The best games where you play a campaign 2026
Looking for a really good game where you live through a scenario or play a campaign/mission? Then we have just the thing for you: the list of the best campaign games 2026.
What are campaign games?
Campaign or scenario-based games are based on a variety of different maps, starting resources and positions. Most of the time you will be given specific tasks that need to be completed. In some cases, different win and lose conditions can also be applied. These variable conditions can be combined into a broader narrative or campaign – but they don't have to be. They can also be integrated completely independently.
By the way, "campaign games" are also called "scenario games" or "mission games".
Examples of games where you play a campaign game
A good example of a campaign game is The Crew. Here you have to complete progressively more difficult tasks. The whole thing is set in a continuous space scenario.
Most Legacy games are also campaign games – but in contrast to campaign games the game world or the game material changes permanently.
List of the best campaign games 2026
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Cozy Stickerville
All details & ratingCozy Stickerville is a gentle adventure and village-building game by Corey Konieczka for 1-6 players, recommended from age 8. Families explore a growing valley together, add buildings, animals, shops, farms, and personal touches with more than 800 stickers, and watch their own village take shape over several relaxed sessions. It is especially appealing for children who enjoy creative choices and parents who like shared storytelling without pressure.
1–6 30 min 8+ Immediately playable -
MicroMacro: Crime City
All details & ratingMicroMacro: 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.
1–4 15–45 min 12+ Immediately playable+ 1 € above the best price16 € at Amazon* -
Sky Team - Prepare for Landing
All details & ratingPlayers take on the roles of a pilot and a co-pilot in a cooperative game for two. The objective is to work together to land your airplane at various airports around the world. Successful landing requires silently coordinating dice placement in your cockpit to balance the aircraft, control speed, deploy flaps, and even brew coffee to enhance focus. Each airport presents unique challenges, so stay alert for turbulence—it could be a bumpy ride!
2 20 min 10+ Easy to learn -
The Crew: Mission Deep Sea
All details & ratingThe Crew: Mission Deep Sea is a cooperative trick-taking card game that embarks players on an underwater expedition to discover the lost continent of Mu. Building on the foundations of its predecessor, The Crew, this game combines the familiar mechanics of trick-taking with unique cooperative elements and a compelling thematic narrative.
2–5 20 min 10+ Easy to learn -
The Fellowship of the Ring: Trick-Taking Game
All details & ratingA 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.
1–4 20 min 10+ Easy to learn+ 6 € above the best price23 € at Amazon* -
The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine
All details & ratingThe Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine is a cooperative trick-taking game that takes players on an adventurous space journey, filled with challenges and strategic gameplay.
2–5 20 min 10+ Easy to learn+ 2 € above the best price11 € at Amazon* -
Dorfromantik: The Board Game
All details & ratingDorfromantik: 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.
1–6 30–60 min 8+ Easy to learn1 € below the next retailer25 € at Amazon* -
Ticket to Ride Legacy: Legends of the West
All details & ratingPlayers 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.
2–5 20–90 min 10+ Medium complexity+ 10 € above the best price86 € at Amazon* -
Pandemic Legacy: Season 1
All details & ratingPandemic 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:
2–4 60 min 13+ Medium complexity -
Lands of Galzyr
All details & ratingLands 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.
1–4 60–150 min 14+ Easy to learn -
Cthulhu: Death May Die
All details & ratingCthulhu: 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.
1–5 90–120 min 14+ Medium complexity -
Take Time
All details & ratingTake Time is a cooperative card and puzzle game for 2 to 4 players ages 10 and up. Instead of competing, children, teens, and adults work together to solve mysterious clock-based challenges. With a playtime of about 30 minutes, it fits well into family game nights, short after-school sessions, or relaxed evenings for players who enjoy logic, teamwork, and clever deduction.
2–4 30 min 10+ Easy to learn -
Legacy of Dragonholt
All details & ratingLegacy 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 60–999 min 14+ Immediately playable -
Destinies
All details & ratingDestinies 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.
1–3 90–150 min 14+ Easy to learn -
My City
All details & ratingMy 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.
2–4 30 min 10+ Easy to learnVideo reviews 1 -
Shadow over Westongrove Manor
All details & ratingThe 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.
6–8 120–240 min 18+ Immediately playable -
Forgotten Waters
All details & ratingForgotten 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.
3–7 120–240 min 14+ Easy to learn -
A Recipe for Death
All details & ratingIt 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.
5–7 120–240 min 18+ Immediately playable -
Kids Chronicles: Quest for the Moon Stones
All details & ratingPlayers take on the role of young wizards in a cooperative family game filled with adventure and mysterious investigations. They explore the fairyland of the Summer and Winter Kingdoms with Nils, the Moon Cat, while searching for four magical moon stones. Using unique QR codes for each game component, players engage with the game through their mobile device to uncover clues and experiences in a virtual world. Each session lasts around 30 to 45 minutes and comes with a tutorial and five unique stories.
1–4 30–45 min 7+ Immediately playable -
Dorfromantik: Sakura
All details & ratingPlayers 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.
1–6 30–90 min 10+ Easy to learn -
Chronicles of Crime
All details & ratingEmbark 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.
1–4 60–90 min 12+ Easy to learnVideo reviews 1 - + 7 € above the best price46 € at Amazon*
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The Adventures of Robin Hood
All details & ratingThe 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.
2–4 60 min 10+ Easy to learn
Frequently asked questions
Which game ranks first on this list?
Cozy Stickerville 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 1 to 4 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 6 years. Each game carries its own age rating.
How long does a game take?
A typical game takes about 30 to 60 minutes. Each game's playing time is listed individually.
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