The Best Board Games with Campaigns 🗺️ 2026

Looking for the best board games with a campaign 🗺️? Then we have just the thing for you: the list of the best in 2026.

Campaign games: a journey through stories and adventures

Campaign games are a fascinating category of board games, set apart by their narrative elements and ongoing storylines. Players dive into expansive stories and adventures that unfold across multiple sessions. The choices made during the campaign actively shape how the plot progresses, and each playthrough brings its own unique challenges.

Campaign games in board games – a one-of-a-kind experience

Campaign games deliver a one-of-a-kind experience by building a connected game world that lasts for the length of the campaign. From epic fantasy adventures to intergalactic expeditions, these games let players step into the role of their characters and embark on a rich, immersive journey. The mix of strategic planning, tactical decisions, and character development makes campaign games an unforgettable highlight for board game enthusiasts.

List of the best in 2026🗺️

This list was last updated on May 24, 2026. We compared 295 board games for this list and selected the top 30. There's also a print version for this list .
  1. MicroMacro: Crime City

    MicroMacro: Crime City is a unique detective game that immerses players into a detailed and expansive cityscape to solve intriguing crimes. The game centers around a large, detailed map of a city where various crimes have occurred. Players become detectives tasked with unraveling these mysteries using the clues scattered across the city.

    Nominated for 22 awards and won 11.

    ⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 2021

    More details for MicroMacro: Crime City
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 15 - 45 Minutes
    • 🧒 12+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  2. MicroMacro: Crime City – Full House

    MicroMacro: Crime City – Full House is a captivating detective game that expands upon the original MicroMacro: Crime City. Players become sleuths, examining a giant city map (75 x 110 cm) filled with intricate details to solve various crimes. This edition includes 16 new cases, each offering a unique story and set of challenges that require players to scrutinize the map to uncover hidden information and trace suspects' movements.

    Nominated for 5 awards.

    More details for MicroMacro: Crime City – Full House
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 15 - 45 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  3. MicroMacro: Crime City – All In

    MicroMacro: Crime City – All In is the latest installment in the MicroMacro: Crime City series, offering players a new district of the black-and-white, crime-ridden metropolis known as Crime City to explore. This edition comes with a fresh, large city map that connects seamlessly with the maps from previous games, presenting 16 new and more complex crime cases for players to solve.

    More details for MicroMacro: Crime City – All In
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 15 - 45 Minutes
    • 🧒 12+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  4. Pandemic Legacy: Season 1

    Pandemic Legacy: Season 1 offers an extraordinary gaming experience as a cooperative campaign game, immersing players in an overarching story-arc that unfolds over 12-24 gripping sessions. The duration depends on your group's performance and the fate of the world. Here's an overview of this thrilling journey:

    Nominated for 21 awards and won 12.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2016

    More details for Pandemic Legacy: Season 1
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 60 Minutes
    • 🧒 13+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Pandemic Legacy: Season 1

    • YouTube Review for the game "Pandemic Legacy: Season 1" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video
    • YouTube Review for the game "Pandemic Legacy: Season 1" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video
    • YouTube Review for the game "Pandemic Legacy: Season 1" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video
    • YouTube Review for the game "Pandemic Legacy: Season 1" by BoardGameGeek
      Video
  5. Ticket to Ride Legacy: Legends of the West

    Players embark on twelve journeys through North America as 19th-century pioneers. Starting on the East Coast, they face challenges while aiming to complete ticket objectives and develop new skills to overcome unexpected events and rivals. As the campaign progresses, players unlock new rules and content, creating a uniquely tailored experience that evolves with their choices, resulting in a game that can be enjoyed for a lifetime.

    Nominated for 6 awards.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2024

    More details for Ticket to Ride Legacy: Legends of the West
    • 👥 2 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 20 - 90 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty
  6. MicroMacro: Crime City – Showdown

    Showdown is the fourth and final installment of the MicroMacro: Crime City series, featuring a new city map and brand-new criminal cases. The 16 cases included can be played independently of the previous games. Players work together to solve tricky cases, investigate motives, find evidence, and catch the culprits, relying on sharp observation and creative deduction skills.

    More details for MicroMacro: Crime City – Showdown
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 15 - 45 Minutes
    • 🧒 12+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  7. Dorfromantik: The Board Game

    Dorfromantik: The Board Game transitions the charming and strategic essence of the beloved video game into a tactile family board game experience. Designed by Michael Palm and Lukas Zach, this game invites up to six players to collaboratively construct a picturesque landscape using hexagonal tiles. Players aim to satisfy community demands while strategically extending rivers and tracks, and optimizing points through clever area enclosure with flags.

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 2.

    ⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 2023

    More details for Dorfromantik: The Board Game
    • 👥 1 - 6 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  8. Clank! Legacy: Acquisitions Incorporated

    Clank! Legacy: Acquisitions Incorporated is an innovative extension of the deck-building game Clank!, incorporating legacy-style elements. Players get the opportunity to establish and grow their own franchise of Acquisitions Incorporated, leading a team of intrepid adventurers on a quest for treasure and corporate fame. The game evolves uniquely across multiple play sessions, creating a personalized adventure campaign.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Clank! Legacy: Acquisitions Incorporated
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 90 - 120 Minutes
    • 🧒 13+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty
  9. Lands of Galzyr

    Lands of Galzyr is an adventure game set in an open and persistent world where players' actions have consequences in both current and future sessions. Players take on the roles of cunning adventurers, navigating the lands, completing quests, and striving for fame and prestige. Each game continues from where the last left off, thanks to a clever save and load mechanism, allowing for seamless play even with different players in between sessions.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Lands of Galzyr
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 60 - 150 Minutes
    • 🧒 14+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  10. My City

    My City is a groundbreaking competitive legacy game where players develop their own city across multiple epochs. This game uniquely blends city-building with the evolving challenges and narratives of a legacy format.

    Nominated for 12 awards and won 4.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2020

    More details for My City
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn

    Video reviews for My City

    • YouTube Review for the game "My City" by BoardGameGeek
      Video
  11. 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.

    More details for Legacy of Dragonholt
    • 👥 1 - 6 Players
    • ⏱️ 60 - 999 Minutes
    • 🧒 14+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  12. Forgotten Waters

    Forgotten Waters is a captivating board game that plunges players into the whimsical and unpredictable world of pirate adventure. Blending storytelling and strategy, this game stands out for its immersive narrative and engaging gameplay.

    Nominated for 8 awards and won 2.

    More details for Forgotten Waters
    • 👥 3 - 7 Players
    • ⏱️ 120 - 240 Minutes
    • 🧒 14+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  13. Chronicles of Crime

    Embark on a thrilling cooperative adventure with Chronicles of Crime, a unique blend of crime investigation, board game excitement, and a touch of Virtual Reality. Picture yourself at the heart of criminal investigations, where the seamless integration of an app with physical components creates an immersive experience.

    Nominated for 17 awards and won 5.

    More details for Chronicles of Crime
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 60 - 90 Minutes
    • 🧒 12+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Chronicles of Crime

    • YouTube Review for the game "Chronicles of Crime" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video
  14. Dorfromantik: Sakura

    Players are transported to the idyllic landscapes of Japan in this standalone successor to the award-winning board game. With the introduction of cherry blossoms as a new element and over 40 achievements to unlock, there's plenty of exciting challenges to face. Numerous surprises await as players explore the world of Dorfromantik - Sakura.

    More details for Dorfromantik: Sakura
    • 👥 1 - 6 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 - 90 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  15. Chronicles of Crime: 1900

    You play as Victor Lavel, an ambitious journalist in 1900 Paris, during the vibrant Belle Époque. While others report on events like the Exposition Universelle and the Olympics, Lavel is drawn to solving crimes, including murders and kidnappings. The standalone game challenges players to gather evidence, interrogate suspects, and solve puzzles reminiscent of escape rooms.

    More details for Chronicles of Crime: 1900
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 60 - 90 Minutes
    • 🧒 12+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  16. The Adventures of Robin Hood

    The Adventures of Robin Hood offers a refreshing and innovative approach to board gaming, immersing players in the legendary tales of Robin Hood and his merry band in 1193 England. This game distinguishes itself with a dynamic game board that evolves and changes, reflecting the players' actions and choices throughout their quest against the tyranny of Prince John and his minions. With a unique movement mechanism and a story-driven gameplay that forgoes traditional cards for a narrative-driven hardcover book, players will find themselves deeply engaged in the forests and villages of Nottinghamshire.

    Nominated for 10 awards and won 1.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2021

    More details for The Adventures of Robin Hood
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 60 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  17. Chronicles of Crime: 1400

    Chronicles of Crime: 1400 invites players into the heart of medieval Paris, where they embody Abelard Lavel, a knight with a prophetic gift for solving crimes. As a standalone game in the Chronicles of Crime series, it combines familiar investigative gameplay with new elements to create a unique, narrative-driven experience. Players utilize Vision Cards to gain insights into crimes, relying on both futuristic and historical scenes to guide their investigation.

    Nominated for 2 awards.

    More details for Chronicles of Crime: 1400
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 60 - 90 Minutes
    • 🧒 12+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  18. Welcome to the Moon

    Welcome to the Moon is an innovative flip-and-write game that evolves the gameplay of its predecessors, Welcome To... and Welcome To New Las Vegas. It takes players on a space colonization adventure, combining familiar mechanisms with new twists and a campaign mode that spans eight unique adventure sheets.

    More details for Welcome to the Moon
    • 👥 1 - 6 Players
    • ⏱️ 25 - 30 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  19. Undaunted: Stalingrad

    Stalingrad, 1942, is a grueling conflict that affects the entire Eastern Front. Players must use strategy and bravery to secure this pivotal stronghold while every loss in battle decreases their forces for the entire campaign. Through up to fifteen branching scenarios, decisions influence the fate of Stalingrad and possibly the war itself, allowing for varied playthroughs despite the lasting consequences of actions taken. This standalone campaign game features over 300 unique illustrations and 150 vivid mission descriptions, immersing players in a crucial moment of history.

    Nominated for 6 awards and won 2.

    More details for Undaunted: Stalingrad
    • 👥 2 Players
    • ⏱️ 45 - 75 Minutes
    • 🧒 14+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty
  20. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle

    Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle is a cooperative deck-building game set in the beloved world of Harry Potter. Players join forces as Hogwarts students to protect the castle from dark forces.

    Nominated for 8 awards and won 1.

    More details for Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 🧒 11+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  21. 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.

    Nominated for 4 awards.

    More details for The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-Earth
    • 👥 1 - 5 Players
    • ⏱️ 60 - 120 Minutes
    • 🧒 14+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty
  22. Pandemic Legacy: Season 0

    Pandemic Legacy: Season 0 transports you to 1962, at the height of the Cold War, where a mysterious Soviet bioweapon called "Project MEDUSA" threatens global safety. As newly recruited CIA agents and medical graduates, you and your team are tasked with a critical mission: investigate and halt the development of this deadly pathogen. This game stands alone as a thrilling prequel to the earlier seasons of Pandemic Legacy, immersing players in a tense world of espionage and covert operations.

    Nominated for 6 awards.

    More details for Pandemic Legacy: Season 0
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 🧒 14+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Pandemic Legacy: Season 0

    • YouTube Review for the game "Pandemic Legacy: Season 0" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video
    • YouTube Review for the game "Pandemic Legacy: Season 0" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video
    • YouTube Review for the game "Pandemic Legacy: Season 0" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video
    • YouTube Review for the game "Pandemic Legacy: Season 0" by BoardGameGeek
      Video
  23. Aeon's End: The New Age

    The New Age introduces an expedition system to the Aeon's End universe, allowing players to experience their own content in a shorter campaign format. After each game, players receive new treasures and player cards to grow in power, but the enemies they face become stronger with each battle. This standalone expansion is compatible with all other standalone games, enabling exciting new combinations of content.

    More details for Aeon's End: The New Age
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 60 Minutes
    • 🧒 14+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Aeon's End: The New Age

    • YouTube Review for the game "Aeon's End: The New Age" by BoardGameGeek
      Video
  24. My City: Roll & Build

    Players create a unique city over four chapters, each containing three episodes. A die roll indicates which building to draw on the player board, with new challenges arising in each episode. Players can choose to play through the entire campaign or select individual episodes or chapters to replay.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for My City: Roll & Build
    • 👥 1 - 6 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  25. 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.

    More details for HeroQuest: First Light
    • 👥 2 - 5 Players
    • 🧒 14+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  26. The Initiative

    Players take on the role of teenagers in 1994 who have discovered a mysterious board game called "The Key." They embark on missions connected through an interactive comic book, navigating pivotal moments in their lives. Each chapter lasts 30-60 minutes and progresses the story, rewarding success and building on previous knowledge and narrative elements.

    Nominated for 5 awards and won 1.

    More details for The Initiative
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 - 60 Minutes
    • 🧒 8+ years old
    • 🧩 Easy to learn
  27. Slide Quest

    Villains have taken over our beautiful kingdom in Slide Quest, causing total chaos! Players must quickly work together to guide a brave rolling knight through this turbulent adventure filled with twists and traps.

    Nominated for 2 awards and won 1.

    More details for Slide Quest
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 15 - 45 Minutes
    • 🧒 7+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  28. Soviet Kitchen Unleashed

    The Second World War is coming to an end in the Soviet Union. Players work as a team of field cooks, using scarce ingredients to create meals from whatever is found at the front, even if it looks inedible. The goal is to mix colors to match orders while avoiding toxic ingredients that could harm guests.

    More details for Soviet Kitchen Unleashed
    • 👥 1 - 6 Players
    • ⏱️ 25 Minutes
    • 🧒 12+ years old
    • 🧩 Immediately playable
  29. Paleo

    Paleo is a cooperative adventure game set in the Stone Age, where players work together to ensure the survival of their human characters while completing various missions. The ultimate goal? To paint a woolly mammoth on a wall, leaving a mark of your existence (or just because it looks cool).

    Nominated for 12 awards and won 4.

    ⭐️ Kennerspiel des Jahres 2021

    More details for Paleo
    • 👥 2 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 🧒 10+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty
  30. Aeon's End: Legacy

    Aeon's End: Legacy immerses players into the world of breach mages, defenders of Gravehold, the last bastion of humanity. As apprentices, players are inspired by legendary mages like Brama, Dezmodia, Mist, Malastar, and Xaxos, each embodying unique traits and powers.

    Nominated for 3 awards.

    More details for Aeon's End: Legacy
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 45 - 90 Minutes
    • 🧒 14+ years old
    • 🧩 Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Aeon's End: Legacy

    • YouTube Review for the game "Aeon's End: Legacy" by BoardGameGeek
      Video

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