It’s completely normal, right? You love the screen. You love your PC, your console, and all those beautiful pixels. But sometimes, maybe after trying to solo a raid boss for four hours straight, you just feel it: the screen fatigue hitting you hard. That’s when you need a real break, a genuine shift in gears.
Why not try a board game?
I know what you’re thinking. Settlers of Catan? Monopoly? Please. We aren’t talking about dusty old family games. We’re talking about massive campaigns, deep deck-building, and tactical boss fights that scratch that exact video game itch you have. These seven tabletop experiences feel less like cardboard and more like a whole new release, just without the graphical power. They demand your brainpower and let you connect with your friends across a table, not a lobby.
Campaign Giants and Cooperative Grinds
If your heart belongs to RPGs and sprawling adventures, you might think the tabletop can’t compete. I used to feel that way too, honestly. I was wrong.
1. Descent: Legends of the Dark
This one feels less like a board game and more like a true dungeon crawler RPG played with physical miniatures. It has a mandatory companion app. Yeah, you read that right—an app. It handles the fog of war, monster AI, and the narrative. It feels like playing a massive tactical video game, but you get to physically set up those satisfying 3D terrain pieces. It’s a huge time commitment, sure, but your party’s progression is really rewarding.
2. Bloodborne: The Board Game
You might recognize this name. This adaptation captures the brutal, relentless feel of the Souls-like genre incredibly well. It’s campaign-based, dripping with that signature gothic style, and demands careful, tactical card play to execute attacks. Miss a step? You’ll probably die. It has that dark satisfaction that few other games—digital or analog—can match.
3. Zombicide
Are you a fan of horde shooters, maybe Left 4 Dead or Diablo-style loot grinds? Then you’re going to love this. It’s pure, chaotic fun. You and your friends move through the map, trying to complete objectives while waves of undead flood the zone. You roll a ton of dice and upgrade your gear constantly. It’s not the deepest strategy game, but for sheer action and catharsis? It’s perfect.
Strategy, Survival, and Resource Management
What if you prefer management sims, city-builders, or the pressure cooker of a roguelike run? The board game world has those covered, too.
4. Slay the Spire: The Board Game
This is probably the most faithful translation on this list. It’s a cooperative deck-builder that flawlessly recreates the roguelike loop of the digital hit. You still choose branching paths, fight monsters, and build a unique deck run after run. The challenge is immense, but the tactical satisfaction of pulling off a perfect card combo is present.
5. Frostpunk: The Board Game
If you enjoyed the grim survival strategy of the video game—where every decision feels weighted with moral despair—the board game captures that anxiety beautifully. You’re trying to manage dwindling resources, research technology, and keep your city alive around the central heat generator. It’s heavy, it’s complex, and it leaves you feeling utterly exhausted, but in the best, most strategic way possible.
6. Terraforming Mars
Okay, this isn’t based on a video game, but it has the heart of a 4X empire builder or a deep civ game. You’re one corporation working to make Mars habitable. You play cards that represent technologies, special projects, or resources, slowly building an engine that kicks out money, heat, and plant life. It’s all about long-term planning and seeing your grand, space-faring strategy unfold.
7. Chronicles of Crime
If your favorite games involve point-and-click investigation, logic puzzles, and branching narratives (think L.A. Noire or classic adventure games), then give this a shot. It uses QR codes and an app to bring the crime scene to life, letting you ‘question’ suspects and ‘travel’ to locations just by scanning cards. It’s highly immersive and really leans into the feeling of a detective story.
So, when the blue light starts feeling like sandpaper on your retinas, don’t just stare at the ceiling. Grab a few friends, clear off your kitchen table, and dive into one of these physical worlds. You might be surprised at how well that analog experience replaces the digital one.
What other board games do you think nail the video game feel? Drop a comment below and tell us what you’re playing when you put the controller down. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more recommendations!
Wait! Don’t go just yet; check our editors’ picks for the best 2025 games you must play. And don’t forget the 2026’s must-play games that need to be on your wish list.
Sources
- www.eneba.com/hub/collectibles/board-games-based-on-video-games/
- www.nag.co.za/2023/02/23/so-you-like-playing-video-games-here-are-some-board-games-youll-probably-like-too/
- www.eriktwice.com/en/2022/09/11/best-board-games-for-video-game-fans/
- www.cnet.com/deals/best-tabletop-board-games-for-video-gamers/
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