5 Board Games Based on Popular Video Games That Shouldn’t Have Worked, But Did

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Board games have always been a beloved pastime, but they’ve seen a surge in popularity recently, with many people building extensive collections. This growth has led to more collaborations between board game companies and major brands. While games like Monopoly have long partnered with popular franchises like Nintendo and Harry Potter, we’re now seeing a growing trend of video games being adapted into unique board game experiences.

As a big board game and video game fan, I’ve noticed some games just feel like they’d translate perfectly to a tabletop experience – especially those originally inspired by board games themselves, like Slay the Spire. But what really surprises me are the games that seem totally unsuited for a physical board game version… and yet, somehow, they work! It’s amazing how some of these adaptations pull it off. I’ve put together a list of 5 video games that, on paper, shouldn’t make good board games, but surprisingly, they really do.

5. Gears of War

This board game is based on the popular video game Gears of War. You might be surprised that a shooting game works well as a board game, but this one really delivers! It’s become a hit with players who’ve managed to find a copy, but it’s currently out of print, making it difficult to get your hands on.

The Gears of War board game is really challenging, played through a series of missions. You can play by yourself or team up with up to three other players to fight off the Locust enemies. While it has a lot of components – cards, tiles, and miniature figures – which can make setup tricky, it’s a rewarding experience for fans of the Gears of War series.

4. Bloodborne

FromSoftware is known for making challenging games, so adapting their quick, action-packed combat to a board game seemed like a tough task. However, Bloodborne: The Board Game isn’t the first attempt to bring one of their immersive RPGs to the tabletop. Many fans believe Bloodborne works better as a board game than the earlier Dark Souls adaptation.

Released in 2021, this game lets you play as an investigator uncovering the mysteries of a town. It’s designed for cooperative play through a campaign, and while it has complex systems to learn, it’s a surprisingly enjoyable experience. It can be quite challenging – similar to games made by FromSoftware – and you might fail often, but it successfully brings a unique concept to life.

3. Deep Rock Galactic

The video game Deep Rock Galactic is a big hit, and turning it into a board game seemed like a challenge. However, the Deep Rock Galactic board game successfully captures the fun of the original with tokens, cards, and dice. It’s a more relaxed game than many others, making it great for casual game nights.

This board game lets 1-4 players experience the fun of Deep Rock Galactic on your tabletop! You can choose from different character types and play through a variety of scenarios, offering plenty of replay value. It uses dice rolls to keep the gameplay simple and focuses more on fun than complex calculations. If you’re looking for a relaxed and well-made board game version of the video game, this is a great choice.

2. Sniper Elite

Adapting a stealth-focused video game like Sniper Elite into a board game is a challenge, but fans generally believe this game succeeds. Players appreciate its good pacing and the clever use of hidden movement, which effectively recreates the tense, stealthy feeling of the original video game.

Sniper Elite: The Board Game is designed for 1 to 4 players and plays in about an hour. One player takes on the role of the sniper, and the others control German soldiers. The sniper tries to eliminate the soldiers, while the soldiers attempt to stop them. It’s a simple yet captivating game, and many board game fans consider it one of the best adaptations of a video game into a board game.

1. Stardew Valley

It’s no surprise the Stardew Valley board game keeps selling out – it’s a hit! Farming simulation games are usually best enjoyed solo, so it’s impressive that this game successfully brings the charm of Stardew Valley to a tabletop experience for 1 to 4 players.

Just like the video game, Stardew Valley: The Board Game is all about working together, not competing. Players team up to revitalize the Valley, building relationships with villagers by earning their friendship. The board game captures the heart of the farming simulation with cards for everything – seasons, villagers, crops, and more – and it’s proven incredibly popular, selling out four times and currently being unavailable on the official Stardew Valley website.

What is your favorite board game based on a video game?

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2025-10-30 23:12