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Top Ten Dungeon Crawl Board Games
I really enjoy fantasy themed games. I grew up enjoying DnD and still play it. Sometimes we don’t have enough PCs or the DM isn’t prepared. This list is my top ten games to pull out when such tragedy strikes. I do not list board games I have not played, but if I have heard good things about them they go in the Honorable Mentions.
Here are my Top Ten Dungeon Crawl Board Games:
10. Drakon – There’s a dungeon and a dragon. You get to steal coins and get ten before your opponents. Lots of “take that” and lots of fun.
9. Dungeon Twister – While not a pure dungeon crawl this game has a lot of the elements of one. If you marry a dungeon crawl and chess you get Dungeon Twister. You also get a fun game for two (or more with expansions).
8. Dungeon Crawler – A solo dungeon crawl card game that is expandable to allow more players.Pick your heroes fight the monsters and get loot.
7. Loot and Scoot – This game has you creating your own dungeon to be looted while you loot your opponent’s dungeon.
6. Those Pesky Humans – Play as the heroes or monsters that are annoyed their home is being raided. Funny and fun.
5. Dwarf King’s Hold – Both Dead Rising and Green Menace are fun scenario-based dungeon crawls.
4. DnD Adventure Board Games – Castle Ravenloft, Wrath of Ashardalon and The Legend of Drizzt are all full of DM-less hack-n-slash fun. Plus they are cooperative.
3. Dungeon Run – Raid the dungeon with your friends and kill the boss. Then lookout as you all try to be the only player to exit with the summoning stone.
2. Claustrophobia – possibly the best two player dungeon crawl out there. It has innovative mechanics and a lot of tension.
1. Super Dungeon Explore – This throwback to old-school video game dungeon crawls is great. There are multiple modes of play, looks great and has lots of ways to expand. A classic romp through a dungeon in classic style.
Honorable Mentions: Descent, Doom, Heroquest, Runebound, Talisman, Thunderstone, Tomb, Warhammer Quest
Disagree or have some to add let me know in the comments.
12 Responses to “Top Ten Dungeon Crawl Board Games”
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I’m not sure if Wiz-War qualifies, but if it does, I think I’d add it to the list.
How did Space Hulk not get an honorable mention?
Good suggestion. Maybe I will have to add it.
You really should try Descent. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it is pretty much the definition of ‘dungeon crawl board game’. I understand why you put it in the honorable mentions list but I think if you tried it you would see what a travesty it is that it’s there. 🙂
I just recently traded for Descent and do need to get it on the table. Maybe it will cause a revision of this list. Thanks for the suggestion and feedback.
Although it’s long out of print and you did give it an honorable mention, Warhammer Quest stands out above all those mentioned IMO, followed by Descent
What about Dungeoneer? Advanced Heroquest? Hybrid? Space Crusade? Tanhauser?
These all sound like board games I’ll have to try out.
Do you consider Runebound a Dungeon Crawler? I do, though it’s not technically set in a Dungeon… it’d probably be among the top of my list. Talisman is another that comes to mind (it can have a dungeon, if you have the right expansion).
Yep that is why they are both in the Honorable Mentions. I have heard good things about both of these.
I would add Dungeonquest to this list. It’s not the best dungeon crawler I know but it’s a classic.
Another I have never played, but would like to.