Best RPG Board Games for Kids

Role-playing games (RPGs) are an awesome way to get kids interested in storytelling. It places the power in their hands to shape a story as it comes to life. Rather than just witnessing a tale from the outside, RPGs transport kids into their own little world as they explore, adventure, and experience the best that these story-based games have to offer.

Now, if you’ve got an adventurous kid on your hands, get ready to send them into a fantasy world! We’ve curated a list of the best of the best RPG board games that your child is sure to love. So, look no further, here are our top for the best RPG board games for kids.

🏆 Our Top Picks for Best RPG Board Games for Kids

In a hurry? Take a quick peek before you go.

06/06/2023 01:30 pm GMT

YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: TRIVIA GAMES FOR KIDS | COOPERATIVE GAMES FOR KIDS | STEM GAMES FOR KIDS | PARTY GAMES FOR KIDS | STRATEGY GAMES FOR KIDS | LOGIC GAMES FOR KIDS | DICE GAMES FOR KIDS | SCIENCE GAMES FOR KIDS | RPG GAMES FOR KIDS

Mice and Mystics

Players: 1-4
Playing time: 60-90 min
Age: 7+

This thematic RPG is filled with exploration, fantasy, and adventure – all things your kids are sure to love! In Mice and Mystics, kids will take on the roles of the king’s allies as they race through the castle, facing countless obstacles to save the kingdom.

As cunning field mice, your children will be sent on a mission to warn the king of the evil Vanestra. Along the way, they will have to navigate through the danger-ridden halls and avoid countless terrors, including cockroaches, spiders, rats, and the biggest threat of all – the housecat, Brodie.

Ultimately, it’s up to your kids to save the imperiled kingdom! Are they ready for the challenge?

What we liked:

The thematic elements and cooperative gameplay makes it a fantastic game for families. Mice & Mystics is a boldly innovative challenge that thrusts gamers into an ever-evolving, interactive environment and features a strong storyline that players are accountable for creating throughout. Adults and kids will all have fun immersing themselves in this whimsical inclusive game.

What could be better:

At first glance, the rules can seem a bit complex and there is a lot to keep track of. However, after a few games, it becomes easier and everything seems second nature.

Dungeon!

Players: 1-8
Playing time: 30 min
Age: 8+

This innovative game is filled with a rich storyline and set in an interactive environment. Dungeon! is quite similar to the epic Dungeons & Dragons pen and paper RPG, however, this version has been simplified and converged into a fantastical board game for kids of all ages to enjoy!

In this RPG, children will venture through the dungeon in search of valuable treasure. Along their journey, they will be faced with some scary monsters to fight. The deeper they get, the more skilled the monsters become. Only the best of the best will come out on top, and the winner is the first player to return the valuable treasures back to the dungeon entrance.

What we liked

Dungeon boasts similarities to Dungeons & Dragons, although it is a simplified version and has been nicely transformed into a board game. We love that numerous character classes each have varying fighting abilities, especially the wizard, who is able to cast spells. 

What could be better 

It can feel a bit mechanically random and repetitive at times and we felt it could be more thematically interesting. Unfortunately, it does show its age and we wish it were less luck-based.

My Little Pony: Tails of Equestria

Players: 1-4
Playing time: 45-90 min
Age: 14+

Send your kids on a dive into Equestria with this My Little Pony RPG adaptation. Tales of Equestria is a manual for this storytelling game that whisks kids away in an exploration of this magical world.

In the game, kids will get to create, name, and play as their very own pony characters. With each pony having different skills, they’ll have to work together to solve puzzles and explore dungeons. But be careful, because, along the way, your children will also have to look out for obstacles and avoid the scary dragons.

What we liked

It’s a fun cooperative and unique RPG for both kids and parents, particularly if you’re a fan of the series, and appreciate good artwork. The Friendship Token mechanism emphasizes roleplaying, puzzle-solving, and conflict, which provides a rich gaming experience, and the book is well-written and logically laid out, as well as super exciting to read.

What could be better 

We found that there aren’t as many options as you might find in a game like Pathfinder, and some players will possibly feel that certain rules are too streamlined and don’t provide enough granularity in terms of character creation.

Stuffed Fables

Players: 2-4
Playing time: 60-90 min
Age: 7+

Stuffed Fables transports kids into a fantasy where it is up to them to explore a world full of wonder, danger, and curious discoveries. Driven by player choices, this thrilling narrative delivers endless fun and excitement for all types of kids.

Set in a daunting world of nightmares, an exciting narrative experience awaits! In this unusual adventure game, children will embody the roles of some brave stuffies to save the sleeping child they love. There is a scheming mastermind waiting to wreak havoc, and monsters hiding under the bed. As such, kids will make daring decisions to overcome these dangers and protect their beloved child at all costs.

What we liked

This is an excellent one for introducing children to tactical adventure games. The theme is unique, and the idea of having a storybook as a board is impressive. We especially liked the miniatures.

What could be better 

The only concern we have about Stuffed Fables is regarding the range of ages with which the game works best. It sometimes feels a little complex for really young kids, however, older kids might not fully connect with the story and the mechanisms don’t seem deep enough.

Starport: A Tabletop Roleplaying Game for Kids

Players: 2-5
Playing time: 30-60 min
Age: 5+

Starport is a game of pure imagination and adventure. Designed to foster creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking, Starport whisks kids away to a world where anything can happen! In this open world, kids can see starships visiting from unknown universes or unicorns trotting alongside robots – there is no limit to the magic that fulfills this game.

This one-of-a-kind RPG also features characters like Orion, Angel, and Blaze. Orion is sneaky and loves to hide, whilst Angel is the friendliest character to ever encounter. Blaze loves to play with his wand and freeze things, and it is up to kids to decide what character they would like to be.

What we liked

Starport is a game that promises adventure and is designed to facilitate growth in problem-solving, creativity, and critical thinking. It boosts imagination and focuses on the importance of teamwork. It is the perfect game for engaging young learners and can easily be used as a classroom tool.

What could be better 

The only issue we found is that it takes a lot of patience and reading for the setup. If it is during school holidays, maybe it’s less of a problem but we found this part is ordinarily quite time-consuming.

Legacy of Dragonholt

Players: 1-5
Playing time: 60 min
Age: 14+

In this narrative exploration game, kids will journey into the Realms of Terrinoth, as they battle goblins and foil the dangerous plot of the evil lord. Legacy of Dragonholt‘s rich storyline transports kids into Runebound and weaves a complex narrative filled with fantasy, mystery, and mischief.

Although the world is theirs to explore, it isn’t theirs to control. Similar to that of a real community, the places that kids traverse will vary depending on when they visit, who they encounter, and how those experiences impact them. Likewise, as kids progress through the game, their quests will change according to their past experiences and how much time has passed.

This is their story, their adventure, and their time to shape the course of the journey. Who will your kids become?

What we liked:

Kids who are interested in storytelling will love Legacy of Dragonholt as it is truly an epic one. The game proves an easy way to become immersed in a tall tale and fantasy world, without the need to be a seasoned role player.

It is a thrilling game for young ones that focuses on the act of developing a story rather than winning or losing. We found it to be a narrative and intuitive game that fuses aspects of adventure and open-world concept video games.

What could be better:

Once you get used to the system there might be times you want to do something outside of the designated script, and you won’t be able to. That’s when it’s time to play a traditional tabletop RPG. 

Mouse Guard

Players: 2-7
Playing time: 180-240 min
Age: 12+

Based on the award-winning comic book and graphic novel series by the same name, this traditional pen-and-paper RPG contains everything kids need, to dive into the world of Guard. Featuring extensive background material and artwork from novel series creator David Petersen, Mouse Guard is sure to please, and intrigue.

Set in a pseudo-medieval world, Mouse Guard focuses on the order of anthropomorphic mouse rangers as they struggle to survive amongst a host of predators, in the harshest of conditions. In this RPG, children will become the mouse guards as they journey from one village to another. With fearless dedication, these mouse guards will move mountains to guide the common mice to safety and protect them at all costs.

What we liked

The Mouse Guard RPG book challenges not only the system’s rules but also philosophies regarding role-playing as a genre. The game is neatly organized, stunningly attractive, and structured into chapters that cover distinctive aspects of the game with useful cross-references where appropriate. 

What could be better 

Participants are encouraged to role-play their thoughts and beliefs and use their instincts as they choose a course of action and then narrate the results. For some younger players, it may take time to fully develop these skills, however once successful, the growth of strong characters generates impressive plot lines and players reap the rewards for naturally implementing them into the story. 

Pathfinder Beginner Box

Players: 2-5
Playing time: 480 min
Age: 10+

As your kids step into an intriguing fantasy world, they will get to decide who their fantasy hero will be and what tools will be used to cultivate an incredible story.

The Pathfinder Beginner Box contains everything needed to play the game. There are lots of monsters to fight and different heroes to become. Will your kid be a sly rogue that strikes its foes from the shadows or the next courageous fighter, charging bravely into battle? Maybe they’ll choose to be a pious cleric who can shape the world for the better, or a knowledgeable wizard wielding arcane spells.

The choice is all up to them and the options for play are endless.

What we liked

It’s awesome… especially for introducing non-gamers to a slightly daunting and complex mechanical system. The books display stunning artwork throughout and what really sets this game apart is the fact that they include blank character sheets for the bolder ones amongst you who like to be creative with your own personal characters.

What could be better 

The main adventure could be viewed to be too short for more seasoned Pathfinder familiars, however, play remains intuitive with more than enough to allow gaming juices to flow for newbie players. 

D&D Starter Set

Players: 2-6
Playing time: 3-20 hours
Age: 12+

The Dungeons and Dragons Starter Set is a super resource for teaching young or new gamers how to play and permits would-be adventurers to delve into ancient ruins and explore a world of swords and sorcery.

The D&D Starter Set contains all tools needed to enjoy the game, including dice, and a rulebook that takes your characters from levels one to five. A prewritten campaign awaits you as well as enough pre-generated characters with ready-made stats for up to five players.

Based in a frontier village in the Forgotten Realms, the adventure gives details on the area and its folk in order to give the illusion of a real society. During the quest, gamers follow a set storyline, which provides enough space to draw outside of the lines.

Participants are mercenary adventurers with a mission to protect a wagon and its cargo. The group is forced to unravel a conspiracy regarding ancient dwarven treasure and there are ancient ruins that must be explored and mysteries that must be solved.

What we liked

The game is accessible in terms of content, and being able to use the premade sheets in their entirety or at least as a starting point bypasses potentially complex rules. It is user-friendly for both adults and kids and guides you through the basics of combat, exploration, and roleplay – in digestible chunks.

What could be better

It can feel intimidating at first, so it may take a moment to settle into. Gamers who are searching for a more mechanical style of game can satisfy this aspect by focusing on the statistics.

Wrap-Up

We hope you enjoyed our picks for the best RPG board games for kids! We’ve thought this through and sourced the most exciting, thematic, and adventurous games that children are bound to love.

Have you tried any of the games on this list? Did we miss any that you think should have been included? Drop a comment below and let us know your thoughts on role-playing games or just board gaming in general. We’d love to hear from you!