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
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
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
Legacy of Dragonholt
More details for Legacy of DragonholtLegacy 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.
- 1 - 6 Players
- 60 - 999 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Immediately playable
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
Welcome to the Moon
More details for Welcome to the MoonWelcome 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.
- 1 - 6 Players
- 25 - 30 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Baker Street Irregulars
More details for Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Baker Street IrregularsSherlock 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.
- 1 - 8 Players
- 90 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Easy to learn
Video reviews for Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Baker Street Irregulars
Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: Jack the Ripper & West End Adventures
More details for Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: Jack the Ripper & West End AdventuresSherlock 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.
- 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
Adventure Games: Expedition Azcana
More details for Adventure Games: Expedition AzcanaExplore 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.
- 1 - 4 Players
- 90 - 120 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Immediately playable
Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective: The Thames Murders & Other Cases
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
Flashback: Zombie Kidz
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
Sleeping Gods
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
Crime Zoom: A Deadly Writer
More details for Crime Zoom: A Deadly WriterPlayers 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.
- 1 - 6 Players
- 60 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Immediately playable
Gloomhaven
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
My Little Scythe
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
The 7th Continent
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
Scythe
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
Tales of the Arabian Nights
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
Captive
More details for CaptiveWhy would someone attack a police officer? This is one of many questions you face after receiving a ransom demand for your kidnapped daughter.
- 1 Players
- 30 - 130 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Immediately playable
Adventure Games: The Dungeon
More details for Adventure Games: The DungeonPlayers 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.
- 1 - 4 Players
- 90 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Easy to learn
Detective: A Modern Crime Board Game
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
Above and Below
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
Adventure Games: The Grand Hotel Abaddon
More details for Adventure Games: The Grand Hotel AbaddonPlayers 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.
- 1 - 4 Players
- 75 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Easy to learn
T.I.M.E Stories
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
Crime Zoom: His Last Card
More details for Crime Zoom: His Last CardPlayers 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.
- 1 - 6 Players
- 60 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Immediately playable
Bubble Stories
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
Adventure Games: Die drei ??? – Das Geheimnis der Statue
More details for Adventure Games: Die drei ??? – Das Geheimnis der StatueExplore 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.
- 1 - 4 Players
- 75 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Immediately playable
Wonder Book
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.
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More details for Wonder Book- 1 - 4 Players
- 60 - 90 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Easy to learn
Near and Far
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
Choose Your Own Adventure: House of Danger
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
Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon
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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