The Best Dungeon Crawler Board Games for an Epic Tabletop Adventure in 2026

Gloomhaven arguably set the standard for deep dungeon crawler board games, but the original is currently out of print. Fortunately, its follow-up, Frosthaven offers an equally engrossing campaign set in the same universe. Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion, on the other hand, gives gamers a streamlined option that requires far less prep time – addressing one of the original’s few critiques. The two games themselves are interconnected; even the characters created in one can transfer over to the other. Jaws of the Lion is arguably a better starting point for newer players due to its decreased setup time, but fans of fantasy epics can’t go wrong with either.

Both titles serve as a sort of choose-your-own-adventure novel meets tabletop game. The respective campaigns are long and rich with both lore and adventure. Characters within the game will even depart after completing their primary objectives, serving as a bittersweet moment where players say goodbye to old familiar faces but excitedly welcome in new ones. Both options are great cooperative multiplayer titles, serving as some of the best board games for two players and the best board games for four players.

For more information about both of these tabletop masterpieces, check out our review of Gloomhaven and hands-on impressions of Frosthaven.

Warhammer isn’t just a series of fantasy battle games: there’s also the Warhammer Quest line of boxed cooperative dungeon crawls. The latest entry, Darkwater, is perhaps the best of the lot as we highlighted in our full review, sending a team of heroes into the revolting ruins of an abbey, corrupted by the filthy servants of the plague god, Nurgle. Of course that’s a great excuse for lots of fantastic figure sculpts but Darkwater also boasts an engaging and varied narrative, fun mini-games, and some challenging tactical mechanics alongside buckets of dice.

Dungeon-based board games are often seen as being a way to experience the excitement and narrative of a role-playing game without a games master to run proceedings. But it turns out that if you keep the role, you can still have a brilliant time, with the games master here unveiling areas of the board as the other players explore them, and commanding the forces of evil they encounter. And as a reprint of a much-beloved game from 1989, it’s got a ton of nostalgia factor too, alongside a ton of cool plastic figures and scenery that are a big step up from their 80’s ancestors.

While lots of dungeon board games feature plenty of plastic eye candy in the form of plastic figures, seasoned gamers will be aware that’s only half the story. This third, fully cooperative iteration of the Descent dungeon-crawling franchise fills the gap with a jaw-dropping lineup of 3d cardboard scenery to furnish its dungeons, and a cavernous box to store it all in. Of course that’d all be just window dressing if the base game were no good, but it’s a clever mashup of tabletop tactics, dice rolling, and app-based resource management, allowing you to easily implement crafting, levelling up and all the other fun stuff for your characters while also enjoying randomized dungeon layouts in an engrossing narrative campaign. Its a great RPG board game as well as an amazing dungeon crawler.

For our take on this game, you can check out our in-depth Descent: Legends of the Dark review. And if you find yourself looking for more like this, our guide to board games like D&D is worth a look too.

Not all dungeons have to be fantasy labyrinths deep underground: the maze-like maintenance corridors of an Imperial base serve just as well. That’s the setup for this Star Wars dungeon crawler, in which a plucky band of rebel operatives work together against another player controlling the Empire’s forces across a scenario-based campaign. You might be swapping swords and bows for lightsabers and blasters, but the feels are very much the same as you loot crates, explore secrets and level up as you attempt to take down the bad guys in tactical melee combat. But as a bonus, you’re likely to run into a whole range of your favorite characters from the Star Wars universe to fight alongside you. This is just one of many Star Wars board games out there, but it's a great one.

Veterans of this hugely popular video game will be well aware of its deck-building roots so it's only a tiny hop to turn it into a tabletop experience. The advantage of going so, aside from a bit of new content and mechanical streamlining, is that you can now climb the spire - a dungeon you ascend rather than crawl - alongside your friends, working together to defeat whatever of the spire's many potential monstrous denizens and bosses the game chooses to send your way, making the experience social as well as strategic. And all the addictive magic of carefully curating your cards and slinging them into tactical action against all manner of foes is very much still intact.

We had the chance to review Slay the Spire: The Board game and loved every second of the gameplay.

Mansions of Madness: Second Edition is an engaging cooperative mystery horror game. Each player selects one of eight investigators to solve puzzles and collect weapons while attempting to fight off both monsters and insanity. Meanwhile, an intricate set of mysteries begins to unfold. The box contains four different scenarios that range from 60-360 minutes with the latter boasting quite a deep and engrossing campaign. Aiding in the immersive storytelling is an app that narrates the story and keeps track of various player actions. Apps in board games are either a pro or a con depending on who you ask, but it is widely agreed that Mansions of Madness: Second Edition got it right with this one. Not only does the app add to the tension with its eerie music and excellent voiceovers, but it also helps streamline the game, making it easier to start and teach.

Don’t let the “2” in the title fool you; this follow-up is quite the departure from its predecessor. Sequels can often be offputting for those unfamiliar with the original, but just about any tabletop fan can pick up Massive Darkness 2: Hellscape, throw some dice, slay some monsters, and have a great time, regardless of their familiarity level with the series. Massive Darkness 2 follows many of the classic dungeon crawler tropes, but it sets itself apart with six unique character classes that play differently from one another while still feeling cohesive. Beating down monsters, looting dungeons, leveling up, and upgrading gear is a satisfying loop that can be played across a wide variety of scenarios. Not to mention, the various classes included in the box change up the game so much that replaying as a different character feels like a wholly unique experience.

While the Alien franchise does have several licensed board games, arguably none of them embody the spirit of the series quite like Nemesis. No, Nemesis doesn’t have any official ties to the film saga, but the creeping terror that accompanies sneaking through corridors while attempting to avoid dangerous aliens will likely be a familiar feeling to fans. To further ramp up the tension, Nemesis gives players objective cards that affect their approach to the game – several of these cards require players to go against the best interests of other players. Because these cards are kept hidden until the end of the game, it’s difficult to know who to trust. Still, as survival is the main objective, teamwork is generally required. On the surface, everyone is striving toward the same goal, but you never know whether a traitor is secretly operating amongst the crew.

Alongside the base game, there are quite a few Nemesis expansions you can purchase separately as well as additional miniatures.

Cthulhu: Death May Die is a cooperative horror game inspired by H.P. Lovecraft. There are various standalone scenarios packed in, but the story generally involves stopping a dangerous ritual meant to summon powerful beings. Interestingly, the characters in Cthulhu: Death May Die gain strength as their remaining sanity dwindles throughout the game. This is a sort of risk, reward mechanic, however, as losing track of your character’s sanity entirely could spell disaster. Unlike some other popular dungeon crawlers, Cthulhu: Death May Die is rather easy to pick up – even if it can be difficult to beat. Seeing as the different scenarios don’t have to be played with the same group of players, this dice chucker is even more accessible.

Clank! Catacombs asks players to do it all; fight monsters, free prisoners, collect gold, and beware the dragon. There are several great iterations in the Clank series, but Clank! Catacombs dives most into the dungeon crawler genre, and it’s arguably the best entry in the franchise to date. What makes this installation great are various tiles that expand the map as you play, essentially turning Clank! Catacombs into a tabletop roguelike. As these tiles are shuffled before each game, no two playthroughs of Clank! Catacombs are the same.

While fans of the dungeon crawler genre generally appreciate massive boxes with dozens of detailed miniatures, Clank! Catacombs opts for a smaller footprint thanks to most of the game playing out through various cards and tiles. So, if your board game closet or bookshelf is starting to get a bit overstuffed, Clank! Catacombs might just be the dungeon crawler to grab.

The Zombicide titles are an incredibly popular series of cooperative survival board games, but Marvel Zombies is arguably one of the best entries to date. Taking inspiration from the What If comic series, Marvel Zombies – A Zombicide Game takes the outbreak to the heroes of the Marvel universe. Marvel Zombies isn’t just a reskin of the popular series, either. For one thing, Marvel Zombies lets players play as the zombies. Additionally, new mechanics change up the formula and streamline the classic experience, so even experienced Zombicide players might want to check out this iteration. Not to mention, the various miniatures are fantastic for fans of the comic book characters. Not unlike the more traditional Zombicide titles, there are plenty of expansions to the Marvel Zombies line. Additionally, there are plenty of great Marvel board games for those looking for even more fun in the comic book universe.

Your typical dungeon crawl envisions a group of heavily-laden adventurers delving into the deeps but there are plenty of imaginative spins on the concept. Such as making said adventurers magically transformed mice, who must work together, exploring the nooks and crannies of a castle while unspooling a tremendous tale of treachery and terror. Kids and adults alike can enjoy the great balance of cute and thrilling in the story setup, while rolling with the punches during exciting combat clashes.

At first glance there’s not anything to make this game stand out from its peers, but once you’ve set up the dungeon and unpacked the plastic, its charms will quickly become apparent. Simply put, Sword and Sorcery gets the balance of what makes an awesome dungeon crawler just right. There’s some randomness and excitement, but good tactical play will generally win the day. There’s plenty of immersive story and components, but the price point is fair. And it boasts a sensible playtime and reasonably accessible rules without being over too soon or dumbing things down. It’s a combination that makes it a great pick if you just want a rock-solid dungeon game in your collection.

For even more recommendations check out the best cooperative board games or even our best board games for adults. Those looking for titles that offer a bit of something for everyone may want to peruse our list of the best family board games.

Bobby Anhalt is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering board games and LEGOs. He has more than 8 years of experience writing about the gaming industry with bylines at Game Rant, Screen Rant, TheXboxHub, and Ranker. You can follow him on Twitter.