Tabletop games are having a moment. That's perfectly fine by us because we love a good reason to sit around the table and forget about the crazy world for a while. Role-playing games especially have experienced a boom, and everybody wants to be somebody else as they grapple with the interesting stories of new characters. There are a lot of options out there for you, but some choices are highly-regarded features in the genre. To guide you on your quest to find the best tabletop RPG, we've compiled a list of the greatest hits. Tell us what you think of these ten favorites.
10 Mice And Mystics
Four different classes provide the chance to customize your party when playing Mice and Mystics! And don't underestimate the power of mice. You may be little creatures, but there is a kingdom in danger and you need to stand as heroes! A base game exists, along with several expansions, which allows players to follow the story of their rugged squad through many stories. The tabletop adventure is more complex than entry-level board games, but it's quite simple compared to other robust titles in the genre.
9 Arkham Horror
If you want a feel for the Lovecraftian world, then Arkham Horror would be a perfect fit for you and your gaming friends. The Fantasy Flight game is exceptionally tough, and it will take multiple tries to make it through some parts of the campaign, but the adventure allows you to follow several investigators as they explore the horror in the world around them. Be careful or you might lose your sanity! If you manage to stay sane, you could still be killed by any of the terrible creatures that threaten the physical plane of existence.
8 Rising Sun
Feudal Japan is the setting for so many fabulous stories, and this period is the backdrop for one of our top RPGs that you can buy right now. Rising Sun is the next game from the minds that brought us Blood Rage, and the elegant game structure present in that Viking fantasy has been refined and improved for the newest title. The historical setting forces you to consider more than conflict as a path to victory. Forge alliances with other players and negotiate your way into an advantageous position. Anything can be an asset while you lay plans for supremacy among friends.
7 War Of The Ring
Lord of the Rings is one of the most successful fantasy series in the world, so it's no surprise that a board game following the original story is one of the best RPG experiences around. The game is best played with two players. One will command the armies of Mordor and those under the control of Sauron. The other player will command the Free Peoples, and the fate of Middle Earth plays out on the board. It's similar to Star Wars: Rebellion in style. An excellent game all around guaranteed to frustrate and to excite.
6 One Night: Ultimate Werewolf
This game will be nothing like the others listed, but we did that on purpose. Sometimes you need a lighter game that will break up the long hours spent on other RPGs. You might also want something that you can bring out at parties for people that don't play as many board games. It's very accessible, and it's a lot of fun. One Night: Ultimate Werewolf is a game of inaccurate communication. You start as a villager or a werewolf, and you have to decipher whether or not you're still on the same side when the morning comes. If you like it, there are also tons of different versions that you can mix and match.
5 Monster Of The Week
One of the few choices we've added that isn't a board game. Monster of the Week is closer to Dungeons & Dragons in style. Oh my God, it's so fun. If you're a fan of Supernatural or Buffy the Vampire Slayer, then this is a game you'll want to try. One member of your group will lead the sessions as a friendly collaborator who unveils the story piece by piece. But they're mainly reacting to the whims of the group, who are badass monster-hunters. You can live out your monster-slaying fantasies here. Be warned, though. You might not be able to stop once you start.
4 Descent: Journeys In The Dark
A longstanding feature in the tabletop RPG scene. Descent is pretty much a Dungeons and Dragons campaign in a box. It features dungeons that you explore with your party, awesome plastic miniatures that detail your group and the enemies that you'll face, as well as a linear story that you can follow session by session. If you're intimidated by the more abstract form of play that comprises D&D, then start with a game like Descent. It will get your foot in the door, and you'll be able to build an unforgettable story.
3 Star Wars: Imperial Assault
Imagine if you were playing Descent and then asked yourself, "What if I could do this in the Star Wars universe?" Guess what?! Fantasy Flight Games heard your plea, and they responded with Imperial Assault. The Star Wars experience is brought to your table with so much content through which you can play.
Expansions galore. Miniatures for days. If you've been waiting to get your fix, then Imperial Assault might be able to meet your demand. Fantasy Flight creates some of the best games on the market. This particular one is a gem.
2 Gloomhaven
This beastly game is at the top of a lot of lists. The box weighs enough to get in a good workout just lifting it off your shelf. The miniatures are top quality for board games. The campaign is over 100 hours. You can play this and not look back for a long time. Your game group could subsist off this behemoth for a couple of years. More important than all of that, however, is the gameplay. And it plays well, folks. There's a reason that Gloomhaven is the talk of the town. It's a fun game.
1 Dungeons & Dragons
Come on. This couldn't not be at the top of our list. Dungeons & Dragons has experienced a resurgence in recent years. Tabletop role-playing is big right now, and the classic can't be beaten. It may sound weird, but gathering together with food and drinks before embarking on mad quests is a wonderful time. Make sure you've got the right friends. Make sure you've got a Dungeon Master that knows what he's doing. And then leave behind the real world. Travel in a fantasy land with a drink in one hand and a broadsword in the other.