The Best Board Games Based on Video Games That Are Actually Worth Playing

When the screen's glare becomes too much, and you're craving a different kind of adventure, board games offer a fantastic escape. Luckily, there are countless board game adaptations of popular video games, and we've gathered some of the best. Whether you're in the mood for an epic campaign or a quick party game, these board games will transport you to your favorite virtual worlds, offering a refreshing break from technology.

TL;DR – 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

Players: 1-4 Age Range: 14+ Play Time: 2-3 hours
With Amazon's Fallout series fresh in our minds, explore the Wasteland from your kitchen table! Choose from various scenarios dictating map setup. Like Bethesda's RPGs, you'll uncover the map, develop skills, battle irradiated enemies, interact with factions, and complete quests, vying for Wasteland dominance. Highly immersive and detailed, perfect for lengthy sessions.

Slay the Spire: The Board Game

Players: 1-4 Age Range: 12+ Play Time: 45 minutes
A truly deserving board game adaptation, Slay the Spire faithfully recreates its digital counterpart. Players choose a hero and embark on a Roguelike deck-building climb through the Spire. Navigate rooms with unique characteristics: encounters, elites, events, campfires, treasure, a merchant, and the final boss. The Roguelike nature ensures countless hours of replayability as you experiment with different characters, builds, and items.

Read our Slay the Spire: The Board Game review for more details.

Bloodborne: The Board Game

Players: 2-4 Age Range: 14+ Play Time: 60-90 minutes
Become a Hunter and vanquish the evil plaguing Yharnam. Bloodborne's modular map tiles ensure high replayability. Hundreds of cards, tokens, and miniatures create an immersive, macabre adventure testing your skill and decision-making as you unravel the plague's secrets.

Resident Evil 2: The Board Game

Players: 1-4 Age Range: 12+ Play Time: 90-120 minutes
A successful adaptation, Resident Evil 2 remains arguably the best in Steamforged Games' series. Cooperatively play as Leon or Claire, battling zombies and escaping in multiple scenarios. Collect weapons, items, and keys, evade the undead, and solve puzzles. Even the ink ribbons and typewriters make an appearance!

Pac-Man: The Board Game

Players: 2-5 Age Range: 10+ Play Time: 30 minutes
Buffalo Games brings the arcade classic to the table! Play cooperatively or competitively. Pac-Man navigates the maze, gobbling pellets and fruit, while ghost players try to catch him. The electronic Pac-Man figure even makes the iconic "waka waka" sound!

Tetris Board Game

Players: 2-4 Age Range: 8+ Play Time: 20-30 minutes
Another Buffalo Games creation, Tetris is a head-to-head game where players maneuver and drop Tetriminos for the highest score. The next piece is displayed, allowing strategic planning. Earn points by completing lines, matching pieces, and achieving specific goals. Quick setup and play make it perfect for parties and younger players.

Dark Souls: The Board Game - Tomb of Giants

Players: 1-3 Age Range: 14+ Play Time: 90-120 minutes
A standalone adventure perfect for newcomers. Choose a class and gear, navigate the catacombs, battle enemies, and rest at bonfires. Limited actions require careful choices. Faithful to the source material, with punishing combat and RPG elements. Features new characters and cards compatible with other Dark Souls board games.

Cuphead: Fast-Rolling Dice Game

Players: 1-4 Age Range: 8+ Play Time: 30-45 minutes
A fast-paced cooperative game where players defeat bosses using dice-rolling mechanics. Setup is simple, and the boss deck remains consistent. Choose from Cuphead, Mugman, Ms. Chalice, or Elder Kettle. Timed rounds encourage strategic dice selection. High replayability allows score improvement and ability upgrades.

See our Cuphead: Fast Rolling Dice Game review for more info.

The Oregon Trail Card Game

Players: 2-6 Age Range: 12+ Play Time: 30-45 minutes
A fun, fast-paced card game where players cooperate to reach Oregon without dying. Quick sessions and high risk of death from Calamity cards. Win by playing fifty trail cards. A humorous take on the source material, though losing early can be frustrating.