The best games based on novels/books 📖 2026

A dark rumor arises from Mordor, and the time has come for the Fellowship to unite once more. Players can choose to defend the free peoples as the Fellowship of the Ring or pursue Frodo and Sam as Sauron, deploying their hordes at enemy city gates. The fate of Middle-earth rests in your hands as you navigate the three chapters of the game, strengthening your skills and gathering resources to achieve one of the victory conditions.

A cooperative card game spans eighteen chapters that guide players through the events of The Fellowship of the Ring. Each player assumes a different character, such as Frodo, Gandalf, or Pippin, each with specific goals to achieve in order to progress through the chapters. The game features a set of 37 cards, and as players advance, new characters, items, and challenges are introduced.

Unmatched: Cobble & Fog is a captivating expansion to the Unmatched system, featuring a quartet of iconic characters drawn from literary lore, each with their unique playstyle and abilities. This expansion introduces the Invisible Man, Sherlock Holmes with Dr. Watson, Dracula along with the sisters, and the duo of Jekyll & Hyde, all brought to life in a highly asymmetrical miniature fighting game.

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.

Dune: Imperium is a strategic deck-building game inspired by the iconic Dune universe, incorporating elements from both the recent film adaptation and the classic novels. Players lead one of the Great Houses in the interstellar political landscape of the Landsraad.

The Hare & the Tortoise offers a unique spin on the classic fable through a card-driven betting game where players wager on the outcomes of an animal race. This game combines strategy, luck, and deduction as players manage their hands and place their bets on various creatures, each with distinct movement abilities influenced by the cards played.

Players engage in a game of risk, deduction, and luck for 2-4 participants, inspired by the original Love Letter. The deck consists of 17 cards, with unique abilities and rankings that influence gameplay. Players aim to be the last active participant or hold the highest card to earn points, and the first to win 4-7 rounds, depending on the player count, claims victory.

In Taj Mahal, players are immersed in the setting of northwest India at the beginning of the 18th century. This period marks the decline of the Grand Moguls' rule, presenting an opportunity for Maharishis and princes to assert control over the region. The game revolves around gaining influence through various strategic moves.

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

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.

Unlock! Timeless Adventures offers a trio of captivating "escape room" scenarios packed into one tabletop game. This cooperative card game draws players into immersive adventures requiring teamwork, puzzle-solving, and quick thinking, all facilitated through a blend of physical cards and a digital companion app.

Many years after his confrontation with Van Helsing, Dracula has returned to Whitby, England. The citizens seek help from vampire hunter Professor Van Helsing to stop Dracula before he transforms all of them into vampires.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – Trick-Taking Game brings families, teens, and Tolkien fans back to Middle-earth in a cooperative card game with a strong narrative feel. Instead of competing against each other, players work together to complete chapter goals through clever trick-taking. The game captures the mood of the story without spoiling key moments, making it approachable for both readers and newcomers.

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.

Sherlock Holmes appointed a group of street children as The Baker Street Irregulars, his unofficial "police force." This is their story, filled with challenging and dangerous events.

Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: Jack the Ripper & West End Adventures is a captivating standalone expansion to the renowned detective game Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective. This expansion brings updated graphics and adds ten new cases set in Victorian-era London for players to solve. It includes essential detective tools such as a "London Directory," a map of London, and newspaper archives to aid in the investigation.

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.

Lord of the Rings: The Confrontation Deluxe Edition is a celebrated two-player board game designed by Reiner Knizia. Set in the rich world of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, this game allows players to immerse themselves in the epic struggle between the forces of Sauron and the Free Peoples. Renowned for its blend of strategy, bluffing, and adventure, this deluxe edition elevates the experience with enhanced components and new gameplay elements.

Jekyll vs. Hyde is a riveting two-player trick-taking game inspired by the classic novella Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. This game pits two iconic characters against each other in a battle of wits and strategy, with one player embodying Dr. Jekyll, striving to maintain his secret and sanity, and the other player taking on the role of Mr. Hyde, seeking to dominate and unveil the dual identity.

Pandemic: Reign of Cthulhu is a thrilling adaptation of the classic Pandemic game, infused with a chilling Lovecraftian theme. Players take on the roles of investigators, tasked with a daunting mission to prevent the awakening of ancient evils, known as Old Ones, from their cosmic prison.

The Little Prince: Make Me a Planet challenges players to craft their own planets in the whimsical universe of The Little Prince. The goal is to create a harmonious world for iconic characters while avoiding an excess of baobabs and volcanoes.

In the far north of Westeros, the Night's Watch tirelessly guards the Wall against intruders. Composed of outcasts from society, they train to prevent chaos from spreading southward. The Night's Watch starter set for the tabletop miniatures game provides everything needed to form a Night's Watch force, including units of sworn brothers, veterans, rangers, and various characters like Jon Snow and Jeor Mormont, along with dice, tokens, and terrain for immediate gameplay.

Embark on a captivating journey through Victorian London alongside the legendary detective Sherlock Holmes in Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Thames Murders & Other Cases. This immersive and challenging game allows you to step into the shoes of a detective, matching wits with Holmes himself.

Friday, part of Friedemann Friese's Freitag-Project Series, unfolds the tale of Robinson Crusoe and his loyal partner, Friday. Stepping into Friday's shoes, players navigate the challenges of Robinson's arrival on the island, disrupting your peaceful existence. The objective is clear: assist Robinson in surviving the island and prepare him for a showdown with incoming pirates.

Discworld: Ankh-Morpork is a board game designed by Martin Wallace and Treefrog Games, set in the imaginative universe of Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, specifically in its largest city-state, Ankh-Morpork. The game captures the essence of the Discworld novels with its thematic elements and diverse characters.