Descent Journeys in the Dark / Similar games

18 games like Descent Journeys in the Dark

The best games like Descent Journeys in the Dark are Mansions of Madness Second Edition, Shadows of Brimstone City of the Ancients and Mice and Mystics — the closest of 18 ranked alternatives, scored by shared mechanics and category. Mansions of Madness Second Edition shares adventure, exploration, fantasy with Descent Journeys in the Dark.

Every alternative below links to its own Descent Journeys in the Dark-style fact page, drawn from MeeplePick’s adventure / exploration shelf.

Ranked by shared category (3 pts) and mechanics (2 pts), bonus within 0.7 of Descent Journeys in the Dark’s 3.3 weight, then BoardGameGeek’s Bayesian rating — one entry per series, 18 shown.

As an Amazon Associate, MeeplePick earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

1. 1. Mansions of Madness Second Edition (2016)
   1–5 players · 120–180 min · ★ 8.1 · Medium
   Shares with Descent Journeys in the Dark: Adventure, Exploration, Fantasy, Fighting, Miniatures, Dice Rolling, Modular Board, Role Playing · 3 of Descent Journeys in the Dark’s 6 mechanics (50%)
   vs Descent Journeys in the Dark: overlaps at 2–5 players · plays solo · ~30 min shorter · 0.7 lighter
   View Mansions of Madness Second Edition on Amazon →
2. 2. Shadows of Brimstone City of the Ancients (2014)
   1–4 players · 120 min · ★ 8.0 · Medium
   Shares with Descent Journeys in the Dark: Adventure, Exploration, Fantasy, Fighting, Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, Modular Board, Role Playing +1 more · 5 of Descent Journeys in the Dark’s 6 mechanics (83%)
   vs Descent Journeys in the Dark: overlaps at 2–4 players · plays solo · ~60 min shorter · same complexity
   View Shadows of Brimstone City of the Ancients on Amazon →
3. 3. Mice and Mystics (2012)
   1–4 players · 60–90 min · ★ 7.3 · Medium
   Shares with Descent Journeys in the Dark: Adventure, Exploration, Fantasy, Fighting, Miniatures, Dice Rolling, Role Playing, Variable Player Powers · 3 of Descent Journeys in the Dark’s 6 mechanics (50%)
   vs Descent Journeys in the Dark: overlaps at 2–4 players · plays solo · ~105 min shorter · 0.6 lighter
   View Mice and Mystics on Amazon →
4. 4. Krosmaster Quest (2015)
   2–6 players · 120–180 min · ★ 6.8 · Medium
   Shares with Descent Journeys in the Dark: Adventure, Exploration, Fantasy, Fighting, Miniatures, Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, Modular Board, Team-Based Game +1 more · 5 of Descent Journeys in the Dark’s 6 mechanics (83%)
   vs Descent Journeys in the Dark: overlaps at 2–5 players · scales to 6 · ~30 min shorter · 0.3 lighter
5. 5. Super Dungeon Explore (2011)
   2–6 players · 120 min · ★ 6.8 · Medium
   Shares with Descent Journeys in the Dark: Adventure, Exploration, Fantasy, Fighting, Miniatures, Dice Rolling, Modular Board, Team-Based Game, Variable Player Powers · 4 of Descent Journeys in the Dark’s 6 mechanics (67%)
   vs Descent Journeys in the Dark: overlaps at 2–5 players · scales to 6 · ~60 min shorter · 0.6 lighter
6. 6. Star Wars Imperial Assault (2014)
   1–5 players · 60–120 min · ★ 8.0 · Medium
   Shares with Descent Journeys in the Dark: Adventure, Fighting, Miniatures, Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, Modular Board, Role Playing · 4 of Descent Journeys in the Dark’s 6 mechanics (67%)
   vs Descent Journeys in the Dark: overlaps at 2–5 players · plays solo · ~90 min shorter · same complexity
7. 7. Warhammer Quest (1995)
   1–4 players · 120 min · ★ 7.5 · Medium
   Shares with Descent Journeys in the Dark: Adventure, Exploration, Fantasy, Fighting, Miniatures, Dice Rolling, Modular Board, Role Playing · 3 of Descent Journeys in the Dark’s 6 mechanics (50%)
   vs Descent Journeys in the Dark: overlaps at 2–4 players · plays solo · ~60 min shorter · 0.6 lighter
8. 8. Sword & Sorcery Immortal Souls (2017)
   1–5 players · 60–90 min · ★ 8.0 · Medium-heavy
   Shares with Descent Journeys in the Dark: Adventure, Fantasy, Fighting, Miniatures, Dice Rolling, Modular Board, Role Playing · 3 of Descent Journeys in the Dark’s 6 mechanics (50%)
   vs Descent Journeys in the Dark: overlaps at 2–5 players · plays solo · ~105 min shorter · +0.7 heavier
9. 9. Arcadia Quest (2014)
   2–4 players · 60 min · ★ 7.7 · Medium
   Shares with Descent Journeys in the Dark: Adventure, Exploration, Fantasy, Fighting, Miniatures, Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, Modular Board, Variable Player Powers · 4 of Descent Journeys in the Dark’s 6 mechanics (67%)
   vs Descent Journeys in the Dark: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~120 min shorter · 0.8 lighter
10. 10. Dungeon Saga Dwarf King's Quest (2015)
    2–5 players · 30–120 min · ★ 7.3 · Medium-light
    Shares with Descent Journeys in the Dark: Adventure, Exploration, Fantasy, Fighting, Miniatures, Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, Modular Board, Role Playing +2 more · 6 of Descent Journeys in the Dark’s 6 mechanics (100%)
    vs Descent Journeys in the Dark: overlaps at 2–5 players · ~105 min shorter · 0.8 lighter
11. 11. Claustrophobia (2009)
    2 players · 45 min · ★ 7.5 · Medium-light
    Shares with Descent Journeys in the Dark: Adventure, Exploration, Fantasy, Fighting, Miniatures, Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, Modular Board, Variable Player Powers · 4 of Descent Journeys in the Dark’s 6 mechanics (67%)
    vs Descent Journeys in the Dark: both play at 2 · ~135 min shorter · 0.9 lighter
12. 12. Mordheim City of the Damned (1999)
    2–6 players · 60 min · ★ 7.3 · Medium
    Shares with Descent Journeys in the Dark: Exploration, Fantasy, Fighting, Miniatures, Dice Rolling, Modular Board, Role Playing, Variable Player Powers · 4 of Descent Journeys in the Dark’s 6 mechanics (67%)
    vs Descent Journeys in the Dark: overlaps at 2–5 players · scales to 6 · ~120 min shorter · 0.3 lighter
13. 13. The Undercity An Iron Kingdoms Adventure Board Game (2015)
    2–4 players · 60–120 min · ★ 7.1 · Medium
    Shares with Descent Journeys in the Dark: Adventure, Exploration, Fantasy, Fighting, Miniatures, Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, Role Playing, Variable Player Powers · 4 of Descent Journeys in the Dark’s 6 mechanics (67%)
    vs Descent Journeys in the Dark: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~90 min shorter · 0.5 lighter
14. 14. Dungeons & Dragons The Fantasy Adventure Board Game (2003)
    2–5 players · 60 min · ★ 6.5 · Medium-light
    Shares with Descent Journeys in the Dark: Adventure, Exploration, Fantasy, Fighting, Miniatures, Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, Modular Board, Role Playing +2 more · 6 of Descent Journeys in the Dark’s 6 mechanics (100%)
    vs Descent Journeys in the Dark: overlaps at 2–5 players · ~120 min shorter · 1.2 lighter
15. 15. HEXplore It The Valley of the Dead King (2017)
    1–7 players · 60–180 min · ★ 7.8 · Medium
    Shares with Descent Journeys in the Dark: Adventure, Exploration, Fantasy, Fighting, Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, Modular Board, Role Playing · 4 of Descent Journeys in the Dark’s 6 mechanics (67%)
    vs Descent Journeys in the Dark: overlaps at 2–5 players · plays solo · scales to 7 · ~60 min shorter · same complexity
16. 16. Advanced Heroquest (1989)
    1–5 players · 120 min · ★ 6.8 · Medium
    Shares with Descent Journeys in the Dark: Adventure, Exploration, Fantasy, Fighting, Miniatures, Modular Board, Role Playing, Variable Player Powers · 3 of Descent Journeys in the Dark’s 6 mechanics (50%)
    vs Descent Journeys in the Dark: overlaps at 2–5 players · plays solo · ~60 min shorter · 0.5 lighter
17. 17. Etherfields (2020)
    1–4 players · 90–180 min · ★ 8.0 · Medium
    Shares with Descent Journeys in the Dark: Adventure, Exploration, Fantasy, Miniatures, Grid Movement, Modular Board, Role Playing · 3 of Descent Journeys in the Dark’s 6 mechanics (50%)
    vs Descent Journeys in the Dark: overlaps at 2–4 players · plays solo · ~45 min shorter · same complexity
18. 18. Hellboy The Board Game (2019)
    1–4 players · 60–90 min · ★ 8.0 · Medium
    Shares with Descent Journeys in the Dark: Adventure, Exploration, Fighting, Miniatures, Dice Rolling, Modular Board, Variable Player Powers · 3 of Descent Journeys in the Dark’s 6 mechanics (50%)
    vs Descent Journeys in the Dark: overlaps at 2–4 players · plays solo · ~105 min shorter · 0.4 lighter

Looking for the original? See the full Descent Journeys in the Dark fact page — players, play time, age and complexity.