Are you looking for the best dungeon crawler board game with all details? You have landed on the right place.
I craze for playing board games, but this craze becomes more intensive when I get to play the best dungeon crawler board game. The dungeon crawler is my favorite sort of board game, and I would love to play all its versions.
This is an exciting game where you, as a player, need to travel through a randomly generated map of the dungeon, and you have to pick a new tile for every movement where you will encounter a puzzle to solve. During this journey, you will also come across some monsters to stop them and accomplish the mission.
For knowing further about these fantastic board games, stay tuned with this article till the end.
Table of Contents
What are Dungeon Crawler Board Games?
Dungeon crawler games are a board game where the players deal with one or more adventurers to discover immense dungeon complexes containing dozens or even hundreds of floors. A dungeon crawl is a fantasy scenario game in which protagonist figures (heroes) navigate a complicated place (a “dungeon”), fight against monsters, save themselves from traps, try to solve puzzles, and loot any treasure discovered by them. In such games, action figures are very carefully developed to play a particular role.
You must read the reviews of the following best dungeon crawler board games carefully. You will have a clear idea about the product.
Comparison Table for Best Dungeon Crawler Board Game
6 Best Dungeon Crawler Board Game Product Review, Features
01- Gloomhaven
You will not find a more adventurous game than Gloomhaven. This is a board game based on Euro-inspired tactical combat where players perform under their own special skill set. They work together, keep traveling, fight against automated monsters, clear out menacing dungeons, and discover new locations to explore and plunder. The game scenario is like players’ decisions will determine how the story continues.
Features
- For 1-4 players
- 60-120 minute playing duration
- Tactical combat game
- Full of warfare
- Significant accessories
- Almost a real view
- Stable players command
Outstanding action figures
All action figures, including heroes and monsters, are quite notable and detailed. All collaborate equally to add more fun to the game.
Innovative card system
For fighting against automated monsters, the players will have to use an innovative card system that will determine the order of play and the player’s action on their turn. The player will choose 2 cards to play on their turn. The number on the top card will decide the initiative round.
Optional card control
There will be a top and bottom power on each card. The player of the initiative will have the option of using either the top power of one card and the other’s bottom power or vice-versa. While doing so, the players must be careful because there can be a permanent loss of cards from their hands in case of overtime. So they must o clear a dungeon as earlier as possible; otherwise, they will be forced to retreat.
- Highly entertaining
- Easy to play
- Convenient to install
- Amazing action figures
- Long-lasting accessories
- A bit short
- A bit unstable with board
Why should you buy this?
The tactical combat scenario of this fantastic game is praiseworthy, along with other fantastic features. So buying this game will indeed offer you lots of fun during play.
02- Star Wars: Imperial Assault
If you like to play multi-games on a single board, this imperial assault board game is here to offer you two game modes, the campaign game and the skirmish game, under lots of thrilling missions with the cooperation of your friends. This is a fantastic game to be played.
Features
- It can be played with your friends.
- Full of engrossing campaigns
- Multiple missions
- Play as a hero or command squads of storm troopers
- Dual gaming mode board
- Full of adventurous scenario
- 2-5 player game
Two distinct modes of game
The board game brings you two different games to play. One of them is a campaign game in which you and your friends (up to four) can play to deal with a series of thrilling missions interconnected in a narrative campaign. Simultaneously, the other one is the skirmish game in which you and your one friend (opponent muster) confront teams and fight head-to-head over common objectives.
Thirty different missions
For ensuring more fun in the game, thirty different thrilling missions are available in this game for different campaigns. Every mission is specified for the particular model of the campaign. Some campaigns contain a series of the mission all interconnected under single motive.
Finely sculpted figures
All the figures in the game are sculpted according to their particular role. That’s why we find every figure quite fitting for their particular role in any campaign of the game.
- Wonderful figures
- Two games on one board
- Thrilling missions
- High-quality board
- A Fine play duration
- Not for below 12
- A bit expensive
Why should you buy this?
The best feature in this game that can force you to buy this game is its ability to offer two different game modes on a single board, the campaign game and the skirmish game. So don’t make it further late and bring this fantastic board game.
03- Descent Journeys in the Dark Second Edition
The people, who like to play board games, must-play the “Descent Journeys in the Dark” game. This is an exciting game in which one player performs a traitorous overlord, while four other players act as brave heroes. Here heroes fight monsters and avoid the vile plan of the overlord.
Features
- Heroic adventure
- 1 to 2 hours duration game
- 2 to 5 Players accessibility
- Story-driven scenarios
- Campaign play
- Full of amazing conflicts
- Useful equipment
Key Components
There are some critical components of this game that make it successful all the time. Like the countless hero and opponents, an immersive story-driven campaign and the double-sided modular board pieces under skillful combinations make this game fantastic.
Fantasy setting
We find a complete fantasy setting in the games like rune age, rune wars, and rune bound. We also see heroes in a vibrant fantasy realm where they fight against an ancient evil.
Accessories of the Game
This game includes 50 detailed plastic figures, 48 double-sided map tiles, nine custom dice, nearly 250 cards, and over 150 tokens.
- It comes with an instruction manual
- Detailed board
- Maximum figures
- Fully adventurous
- Long duration
- Not for children
- Not for more than five players
Why should you buy this?
Although the other features of this game are also praiseworthy, buy its long duration, detailed figures, and fantasy setting are the most significant that encourage you to buy this product.
04- Arcadia Quest: Core Game
If you want to play an adventurous board game, then Arcadia Quest is the best game with a combination of PvE and PvP gameplay. In these games, the Monsters go against the players’ actions while players are against monsters on the board and the Heroes in control of other players. In this game, players don’t have to depend on a game master’s role, but everyone plays a hero.
Features
- Highly Adventurous
- 45-60 minute playing duration
- For 2-4 Players
- Full of campaign
- Outstanding figures
- Guild Dashboards
- Guilds can be made
Fantastic Figures
This game is full of interesting characters, including twelve highly upgraded Hero figures and plenty of monsters, like Trolls, Beast Men, and Orcs. These figures make this game highly adventurous.
Easy Battles resolution
This game is set so that the battles and confrontations get easily resolved through intuitive dice combat in quite a limited time. It goes on in a way like Attackers try to score hits through their rolls while defenders attempt to roll for blocks.
Guild Customization
The players in this game can incredibly be customized through different items and equipment upgrades. So the Guild Heroes can be customized with these types of equipment and can be made more formidable opponents throughout the adventure.
- More figures
- Can be customized
- Campaign Guide Book
- Space-saving
- Durable quality
- A bit of time taking installation
- A little bit short
Why should you buy this?
With its fantastic figures, this board game, guild customization, and some other features is quite remarkable to play. So purchasing this game will surely not be the loss of your money.
05- Shadows of Brimstone: City of the Ancients
If you are looking for a board game based on the theme of classic western archetypes, then don’t wait; bring Shadows of Brimstone board game and enjoy. This is a fantastic cooperative game in which players in Shadows of Brimstone play different classic Western Hero Archetypes, like the Gunslinger, Law Man, or Saloon Girl. They make an adventurous environment into the dark mines.
Features
- 1-4 players
- Up to 120 minutes duration
- Based on classic Western Hero Archetypes
- Campaign play
- Full of adventures
- Amazing missions
- Cooperative genre
Major Contents
Although there are plenty of other components, you will be astonished by experiencing unusual encounters, interesting equipment, a randomized map, and thoughtful combats in this game.
Beautifully designed figures
All figures, like heroes and monsters, are designed in a more detailed way. These are the figures for this game that make it wonderful.
All useful Accessories
This game includes all necessary accessories like detailed plastic figures, well-designed map tiles, cards, and lots of tokens.
- High durability
- Amazing figures
- Interesting equipment
- Impressive missions
- Vivid maps
- Not for children below 12
- Time taking installation
Why should you buy this?
This is an entertaining game with unique features and accessories. So if you buy this board game, you will love to play it.
06- Rebel Nemesis
Nemesis is a fantastic iconic science-fiction adventurous game. The game’s theme is like the players are at the damaged ship in a hibernation situation where they have to find the damage and repair it for returning to earth. The worst condition comes when one crew member is dead, and somebody pulled his body out. There is the worst situation of horror and a matter of trust among crewmates.
Features
- Detailed plastic miniatures
- 1-5 player game
- Horrific element
- Two-sided large board
- Realistic theme
- Thriller game
- Revised Rules with FAQ Incorporated
A science-fiction horror adventure
The game’s theme is set in how all figures and other game components fully get involved in creating the atmosphere of a sci-fi horror adventure—this the major factor in the game’s success.
Qualitative Game Components
Along with beautifully detailed miniatures, there other over 500 detailed and high-quality game components that cooperate in the game’s complete development.
Outstanding Game Strategy
The storyline of this game runs on the elements of cooperation, bluff, and backstabbing. These elements make this game more exciting and demanding.
- More players can play.
- Durable board
- Good strategy
- Simple to play
- Full of thrill
- No customizing equipment
- A bit hard to install
Why should you buy this?
The best thing about this game is that its detailed figures play around a sci-fi horror adventure that offers full entertainment. So go and bring this excellent game to enjoy.
Buyer’s Guide for the Best Dungeon Crawler Board Game
After reading the product reviews and other information given in this article, a few queries might have got emerged in your mind. For instance, why should you buy these Dungeon crawler board games miniature? How would you know the properties of the best dungeon crawler board game? Well, be relaxed because this buyer’s guide will provide you all the significant details about the best dungeon crawler board games. Although there are thousands of reasons that will encourage you to buy these games and play, the few most important features are given below to clarify these board games thoroughly. So let’s have an eye over them.
Amazing action figures
The dungeon crawler board games include very impressive action figures, including heroes, overlords, and monsters. These action figures are sculpted in such a beautiful and detailed way that they all collaborate to make these games more exciting and adventurous. The figures are not limited to a small number, but you will find a good number of figures in these games. Besides, these games are designed so that they look like being a realistic figure and offer an amazing feeling while operating these figures as game players.
Different interesting modes of game
In dungeon crawler board games, you are given different optional modes to play the game, including cooperative, competitive, and solo mode of the game. You can take your other friends as a team in cooperative mode and play cooperatively to achieve a certain mission. In competitive mode, you can take your friend to play as your opponent and play a head-to-head competitive game. In solo mode, you alone can make a guild of different game figures and use that guild to achieve your objective in the game. Now the choice is yours, whether you play it in cooperative mode, competitive mode, or solo mode. Here you are assured that you will enjoy all three modes equally.
Useful Accessories in the Game
Initially, the board games used to come with a very limited number of accessories. That’s why those games were not so interesting. But, now, these board games come with handy accessories like detailed plastic figures, double-sided map tiles, custom dice, turn cards, and lots of tokens. These all accessories of the gameplay plays a very crucial role in playing the game successfully. Furthermore, these accessories make these games a more convenient and entertaining way.
Fantasy and adventurous setting
These board games ensure a complete fantasy setting and adventurous themes under the milieu of rune age, rune wars, or rune bound where heroes campaign against evil monsters. Besides, an atmosphere of a sci-fi horror element may be included in some board games. So such adventurous and fantasy themes enhance the excitement in the game.
Intact Customization
In these board games, you are given the facility of customizing your players with different items and equipment upgrades. So with the help of these customizing items, you equip your player with different items suiting for a particular campaign. So it means by using this customization option, you maintain an intimidating guild of players throughout the adventure.
Outstanding campaign Strategy
The campaign strategy of these games is plotted in a way that always arouses excitement in players. Like the storyline of these games, move on to the factors of cooperation, bluff, and backstabbing. Due to these elements, these dungeon crawler games have become the most thriller games in the world.
The above-mentioned key features of the best dungeon crawler board games would surely guide you through buying these dungeon crawler board games.
Read More: Best Solo War Board Games
Best Dungeon Crawler Board Game: Frequently Asked Question
Can the dungeon crawler board game be played solo?
Yes, some dungeon crawler board games like Gloomhaven and Dungeon Roll can easily play by you without other players’ cooperation. In this case, you need to make a guild and play.
What is the Best Dungeon Crawler Games Like GloomHaven?
Along with GloomHaven, there also some other best Dungeon crawler games like “Descent Journeys in the Dark,” a game with heroic adventures, and “Star Wars: Imperial Assault,” a 2 in 1 board game. You will love to play them.
How does a Campaign mode on board games work?
The campaign in the board game is a set of adventures to continue the storyline of the games. The campaign is run by a game master, while other figures play their role in developing the campaign.
Competitive or Cooperative Dungeon Crawl?
Competitive dungeon crawler game involves the head-to-head nature of competition between players, tactical war-game. In a cooperative dungeon crawler game, a group of players will cooperate to accomplish a certain task. So means you have both options for playing cooperatively or competitively.
What is the meaning of the term replay value in a board game?
Replay value is a term used in Board or video games which determine the continuation of game playing after its first completion. The interesting games contain a good replay value as they are played again and again. The more the board game is adventurous, the more it will get the replay value.
Can Gloomhaven be played solo?
Of course, Gloomhaven can easily be played solo. It would help if you made some manual changes when you want to play it solo. Many players do not like to play certain board games with other players. Rather they want to play those games alone. So for such people, GloomHaven is given the option of playing it solo.
What happens when you lose Gloomhaven?
If you lose the scenario in the GloomHaven, the items you hold are returned to the treasure tiles. If you want to loot the items again, you will have to go for the next attempt. So losing Gloomhaven will force you for the next attempt.
Does Gloomhaven use dice?
No, the GloomHaven doesn’t use dice for randomization; rather, it uses cards for each turn of players.
Our Recommendation for the Best Dungeon Crawler Board Game
No doubt, all ten board games enlisted above are the best dungeon crawler board games. If you want the best one to be shortlisted, then GloomHaven is the most recommended board game with amazing figures, an adventurous setting, and a long duration. So you must buy GloomHaven and enjoy it.
- Playing through a scenario is a cooperative affair where players will fight against automated monsters using an innovative card system to determine the order of play and what a player does on their turn
- This is a game with a persistent and changing world that is ideally played over many game sessions
- For 1-4 Players. Ages 14+
- 60-120 minute playing time
- Euro-inspired tactical combat in an evolving campaign
Conclusion
So after going through the significant features and reviews of the best dungeon crawler board games, it can openly be claimed that the dungeon crawler board games are the best entertainment mode that offers a long-lasting excitement with their satisfactory performance. You are profoundly expected that you found this article knowledgeable.
Veronica is a Green Bay-based freelance writer and editor with extensive experience with board games. When not busy scribbling her thoughts, you might find her in her garden, hiking out in the woods, or exploring new food joints.
Veronica is a die-hard board game and chess hobbyist by night. She likes to try out new games and is always on the lookout to recruit new players for her game night (so beware!). When not playing board games or throwing darts, she is usually busy painting miniatures (or doing other nerdy stuff).
She is the CEO & Content Writer of Indoor Games Zone. She shares her expertise from years of playing chess, board games, and darts.
Last update on 2022-05-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
