With the deluge of board games released every year, it’s hard to keep our top 10 lists in order for very long. Back in 2013, I posted my Top 5 Board Games Based on a Video Game list. A decade ago, pickings were very slim and I couldn’t even find 10 solid games to choose. Zip forward half a decade and I recreated the list, this time getting all the way up to 10 games. And a lot of those games are still excellent: This War of Mine, X-Com, and Fallout (among others) are games I still own and play today.

But lately, there have been even more games based on a video game hitting our tabletop, so once again I find myself revisiting this list (only 4 years later at this point). Today, I’m going to dive back into my Top 10 Board Games based on a Video Game. However this time, I’m going to avoid choosing any games that appeared on my 2020 list. Partially because half of those games are out of print by now, and partially just to give some more variety. So with all that out of the way, let’s get to the good stuff.

Top 10 Board Games Based on a Video Game

10. 6: Siege – The Board Game

Based on the Rainbow 6 Siege video game, 6 Siege is an asymmetrical miniatures game that will have 2-4 players facing off in a tactical skirmish. Each player fields a team of 5 unique operators, who will be moving around the board either trying to assault the objective or defend it. I’ve only played this game once, but when I did, I really enjoyed it. In fact, with more plays, I could see this game potentially climbing higher on this list. However, I can’t really talk about 6 Siege without talking about how Mythic Games absolutely destroyed their goodwill with the handling of their Kickstarter. It involved delays, unfulfilled pledges, demanding extra money, and then selling games on their website while many backers were left empty-handed. It’s a sad story on all fronts for an otherwise really good game.

2-4 Players • Ages 14+ • 60 minutes • $140

9. Horizon: Zero Dawn – The Board Game

I’d like to have Horizon: Zero Dawn higher up on this list, because I enjoy the game quite a bit. Yet it has two core problems. The first is that you absolutely need some of the expansions to keep this one fresh as the base game is lacking in variety. The second is that it’s really a cooperative game masquerading as a competitive one. The coop rules were a late addition to the game, but it plays so much better cooperatively. While it does require a bit of tweaking otherwise it’s too easy, the gameplay loop of fighting giant robotic machines with primitive weapons is a lot of fun. They may have fixed this with their upcoming game based on Horizon Forbidden West, but time will tell on that one.

1-4 Players • Ages 12+ • 60-90 minutes • $60

8. Dorfromantik: The Board Game

Dorfromantik is a bit of an interesting title. It’s a board game, based on a video game, that was pretty much a board game to begin with. Winner of the prestigious Spiel des Jahres in 2023, Dorfromantik is a cozy tile-laying board game that probably plays best as a solo game. If you’ve ever played the video game, then you’ve got a good idea of what the board game is like. Much like its video game counterpart, it’s a very laid-back, tile laying experience that’s more about the journey than the destination.

1-6 Players • Ages 6+ • 30 minutes • $39

7. The Witcher: Old World

One of the most popular video games of all time, The Witcher 3, has a new board game adaptation. However, unlike other games on this list, it’s not based on the gameplay of the video game, and in fact, takes place years before the saga of Geralt of Rivia. I’m probably cheating a bit by including the game on this list, as it’s probably more based on the book series than the video game, but whatever. The Witcher: Old World is a competitive adventure board game, where players travel across a vast map to embark on quests, fighting monsters (and sometimes other witchers). The goal is to be the first player to acquire enough trophies.

1-5 Players • Ages 10+ • 90-150 minutes • $159

6. Sniper Elite: The Board Game

Sniper Elite: The Board Game is a 1 vs Many game where one player controls a WW2 allied sniper, and the other player(s) command the German forces trying to stop him. Much like the video game, Sniper Elite has a mixture of stealth and action as the sniper player must sneak around the base to get to his target because as he’s vastly outnumbered (and outgunned) by the German troops. The game also uses an interesting bag pull mechanic, which combines nicely with the hidden movement in the game to create some really tense moments. Unlike Horizon: Zero Dawn, Sniper Elite does have a cooperative mode, yet it plays best as a competitive game.

1-4 Players • Ages 12+ • 45 minutes • $56

5. Resident Evil: The Board Game

Oddly enough, this is the 3rd Resident Evil game from publisher Steamforged Games. They started with Resident Evil 2, went to 3, and now are back to the original. Much like the video game, Resident Evil takes place in an old mansion dealing with an undead outbreak. It’s a cooperative game of survival where resources matter, you are up against the wall, and every mission gets just a bit more deadly. This is definitely not a Zombicide style of game where you run and gun till everything is dead. You’ll need to plan your moves carefully as the undead will react to things you do.

1-4 Players • Ages 14+ • 60-90 minutes • $75

4. Bloodborne: The Board Game

A campaign-driven game that puts you and your fellow players into the shoes of a Hunter in the town of Yharnam. Players will have to fight through beasts, monsters, and townsfolk, and winning is no easy task. Much like in the video game, players can expect to die and be brought back, all the while dealing with monsters who constantly respawn. If you enjoyed the brutal combat and hard difficulty of the Bloodborne video game series, then this game will be right up your alley.

1-4 Players • Ages 12+ • 60 minutes • $99

3. Slay the Spire: The Board Game

The newest offering on this list is a surprisingly good one. Sure, it’s another card game based on a video game that was already a card game. But what’s mostly surprising is that the game works really well. I was skeptical that they’d be able to take the spirit of Slay the Spire and keep it intact for a tabletop game without making it overly fiddly. But somehow they did it. Slay the Spire: The Board Game is a very faithful recreation of the video game where you’ll be building your deck, fighting wacky monsters, and discovering relics. It’s not a short game by any stretch, but this cooperative card game is a ton of fun.
1-4, 30-120, 12

1-4 Players • Ages 12+ • 30-120 minutes • $115

2. Assassins Creed: Brotherhood of Venice

A cooperative board game set during one of the greatest Assassin’s Creed video games (Assassins’ Creed 2 for those keeping score), players will take on the role of assassins during the Italian Renaissance. It’s a campaign-style board game where players will be unlocking new skills, equipment, and missions throughout the game. Based on Triton Noir’s V-Commandos system, Assassin’s Creed has a mixture of stealth and action as you’ll be sneaking around the map, fighting guards, collecting loot, and trying to accomplish your mission. It’s a sprawling game that offers tons of variety, great production values, and a lot of fun for those who take time to master the strategy of the stealth system.
1-4, 30-90, 12

1-4 Players • Ages 12+ • 30-90 minutes • $55

1. Frostpunk: The Board Game

I might be a little ambitious in putting Frostpunk as my #1, because I really do love it, but it’s also not going to be for everyone. It’s a deep, complex game with lots of moving parts. Game designer Adam Kwapiński apparently couldn’t decide what parts of the video game to bring into the board game, so he brought pretty much everything but the kitchen sink. It’s set in a post-apocalyptic world where the earth has frozen over. You need to rebuild your fledgling society around a massive generator that provides the heat to keep everyone alive. You’ll have to manage resources, city building, citizens’ needs, and events that can be good or bad (mostly bad). You’ll also need to research new technology, keep your society growing, and send out scouts to explore the wasteland. There is so much to do in Frostpunk that you will never have enough actions to get it all accomplished, so you’ll need to make the best decisions you can. It’s a game that will take you a bit to wrap your head around, but for those who do, it’s a really rewarding play experience.
1-4, 120-150, 16

1-4 Players • Ages 16+ • 120-150 minutes • $100