For as long as it feels that video games have been part of popular culture, board games have been around for much longer. Interestingly enough, Nintendo actually started as a card and board game company, and they were far from the last company to be influenced by board gaming culture.
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Board gameshave inspired more video gamesthan one might think over the years – in terms of gameplay elements, visual style, and even backstory. Tabletop gaming and video games are very similar when it comes to multiplayer experiences, so it’s natural for one to influence the other.
10Mario Party Series
TheMario Partyfranchise is one almost entirely based around board games, at least when it comes to the between-minigame gameplay. Each area in eachMario Partygame features its own path that players travel on according to dice roll – it’s a bit likeCandy Land, but with mini-games thrown in.
TheMario Partygames each play pretty much the same way, with players taking turns to move across the board, and one can easily imagine the game being transported to a physical board.
9Cyberpunk 2077
Believe it or not,Cyberpunk 2077was inspired by board games– well, one specific board game: 1988’sCyberpunktabletop roleplaying game.Cyberpunk 2077doesn’t take the gameplay mechanics or the tabletop aspect fromCyberpunk, instead it takes the board game’s deep back story.
Johnny Silverhand is mentioned in the board game, as are many of the settings, other characters, and overall plot elements that appear in the video game. While the RPG elements in the game are lacking, it was nonetheless inspired by a tabletop board game.
8Advance Wars
Advance Warsfor the Gameboy Advance is a game that took 2D on-the-go strategy games to the next level.Advance Warstook inspiration from tabletop board games likeRiskandAxis and Alliesfor its strategic-yet-random combat mechanics.
Advance Warsmight not have been based on a specific board game likeCyberpunk, instead, it was influenced by the wide number of historical strategy games popular over the years.
7Civilization Series
TheCivilizationseries is one noted for its focus on long-term strategic play. The resource control and land control elements of the game were largely inspired by civilization-building board games likeSettlers of CatanandAxis and Allies.
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Funnily enough, there is now aCivilization-based board game that was released a few years ago. The gameplay largely follows the video game, save perhaps for more arguing amongst players.
6Dokapon Kingdom
Dokapon Kingdomis a game that plays a lot likeMario Party, but instead of minigames there are combat encounters. It was a PlayStation 2 and Wii game that wasn’t super popular on release, but hassince gained a fanatical fanbase.
The game revolves around a typical fantasy storyline told through turn-based movement and combat on a board, and serves as a great party game for those willing to put in a little time in the campaign.
5X-COM Series
TheX-COMseries is a turn-based strategy game set in the not-too-distant future.X-COMuses random dice rolls behind the scenes to determine combat outcomes, much likemany board game strategy games, and its movement style is almost exactly like that of theWarhammertabletop board game.
The chance for combat to end up in the players favor isn’t completely random, though, and can be influenced by changing position, weapons, and cover throughout the encounter. It’s a deep game that one could get lost in for weeks.
4Divinity: Original Sin 2
Divinity: Original Sinand it’s more popular sequelDivinity: Original Sin 2both take a lot of inspiration from tabletop strategy games likeDungeons and DragonsandWarhammer, using speed-based distance for character movement and turn-based attacks based on positioning.
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While tabletop strategy games tend to be incredibly complex, with multiple factions and army options to choose from,Divinity: Original Sin 2is surprising in its complexity for a video game, and plays almost exactly like acombat encounter inDungeons and Dragonswould.
3Star Trek: Starfleet Command
Much likeCyberpunk 2077,Star Trek: Starfleet Commandis a video game that is directly inspired by a board game.Star Trek: Starfleet Commandwas based on the tabletop war gameStar Fleet Battlesreleased in 1979.
The initial run was very limited but has since seen other editions. The video game version ofStar Fleet Battlesplays out just like the tabletop game, but the limitations of the software in 1999 don’t take it as far as thetabletop board game can go.
2The Warhammer and Warhammer 40k Games
WarhammerandWarhammer 40kare perhaps thebest-known tabletop RPGsof all time, thanks to their undying fanbases and incredibly deep gameplay and lore. The two universes are so popular that multiple spin-off video games have come out through the years, mostly to success.
VermintideandVermintide 2had similar gameplay toLeft 4 Deadin the fantasy setting,Space Marinetook place in theWarhammer 40kuniverse, and the competitive sports titleBlood Bowlare based onWarhammercharacters and factions.
1Knights of Pen and Paper
An indie classic,Knights of Pen and Paperis a game where you play as a player in anunnamed fantasy tabletop RPG. You don’t control that player’s character, rather you control the player themselves dealing with the DM and external issues.
It’s a unique take on the RPG genre, as it puts the player in the seat of another player, but the meta elements andDungeons and Dragonsbased humor make this a must-play for any tabletop RPG fan.
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