| | Adventure Board Games |
type |
FeatureClass |
| | Adventure Board Games |
label |
Adventure Board Games |
| | Adventure Board Games |
page |
AdventureBoardGames |
| | Adventure Board Games |
comment |
Adventure board games are a subset of Board Games where each player controls a personified character token whose abilities improve as the game progresses (through leveling, items, or both). "Personified" here means that the characters usually have unique names, distinct appearances, and specialized abilities — just like in a Tabletop RPG, although pen-and-paper RPGs are easily distinct by their free-form gameplay that does not require a board. Cooperative ABGs also often feature Asymmetric Multiplayer (with one player functioning as a "Game Master" controlling monsters and traps), Variable Player Goals, and varying session goals ("quests").
Adventure board games' origins are tightly intertwined with tabletop RPGs, as their Ur-Example, Dungeon! (1975), had been a competing design to the original Dungeons & Dragons (1974). In The '80s, the genre split into three distinct subgenres all of which are represented on the market to this today:
Competitive ABGs, codified by the original Dungeon! and Talisman, pit players against each other, usually racing to collect treasure faster than the others to win the game.
Investigative ABGs, codified by Arkham Horror, have players cooperate with each other to uncover clues and to solve a mystery, often of the Cosmic Horror Story variety, before some game-ending condition occurs.
Cooperative ABGs, codified by HeroQuest, also have players form a Player Party to collect treasure and to fight monsters, which are controlled either by the game itself or by a dedicated Game Master player.
Because most adventure board games are deeply rooted in a fantasy or a horror theme, they are often classified as Ameritrash Games, although after the Turn of the Millennium, Euro Game mechanics started seeping into the genre, particularly through Fantasy Flight Games' productions. Another trend is adapting popular video games, particularly CRPGs, to tabletop format. Compare Narrative Board Games, which also revolve around playing out stories, but don't necessarily feature character tokens whose abilities improve during the game.
Adventure Video Games are something entirely different. The closest video game equivalents to this genre are actually Action RPGs, Hero Shooters and MOBAs. |
| | Adventure Board Games |
fetched |
2023-12-01T16:05:17Z |
| | Adventure Board Games |
parsed |
2023-12-01T16:05:17Z |
| | Adventure Board Games |
isPartOf |
DBTropes |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_18bdbe61 |
type |
Adventure Board Games |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_18bdbe61 |
comment |
Zombicide (2012)
Zombicide: Black Plague (2015) |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_18bdbe61 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_18bdbe61 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | Zombicide (Tabletop Game) |
hasFeature |
Adventure Board Games / int_18bdbe61 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_1a8d488a |
type |
Adventure Board Games |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_1a8d488a |
comment |
Munchkin (2001) is a card game without a board, but it was designed to mockingly emulate the (senselessly competitive) tabletop RPG gameplay. |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_1a8d488a |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_1a8d488a |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | Munchkin (Tabletop Game) |
hasFeature |
Adventure Board Games / int_1a8d488a |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_2a91190d |
type |
Adventure Board Games |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_2a91190d |
comment |
Tales of the Arabian Nights (1985, 2008) |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_2a91190d |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_2a91190d |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | Tales of the Arabian Nights (Tabletop Game) |
hasFeature |
Adventure Board Games / int_2a91190d |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_3259ad89 |
type |
Adventure Board Games |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_3259ad89 |
comment |
Forbidden Desert (2013) |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_3259ad89 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_3259ad89 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | Forbidden Desert (Tabletop Game) |
hasFeature |
Adventure Board Games / int_3259ad89 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_33888a01 |
type |
Adventure Board Games |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_33888a01 |
comment |
The Legend of Drizzt (2011), based on the eponymous book series |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_33888a01 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_33888a01 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Legend of Drizzt |
hasFeature |
Adventure Board Games / int_33888a01 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_3ba3f389 |
type |
Adventure Board Games |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_3ba3f389 |
comment |
Forbidden Island (2010) |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_3ba3f389 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_3ba3f389 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | Forbidden Island (Tabletop Game) |
hasFeature |
Adventure Board Games / int_3ba3f389 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_3c1828ea |
type |
Adventure Board Games |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_3c1828ea |
comment |
Arkham Horror: The Card Game (2016) |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_3c1828ea |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_3c1828ea |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | Arkham Horror: The Card Game (Tabletop Game) |
hasFeature |
Adventure Board Games / int_3c1828ea |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_3f38c877 |
type |
Adventure Board Games |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_3f38c877 |
comment |
Darklight: Memento Mori (2018) |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_3f38c877 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_3f38c877 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | Darklight: Memento Mori (Tabletop Game) |
hasFeature |
Adventure Board Games / int_3f38c877 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_40864d6a |
type |
Adventure Board Games |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_40864d6a |
comment |
Dragon Strike (1993) |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_40864d6a |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_40864d6a |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | Dragon Strike (Tabletop Game) |
hasFeature |
Adventure Board Games / int_40864d6a |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_459fc19b |
type |
Adventure Board Games |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_459fc19b |
comment |
Robo Rally (1984, 2005, 2016) really skirts the line between a strategy and a competitive ABG: while each robot has a unique name, token, and even a backstory, they are all functionally identical gameplay-wise, except for the random upgrades the players may obtain (or lose) under specific circumstances. |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_459fc19b |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_459fc19b |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | Robo Rally (Tabletop Game) |
hasFeature |
Adventure Board Games / int_459fc19b |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_51b9f8fd |
type |
Adventure Board Games |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_51b9f8fd |
comment |
Bang! (2002) is a board-less card game, but you play as expies of famous outlaws with unique abilities and competing goals and can gain new moves with better gear. |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_51b9f8fd |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_51b9f8fd |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | Bang! (Tabletop Game) |
hasFeature |
Adventure Board Games / int_51b9f8fd |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_5251e609 |
type |
Adventure Board Games |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_5251e609 |
comment |
Arkham Horror (1987, 2005)
Arkham Horror: The Card Game (2016) |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_5251e609 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_5251e609 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | Arkham Horror (Tabletop Game) |
hasFeature |
Adventure Board Games / int_5251e609 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_56fb2dc5 |
type |
Adventure Board Games |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_56fb2dc5 |
comment |
Dead of Winter (2014) |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_56fb2dc5 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_56fb2dc5 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | Dead of Winter (Tabletop Game) |
hasFeature |
Adventure Board Games / int_56fb2dc5 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_5a711357 |
type |
Adventure Board Games |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_5a711357 |
comment |
Kill Dr. Lucky (1996), which is an inverse version of Clue. |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_5a711357 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_5a711357 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | Kill Dr. Lucky (Tabletop Game) |
hasFeature |
Adventure Board Games / int_5a711357 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_5e547602 |
type |
Adventure Board Games |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_5e547602 |
comment |
Clank A Deck Building Adventure: Both an Adventure Board Game and a Deckbuilding Game. Competitive. |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_5e547602 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_5e547602 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | Clank! A Deck-building Adventure (Tabletop Game) |
hasFeature |
Adventure Board Games / int_5e547602 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_609fc58f |
type |
Adventure Board Games |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_609fc58f |
comment |
Betrayal at House on the Hill (2004, 2010) |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_609fc58f |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_609fc58f |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | Betrayal at House on the Hill (Tabletop Game) |
hasFeature |
Adventure Board Games / int_609fc58f |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_64d7f7de |
type |
Adventure Board Games |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_64d7f7de |
comment |
Tomb of Annihilation (2017), based on the eponymous adventure for 5E, itself based on the infamous Tomb of Horrors module |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_64d7f7de |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_64d7f7de |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | Tomb of Annihilation (Tabletop Game) |
hasFeature |
Adventure Board Games / int_64d7f7de |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_6ac55ec7 |
type |
Adventure Board Games |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_6ac55ec7 |
comment |
Dungeons & Dragons: The Fantasy Adventure Board Game (2002), based on 3E |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_6ac55ec7 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_6ac55ec7 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | Dungeons & Dragons (Tabletop Game) |
hasFeature |
Adventure Board Games / int_6ac55ec7 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_6ff983d6 |
type |
Adventure Board Games |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_6ff983d6 |
comment |
Fortune and Glory: The Cliffhanger Game (2011) is a massive love letter to Two-Fisted Tales. |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_6ff983d6 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_6ff983d6 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | Fortune and Glory (Tabletop Game) |
hasFeature |
Adventure Board Games / int_6ff983d6 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_7998918a |
type |
Adventure Board Games |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_7998918a |
comment |
Android (2008) |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_7998918a |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_7998918a |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | Android (Tabletop Game) |
hasFeature |
Adventure Board Games / int_7998918a |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_7bb34654 |
type |
Adventure Board Games |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_7bb34654 |
comment |
Eldritch Horror (2014) |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_7bb34654 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_7bb34654 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | Eldritch Horror (Tabletop Game) |
hasFeature |
Adventure Board Games / int_7bb34654 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_7f404511 |
type |
Adventure Board Games |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_7f404511 |
comment |
Forgotten Waters (2020) |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_7f404511 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_7f404511 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | Forgotten Waters (Tabletop Game) |
hasFeature |
Adventure Board Games / int_7f404511 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_8ba48259 |
type |
Adventure Board Games |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_8ba48259 |
comment |
Shadows over Camelot (2005) |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_8ba48259 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_8ba48259 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | Shadows over Camelot (Tabletop Game) |
hasFeature |
Adventure Board Games / int_8ba48259 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_93bd7f6e |
type |
Adventure Board Games |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_93bd7f6e |
comment |
Last Night on Earth (2007) |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_93bd7f6e |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_93bd7f6e |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | Last Night on Earth (Tabletop Game) |
hasFeature |
Adventure Board Games / int_93bd7f6e |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_93e9dd53 |
type |
Adventure Board Games |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_93e9dd53 |
comment |
Armello (2015) is, for all intents and purposes, a digital competitive adventure board game. |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_93e9dd53 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_93e9dd53 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | Armello (Video Game) |
hasFeature |
Adventure Board Games / int_93e9dd53 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_a43b0fda |
type |
Adventure Board Games |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_a43b0fda |
comment |
Descent: Journeys in the Dark (2005, 2012) |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_a43b0fda |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_a43b0fda |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | Descent: Journeys in the Dark (Tabletop Game) |
hasFeature |
Adventure Board Games / int_a43b0fda |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_a9cb14fc |
type |
Adventure Board Games |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_a9cb14fc |
comment |
Castle Ravenloft (2010), based on the Ravenloft product line |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_a9cb14fc |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_a9cb14fc |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | Ravenloft (Tabletop Game) |
hasFeature |
Adventure Board Games / int_a9cb14fc |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_aa2506b8 |
type |
Adventure Board Games |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_aa2506b8 |
comment |
Mice and Mystics (2012) |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_aa2506b8 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_aa2506b8 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | Mice and Mystics (Tabletop Game) |
hasFeature |
Adventure Board Games / int_aa2506b8 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_ac63ece |
type |
Adventure Board Games |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_ac63ece |
comment |
A Touch of Evil (2008) is a throwback to Gothic Horror tropes. |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_ac63ece |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_ac63ece |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Touch of Evil (Tabletop Game) |
hasFeature |
Adventure Board Games / int_ac63ece |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_ad6c96d3 |
type |
Adventure Board Games |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_ad6c96d3 |
comment |
King of Tokyo (2012) |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_ad6c96d3 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_ad6c96d3 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | King of Tokyo (Tabletop Game) |
hasFeature |
Adventure Board Games / int_ad6c96d3 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_b493c40b |
type |
Adventure Board Games |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_b493c40b |
comment |
Temple of Elemental Evil (2015), based on the eponymous module |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_b493c40b |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_b493c40b |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Temple of Elemental Evil (Tabletop Game) |
hasFeature |
Adventure Board Games / int_b493c40b |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_ba864563 |
type |
Adventure Board Games |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_ba864563 |
comment |
HeroQuest (1989)
Advanced HeroQuest (1989) |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_ba864563 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_ba864563 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | HeroQuest (Tabletop Game) |
hasFeature |
Adventure Board Games / int_ba864563 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_be66ae59 |
type |
Adventure Board Games |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_be66ae59 |
comment |
Warhammer Quest (1995-98) |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_be66ae59 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_be66ae59 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | Warhammer Quest (Tabletop Game) |
hasFeature |
Adventure Board Games / int_be66ae59 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_be730847 |
type |
Adventure Board Games |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_be730847 |
comment |
Mansions of Madness (2011) |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_be730847 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_be730847 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | Mansions of Madness (Tabletop Game) |
hasFeature |
Adventure Board Games / int_be730847 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_c6eeb746 |
type |
Adventure Board Games |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_c6eeb746 |
comment |
The Captain Is Dead (2014) is a cooperative game about the crew of your favorite science fiction TV show trying to survive an attack from hostile aliens. |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_c6eeb746 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_c6eeb746 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | The Captain Is Dead (Tabletop Game) |
hasFeature |
Adventure Board Games / int_c6eeb746 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_c914d6b6 |
type |
Adventure Board Games |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_c914d6b6 |
comment |
Deep Madness (2018) |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_c914d6b6 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_c914d6b6 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | Deep Madness (Tabletop Game) |
hasFeature |
Adventure Board Games / int_c914d6b6 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_cca8c3f6 |
type |
Adventure Board Games |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_cca8c3f6 |
comment |
Talisman (1983, 1994, 2007) |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_cca8c3f6 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_cca8c3f6 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | Talisman (Tabletop Game) |
hasFeature |
Adventure Board Games / int_cca8c3f6 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_e0fb1f42 |
type |
Adventure Board Games |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_e0fb1f42 |
comment |
Elder Sign (2011) doesn't have a board, but the players control individual investigators with unique abilities as they explore randomly generated rooms for secrets and monsters. |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_e0fb1f42 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_e0fb1f42 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | Elder Sign (Tabletop Game) |
hasFeature |
Adventure Board Games / int_e0fb1f42 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_e1241be0 |
type |
Adventure Board Games |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_e1241be0 |
comment |
None Shall Pass! (2022) |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_e1241be0 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_e1241be0 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | None Shall Pass! (Tabletop Game) |
hasFeature |
Adventure Board Games / int_e1241be0 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_ef479bc8 |
type |
Adventure Board Games |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_ef479bc8 |
comment |
Fury of Dracula (1987, 2006, 2015) |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_ef479bc8 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_ef479bc8 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | Fury of Dracula (Tabletop Game) |
hasFeature |
Adventure Board Games / int_ef479bc8 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_fa66a154 |
type |
Adventure Board Games |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_fa66a154 |
comment |
Planet Apocalypse (2018) |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_fa66a154 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | Adventure Board Games / int_fa66a154 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | Planet Apocalypse (Tabletop Game) |
hasFeature |
Adventure Board Games / int_fa66a154 |
