If you’re on the hunt for a board game like Heron Quest, then you’ve come to the right place. We’ve rounded up 11 similar games with themes and play-styles that you’re going to love.
Keep scrolling to see them all…
1. Descent: Journeys in the Dark
- One player has the role of the overload, and up to four other players will play as heroes who embark on dangerous quests, explore caves and ruins, and battle monsters to gain money all while trying to stop the overlord from taking over.
- The modular board pieces are double sided, which allows for many different ways for the board to be put together, resulting innumerable setups for gameplay.
- Players cooperate to try to complete a number of different objectives while working against the overlord.
- Features countless different skill and hero combinations for a new game each time.
- The companion app can be used in place of the overlord, inviting players to better explore the game and its dungeons and also controlling the monsters in the world.
- Decide between a campaign or a single quest depending on how much time you have to play.
2. Castle Ravenloft
- Designed for one to five players, this game offers fun gameplay even if a player wants to play on their own, but is just as enjoyable with a larger group.
- Features multiple scenarios for players to choose from, which will prevent players from playing the same game twice.
- With many challenging quests, it’s easy for players to come up with a game that they haven’t enjoyed before.
- Cooperative game ensures that all players feel like they get the support that they need to win, especially if they are new to this type of game.
- High-quality components improve gameplay, and include 40 plastic monsters and heroes, 13 sheets of dungeon tiles that interlock with each other to form a modular board, 200 treasure and encounter cards, 20-sided die.
- Game takes about one hour to play, but is very fast paced.
3. Claustrophobia
- Modular board with 36 tiles means that each game played will have a different setup and players won’t ever experience the same game twice.
- One player works to control the group of humans who are exploring hell, fighting against armies that they discover and trying to make it out alive.
- The other player is in control of the demons and tries desperately to stop them.
- Only for two players, which gives both people enjoying the game plenty of play time and prevents players from feeling like they aren’t given enough of a turn in the game.
- Six scenarios are included and will provide players with hours of gaming.
- When players have completed all six scenarios they can either choose to create their own or download a new one from the company website.
- Players must have a strategy for survival, but be willing to adjust and change their strategy as the game progresses.
4. Dungeons & Dragons: Tomb of Annihilation
- Game is designed for a cooperative group of two to five players to play together, but works just as well for a single player to enjoy the scenarios as well.
- With many different scenarios to choose from, it’s easy for players to pick one that appeals to everyone so that players don’t get bored.
- Features 225 high-quality cards, more than 300 tokens, 42 miniatures, 20-sided die, 40 interlocking tiles to create the modular board, and more.
- Great way to get introduced to D&D, which makes this a wonderful game for newbies who may not understand cooperative roleplay games.
- All players have equal opportunities to play, which will prevent anyone from waiting too long for their turn and getting bored.
- All miniatures come in one color, which allows players to paint them to personalize the game.
5. Fire of Eidolon
- Since the dungeons and the heroes are all procedurally generated, there isn’t a chance that this game will be the same one twice, making it perfect for groups who want to be able to play over and over.
- Gameplay lasts around 30 to 40 minutes, making this a shorter option than many other similar games on the market.
- Inspired by 19-bit role playing games in the 1990s, this game has a lot of nostalgia for a lot of people.
- Offers cooperative roleplaying.
- Features a lot of in jokes that people who enjoy retro video games are sure to understand and to appreciate.
- Does not need any other games to work with it, as it stands alone.
- The instructions are very easy to understand, and is a fun game to introduce to younger players, as well.
6. Warhammer Quest: Shadow Over Hammerhal
- The player who opts for the role of Game Master is in charge of controlling both the narrative of the game, as well as the enemies.
- Other players are adventurers who discover areas below the city while influencing the way that the story progresses.
- There is character progression, but it is not as detailed or as difficult as other similar games.
- Players who want more variety in their enemies can choose to add exotic adversaries, which will improve gameplay and help players who have played a lot enjoy the game without getting bored.
- Players are encouraged to create their own narrative.
- In between adventures, players can let their heroes spend time in the city, resting, visiting shops, and enjoying the delights of the area.
- Compatible with Warhammer Quest: Silver Tower Hero Cards.
7. Warhammer Quest: The Silver Tower
- Components contain 51 miniatures, 36 treasure and skill cards, 40 exploration cards, 13 double-sided tiles to create the modular board, and 6 character cards.
- The guidebook and adventure book are both 40 pages, packed with information, and easy to understand and apply to the game.
- Game is made for two to four players who will work together to try to conquer the tower as a team or they can choose to try to win the glory alone.
- As characters are used in the game, they level up and will gain more strength and skills.
- Since the board tiles are double sided, it’s easy to make a game board that is different from any other one played before.
- There are thousands of different game combinations.
- Game becomes more difficult when more players are playing, as there will be more enemies spawning.
- There are 90 encounters for players to enjoy during the eight trials.
8. Massive Darkness
- Story mode has 10 different quests for players to enjoy.
- Players work together to try to defeat the monster.
- As players can choose their own class and hero for their character, it’s easy for players to create new characters that haven’t ever been used before.
- Players have the option to complete entire campaigns or one-off adventures, depending on how much time they have to play.
- There are 75 detailed figures in the game, which improve gameplay and makes it more impressive.
- Characters level up to become stronger and better able to fight throughout the game as they collect gear, and players have to use the included player sheets to track skills and experience gained by killing enemies.
- While there is a lot of setup time, this game takes a while to play and is very detail heavy.
9. Zombicide Black Plague
- Cooperative play is great for players who are interested in winning a game together as a team.
- Great for one to six players who want to kill zombies in a fantasy setting.
- Each player has the role of a survivor and has to help fight to get rid of necromancers and zombies that are controlled by the game.
- As survivors learn spells, find weapons, and fight zombies they will gain experience, which will make them more powerful.
- Players will become more powerful, but more zombies will rise up to battle them at the same time.
- The goal of the game is to complete the given quest while killing as many zombies as possible without dying.
- There are many different types of zombies in this game, each with their own strengths, which means that players must have a plan and be willing to work together for the best chance at winning.
10. HeroScape: Rise of the Valkyrie
- There are 85 interlocking tiles that are used to build the board, as well as terrain accessories, creating a unique board each time the game is played.
- Ten battle scenarios are used to construct the terrain and give players a new experience each time they play.
- There are expansion sets that have more terrain tiles and characters that can be bought to improve the game.
- With two versions of the game to play, a basic version for just two players and a master version for two to four players, it’s easy to set up the perfect game.
- Older players may want to add additional rules or abilities to the game to make it work with their interests and abilities, but this game is great for players of all ages.
11. Catacombs
- Unlike other similar games, this one has a very fast setup time and quick play so that players can start enjoying the game without any delay.
- Great for players who have a D&D background, but is a great introduction to this type of game for new players.
- Offers dungeon crawling, as well as disc flicking to try to fight and control players.
- One player is the overseer and is in charge of all of the monsters in the game, while the other players play cooperatively and are the heroes who are trying to defeat the monsters that spawn in the game.
- Each character has special abilities that they have to take advantage of to win the game.
- Different discs that the players flick at the monsters in battle have varying advantages and features, allowing players to try to choose the best weapon for each battle.