Top 13 'Lore-and-Legacy' Board Games to enjoy with friends for an Adventure That's Better Than Binge-Watching - Goh Ling Yong
We’ve all been there. That hollow feeling when the credits roll on the final episode of a series you’ve poured hours into. The story is over, the characters are gone, and you’re left scrolling through endless streaming menus, searching for that next big narrative fix. But what if the next great adventure wasn't on a screen? What if it was waiting in a box on your shelf, ready to be co-authored by you and your friends?
Welcome to the world of 'Lore-and-Legacy' board games. These aren't the simple roll-and-move games of your childhood. They are sprawling, epic experiences packed with rich stories, evolving worlds, and characters you’ll grow to love (and sometimes lose). They offer the narrative depth of a great TV show or novel, but with one crucial difference: you are the protagonist. Your decisions permanently alter the game board, unlock new content, and weave a unique story that belongs entirely to your group.
Forget passively binge-watching. It's time to actively binge-playing. To help you embark on your first quest, we've compiled the ultimate list of 13 lore-and-legacy board games that deliver an unforgettable cooperative adventure. Get ready to build your own saga, one game night at a time.
1. Gloomhaven
Let's start with the undisputed titan of the genre. Gloomhaven is less of a board game and more of a life-changing event in a 22-pound box. It's a cooperative, fantasy campaign game where you and your friends take on the roles of wandering adventurers in a dark and unforgiving world. The heart of the game is its brilliant, tactical, card-based combat system that completely eliminates the randomness of dice rolls, making every decision a meaningful puzzle.
What makes Gloomhaven a legendary experience is its sheer scale and persistence. The campaign features nearly 100 scenarios, and the choices you make—which quests to follow, how you resolve events—will permanently change the world by adding stickers to the map and unlocking new locations. Your characters will level up, gain new abilities, and eventually retire, unlocking new character classes for you to explore. It’s the closest you can get to a full-blown tabletop RPG without a dungeon master.
Pro-Tip: Communication is vital, but the rules forbid you from revealing the specific numbers on your cards. Learn to talk in generalities like, "I'm going to move fast and hit that archer pretty hard," to coordinate your turns without breaking the rules. This mechanic brilliantly simulates the chaos of battle while encouraging clever teamwork.
2. Pandemic Legacy: Season 1
If Gloomhaven is the epic fantasy novel, Pandemic Legacy is the high-stakes, gripping thriller you can't put down. It takes the classic cooperative gameplay of Pandemic—where players work together as CDC specialists to cure diseases sweeping the globe—and turns it into a heart-wrenching, year-long campaign. Each game represents one month, and the outcomes, both good and bad, have permanent consequences.
This is the game that popularized the legacy format, and for good reason. Cities will permanently fall into chaos. Characters will gain scars and develop relationships. You’ll be forced to rip up cards and open secret boxes containing new rules and shocking plot twists. It’s an emotional rollercoaster that transforms a fun puzzle into a desperate, unforgettable story of survival against impossible odds.
Pro-Tip: Don't be afraid to make sacrifices. Early in the campaign, you might be tempted to save every city, but you'll soon learn that's impossible. Sometimes letting a region suffer to achieve a more critical objective is the only way to win the war, even if you lose a few battles along the way.
3. Sleeping Gods
Imagine a choose-your-own-adventure book came to life as a sprawling, open-world tabletop game. That's Sleeping Gods. You and your friends are the crew of the steamship Manticore, lost in a strange and wondrous sea in 1929. Your goal is to find ancient totems to awaken the gods and find your way home. The game is played on a spiral-bound atlas of maps, and you can sail anywhere your heart desires from the very beginning.
The beauty of Sleeping Gods is in its incredible sense of discovery and narrative freedom. Every location has a story, every character you meet is memorable, and your choices lead to branching quests and unexpected consequences. The game uses a clever "fatigue" system for combat and skill checks, making every challenge a tense decision. It's a true adventure game that feels both epic and deeply personal.
Pro-Tip: Keep a journal! The world is massive, and you'll encounter dozens of keywords, quests, and characters. Jotting down notes about who asked for what and where you saw that mysterious cave will save you a lot of backtracking and make your journey feel like a true expedition.
4. Arkham Horror: The Card Game
Dive headfirst into the cosmic horror of H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos. Arkham Horror: The Card Game is a cooperative "Living Card Game" where you take on the role of investigators trying to unravel terrifying mysteries. Part card game, part tabletop RPG, each scenario presents a map of locations to explore and objectives to complete before the forces of darkness overwhelm you.
Its 'lore-and-legacy' strength lies in its campaign system. You build a deck that represents your investigator's strengths, weaknesses, and equipment. Between scenarios, you use experience points to upgrade your deck, adding powerful new cards. But you also accumulate physical and mental trauma that will haunt you for the rest of the campaign. This deep character progression, combined with a branching narrative full of dread and suspense, makes for one of the most thematic experiences in gaming.
Pro-Tip: Your deck isn't just a collection of cards; it's your character's story. Don't just pick the "best" cards. Think about what your investigator would carry. A grizzled detective might have a "Beat Cop" on his side, while a studious librarian might rely on "Forbidden Knowledge."
5. Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon
If you want a story that is dark, mature, and incredibly deep, look no further. Tainted Grail is a cooperative survival and exploration game set in a grim re-imagining of Arthurian legend. The magical guardian statues that protect humanity are fading, and a strange, twisted force known as the Wyrdness is reclaiming the land. It’s up to you and your fellow unlikely heroes to venture out and find a solution.
The narrative, delivered through a massive, beautifully written journal, is the star of the show. Your choices have a real, lasting impact on the world and the story's direction. The gameplay itself is a challenging mix of resource management, exploration, and a unique diplomatic/combat card system. This is not a game about being a powerful hero; it's about being a regular person trying to survive in a dying world.
Pro-Tip: Conserve your energy. Every action you take, from traveling to exploring, costs resources. Pushing yourself too hard can leave you exhausted and vulnerable. It's often better to make camp and rest than to press on and risk disaster.
6. Scythe
While not a legacy game in the traditional sense, Scythe is the epitome of a "lore" game. Set in an alternate-history 1920s Europe where giant mechs roam the countryside alongside farmers, the world-building is second to none. Each of the game's factions has a rich backstory, a unique playstyle, and stunning artwork that brings the world to life. It’s an engine-building, area-control game at its core, but it feels like so much more.
The legacy component comes in the form of The Rise of Fenris, a campaign expansion that adds an 8-episode, replayable story to the base game. It introduces persistent elements, surprising twists, and new mechanics that unfold as you play. I was discussing this with Goh Ling Yong the other day, and we both agreed that Scythe's world is so compelling that it practically begs for this kind of narrative exploration.
Pro-Tip: Pay close attention to the encounter cards. These cards offer small narrative choices that can grant you resources, popularity, or other bonuses. More importantly, they breathe life into the world and make your journey across the map feel like a real adventure.
7. Oath: Chronicles of Empire and Exile
Oath is perhaps the most ambitious and unique take on the legacy concept ever designed. Instead of telling a pre-written story, it provides the tools for players to create a history. One player is the Chancellor, ruling the land, while others are Exiles trying to usurp them or fulfill a different ambition. The winner of a game influences the setup for the next game.
The "legacy" here isn't about stickers or torn cards. It’s about the chronicle—the shared history of your specific copy of the game. Cards that were used in one game might be added to the world's deck for the next, relics can be passed down, and the entire political landscape can shift based on who won and how. Playing Oath feels like you're writing a dynastic history, one generation at a time.
Pro-Tip: Your first game is a learning game. Don't worry about winning. Instead, focus on understanding how the different victory conditions work and how your actions today will echo into the next session. The story is the real prize.
8. The 7th Continent
For the explorers and survivalists, The 7th Continent is a dream come true. You are an early 20th-century explorer who has returned from a mysterious new continent with a terrible curse. To save your life, you must return and lift it. The game is a massive solitaire or cooperative adventure played out on hundreds of terrain cards that combine to form the continent.
The game brilliantly captures the feeling of being lost and charting the unknown. You'll craft items, hunt for food, and solve environmental puzzles, all while trying to manage your "action deck," which doubles as your life force. When it runs out, you're exhausted, and bad things happen. The sense of discovery as you flip over a new card to reveal a jungle, a cave system, or an ancient ruin is unparalleled.
Pro-Tip: "Save" your game frequently. The game includes a clever system for packing everything away exactly as you left it. This isn't a game you'll finish in one sitting; it's a long, sprawling expedition. Don't be afraid to take a break and come back to your adventure fresh.
9. Descent: Legends of the Dark
If the complexity of Gloomhaven seems intimidating, Descent: Legends of the Dark is the perfect alternative. This is a modern, app-assisted dungeon crawler that puts the story front and center. You and your friends are heroes bound to protect the fantasy realm of Terrinoth from a rising darkness.
The free companion app handles all the bookkeeping, enemy AI, and event triggers, freeing you up to focus on the action and the story. The game features stunning 3D terrain that builds each scenario into a dynamic playground for tactical combat. Between quests, you'll craft new gear and make choices in the app that influence the narrative, making it a fantastic blend of video game storytelling and tactile board game fun.
Pro-Tip: Look for opportunities to use the 3D terrain to your advantage. You can knock enemies off ledges, hide behind pillars, or use elevation to gain an edge in combat. The environment is more than just decoration; it's a tactical tool.
10. The King's Dilemma
This game is unlike anything else on the list. There are no miniatures, no dungeon crawling, and very little traditional "gameplay." The King's Dilemma is a pure, interactive narrative legacy experience. Players represent the noble houses on the king's council, and each game, you are presented with a dilemma card that poses a problem for the kingdom.
You'll debate, bribe, and form alliances to vote on a course of action. Your choices have immediate consequences but also drive a sprawling, branching story forward over generations. You'll sign contracts, open secret envelopes, and place stickers on the map that will change the kingdom forever. It's a game of politics, power, and morality that will generate some of the most memorable discussions you've ever had around a table.
Pro-Tip: Stick to your House's secret agenda. While you want the kingdom to prosper, your primary goal is to gain prestige and power for your family. Sometimes, making a "bad" choice for the realm is the right choice for you, and that roleplaying tension is what makes the game so brilliant.
11. My City
Think legacy games are all 100-hour commitments in giant boxes? Think again. My City is a light, competitive, family-friendly legacy game from the legendary designer Reiner Knizia. At its heart, it's a simple polyomino (think Tetris pieces) tile-laying game where each player builds their own city on a personal board.
The legacy magic happens over a campaign of 24 "episodes." After each short game, winners get bonuses, new rules are introduced via sealed envelopes, and players add stickers to their boards that permanently change them for future games. It’s a wonderfully accessible way to experience the excitement of an evolving game without a huge time or rules investment.
Pro-Tip: Don't get discouraged if you fall behind early. The game has clever catch-up mechanics, and the objectives change frequently. Focus on playing each episode as efficiently as possible, and you'll always be in the running.
12. Star Wars: Imperial Assault
For fans of a galaxy far, far away, Imperial Assault is a must-play. This is a massive campaign game of tactical combat and adventure. In the classic mode, one player takes on the role of the entire Galactic Empire, while up to four other players become a team of elite Rebel operatives. It's a thrilling game of cat-and-mouse set between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back.
The campaign system sees the Rebels gaining experience and gear between missions, while the Imperial player gains threat and new units. The story missions are linked, creating a cinematic narrative arc. Even better, a free companion app allows for a fully cooperative mode, where the app controls the Empire, letting everyone be a hero together.
Pro-Tip: In campaign play, mission objectives are more important than just defeating all the enemies. The Empire often has an endless supply of stormtroopers. Focus on completing your goal, whether it's slicing a terminal or rescuing a prisoner, before you get bogged down in a firefight.
13. Betrayal Legacy
What if the haunted house was the main character? Betrayal Legacy takes the beloved classic Betrayal at House on the Hill and stretches its story across several generations. You and the other players create families who are drawn to this cursed place, and you play through the house's history from 1966 to 2004.
Like the original, the game is split into two parts: exploration and the "haunt." But in the legacy version, the items you find, the omens you encounter, and the traitors you survive will all have permanent effects. You'll name rooms, discover family heirlooms, and write your own ghost stories into the fabric of the game. It's a brilliant, spooky, and often hilarious way to create a shared horror story.
Pro-Tip: Lean into the roleplaying! Give your family members personalities. When the haunt begins and one of you becomes the traitor, ham it up. The game is at its best when players are invested in the campy, B-movie horror theme.
Choosing any one of these games is an investment—not just of money, but of time. But unlike the fleeting satisfaction of a finished TV show, the return on this investment is something far more valuable: a collection of shared stories, inside jokes, and epic memories forged with your friends. Here at the Goh Ling Yong blog, we believe that a collaboratively built adventure is one of the best ways to connect.
So, turn off the TV, gather your fellowship, and unbox your next great saga. The golden age of storytelling is here, and it’s happening right on your tabletop.
What are your favorite lore-and-legacy board games? Did we miss a gem that your group loves? Share your thoughts and recommendations in the comments below
About the Author
Goh Ling Yong is a content creator and digital strategist sharing insights across various topics. Connect and follow for more content:
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