Which online board games are worth playing in 2024: a parade of hits

The “Battlegrounds” mode in Hearthstone has long outgrown the format of a simple addition to the card game, turning into a standalone strategic battle. Here your deck — creatures in Bob’s tavern, and success depends not so much on card draw as on skillful management of gold, synergy choices, and timely tavern upgrades. To consistently win, it’s not enough to just buy strong creatures — you need to understand the economy of the mode, the principles of board building, and be able to adapt to opponents’ actions.

Basics of Gameplay: Heroes and Tavern

The gameplay starts with choosing a hero. Hearthstone Battlegrounds heroes are not just avatars but anchors of strategy. Each has a unique ability, activation cost, influence on recruitment, and even game pace. Some, like Jandice, accelerate rotations, while others, like Lord Barov, boost the economy through bonuses for Hearthstone creature types.

After choosing a hero, each player gains access to their own Bob’s tavern. This is where recruitment takes place: characters for battle are chosen from the offered set. They then enter the battle on the automatic board. The key moment is the golden rule: three identical creatures combine into an upgraded one (triple). In return, a special card is given — tavern discovery (“dig”), which offers a choice of one of three creatures with a rank higher than the current level of your tavern.

Tavern Levels and Gold in Hearthstone

The tavern is not just a “monster shop” but the foundation of your development and economy. The tavern rank in Battlegrounds mode is the main indicator of access to stronger units. At the initial stage, standard creatures are available. By the fifth and sixth levels, the most powerful and mechanically complex creatures are unlocked, capable of turning the game around (e.g., Brann Bronzebeard at level 5 or Kel’Thuzad at level 6).

Each round, a player receives 10 gold (gradually increasing to 10 at the start). Gold is spent on buying creatures (usually 3 gold), upgrading the tavern level (cost increases), rerolling the creature offer (reroll, usually 1 gold), and using the hero’s unique ability (varied cost). Tavern rank upgrades require gold, so the player constantly balances between strengthening the army here and now and investing in access to stronger creatures in the future (tempo versus risk).

The cycle of each round looks like this:

• receiving gold;
• recruitment phase: actions selection (buying creatures, tavern upgrade, reroll, using hero ability);
• placing creatures on the board;
• combat phase: automatic battle with creatures of one of the opponents;
• taking damage (if defeated);
• repeat cycle.

Creature Types in Hearthstone Battlegrounds

Success in battle is determined not only by the strength of individual creatures but also by their synergy and correct positioning. Creatures are divided into types (races), each with its key mechanic:

1. Murlocs. Strengthened by battlecries, poison, and other murlocs’ stats.
2. Mechs. Utilize magnetism, divine shields, and deathrattles (summon).
3. Demons. Often sacrifice hero health or their own creatures for increased stats.
4. Dragons. Accumulate stats through battlecries and in-battle synergies.
5. Beasts. Interact through deathrattles, summons, and buffs (“zoo”).
6. Undead. Use rebirth, deathrattles, and tavern effects.
7. Elementals. Scale power through elemental plays, gaining significant stats.
8. Quilboar. Strengthened by blood gems obtained in the tavern.
9. Nagas. Utilize spells generated in the tavern.
10. Pirates. Gain gold and power up through attacking and card plays.

Hearthstone Battlegrounds creature cards are designed so that mechanics of different types can intertwine, creating powerful combinations.

In addition to type, the combat properties of creatures are important: divine shield, poison, taunt, reborn, windfury, frenzy. The order of placing creatures on the board (positioning) critically affects the round outcome. For example, a poisonous creature is often placed first for guaranteed trades, creatures with reborn are placed on the right to revive after trades, and taunts are positioned to protect key units. Each battle is an opportunity to analyze the opponent’s strategy and adapt your positioning. Mistakes cost health, and Hearthstone Battlegrounds punish carelessness.

Additional Mechanics in Hearthstone Battlegrounds

To make the game even more diverse, developers introduce temporary or permanent mechanics:

1. Anomalies (since 2023). These are global modifiers affecting the entire match for all players. They can change starting health, tavern upgrade cost (like “Time Temp”), creature properties, combat rules, and much more. Anomalies disrupt standard scenarios and require even greater flexibility.
2. Combat tasks and rewards (seasonal mechanic). Temporary missions that a player receives at the start of the match. Successfully completing the condition (e.g., spend N gold, summon N creatures, play N battlecries) grants a powerful reward (unique spell or passive effect) that can define the entire subsequent strategy.
3. Duels. A separate mode where two players team up, can pass cards to each other, and battle against other pairs. Here, coordination and synergy within the team come to the forefront.

End of Game and Ranking

The match ends when only one player (or team in Duels) remains alive. Each defeat in battle deducts health from the hero (amount depends on the opponent’s tavern level and surviving creatures). Players ranking last (usually 5-8) lose rating (MMR). Those in the top 4 gain rating. Climbing the rating ladder successfully requires consistent play, understanding the meta, and the ability to secure high positions.

Metagame and Path to Victory

Choosing a strategy always depends on the current hero rotations and available creature types in the lobby. Each battle requires quick adaptation. For example, without Mechs, a magnetism strategy is no longer viable, and without Murlocs, executing a poison strategy becomes more challenging. Victory often goes to those who flexibly adjust their lineup to the creatures offered by the tavern and the available opponents, rather than blindly copying popular “meta builds.” Experienced players (with high MMR) often employ adaptive recruitment, skillfully balance between tavern upgrades and creature purchases, and timely find triples to obtain key cards. This underscores the importance of not playing by a template but engaging in live analysis of each move.

Conclusion

Hearthstone Battlegrounds combine the depth of chess, the economy of poker, and the tactical dynamics of RTS. Victory requires understanding creature types, precise gold spending, adaptation to anomalies, choosing the right hero, and considering opponents’ actions. The mechanics teach not just card collection but reading the board like an expert analyzes the market.

Board games based on computer games have ceased to exist as a by-product. Today, they form an independent cultural layer with well-developed mechanics, aesthetics, and a fan base. Developers do not simply copy visual elements, but recreate the interactive atmosphere of the original in an analog format. Successful board game adaptations create an alternative entry point into well-known gaming universes and become a tool for engaging new audiences.

Top 10 Board Games for PC

The format of board games has long gone beyond mere entertainment. Modern projects adopt mechanics, atmosphere and design from digital worlds, allowing players to rethink familiar universes through physical interaction. Board games based on PC games turn familiar genres into rich tactical games, saturate them with deep lore, offer complex choices and campaign elements. In 2025, the direction continues to gain momentum, creating a powerful synthesis of analog dynamics and digital legends.

The Witcher: Old World

An adventure board game with deck-building and a modular map creates a full-fledged role-playing campaign in the world of the Witcher. Five schools, each with its own mechanics and strategy, offer unique approaches to gameplay. Players explore the continent, hunt monsters, develop skills, make contracts, engage in verbal duels, and earn a reputation. Quest cards include moral dilemmas, branching consequences, and interactions with NPCs. Expansions add new regions, monsters, heroes, and even political intrigues. The party lasts about 2-3 hours and supports a campaign with progress retention.

Dark Souls: The Board Game

A high entry threshold, infallible logic of enemies, a “learn through defeat” system – a board game on computeri gra fully reflects the essence of the original series. Players use unique abilities, distribute resources to stamina and strikes, pump out equipment and fight bosses whose behavior is based on patterns. The combat zone consists of interconnected tiles, on which every step can cost a life. The campaign preserves progress, each death throws back, forcing to adapt and think strategically. The miniatures are highly detailed, and the atmosphere is enhanced by the visual darkness and card design.

DOOM: The Board Game (2016)

The fast-paced shooter transforms into a competitive tactic with asymmetric roles. One player controls the forces of Hell using invasion cards, demons, and traps, while the others coordinate the actions of UAC operatives by combining combat skills, weapon upgrades, and perk effects. The initiative is determined by a dynamic point system, mission cards modify the arenas, and each game creates a new scenario. The pace maintains the original aggressive dynamics, and the hardcore gameplay requires precise planning. The campaign includes a storyline that is modified by the players’ progress.

Fallout: The Board Game

A sandbox game with role-playing elements and open-ended gameplay. Players start with basic equipment, explore ruins, interact with characters, and make decisions that affect the fate of factions and the balance of power in the region. The quest system uses event cards that offer branching choices and permanent consequences. Progression includes S.P.E.C.I.A.L., items, allies, and unique abilities. Threat levels, morale, and faction control vary from scenario to scenario. The game combines narrative, tactical combat, and character development.

Cyberpunk 2077: Gangs of Night City

A board game with elements of territory control, personalized missions, and combat. Players manage gangs, promote influence in key areas, recruit fighters, improve technology, complete missions, and engage with other factions. Each game presents a unique combination of areas, events, and objectives. Characters have distinct personalities and stories, and each mission provides context within the larger conflict. The visual design immerses players in the atmosphere of Night City, while combat relies on a card-based engine with combinations and vulnerabilities.

XCOM: The Board Game

A cooperative game with time management elements, automated AI, and synchronized actions. Participants take on roles such as commander, scientist, engineer, and stormtrooper. The app manages the session’s progress, orchestrates invasions, changes the agenda, and triggers panic. Users explore technologies, repel attacks, manage budgets, defend cities, and complete missions. Decisions are made under tight time constraints, and errors accumulate, leading to global collapse. Progress depends on team coordination, long-term planning, and quick reactions.

Stardew Valley: The Board Game

The farming simulator receives a tactical cooperative implementation. Participants complete 1 year in 4 seasons, grow crops, explore mines, befriend NPCs, fight monsters, and complete community tasks. The gameplay requires balancing between short-term tasks and strategic goals. The event system varies conditions, and resource management limits actions. The parameters of happiness, income, and community development influence the final score. The visual design retains the charm of the original, and the quests convey a cozy and caring atmosphere.

Resident Evil 2: The Board Game

A turn-based survival horror game with dark visuals and a tense atmosphere. In the board game based on the computer game, players explore a city, complete missions, rescue survivors, and avoid infection. The combat system is based on positioning, limited ammunition, and location-based threats. The campaign is divided into chapters, and each decision affects access to new missions. The tiles form a map, and the environment elements add traps, fogs, and barricades. The game combines exploration, survival, puzzles, and combat dynamics, capturing the essence of the original horror game.

This War of Mine: The Board Game

The harsh story of civilians in a besieged city turns into an emotionally charged co-op. Users assign roles, explore the building, build a shelter, get food and resources, and interact with other survivors. Moral dilemmas are a key mechanic. The scenario book contains hundreds of situations, each with multiple options, consequences, and psychological effects. The course of the day, night, and events shapes the rhythm of survival. Death, hunger, and depression all influence actions and interactions.

Skyrim: The Adventure Game

The tabletop adaptation of the legendary RPG brings all the key elements to an analog format. Players choose factions, complete quests, explore provinces, interact with NPCs, upgrade armor, learn shouts, and collect artifacts. The campaign is divided into chapters, progress is carried over, and characters develop. The province map is modular, and combat is implemented through dice and perks. Guilds offer quests, story arcs respond to choices, and the final events depend on the entire party. The scale of the project, the depth of the system, and the atmosphere immerse players in Tamriel for an extended period.

Conclusion

Board games based on computer games don’t exploit the success of the originals; they expand the space. Paper maps, figurines, tokens, and cards allow you to experience the familiar universe in a different way: slower, more tactile, and deeper. By reimagining familiar stories, adapting gameplay to an analog format, and creatively reinterpreting mechanics, these titles become complete works of art. The worlds of pixels and polygons continue to live on the gaming table.