The best games where you can choose based on a narrative / paragraph 2025

Looking for a really good game where you can choose based on a narrative? Then we have just the thing for you: the list with the best "Narrative Choice" games 2025.

What are narrative choice games?

In the games on this list, players are presented with multiple plot choices via a narrative format.

These may be presented in a book with numbered paragraphs as in Tales of the Arabian Nights and Up and Down, or via cards as in Dead of Winter: A Crossroads Game.

"Narrative Choice" is sometimes also called "Narrative Paragraph".

List of the best Narrative Choice games 2025

This list was last updated on March 19, 2025. We compared 199 board games for this list and selected the top 30. There's also a print version for this list.
  1. Clank! Legacy: Acquisitions Incorporated

    All details for the board game Clank! Legacy: Acquisitions Incorporated and similar games

    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
  2. Lands of Galzyr

    All details for the board game Lands of Galzyr and similar games

    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
  3. Legacy of Dragonholt

    All details for the board game Legacy of Dragonholt and similar games

    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
  4. Forgotten Waters

    All details for the board game Forgotten Waters and similar games

    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
  5. Welcome to the Moon

    All details for the board game Welcome to the Moon and similar games

    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
  6. Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Baker Street Irregulars

    All details for the board game Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Baker Street Irregulars and similar games

    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.

    More details for Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Baker Street Irregulars
    • 1 - 8 Players
    • 90 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Baker Street Irregulars

    • YouTube Review for the game "Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Baker Street Irregulars" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  7. Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: Jack the Ripper & West End Adventures

    All details for the board game Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: Jack the Ripper & West End Adventures and similar games

    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.

    More details for Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: Jack the Ripper & West End Adventures
    • 1 - 8 Players
    • 60 - 120 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: Jack the Ripper & West End Adventures

    • YouTube Review for the game "Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: Jack the Ripper & West End Adventures" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  8. Adventure Games: Expedition Azcana

    All details for the board game Adventure Games: Expedition Azcana and similar games

    Explore locations, combine items, and experience stories in this cooperative game series by KOSMOS. Players encounter a mysterious narrative that unfolds as they communicate, search for clues, and collaborate to unravel the story's secrets. The gameplay emphasizes storytelling and exploration without time pressure, allowing for multiple pathways and solutions across three chapters, each lasting about 75 minutes.

    More details for Adventure Games: Expedition Azcana
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 90 - 120 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  9. Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Thames Murders & Other Cases

    All details for the board game Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Thames Murders & Other Cases and similar games

    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.

    Nominated for 4 awards and won 3.

    ⭐️ Spiel des Jahres 1985

    More details for Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Thames Murders & Other Cases
    • 1 - 8 Players
    • 60 - 120 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Thames Murders & Other Cases

    • YouTube Review for the game "Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Thames Murders & Other Cases" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  10. Flashback: Zombie Kidz

    All details for the board game Flashback: Zombie Kidz and similar games

    Investigate in the world of Zombie Kidz. Your mission is to thwart the nefarious plans of the zombies! This picture-based game features investigative tasks and invites players to embark on a cooperative adventure with friends or family. Discover the story piece by piece through the characters’ experiences, solving puzzles and uncovering clues to change the future and save the world from horrific monsters.

    Nominated for 1 award and won 1.

    More details for Flashback: Zombie Kidz
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 30 Minutes
    • 7+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  11. Sleeping Gods

    All details for the board game Sleeping Gods and similar games

    Sleeping Gods is a cooperative, narrative-driven board game that immerses players in an expansive and mysterious world. Set in 1929, players take on the roles of Captain Sofi Odessa and her crew, who are lost at sea aboard the steamship Manticore in the mystical Wandering Sea. Their mission is to awaken the gods to find their way home.

    Nominated for 20 awards and won 5.

    More details for Sleeping Gods
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 1200 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  12. Crime Zoom: A Deadly Writer

    All details for the board game Crime Zoom: A Deadly Writer and similar games

    Players are taken into a British mansion in 1929 for the third case in the Crime Zoom series. This investigation game involves exploring a crime scene spread across multiple cards, revealing clues and items that lead players to solve the mystery. By discussing findings with others, players choose the best clues to pursue, ultimately answering questions to conclude the case and determine the outcome.

    More details for Crime Zoom: A Deadly Writer
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  13. Gloomhaven

    All details for the board game Gloomhaven and similar games

    Gloomhaven is a Euro-inspired tactical combat game set in a persistent and evolving world. Players assume the roles of adventurers, each with unique skills and motives, as they explore dungeons, ruins, and engage in cooperative battles against automated monsters.

    Nominated for 22 awards and won 10.

    More details for Gloomhaven
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 120 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Hard to learn

    Video reviews for Gloomhaven

    • YouTube Review for the game "Gloomhaven" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
    • YouTube Review for the game "Gloomhaven" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  14. My Little Scythe

    All details for the board game My Little Scythe and similar games

    My Little Scythe is a charming, family-friendly board game that offers a light and engaging experience inspired by the critically acclaimed Scythe. It's a game of adventure and whimsy, set in the enchanting Kingdom of Pomme, where players control delightful animal miniatures on a quest to earn trophies and achieve victory.

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.

    More details for My Little Scythe
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 45 - 60 Minutes
    • 8+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  15. The 7th Continent

    All details for the board game The 7th Continent and similar games

    In the early 20th century, your fate binds you to the newly discovered seventh continent, haunted by a malevolent curse since your last expedition. The 7th Continent, a captivating solo or cooperative "choose-your-own-adventure" exploration board game, beckons you to chart your course. Choose a character and commence your journey alone or alongside fellow explorers. Drawing inspiration from the Fighting Fantasy book series, unravel the mysteries of this untamed land through a diverse array of terrain and event cards.

    Nominated for 17 awards and won 2.

    More details for The 7th Continent
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 5 - 1000 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  16. Scythe

    All details for the board game Scythe and similar games

    In the turbulent 1920s Europa, a period overshadowed by the aftermath of the first great war, a city-state known as "The Factory" stands at the center of attention. This capitalistic powerhouse, renowned for its heavily armored mechs that fueled the war, has mysteriously closed its doors, leaving neighboring nations vying for its secrets.

    Nominated for 21 awards and won 10.

    More details for Scythe
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 90 - 115 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Scythe

    • YouTube Review for the game "Scythe" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  17. Tales of the Arabian Nights

    All details for the board game Tales of the Arabian Nights and similar games

    Tales of the Arabian Nights is a storytelling board game that immerses players in the adventurous world of Arabian folklore, similar to the stories narrated by Scheherazade. This game is less about winning and more about experiencing and sharing a compelling narrative.

    Nominated for 6 awards.

    More details for Tales of the Arabian Nights
    • 2 - 6 Players
    • 120 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Easy to learn

    Video reviews for Tales of the Arabian Nights

    • YouTube Review for the game "Tales of the Arabian Nights" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  18. Captive

    All details for the board game Captive and similar games

    Why would someone attack a police officer? This is one of many questions you face after receiving a ransom demand for your kidnapped daughter.

    More details for Captive
    • 1 Players
    • 30 - 130 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  19. Adventure Games: The Dungeon

    All details for the board game Adventure Games: The Dungeon and similar games

    Players awaken in a medieval prison cell with no memory of how they got there. They must explore, combine items, and face strange creatures lurking in the old castle's dark rooms over three chapters. The game encourages cooperative storytelling and discovery without the pressure of time, allowing for multiple pathways and solutions. Each title features three chapters, each taking about 75 minutes to play, and can be replayed without damage.

    More details for Adventure Games: The Dungeon
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 90 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  20. Detective: A Modern Crime Board Game

    All details for the board game Detective: A Modern Crime Board Game and similar games

    Detective: A Modern Crime Board Game immerses players in the role of true detectives, blending traditional board game elements with modern technology and storytelling. This game offers a unique and interactive experience, as players solve interconnected cases using both physical game components and an online database.

    Nominated for 14 awards and won 4.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2019

    More details for Detective: A Modern Crime Board Game
    • 1 - 5 Players
    • 120 - 180 Minutes
    • 16+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Detective: A Modern Crime Board Game

    • YouTube Review for the game "Detective: A Modern Crime Board Game" by BoardGameGeek
      Video is in English
  21. Above and Below

    All details for the board game Above and Below and similar games

    Above and Below combines the elements of town-building with an enthralling storytelling experience. Players are tasked with rebuilding their lives and creating a new village after their last one was destroyed by barbarians. The game is set in a unique world where a network of caverns lies beneath the surface, ripe for exploration and adventure.

    Nominated for 9 awards.

    More details for Above and Below
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 90 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty
  22. Adventure Games: The Grand Hotel Abaddon

    All details for the board game Adventure Games: The Grand Hotel Abaddon and similar games

    Players investigate strange events in an old building, taking on roles within a team to follow clues and shape the adventure. They explore locations, combine items, and unravel a mysterious story together. Unlike timed escape room games, this series emphasizes storytelling and discovery at a leisurely pace, with multiple pathways and solutions available. Each game comprises three chapters, each lasting about 75 minutes, and can be replayed without damage to the components.

    More details for Adventure Games: The Grand Hotel Abaddon
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 75 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  23. T.I.M.E Stories

    All details for the board game T.I.M.E Stories and similar games

    T.I.M.E Stories is a unique narrative-driven board game that blends elements of role-playing, exploration, and puzzle-solving. It offers an immersive experience as players take on the role of temporal agents sent on missions to prevent disruptions in the space-time continuum.

    Nominated for 16 awards and won 3.

    ⭐️ Nominated for Kennerspiel des Jahres 2016

    More details for T.I.M.E Stories
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 90 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for T.I.M.E Stories

    • YouTube Review for the game "T.I.M.E Stories" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  24. Crime Zoom: His Last Card

    All details for the board game Crime Zoom: His Last Card and similar games

    Players are immersed in a murder investigation set in Brooklyn in 1980. Crime Zoom offers a distinct case on multiple cards that form a larger illustration of the crime scene. Players freely explore, discuss clues, and answer questions about the case, trying to identify the culprit while aiming for the best outcome based on cards revealed.

    More details for Crime Zoom: His Last Card
    • 1 - 6 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  25. Bubble Stories

    All details for the board game Bubble Stories and similar games

    Enter the world of Bubble Stories through two adventures where players are the heroes. Explore new locations by flipping cards to discover what lies ahead and uncover hidden treasures at the end of each journey. In the first scenario, search for friends in school, visiting places like the classroom, playground, or gym to complete your quest.

    Nominated for 3 awards and won 1.

    More details for Bubble Stories
    • 1 - 2 Players
    • 10 Minutes
    • 4+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  26. Adventure Games: Die drei ??? – Das Geheimnis der Statue

    All details for the board game Adventure Games: Die drei ??? – Das Geheimnis der Statue and similar games

    Explore locations, combine items, and experience stories in this cooperative game series from the German publisher KOSMOS. Players are presented with a mysterious narrative that they must unravel through collaboration, discovering clues, and making choices that affect the story’s outcome. Unlike the EXIT: Das Spiel series, this game emphasizes storytelling and exploration without the pressure of time, allowing for multiple paths and solutions across its three chapters, each lasting about 75 minutes.

    More details for Adventure Games: Die drei ??? – Das Geheimnis der Statue
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 75 Minutes
    • 12+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  27. Wonder Book

    All details for the board game Wonder Book and similar games

    Oniria is the world of an ancient dragon civilization, described as an idyllic paradise filled with wonders created by dragons and surrounded by a vibrant wilderness. The only portal to this world is the Wonder Book, an ancient tome that lies dormant in a forgotten tower, waiting for you.

    Nominated for 1 award and won 1.

    🔥 Deal: 7% cheaper than the best Geizhals deal, likely for a short time only!

    More details for Wonder Book
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 90 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Easy to learn
  28. Near and Far

    All details for the board game Near and Far and similar games

    Emphasizing storytelling and exploration, Near and Far is a captivating board game where up to four players embark on a quest for the fabled Last Ruin, a city rumored to house an artifact with the power to fulfill the heart's deepest desires. Each player assumes the role of a wanderer with personal motivations, from reuniting with lost family to seeking redemption.

    Nominated for 6 awards.

    More details for Near and Far
    • 2 - 4 Players
    • 90 - 120 Minutes
    • 13+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

    Video reviews for Near and Far

    • YouTube Review for the game "Near and Far" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video is in English
  29. Choose Your Own Adventure: House of Danger

    All details for the board game Choose Your Own Adventure: House of Danger and similar games

    Choose Your Own Adventure: House of Danger brings the page-turning fun of the classic book series to your tabletop. You and your friends dive into a thrilling adventure full of risks, mysteries, and laughter. As you navigate through the story, your choices will lead you down different paths, with the aim to survive the dangers that lurk in the house. The game is designed to be replayed, offering new discoveries and outcomes each time.

    Nominated for 1 award.

    More details for Choose Your Own Adventure: House of Danger
    • 1 - 99 Players
    • 60 Minutes
    • 10+ years old
    • Immediately playable
  30. Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon

    All details for the board game Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon and similar games

    Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon is a deeply immersive and richly themed cooperative board game that combines elements of adventure, exploration, and strategic character development. It is set in a unique world blending Arthurian legends and Celtic mythology.

    Nominated for 14 awards.

    More details for Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon
    • 1 - 4 Players
    • 60 - 120 Minutes
    • 14+ years old
    • Medium difficulty

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