The best board, card & dice games with role playing elements 2026

Are you looking for a really good role-playing board game or board game with role-playing elements? Especially lately, many interesting and good ideas have been implemented to integrate role-playing elements into "normal" board games.

We have listed the best role-playing games for you.

What is a role-playing game?

A role-playing game (abbreviated as RPG – "Role Playing Game") is a game in which players take on the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through specific action or through a process of structured decision-making regarding character development.

Some board games incorporate elements of role-playing. One variation is that players control a character that improves over time. The second way to incorporate role-playing elements is to stimulate or inspire storytelling.

List of the best role-playing board games 2026

But now to our overview with the best role-playing board games 2026

This list was last updated on June 25, 2026. There's also a print version for this list .
  1. Monikers

    Monikers

    Monikers is a lively and entertaining party game inspired by the classic public domain game Celebrities. It is designed for players who enjoy guessing games and offers a fun challenge through a series of rounds where the methods of clue-giving evolve and become more restrictive.

    All details & rating
    4–16 30–60 min 17+ Immediately playable
    Video reviews 1
  2. Monikers: Serious Nonsense

    Monikers: Serious Nonsense

    Monikers: Serious Nonsense is a standalone expansion featuring 330 cards created by Shut Up & Sit Down. This new set also includes several requests for the return of Monikers, offering twelve delightfully ridiculous fourth rounds, minus the two least interesting ones.

    All details & rating
    4–20 60 min 18+ Immediately playable
  3. One Night Ultimate Werewolf: Daybreak

    One Night Ultimate Werewolf: Daybreak

    One Night Ultimate Werewolf: Daybreak is a standalone expansion to the popular social deduction game One Night Ultimate Werewolf. Designed for 3-7 players, Daybreak offers a quick, engaging experience where everyone gets a hidden role with a special ability. In the span of just one in-game morning, players must deduce who among them is a werewolf, with the game's outcome hinging on uncovering at least one werewolf.

    All details & rating
    3–10 10 min 8+ Immediately playable
  4. Cthulhu: Death May Die

    Cthulhu: Death May Die

    Cthulhu: Death May Die is an intense, cooperative board game set in the 1920s, drawing inspiration from H.P. Lovecraft's universe. Players take on the roles of daring investigators, embarking on a perilous mission to confront and eliminate Elder Gods.

    All details & rating
    1–5 90–120 min 14+ Medium complexity
  5. One Night Ultimate Werewolf

    One Night Ultimate Werewolf

    One Night Ultimate Werewolf is a dynamic and fast-paced game for 3-10 players that brings the excitement and deduction of werewolf stories to your tabletop. This game is all about quick thinking, bluffing, and trying to outsmart your friends.

    All details & rating
    3–10 10 min 8+ Immediately playable
  6. Legacy of Dragonholt

    Legacy of Dragonholt

    Legacy of Dragonholt is an innovative narrative adventure game that transports players to the enchanting Realms of Terrinoth, offering a unique blend of role-playing, adventure, and storytelling without the need for a game master. Designed for one to six players, this game stands out by utilizing the Oracle system to create a rich, interactive story where every decision impacts the unfolding narrative.

    All details & rating
    1–6 60–999 min 14+ Immediately playable
  7. Destinies

    Destinies

    Destinies is a unique blend of board gaming and digital app integration, offering a rich, competitive, story-driven experience set in a dark medieval-fantasy universe. It is the first game in a series utilizing the innovative Destinies system.

    All details & rating
    1–3 90–150 min 14+ Easy to learn
  8. When I Dream

    When I Dream

    When I Dream is a whimsical and imaginative board game that delves into the world of dreams, blending elements of storytelling, deduction, and teamwork in a playful setting.

    All details & rating
    4–10 20–40 min 8+ Immediately playable
    Video reviews 1
  9. Shadow over Westongrove Manor

    Shadow over Westongrove Manor

    The wealthy patriarch Anthony Westongrove celebrated his 70th birthday with family at his estate. However, the festivities took a dark turn when he fell seriously ill and was hospitalized, later revealed to be due to poisoning. The family gathers again, eager to uncover the events of the previous night and determine who attempted to harm Anthony.

    All details & rating
    6–8 120–240 min 18+ Immediately playable
  10. A Recipe for Death

    A Recipe for Death

    It was New Year's Eve at the luxurious restaurant "The Osgood," perched on a mountain ridge overlooking an upscale ski resort in the Rocky Mountains. Chef George Osgood had closed his renowned establishment to celebrate with family and staff, announcing he would reveal his successor that evening. However, just as the midnight celebration began, George was found dead on the terrace, suggesting foul play amid the festive atmosphere. As heavy snowfall delays the authorities, players must solve the mystery of what happened that night.

    All details & rating
    5–7 120–240 min 18+ Immediately playable
  11. Sheriff of Nottingham

    Sheriff of Nottingham

    Sheriff of Nottingham is an engaging board game of bluffing, bribery, and negotiation set in the medieval town of Nottingham.

    All details & rating
    3–5 60 min 14+ Easy to learn
    Video reviews 1
  12. Spyfall 2

    Spyfall 2

    Spyfall 2 elevates the intriguing and humorous party game Spyfall to new heights. This game is all about deception, quick thinking, and trying to pinpoint the spy among your friends. Each round, players find themselves at a secret location, except for the spy (or spies, in this version), who has no idea where they are. Through clever questioning, players must figure out who the spy is while the spy tries to blend in and guess the location to win points.

    All details & rating
    3–12 15 min 13+ Immediately playable
    Video reviews 1
  13. Captain Sonar

    Captain Sonar

    Embark on an adrenaline-pumping undersea adventure with Captain Sonar, a board game that plunges you into the heart of intense submarine warfare. In this gripping scenario, every move and decision can be the difference between victory and defeat. Form a skilled crew aboard a cutting-edge submarine as you strive to locate and eliminate an enemy sub before they do the same to you. The underwater battlefield is unforgiving, and effective communication and coordination are paramount for success.

    All details & rating
    2–8 45–60 min 14+ Easy to learn
    Video reviews 1
  14. Tough Calls: Dystopia
    3–5 45–60 min 12+ Immediately playable
  15. Mansions of Madness: Second Edition

    Mansions of Madness: Second Edition

    Mansions of Madness: Second Edition is a cooperative, app-enhanced board game that combines elements of horror and mystery. It's set in the same universe as Eldritch Horror and Elder Sign, offering an immersive narrative experience.

    All details & rating
    1–5 120–180 min 14+ Medium complexity
  16. The Werewolves of Miller's Hollow

    The Werewolves of Miller's Hollow

    The Werewolves of Miller's Hollow is a captivating social deduction game that takes place in the mysterious village of Miller's Hollow, known for its werewolf curse. Players are secretly assigned roles and must use strategy, bluffing, and teamwork to uncover the werewolves or deceive others.

    All details & rating
    8–18 30 min 10+ Immediately playable
  17. Freeze

    Freeze

    Four players enter the stage together and improvise a scene based on a unique situation known only to them. Each player knows their own rank, from 1 to 4, but not the ranks of others. Players must act in a way that makes their rank clear to the audience, and no acting experience is required to enjoy the game.

    All details & rating
    4–10 30 min 12+ Immediately playable
  18. Funemployed

    Funemployed

    Funemployed is a card-based party game where players compete to land jobs. They apply for real positions like astronaut, lawyer, or priest while claiming absurd qualifications, such as being able to talk to pandas. Players must creatively present their qualifications in a role-playing manner, aiming to convince others that they are the best fit for the job.

    All details & rating
    3–20 30 min 13+ Immediately playable
  19. HeroQuest: First Light

    HeroQuest: First Light

    An introductory version of the HeroQuest system, this game offers new quests and compatibility with all expansions. Players embark on a journey as four heroes through dungeon quests, uncovering treasures, exploring impressive environments, and battling evil forces controlled by Zargon, the game master, on a dynamic double-sided game board. With stunning graphics and over 100 components, including a detailed dragon miniature and the ability to create custom quests, this game promises endless replay value and is perfect for fans of cooperative fantasy games.

    All details & rating
    2–5 14+ Easy to learn
  20. The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth

    The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth

    The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth invites players to immerse themselves in the rich and legendary world created by J.R.R. Tolkien. This fully cooperative, app-supported board game is designed for one to five players, offering a unique blend of adventure, strategy, and storytelling set in the iconic landscapes of Middle-Earth.

    All details & rating
    1–5 60–120 min 14+ Medium complexity
    + 53 € above the best price
    75 € at Amazon*
  21. Traitors Aboard
    3–8 10–30 min 10+ Immediately playable
  22. Roll Player

    Roll Player

    Embark on a quest to forge the mightiest hero in the realm in Roll Player. Unlike ordinary heroes who materialize out of thin air, true champions are meticulously crafted. Race, class, alignment, skills, traits, and equipment – every facet contributes to the creation of the ultimate adventurer, poised to confront adversaries and seek glory and riches.

    All details & rating
    1–4 60–90 min 10+ Easy to learn
    + 17 € above the best price
    35 € at Amazon*
    Video reviews 1
  23. Murder Mystery Party: A Taste for Wine and Murder

    Murder Mystery Party: A Taste for Wine and Murder

    Take a tour through the peaceful vineyards and picturesque wineries of California's wine country. During the annual wine tasting festival, the body of local vineyard owner Barry Underwood is discovered hidden in his wine cellar, after being missing for six years. With the finding of his body, new clues emerge to unravel this vintage murder, and you might just be a suspect.

    All details & rating
    6–8 180 min 16+ Immediately playable
  24. Here to Slay

    Here to Slay

    Here to Slay is a competitive role-playing fantasy strategy card game from the creators of Unstable Unicorns. In this engaging and interactive game, players aim to build a party of heroes to slay monsters, while navigating the challenges and sabotage from their opponents. It combines elements of strategy, luck, and player interaction, making it an exciting game for those who enjoy a mix of combat and cunning.

    All details & rating
    2–6 30–60 min 10+ Easy to learn
    + 3 € above the best price
    19 € at Amazon*
  25. Freelancers: A Crossroads Game
    3–7 90–180 min 14+ Easy to learn
  26. Descent: Legends of the Dark

    Descent: Legends of the Dark

    In Descent: Legends of the Dark, players dive deep into the troubled realm of Terrinoth, facing off against demonic barbarians, undead servants, and other dark forces threatening the land. This co-operative dungeon-crawling board game, enriched by an integrated free companion app, invites players to embark on the "Blood and Flame" campaign, spanning sixteen quests that weave a rich narrative full of danger and discovery. With its innovative use of 3D terrain and a host of hero and monster miniatures, the game promises an immersive adventure as players build their legends through strategic combat, exploration, and skillful management of their characters' abilities.

    All details & rating
    1–4 120–180 min 14+ Medium complexity
    + 28 € above the best price
    125 € at Amazon*

Frequently asked questions

Which game ranks first on this list?

Monikers currently tops our list. The ranking is derived from player community ratings and is recalculated continuously.

How many players do the games on this list support?

Most games on this list support 3 to 7 players. The exact player count is listed with each game.

What age are these games suitable for?

Publisher age recommendations on this list start at 8 years. Each game carries its own age rating.

How long does a game take?

A typical game takes about 60 minutes. Each game's playing time is listed individually.

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