Still, there are a few typical game themes in the fantasy world, and identifying them can simplify your quest according to the mood you want to set. There is one niche where the game has a hierarchy of winners and runner ups. This may derive from points, cards, moves, or any other element of the gameplay. Then, you may find games without any concept of wins or losses. No, these games aren’t mild by any means, but their gameplay is too divergent to declare a winner. You may also find games where the players eliminate one by one, in a reverse hierarchy. The player standing till the last is declared victorious. Lastly, you have games where all players are playing against imaginary villains. The players play in the form of a group, where all of them either win or lose against the moves that the game dictates.

6. Setup

What does the game look like? What moves does it involve? Does it come with all the game pieces you need, or does it require a bizarre collection of items you need to procure yourself? Does it have one big game-board with a few pawns, or does it have way too many items besides a board to really put a name to it? You see, over the last few years, there have been massive developments in the board game industry, and board games now qualifies as an umbrella term. Some board games are too bulky to even carry around like a conventional, portable board game, while others still retain the old-school idea of a small box with game-pieces and one wooden game board. Both versions have their charm. Since fantasy games are highly innovative, you can design your campaigns however the game allows. Some people include mini-games, too, such as truth or dare, a round of tag, a bonus quiz, and so forth. Basically, many of these board games may include physical exertion in between, so you should make your pick depending on which setup you find convenient.

The Best Fantasy Board Games

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When it comes to board games, we’re just all gas, no brakes! Here are our top most favorites to try out and keep going on the loop: which game you like most from our list and hop on Amazon to order your next fave!

Pros:
• Never runs out of options
• Popular gameplay for most households

Cons:
• Can become exhausting at times

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Lord of the Rings is another classic, a fantasy flight game that has touched millions around the world in video game as well as tabletop games. This cooperative board game is easily available on Amazon, and comprises a number of cliques from different fantasy world, relating to terra mystica, and other elements you may find relatable to your favorite fantasy tropes. The game playthrough is a little complicated for some, but with a range of miniatures hiding, traveling, hiking, and flying through the game’s board and cards, J.R.R. Tolkien has made this a great game for the war of the ring. The game compiles boards from the most lauded sites of the trilogy, including Moria, Helm’s Deep, Shelob’s Lair, and Mordor. Each conflict board takes its toll on your Fellowship as you navigate through corrupt elements and try to avoid the watchful eye of the Sauron on the hobbits. The game plays out in a multi-board format, with each part of the board monitoring separate aspects of the game. The game’s fate depends on whether the Fellowship survives using special abilities, or if the Ring-bearer is eliminated, essentially driving everyone else’s victory points useless, and declaring Sauron as the victor.

Pros:
• Promotes group work
• Doesn’t get boring

Cons:
• Takes quite a while to get started

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Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion is a fairly recent addition to our list of tabletop RPGs in fantasy themed board games. The game has campaign-driven cards and a modular board theme on which you carry out roleplaying through a series of action queues and action retrievals. The best part about the game is that it exhibits a series of shifting motives that keep the game optimally uncertain. With an underlying dungeon crawler theme, the players have to move about the gaming site and clear out dungeons and ruins while also collecting loot. The game cards are dual-powered; each side holds a different power that leads to different outcomes. Players have to use their tact to keep moving through the site without taking too long. If they do, they may exhaust their resources, in which cade they have no option but to retreat.

Pros:
• Best application for tactical planners
• Doesn’t let you rest till the last move

Cons:
• May frustrate the players

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Legends of Andor is an adventure, fighting fantasy puzzle designed by Michael Menzel. The game set includes dice, standees, board, cards, and any additional components you may want to innovate with. The game promotes cooperative gameplay where all the members have to defend a fantasy realm against invasions of hordes collectively. The game starts with a Legend that unfolds as you work your way through a deck of cards. There’s a wooden marker that keeps moving during the game, and at specific points it introduces nee changes on the board and the Legend. This brings about circumstantial alterations in the game that keep on building until all the players have managed to secure the fate of Andor by roaming from land to land.

Pros:
• Relaxing gameplay
• Great for bonding

Cons:
• Might give rise to player conflicts

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This good old classic is great for players who haven’t found much luck with the recent wave of fantasy board games and are looking for some unexplored treasures from the gone days. HeroQuest is one such blast from the past that keeps taking interesting turns on Dungeons and Dragons in an equally interesting format. There’s one game master that narrates the whole story to the rest of the players. These other players typically include wizard, elf, dwarf, and a barbarian. The setting is similar to D&D’s dungeons with terror crawling underneath each move. Basically, this is Milton Bradley’s approach to making D&D slightly more relatable for those who aren’t hardcore fantasy fans, and are looking for some digestible fantasy board games to spend their time. The game operates on similar campaigns, themes, strategies, and goals. There are 3D miniatures and a range of expansions that have kept the game alive and thriving for many even after all these years. The game expansions include changes in the plot, ranging from tombs to inns, as well as character variants. You can also find linguistic variations of the game in several different languages. This makes HeroQuest an excellent adventure board game for parties or taking to places where you might want to bond with foreigners. The game has two main versions which differ in contents and themes; a UK version, and a US version.

Pros:
• Interactive gameplay
• Customizable ideas

Cons:
• Might become too scattered

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The Lords of Waterdeep is a grandiose strategy board game where each player gets to be a lord. All the players may execute whatever powers and actions they possess as per the rulebook to conquer Waterdeep, the City of Splendors. A jewel of the Forgotten Realms, the city is a hub of suspenseful back-alley dealings and shady decisions that may lead you to losing or gaining control of the city. Each lord recruits adventurers who they send on different campaigns and tours around the gameboard. These adventurers set up new landmarks at various places to claim ownership of the land and avail benefits of area control. The game also includes extensive deck-building and deconstruction to help you and your enemies thwart each other off course. The gameplay continues through a series of mini-quests and attacks, with players scoring victory points when other players occupy their buildings while passing. At the end of the 8-round play, the player with the most points and successful execution will be declared winner.

Pros:
• Everyone has equal powers
• Gradually builds up to the climax

Cons:
• The storyline does not have much uniqueness

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Pros:
• Equal participation from everyone
• Employs various thinking techniques

Cons:
• Not suited for parties

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Pros:
• Exciting, unique theme
• Builds strategic skills

Cons:
• Evaluation criteria are a little blurry

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Descent is another incredible fantasy adventure hit on Amazon. It’s a brilliant fusion between a war game and a roleplaying game where you can explore your best strategic and creative knacks. The base game builds up on modular board game pieces and dice pools that assist you throughout immensely varied player combinations, skillsets, campaign modes, and gameplay objectives. The game plays out as players create a unique pool of dice moves, character traits, actions, decisions, and recoils. One player becomes a treacherous overlord, while there can be up to four heroes who battle the overlord individually. Each player takes turns to move through the board, fight hidden evils, conquer hidden territories, and battle the monsters hidden in the shadows. The player with thr most victorious moves gets declared winner.

Pros:
• Simple and interactive gameplay
• Fast setup and progress

Cons:
• Can become quite tiresome by the end

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The Battle of Westeros takes place in the Houses of Westeros, where an incredible fantasy adventure unfurls between two players. Both the players create a military strategy to overcome the other’s moves without giving away too much of a strategy or resources from their own side. The players can use the rule book included in the set available on Amazon, or they may come up with their own campaigns to knock each other out in a fierce battle of wills. The players get to fight over either of the two houses included in the series and the Song of Fire and Ice: the House Stark, which is abundant in virtue, or the House Lannister, with its mountains of riches and luxuries. The battle spans over a series of gameplays, during which the players gradually adapt to the changing battlefield situations and the availability of resources. Each player has a special, randomized leadership deck, where they can map out their strategies prior to action and implementation. The game’s layout is fabulous overall. You can create a model battlefield outside of the ground zero to see your weak points and reevaluate your ideas.

Pros:
• Peaceful, calm strategy play
• Gives you excellent customization

Cons:
• Accommodates only two players

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A Game of Thrones is a has had unbelievably high replay value in the showbiz and in the game board industries. The strategy game is available on all major shopping sites, including Amazon and merchandise stores. The game also has unbeatable records in lists of war games, which is why we saved this special surprise for the last. GoT involves bluffing, political conundrums, and fantasy negotiations in a novel-based plot. The players take on various roles from the House of Westeros and play against each other as they progress towards the Iron Throne to determine a sole conqueror from the clan. Each player received an army, artillery, tokens, cards, and other suitable components and figures to give them advantages as they see fit. The players move ahead by balancing through diplomacy and warfare to acquire an end to their means.

Pros:
• Can implement secret hacks and historical benefits from prior views or reads
• Doesn’t get boring

Cons:
• Requires a lot of setup and mental working

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Final Thoughts
From the Lord of Rings Middle-Earth to Small World campaigns to the various ventures from Kickstarter, the fantasy world is teeming with excellent gaming ideas. All you have to do is conduct a little personal research to understand which game you like most from our list and hop on Amazon to order your next fave!