Daniel (@DungeonDive) presents his top 10 adventure games of all time for 2024. He defines adventure games as those with a grander scale, often featuring outdoor or overland settings, where players create stories through exploration and encounters.
His list includes a mix of classic and modern games that have stood out in this genre.
10. Lands of Galzyr (2022)
Designed by Seppo Kuivila and Sami Laakso, published by Snowdale Design.
A delightful open-world game with a focus on side quests. Players control animal characters in a magical world, engaging in adventures that are easy to set up and play, making it a joyous experience.
9. Runebound Second Edition (2005)
Designed by Darrell Hardy and Martin Wallace, published by Fantasy Flight Games.
A classic hex crawl game that Daniel enjoys with house rules and fan-made content. It’s simple but offers deep exploration with numerous expansions, allowing for a rich, open-world experience.
8. Dungeon Degenerates: The Hand of Doom (2017)
Designed by Sean Aaberg and Eric Radey, published by Goblinko.
Known for its vibrant, psychedelic art and complex design. The game presents a grimy, punk-infused world and is best enjoyed as a campaign. It’s unique in its aesthetics and gameplay.
7. Arkham Horror Second Edition (2005)
Designed by Richard Launius and Kevin Wilson, published by Fantasy Flight Games.
A seminal game that brought Daniel back into the hobby. It offers a sandbox-style experience in the Cthulhu Mythos universe, with complex gameplay that creates memorable stories at the table.
6. Albion’s Legacy (Deluxe Edition, 2015)
Designed by Thomas M. Gofton, Aaron Murch, and Cameron Parkinson, published by Jasco Games and Linvander Studios.
Despite its modest components, this game excels in simulating medieval questing. It features strategic character sacrifices and a richly thematic hex map, making it a standout adventure game.
5. HEXplore It: The Valley of the Dead King (2017)
Designed by Kat Kantrim, Jonathan Mariucci, and Nathan L. Cundle, published by Mariucci J. Designs.
The most straightforward of the HexploreIT series, it offers a focused goal of stopping the Dead King. The game features a large hex map, deterministic combat, and extensive character creation options.
4. Sleeping Gods (2021)
Designed by Ryan Laukat, published by Red Raven Games.
A campaign game with a Roguelike feel, meant to be played multiple times for a complete experience. The game blends storytelling with gameplay, and expansions add even more content to explore.
3. A Touch of Evil: The Supernatural Game (2008)
Designed by Jason C. Hill, published by Flying Frog Productions.
This game is rich in theme, offering a Gothic horror experience. It works well in solo, cooperative, and competitive modes, and with its expansions, it offers a vast world full of encounters and lore.
2. Fallen Land: Second Edition (2021)
Designed by Sean Cahill and Jon Lonngren, published by Fallen Dominion Studios.
A post-apocalyptic adventure game with deep storytelling and settlement management. The game is known for its extensive encounters, rich characters, and high-quality documentation.
1. Paupers’ Ladder (2019)
Designed by Paul Stapledon, published by Bedsit Games.
Daniel’s top pick for adventure games, this game is a cozy, whimsical experience where players, as paupers, compete to gain virtues. It feels like a blend of Talisman and Runebound, offering a unique and inviting gameplay experience.
Overall, Daniel emphasizes his love for games that allow for exploration and storytelling, with a preference for games that offer rich worlds, varied encounters, and a mix of simplicity and depth.
How would you rate the @Dungeondive Top 10 Adventure Games?
Rank them all based on your desire to play the game whether or not you own it – try not to abstain if possible!
Top 10 Adventure Board Games
Lands of Galzyr (2022)
Runebound Second Edition (2005)
Dungeon Degenerates: The Hand of Doom (2017)
Arkham Horror Second Edition (2005)
Albion’s Legacy (Deluxe Edition, 2015)
HEXplore It: The Valley of the Dead King (2017)
Sleeping Gods (2021)
A Touch of Evil: The Supernatural Game (2008)
Fallen Land: Second Edition (2021)
Paupers’ Ladder (2019)
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I have only played two of the ten, Lands of Galzyr and Sleeping Gods. I’d rank Galzyr first. But I didn’t vote, since I haven’t played any of the others. I need to fix that. Very interested in HEXplore it, and Dungeon Degenerates. I might have to talk to Santa about one of those.
My top adventure board game is Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle Earth. Love it to death, but I’m a big LotR nerd.
Lands of Galzyr story: while playing the game last year, when it was still new, a card fell on the floor and one of my dogs decided it was worth chewing on. The card was still sort of usable but looked terrible. So I messaged Sami on his company’s Discord, and he immediately sent me a replacement at no charge! (I tipped him, though, to ensure his small shipping charge was covered). Great guy, worth supporting.
Vote based on what you’d like to play – don’t think of it as a review but more of a desirability rating. Based on @Dungeondive thoughts, and what you know of the titles, what would you most like to get your mittens on
Amazingly I have played 8 of the 10 and have 6 of the 10 (2 I sold). I for sure would want to get my hands on the deluxe version of Albion’s Legacy but it’s impossible to find.
I agree 100% with Daniel’s praise of the game. I picked up a base game copy off Mr. B’s webpage after seeing his review. It has really bewitched me the last week. Love the pacing, variety, and quick game times. Sometimes they’re only 15 minutes if I die early haha. Really wish I could get the expansion now, but I suppose waiting for the next kickstarter will be fine.
Oh, duh. I was thinking “I thought there was already a video like this”, but didn’t do my due diligence to check if this post was referencing the old one. My bad!
