# What are the best fantasy boardgames? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 19, 2006, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-fantasy-boardgames/384826 "2006-12-19T20:20:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-fantasy-boardgames/384826/1 "2006-12-19T20:20:02Z")
When I was a kid, I loved fantasy board games. It helped that I was growing up in the eighties in the middle of that decade’s “Legend”/“Labyrinth”/“the Dark Crystal”-fueled fantasy boom. My vote: [HeroQuest](http://www.boardgamegeek.com/image/20256) by Milton Bradley and Games Workshop. They just did everything right with the miniatures and re-arrangable furniture, plus it was just plain _fun_ to play. ---
**Author:** ![Einmon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Einmon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Einmon)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-fantasy-boardgames/384826/2 "2006-12-19T20:29:06Z")
Ooh, I loved HeroQuest. Probably not really worth more than an eyebrow lift for seasoned roleplayers, but we had loads of fun with it when we were twelve. Still haven’t forgiven my friend for accidentally teleporting onto my head that one evening. Another game I loved was [Talisman](http://www.harris-authors.com/talisman.html) … so much that I’m even excited that I just now found out it has extensions I never knew about. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-fantasy-boardgames/384826/3 "2006-12-19T20:36:13Z")
I loved Titan, except that it’s not all that great for the people who are kicked out early! ---
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-fantasy-boardgames/384826/4 "2006-12-19T20:41:06Z")
My house recently came into an old \*\*Fireball Island \*\* and, although I’m not sure if it specifically qualifies, it’s an overlooked & wonderful game. Has an Indiana Jones vibe which admittedly isn’t a David Bowie and goblins vibe, but, nonetheless, pick it up if you see it. ---
**Author:** ![TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-fantasy-boardgames/384826/5 "2006-12-19T20:44:51Z")
Anyone remember the [Dark Tower](http://well-of-souls.com/tower/dt_board.htm) board game? I picked one up at a garage sale in the early nineties and was surprised at how fun it was. It’s an early electronic board game, but the electronic side was incorporated very well and actually made the game fun and interesting, especially when you got to the endgame of storming the tower. Turns out it goes for hundreds on Ebay now. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-fantasy-boardgames/384826/6 "2006-12-19T20:54:38Z")
I had Dark Tower. I wish I still had it. Orson Welles did a TV commecial for it. ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-fantasy-boardgames/384826/7 "2006-12-19T20:57:41Z")
There used to be an Avalon Hill game called Magic Realm that was pretty cool. You assembled the board with hexagonal tiles, sort of like Carcassonne, so the game was different every time. ---
**Author:** ![TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-fantasy-boardgames/384826/8 "2006-12-19T21:09:01Z")
I picked up a cheap **Fireball Island** at a garage sale, too. Cool game, but the actual board was way too flimsy; it was made out of that same thin plastic material that they make those cheap halloween masks out of. My dog sat on it and irrevocably crushed it. There was also a spinoff of Fireball Island that I can’t remember the name of, but it involved crossing a bridge and one player could press a lever to dynamite the bridge, sending the little men flying. It was fun, but much simpler than Fireball Island. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-fantasy-boardgames/384826/9 "2006-12-19T21:26:26Z")
I am currently loving my copy of Arkham Horror. A rare cooperative game. Of the others listed in this thread, Talisman (2nd edition - black box) and Dark Tower kicked much ass. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-fantasy-boardgames/384826/10 "2006-12-19T21:31:17Z")
[QUOTE=VCO3] …my dog sat on it and irrevocably crushed it. [/QUOTE] That pained me. You have to treat FBI like a newborn baby. Let this be a lesson to you. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-fantasy-boardgames/384826/11 "2006-12-19T22:09:00Z")
Odd coincidence. I moved at the beginning of this month, and in the process of shifting all my crap from one place to another, I found a stack of cards from _Fireball Island_. I lost the rest of the game somewhere between ten and fifteen years ago, if memory serves, but for some reason, I managed to hold onto the cards. Until this move, anyway, when I finally tossed them. If y’all are looking for contemporary fantasy board games, there’s a few good titles. _The Lord of the Rings_ board game is quite good, and like the Arkham game entioned by another poster, is one of those rare co-operative board games. There’s also _Descent_, which is basically an update of Hero Quest, with more models and a lot more rules. It’s expensive as hell, though: retails for about ninety bucks. I don’t think it’s out yet, but there’s a fantasy wargame/boardgame called _Battlelore_, from the same folks who did the WWII game _Memoir '44_ and an earlier Civil War game whose title escapes me (_Rally Cry?_). All three use the same basic game system, tweaked for their respective settings. I’ve only played _Memoir_, but it’s a very cool game, and plays quickly. Highly recommended. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-fantasy-boardgames/384826/12 "2006-12-19T22:27:56Z")
In case some of ya haven’t seen this: [X-Entertainment loves Fireball Island!](http://www.x-entertainment.com/articles/0924/) ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-fantasy-boardgames/384826/13 "2006-12-19T23:04:36Z")
[QUOTE=Einmon] Another game I loved was [Talisman](http://www.harris-authors.com/talisman.html) .. so much that I’m even excited that I just now found out it has extensions I never knew about. [/QUOTE] Dude, I had the Dungeon. The City. The TimeScape. Talisman could be made impossibly huge by adding on all the extensions. The City was practically a full fledged game in its own right. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-fantasy-boardgames/384826/14 "2006-12-19T23:25:44Z")
I’m not sure it’s _quite_ “fantasy”, but I’ve had many a fun evening playing [Wiz-War](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiz-War). Damn, I need to pick up a copy… and then find some friends I can con into playing it. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2006, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-fantasy-boardgames/384826/15 "2006-12-19T23:57:16Z")
And nobody’s mentioned the granddaddy of them all, the original [Dungeon!](http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/1339) ---
**Author:** ![Kiros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/439d5e/32.png) [@Kiros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiros)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-fantasy-boardgames/384826/16 "2006-12-20T00:10:53Z")
HeroQuest when I was, like, eight or ten, playing with my dad… good times. I’m pretty sure I still have it sitting around somewhere, miniatures and all. Not especially complex but just very well done. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-fantasy-boardgames/384826/17 "2006-12-20T00:20:42Z")
_Dungeon Quest_ is cute, but if you run into two obstacles, you may as well forget the dragon’s lair in the center and just keep searching the room next to the exit, because there’s no way you’ll get there and back by sunset. ---
**Author:** ![Marjorie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5ac83/32.png) [@Marjorie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marjorie)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-fantasy-boardgames/384826/18 "2006-12-20T00:25:45Z")
[QUOTE=Miller] I don’t think it’s out yet, but there’s a fantasy wargame/boardgame called _Battlelore_, from the same folks who did the WWII game _Memoir '44_ and an earlier Civil War game whose title escapes me (_Rally Cry?_). All three use the same basic game system, tweaked for their respective settings. I’ve only played _Memoir_, but it’s a very cool game, and plays quickly. Highly recommended. [/QUOTE] Battlelore shipped last week. Some of the guys in my gaming group have played it already and LOVED it. It uses the Command and Colors system, which was also used in Battle Cry. I’m not the biggest fantasy game fan in the world, but I really like both [Runebound 2nd Edition](http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/21523) and [Return of the Heroes](http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/8170). [Shadows Over Camelot](http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/15062) is a fun cooperative game. One of these days I’m going to get to be the traitor! ---
**Author:** ![ArrMatey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrmatey/32/3522_2.png) [@ArrMatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArrMatey)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-fantasy-boardgames/384826/19 "2006-12-20T01:13:27Z")
[QUOTE=Miller] There’s also _Descent_, which is basically an update of Hero Quest, with more models and a lot more rules. It’s expensive as hell, though: retails for about ninety bucks. [/QUOTE] Jeez, okay… Friend of a friend bought it, and we played it a few times. Awsome game, actually. A ton of fun. Now that I realized how many clams one must shell out for it, however, I realize why no one else I know owns a copy. Sad thing? The way the guy games, he’s probably tossed it in a closet somewhere and will never even look at it again (he likes new and shiney things, and has a semi-disposable income). ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2006, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-fantasy-boardgames/384826/20 "2006-12-20T01:22:58Z")
Anybody tried the George R.R. Martin inspired _Game of Thrones_ board game and/or its expansions? - Tamerlane [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-best-fantasy-boardgames/384826.md?page=2)