Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition) / Similar games

18 games like Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition)

The best games like Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition) are Massive Darkness, Gloomhaven and Dungeon Alliance — the closest of 18 ranked alternatives, scored by shared mechanics and category. Massive Darkness shares adventure, exploration, fantasy with Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition).

Every alternative below links to its own Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition)-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 (Second Edition)’s 3.2 weight, then BoardGameGeek’s Bayesian rating — one entry per series, 18 shown.

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1. 1. Massive Darkness (2017)
   1–6 players · 120 min · ★ 7.2 · Medium
   Shares with Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition): Adventure, Exploration, Fantasy, Fighting, Miniatures, Action Points, Cooperative Game, Dice Rolling, Hand Management · 4 of Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition)’s 6 mechanics (67%)
   vs Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition): overlaps at 1–5 players · scales to 6 · about the same length · 0.7 lighter
   View Massive Darkness on Amazon →
2. 2. Gloomhaven (2017)
   1–4 players · 60–120 min · ★ 8.8 · Medium-heavy
   Shares with Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition): Adventure, Exploration, Fantasy, Fighting, Miniatures, Cooperative Game · 1 of Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition)’s 6 mechanics (17%)
   vs Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition): overlaps at 1–4 players · ~30 min shorter · +0.7 heavier
   View Gloomhaven on Amazon →
3. 3. Dungeon Alliance (2018)
   1–4 players · 60–180 min · ★ 7.6 · Medium-heavy
   Shares with Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition): Adventure, Exploration, Fantasy, Fighting, Miniatures, Action Points, Cooperative Game, Grid Movement, Hand Management · 4 of Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition)’s 6 mechanics (67%)
   vs Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition): overlaps at 1–4 players · about the same length · +0.5 heavier
   View Dungeon Alliance on Amazon →
4. 4. Dungeons & Dragons The Legend of Drizzt Board Game (2011)
   1–5 players · 60 min · ★ 7.3 · Medium
   Shares with Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition): Adventure, Exploration, Fantasy, Fighting, Miniatures, Cooperative Game, Dice Rolling, Grid Movement · 3 of Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition)’s 6 mechanics (50%)
   vs Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition): overlaps at 1–5 players · ~60 min shorter · 0.6 lighter
5. 5. Defenders of the Realm (2010)
   1–4 players · 90 min · ★ 7.3 · Medium
   Shares with Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition): Adventure, Fantasy, Fighting, Miniatures, Action Points, Cooperative Game, Dice Rolling, Hand Management · 4 of Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition)’s 6 mechanics (67%)
   vs Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition): overlaps at 1–4 players · ~30 min shorter · 0.5 lighter
6. 6. Super Dungeon Explore Forgotten King (2015)
   1–6 players · 90–120 min · ★ 7.0 · Medium
   Shares with Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition): Adventure, Exploration, Fantasy, Fighting, Miniatures, Action Points, Cooperative Game, Dice Rolling, Grid Movement · 4 of Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition)’s 6 mechanics (67%)
   vs Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition): overlaps at 1–5 players · scales to 6 · ~15 min shorter · same complexity
7. 7. Arcadia Quest (2014)
   2–4 players · 60 min · ★ 7.7 · Medium
   Shares with Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition): Adventure, Exploration, Fantasy, Fighting, Miniatures, Dice Rolling, Grid Movement · 2 of Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition)’s 6 mechanics (33%)
   vs Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition): overlaps at 2–4 players · ~60 min shorter · 0.7 lighter
8. 8. Street Masters (2018)
   1–4 players · 45–120 min · ★ 8.2 · Medium
   Shares with Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition): Adventure, Fantasy, Fighting, Miniatures, Cooperative Game, Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, Hand Management · 4 of Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition)’s 6 mechanics (67%)
   vs Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition): overlaps at 1–4 players · ~37 min shorter · 0.4 lighter
9. 9. Shadows of Brimstone City of the Ancients (2014)
   1–4 players · 120 min · ★ 8.0 · Medium
   Shares with Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition): Adventure, Exploration, Fantasy, Fighting, Cooperative Game, Dice Rolling, Grid Movement · 3 of Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition)’s 6 mechanics (50%)
   vs Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition): overlaps at 1–4 players · about the same length · same complexity
10. 10. Mage Knight Board Game (2011)
    1–4 players · 60–240 min · ★ 8.1 · Heavy
    Shares with Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition): Adventure, Exploration, Fantasy, Fighting, Cooperative Game, Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, Hand Management · 4 of Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition)’s 6 mechanics (67%)
    vs Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition): overlaps at 1–4 players · ~30 min longer · +1.1 heavier
11. 11. Altar Quest (2020)
    1–4 players · 30–90 min · ★ 8.1 · Medium
    Shares with Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition): Adventure, Exploration, Fantasy, Fighting, Cooperative Game, Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, Hand Management · 4 of Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition)’s 6 mechanics (67%)
    vs Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition): overlaps at 1–4 players · ~60 min shorter · same complexity
12. 12. Mice and Mystics (2012)
    1–4 players · 60–90 min · ★ 7.3 · Medium
    Shares with Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition): Adventure, Exploration, Fantasy, Fighting, Miniatures, Cooperative Game, Dice Rolling · 2 of Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition)’s 6 mechanics (33%)
    vs Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition): overlaps at 1–4 players · ~45 min shorter · 0.5 lighter
13. 13. Mansions of Madness (2011)
    2–5 players · 120–180 min · ★ 7.3 · Medium
    Shares with Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition): Adventure, Exploration, Fantasy, Fighting, Miniatures, Dice Rolling, Hand Management · 2 of Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition)’s 6 mechanics (33%)
    vs Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition): overlaps at 2–5 players · ~30 min longer · same complexity
14. 14. Tainted Grail The Fall of Avalon (2019)
    1–4 players · 60–120 min · ★ 8.3 · Medium
    Shares with Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition): Adventure, Exploration, Fantasy, Cooperative Game, Dice Rolling, Hand Management · 3 of Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition)’s 6 mechanics (50%)
    vs Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition): overlaps at 1–4 players · ~30 min shorter · same complexity
15. 15. Skull Tales Full Sail! (2019)
    1–5 players · 60–150 min · ★ 7.9 · Medium-heavy
    Shares with Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition): Adventure, Exploration, Fantasy, Miniatures, Action Points, Cooperative Game, Dice Rolling, Grid Movement · 4 of Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition)’s 6 mechanics (67%)
    vs Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition): overlaps at 1–5 players · ~15 min shorter · +0.6 heavier
16. 16. Star Wars Imperial Assault (2014)
    1–5 players · 60–120 min · ★ 8.0 · Medium
    Shares with Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition): Adventure, Fighting, Miniatures, Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, Line of Sight · 3 of Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition)’s 6 mechanics (50%)
    vs Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition): overlaps at 1–5 players · ~30 min shorter · same complexity
17. 17. Eldritch Horror (2013)
    1–8 players · 120–240 min · ★ 7.8 · Medium
    Shares with Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition): Adventure, Fantasy, Fighting, Action Points, Cooperative Game, Dice Rolling · 3 of Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition)’s 6 mechanics (50%)
    vs Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition): overlaps at 1–5 players · scales to 8 · ~60 min longer · same complexity
18. 18. Earth Reborn (2010)
    2–4 players · 180 min · ★ 7.7 · Medium-heavy
    Shares with Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition): Adventure, Fighting, Miniatures, Action Points, Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, Hand Management · 4 of Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition)’s 6 mechanics (67%)
    vs Descent Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition): overlaps at 2–4 players · ~60 min longer · +0.7 heavier

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