Today's popular video games are built around incredibly vast and expansive universes, and sometimes, players are going to want to explore them off their screens. Most people know about the many books and films centered around game universes, but a lot of people aren't aware of the fact that there are board games based on video games, too. Here's a list of our favorites.
Best overall
This iteration of the classic board game features a complete Halo overhaul, including vehicles, locations, characters, and more from Xbox's iconic franchise.
Best challenging
If you want something challenging, the Dark Souls board game will be right up your alley. Up to 1-4 players can embark on a brutally challenging, yet exciting and fair adventure through the dark medieval world of Dark Souls.
Best adventure
Fallout: The Board Game takes Bethesda's expansive post-nuclear adventures and translates them into board game form, loosely adapting the stories of Fallout 3 and Fallout 4. If you're looking for something with infinite replayability, you'll find it with this game's numerous branching quests.
Best tactical
This cooperative game for 1-4 players takes the focus on intense tactical gameplay from XCOM. It applies it to the tabletop, tasking you and your allies with defending the world from an overwhelming alien invasion coordinated in real-time by a companion smartphone app. It's tough, but strong tactical thinking will win the day.
Best strategic
This massive strategy game, just like the video game counterpart, tasks you with trying to become the dominant civilization amongst a group of opposing factions by upgrading your military, scientific, artistic, and diplomatic prowess. Conquest, trade, innovation — all are possible paths to victory.
Best competitive
This hilarious game based on Valve's award-winning franchise tasks 2-4 players with trying to collect the most cake while also eliminating their opponents. It's filled with jokes and references to the classic video game, and the cutthroat nature of the game itself makes it an excellent for competitive play.
Best fast-paced
This game tasks up to three players with controlling a squad of marines, while another player takes control of invading demons. Like the video game, DOOM: The Board Game has a brutally fast pace, and it's balanced in a way that makes each play session a unique and thrilling experience.
Best card game
If you want something purely based around cards, this iteration of the iconic fighting franchise will be perfect for you. Players will need to accumulate powerful cards to take down their opponents, as they will provide you with new strengths and abilities that you wouldn't have at your disposal otherwise.
If we had to choose
Why you can trust Windows Central Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
All of the above-board games are awesome, but if we had to only pick one, we would go with Halo Monopoly. Halo is one of our favorite franchises here at Windows Central, and the way that the game gives Monopoly a Halo makeover is really neat to see. It's simple to understand and very replayable, too, which are always good.
People who are looking for something challenging and intense will love Dark Souls: The Board Game for its high (yet balanced) difficulty, in-depth and extensive mechanics, and emphasis on skill over luck. If you want something more competitive to play with friends or family, check out Portal: The Uncooperative Cake Acquisition Game. Underneath the comedy and light-hearted premise, it's surprisingly engaging.
