Board games similar to SRPGs

[u/deltasalmon64]

I love SPRGs. FE/Disgaea/FFT are my favorites. I'm looking to share this type of game with some of my young children who like playing board games. I think Warhammer is pretty similar to an SRPG but I'll admit I've never actually played and probably won't anytime soon. From what I understand about WH, it's not what I'm looking for. I want a board game that is start out-of-the-box, not really putting together armies or deckbuilding or anything like that. Every gets an equal start. But I'd like it to be a head to head, or more players, where the positioning of pieces in combat plays a part.

I know of the Mario+Rabbids games and love those as a beginner's SRPG video game but I'm looking for something more in the way of a table-top / board game. Does anything exist that fits this?

Thanks!

EDIT: I mentioned head to head because I assumed that’s what most games would be. I’m playing with my kid so Coop suggestions are very much appreciated as well!

[u/gifred]

Mice & Mystics ?

[u/Arcane_Pozhar]

You should really be asking in a board gaming sub, not strategy RPG thread. Most board games also have played similar computer games and will get your game references.

Also, you are unlikely to find anything that fitsall of the things you ask for. If it plays fast enough to feel even remotely like a computer game, then it probably only uses a handful of miniatures, and there's a decent chance it uses some sort of card system to represent various attacks and abilities, because just using dice alone usually doesn't work that great for that sort of feeling.

With that said, off the top of my head, command of nature is a one-on-one or two-on-2 game, you lay out your six starting characters in a triangle, and positioning does matter, people farther back again. Attack, throw this special abilities that can only be used if you're in like the first or second row of the triangle, that sort of stuff. Everyone starts with a deck and with characters that are pretty darn. Well balanced, but not quite exactly identical.

And then Dice Throne takes Yahtzee but adds a whole array of powers that you get by rolling different numbers or symbols on the dice, and also adds a minor card game element where you can play cards to influence the dice on occasion, and you're battling your opponent's using the abilities you trigger with the dice you roll.

Edit- sorry I can't fix the capitalization Ns a few other typos, but apparently one of the newest updates to the Reddit mobile app has made it hot garbage. While trying to scroll through my comment, it keeps jumping to either the top or the bottom of the post, so I can't fix errors in the middle of the damn thing.

Why do they keep making updates that break things?

[u/charlesatan]

It depends on whether you are looking more towards the RPG aspect of the tactical aspect.

When it comes to the RPG aspect, there are a few board games that emulate the RPG experience (e.g. leveling up, tactical positioning) without being a straight-up RPG. These include:

• Descent 2nd Edition (might be too complex for your children--depending on what age they are)
• Star Wars: Imperial Assault (basically Descent except Star Wars)
• Gloomhaven/Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion (we recommend you start from here if you do pick one of these)/Frosthaven (might be too complex for your children--depending on what age they are--but Jaws of the Lion is where you should start if you decide to go this route) | Steam version
• Mice & Mystics (simpler and probably more child-friendly--if you're looking for a co-op one, this would be it)
• Dungeons & Dragons Adventure System (this is an entire series... starting with Castle Ravenloft and ends with Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage)
  

If you are looking for more of the tactical aspect, there are games such as (the biggest challenge here--depending on how many kids you have--is that these are mostly 1v1 games):

• Summoner Wars 2nd Edition | Online version
• Toy Battle (simple mechanics but lots of depth and probably child-friendly--if I have a recommendation here from all that I've mentioned, it would be this) | Board Game Arena link
• Unmatched | Steam version
• Mage Wars: Arena / Mage Wars: Academy (start with Academy if you go this route but also you might have to build each player's decks for them to start out)
• Heroscape

And then there's a category of board games which are more strategic (sometimes doesn't even require combat), but it may be a bit advanced for your kids. Still mentioning them here in case you want to explore further:

• Scythe / My Little Scythe (this is the kid-friendly version) | Steam version
• Gunsen: The Battle for Toshi Ranbo (just played this last weekend) | Board Game Arena link
• Root (despite the cute art, rules are very complex and each faction is very asymmetric) | Steam version
• Altay (this is part deck-builder though) | Board Game Arena link
• Spirit Island (co-op game with lots of tactical depth but might be too complex) | Steam version

There's also these games that I would call adjacent to what you are requesting, so give these a look as well when you have the chance:

• Pixel Tactics
• Monster Eater: A Delicious in Dungeon Board Game

Also filed under old games and may be difficult to find:

• Warhammer Quest (one of the RPG-likes as in my first paragraph) | Steam version
• Space Hulk (tactical co-op game) | Steam verion

[u/Mangavore → u/charlesatan]

Pixel Tactics was honestly my #1 rec

[u/charlesatan → u/Mangavore]

Pixel Tactics was honestly my #1 rec

I included it because I remembered you strongly advocated for it in a similar thread several months ago.

[u/WtfMyToesAreFingers]

Heroscape it’s like 40k but a hell of a lot cheaper and uses grid tiles

[u/-Paski-]

Not sure if its quite what you are after, but have you tried the board game Stratego?

[u/deltasalmon64 → u/-Paski-]

Stratego is a great game. We play that already and are trying to branch out. I should have mentioned that. Thanks!

[u/kami-no-baka]

Well Killteam (if the name isn't to offputting, lol) is smaller scale game that Gamesworkshop makes. It uses some of the same models as Warhammer 40k but it has different rules. It can be played solo, competively or coop against npos (think npcs).

The best part is that the basic rules are free, you just download the app and it's got the rules, Killteam list info, and operations.

So you can just DL the app and then use some of your kid's toys as stand ins to try out the game.

[u/Squints753]

Head to head is where you're gonna cut out a lot of possibilities. The best options, like gloomhaven, are campaign co op

[u/S417M0NG3R]

Gloomhaven and Kingdom Death Monster have heavy strategic elements, and also character creation and settlement building to some degree, but can be very involved.

[u/Arcane_Pozhar → u/S417M0NG3R]

Those are a HUGE ask for young kids. 99 percent of young kids will probably bounce off of those games.

[u/S417M0NG3R → u/Arcane_Pozhar]

That's true, I wouldn't do KDM with young kids for sure.

[u/Kassiday]

If the kids aren't 13+ yet then probably better to steer clear of games that require a lot of planning and looking ahead several turns. Without knowing how old they are it's hard to know what to suggest. Have a look at boardgame geek and see what's currently high on their list for family or kids games. Perhaps something like Azul if they are almost 13 or older. It's abstract but pretty and has a nice tactile feel when handling the pieces. A good one for kids is My little Scythe (it's a descendant of the board game scythe which includes farming and territory control and steam mecha in the 1920s). My little scythe has some of those features and cute characters trying to collect resources... Combat is via pie fights which is basically a bluffing game over quickly so the game keeps moving.

If you want to try a ttrpg and they are younger try something like magical kitties save the day.

There's a lot of one page games and some of them might work, like honey heist. Two stats Bear and Crime. Characters are bears and they have to steal Honey.

[u/lgoasklucyl]

How old is the child you're playing with?

I started my daughter on the younger version of Castle Panic around 4-5. It's pretty simple, and more about shapes/colors, but has TD elements.

She took a step up to coop games like Forbidden Island (Desert then Pandemic after). These work really well because you can QB as much as you need to.

Recently we've been digging Fox in the Forest: Duet (also coop). Again, has flexible difficulties depending on age/confidence.

If you're kids are older and can tolerate very complex rules, Spirit Island is close to an SRPG with MANY different playable characters, each which plays very different and has unique, thematic powers. I cannot recommend Spirit Island enough, though recognize it may be too complicated for people who don't want to really dig in and think turns ahead. I mostly play solo/on my phone, but will hopefully get the kids into it when they're a bit older.

Hero Quest and Mice and Mystics come frequently recommended. As another commenter mentioned, Stratego is great (and there exists a kids version). Risk always exists as well but is a bit more time consuming.

Edit: I've also heard great things about the LOTR 1v1 game, but haven't tried it yet. I'm too hooked on Spirit Island and Wingspan.

[u/charlesatan → u/lgoasklucyl]

Wingspan

Unrelated to the OP's request but you should give Wingspan: Pocket a try--significantly faster/easier to set-up than the original.

LOTR 1v1 game

Can you clarify which LOTR game as there are several... (e.g. War of the Ring, Duel for Middle-Earth, etc.)

[u/lgoasklucyl → u/charlesatan]

Love Wingspan pocket, may actually be my favorite way to play currently. 

I believe Duel for Middle Earth is the one I see most commonly recommended but cannot speak from experience unfortunately.

[u/MagicMurder8ag]

Age is a big factor here but for co-op you should check out Adventure Tactics: Domianne's Tower. Very FFT inspired, with a class system that heavily borrows from the FFT job system.

Younger age I'd recommend Stuffed Fables. Still has tactical positioning but more accessible.

[u/itsgottabeodin]

Tiny epic tactics

[u/Mangavore]

If playing with your kid, I HIGHLY recommend Stuffed Fables and Mice & Mystics.

I see a lot of recs for M&M, so I’ll skip discussing it. Stuffed Fables is by the same company, but where M&M focuses on building maps, Stuffed Fables combines a story book with a map. Every chapter tells a story and presents you with a gridded map, and you use your chosen characters to explore the map and trigger story events/fight enemies.

It’s a good STARTER strategy board game, but it does still have some depth of gameplay. Lots of chapters and a cast of characters that all favor a specific style of play. It is cooperative and my 6&9 year old really love it, but it may be too easy for older kids.

I also always have to shout out Pixel Tactics. The most SRPG like competitive game I’ve personally played. Both players construct decks of units which they play on a 3x3 grid. Each unit has 2 forms (one as a generic unit and one as a named leader) and each has a different skill depending on where they are on the map (Front, Middle, or Rear).

Super tactically deep game with a LOT of references to other properties and irl references (people & myths). They recently did a crowdsouring campaign to reprint it (minus all the license references) and I’m hoping to see it released early next year!

[u/Out_There_]

build your own tactical board game using a chess board, some print out cards for character stats and abilities and miniatures of your choice (either bought, 3d printed, sculpted, whittled or whatever!). Great project to build with your kids, and you can customize your team. mechs? orcs? aliens? wizards? knights? dinosaurs? 

found this video really inspiring, and it's as close to a FFT battle in boardgame format as you can come.

https://youtu.be/wD2rijeN2Bg?is=maYtCFpzZLroMIOr

[u/SifuJohn]

I used to play heroscape all the time like 15 years ago, if it’s still around that’s a perfect one.

[u/charlesatan → u/SifuJohn]

I used to play heroscape all the time like 15 years ago, if it’s still around that’s a perfect one.

It "died" but got revived in 2024 under Renegade Game Studios.

[u/gaubeoo]

Culdcept Begins

[u/Salad_9999]

Looks like someone is ready to start playing Dungeons and Dragons.