One of the unique dungeon-crawling board games that sought to recreate the joy and danger of tabletop RPGs like Dungeons & Dragons, HeroQuest was first launched more than 30 years in the past. Putting gamers into roles just like the mighty Barbarian and spell-slinging Elf, HeroQuest let a group of associates play out their heroic fantasies proper on the kitchen desk in a matter of solely a couple hours in comparison with the afternoon-long periods a conventional TTRPG could take. With its large quantities of plastic miniatures that got here packed in its iconic field and multi-quest long story, HeroQuest established a passionate fan base that may proceed to sing its praises a long time later and rally behind it when Hasbro requested if of us needed it to return by way of its HasLab crowdfunding platform.
And right here we sit, a number of years after the marketing campaign, and new and previous followers alike have loads of HeroQuest to take pleasure in within the kind of the brand new release and all of its expansions! To help of us who could also be involved in working collectively to slay the evil Zargon and stop his machinations of their tracks, this purchaser's guide will help you plan adventures!
HeroQuest Game System
MSRP: $134.99 USD
- 1-5 gamers (solo play requires the free HeroQuest companion app)
- Ages 14+
Contents
- Quest ebook w/ 14 new quests
- 65+ miniatures (31 monsters, 4 heroes, 15 furnishings items, 19 cranium items, 4 rats, 21 doorways)
- Gameboard
- Game Master display screen
- 93 playing cards
Before anything, you should secure your self a copy of the primary game, the HeroQuest Game System. Every further piece of content material launched to date requires you to have this primary – no stand-alone expansions right here!
HeroQuest First Light
MSRP: $49.99 USD
- 1-5 gamers (solo play requires the free HeroQuest companion app)
- Ages 14+
Contents
- Quest ebook w/ 10 distinctive quests
- Game system rulebook
- Double-sided gameboard
- Game Master’s display screen
- 5 miniatures
- 1 pad of character sheets
- 6 fight cube
- 2 motion cube
- 39 cardboard items
- 102 playing cards
- 52 plastic movers
- 31 monster tokens
- 15 furnishings tokens
- 41 cardboard tiles
- 21 dungeon door tokens
As a lot enjoyable as HeroQuest is, for brand spanking new gamers who’re involved in checking the game out, the hefty price tag could be a large deterrent. But now with HeroQuest: First Light, that bar to get into the system is simpler than ever. First Light gives contemporary faces with a good likelihood to check out the core game system of HeroQuest whereas slimming issues down a bit on the manufacturing aspect of issues to cut the fee.
Outside of the core forged of hero characters for gamers to choose from and the spectacular dragon miniature, a lot of the game that had beforehand been represented as plastic minis are actually cardboard tokens as a substitute. For followers who already own the core field of HeroQuest, there isn’t a lot of a motive to choose up First Light until you’re a completionist, you’re determined to take a look at the distinctive quests, or need more hero figures to color.
To sweeten the deal even more, First Light is totally suitable with all different HeroQuest content material that has been launched previously few years, making this smaller field the advisable leaping in level until you already know you’re keen on HeroQuest.
The App
MSRP: Free
For participant teams that may’t resolve/ don’t wish to have a game grasp or adventurers that take pleasure in dungeon-diving solo, the official HeroQuest companion app for phones automates that roll of Zargon. With totally voiced descriptions, the app is a great method to expertise the game and all of its growth modules, too. The better part is that it’s free, so no hurt in checking it out.
The Online Quests
MSRP: Free
Avalon Hill has launched online a quantity of free to obtain particular quests that add the lore and backstory on the world of HeroQuest and your heroes such because the prequel quest, "A New Beginning." These particular one-off quests are enjoyable little bonuses that make the most of the sources from totally different HeroQuest merchandise and are great methods to get a little additional HeroQuest goodness.
These free quests could be discovered over on HasbroPulse’s website.
The Boxed Expansions
Kellar’s Keep
MSRP: $33.99 USD
- 1-5 gamers (solo play requires the free HeroQuest companion app)
- Ages 14+
Contents
- Quest ebook w/ 10 new quests
- 19 miniatures (8 orcs, 6 goblins, 3 abominations, 2 doorways)
- Sheet of cardboard tiles
- 14 playing cards
As the primary of the expansions for HeroQuest, Kellar’s Keep is one of the lighter choices among the many choices out there immediately and its a devoted rerelease of the Kellar’s Keep growth for the unique HeroQuest from the 90s. Kellar’s Keep feels very very like a continuation and extension of the bottom HeroQuest, thanks partly to a lot of related monster minis being included. It’s nonetheless a enjoyable time and an straightforward method to perceive how expansions work. Kellar’s Keep is the proper offering for anybody who isn’t essentially in search of a spike in issue however simply more HeroQuest.
Return of the Witch Lord
MSRP: $33.99 USD
- 1-5 gamers (solo play requires the free HeroQuest companion app)
- Ages 14+
Contents
- Quest ebook w/ 10 new quests
- 18 miniatures (8 skeletons, 4 mummies, 4 zombies, 2 doorways)
- Sheet of cardboard tiles
- 14 playing cards
That dastardly Witch Lord you handled within the base Game System is back along with his armies of the undead! Return of the Witch Lord is similar to the Kellar’s Keep growth, giving gamers more miniatures from discovered within the base game, however this pack additionally consists of some fairly cool trying new tiles which are utilized in over the course of its 10 quests – together with the menacing cranium on the ground! Return of the Witch Lord is a basic quest that longtime gamers of the game will acknowledge and brings about a good feeling of conclusion carried over from the Game System an Kellar’s Keep storylines. The three collectively actually really feel like the start trilogy of the HeroQuest sequence.
Prophecy of Telor
MSRP: $33.99 USD
- 1-5 gamers (solo play requires the free HeroQuest companion app)
- Ages 14+
Contents
- Quest ebook w/ 13 new quests
- New Warlock class
- 15 miniatures (13 translucent orange enemy minis, 2 warlock character minis)
- Set of 6 translucent orange D6 Dice
- 14 playing cards
Previously one of the 2 expansions unique to the Mythic tier during its crowdfunding section on Haslab, Prophecy of Telor is now out there to everybody on this new premium release. With a menacing set of translucent orange monsters, cube and a model new character class within the Warlock to play as, the Prophecy of Telor growth give all gamers a likelihood to expertise this story. The new Warlock class is especially enjoyable, having the ability to grow to be a demonic kind to do battle, making for some fantastic new social gathering composition choices for all of your HeroQuest adventures.
Spirit Queen’s Torment
MSRP: $33.99 USD
- 1-5 gamers (solo play requires the free HeroQuest companion app)
- Ages 14+
Contents
- Quest ebook w/ 14 new quests
- New Bard class
- 15 miniatures (14 translucent teal enemy minis, 1 bard character mini)
- Set of 6 translucent teal D6 Dice
- 15 playing cards
Spirit Queen’s torment may be very a lot much like the Prophecy of Telor – each being premium mass market releases of beforehand mythic tier exclusives, superior translucent monsters and die (this time in an icy teal), and a model new character class with the Bard. You will deal with darkish magics and discover mysterious places just like the Wyvern Keep over the course of the 15 adventures included. And now, at long final, you may play out all of your best bard fantasies in HeroQuest, singing your magical tunes that can put your enemies to sleep, heal your folks, and grant bonus assault cube to your folks. You will need to homebrew guidelines to try to seduce monsters although, so be sure to work together with your Zargon for all of your flirty wants.
Against the Ogre Horde
MSRP: $44.99 USD
- 1-5 gamers (solo play requires the free HeroQuest companion app)
- Ages 14+
Contents
- Quest ebook w/ 10 new quests
- New Druids class
- 28 miniatures
- 2 sheets of cardboard tiles
- 29 playing cards
For the group that likes to fight and kill a lot of enemies, Against the Ogre Horde will likely be proper up your alley. This latest growth to release can be a remaster of one the basic modules launched for the unique HeroQuest back within the day. For followers of the unique, a lot of it can really feel extremely acquainted, however there have been slight tweaks and changes to account for contemporary tastes. The miniatures included are some of my favourite choices to date, with the enormous Ogres and big throne which are included. The new enemies help make this a enjoyable field to snag in the event you take pleasure in creating homebrew quests to ship your folks on too.
The Mage within the Mirror
MSRP: $44.99 USD
- 1-5 gamers (solo play requires the free HeroQuest companion app)
- Ages 14+
Contents
- Quest ebook w/ 10 new quests
- 33 miniatures
- Sheet of cardboard tiles
- 35 playing cards
With the Realm of Reflection to discover, the Mage within the Mirror expansions duties your heroic group of heroes with saving a princess, discovering a legendary sword, and contending with an evil archmage – principally some good ol’ basic high fantasy goodness. Mage within the Mirror consists of a new physique kind and set of playing cards for the Elf class that comes with the bottom Game System along with a quantity of extremely detailed atmosphere objects, new tiles, and monster minis. This growth tells the primary half of a story that concludes within the Rise of the Dread Moon set, so it might be worthwhile to get each directly.
Rise of the Dread Moon
MSRP: $44.99 USD
- 1-5 gamers (solo play requires the free HeroQuest companion app)
- Ages 14+
Contents
- Quest ebook w/ 10 new quests
- New Knight class
- 29 miniatures
- Sheet of cardboard tiles
- 58 playing cards
Picking up the place The Mage within the Mirror questline left off, Rise of the Dread Moon brings with it a quantity of model new mechanics just like the Elven mercenaries but additionally a new character class as nicely with the sword-and-board wielding Knight. With a bunch of cool new tiles, objects and monster minis, Rise of the Dread Moon is great for followers that prefer to make their own quests too. However, in the event you plan to play by way of the story and never simply make the most of the items the come within the field, be sure to get and playthrough the Mage within the Mirror growth first to get the most effective expertise!
The Frozen Horror
MSRP: $44.99 USD
- 1-5 gamers (solo play requires the free HeroQuest companion app)
- Ages 14+
Contents
- Quest ebook w/ 10 new quests
- 23 miniatures
- Sheet of cardboard tiles
- 35 playing cards
- 6 fight cube
- 2 motion cube
- 1 pad of character sheets
Bundle up heroes because the Frozen Horror will ship you into the Frozen Wastelands. For Barbarian followers, this growth will likely be for you, being a very centered expertise tailor-made to the category – even together with a new barbarian miniature with a new physique kind. There are a bunch of actually neat monster sculpts current too with icy blue conflict bears, and the extremely imposing title monster, the Frozen Horror, together with a host of mercenaries too. One significantly fascinating side to the Frozen Horror growth is that the journey begins with a sequence of solo character quests earlier than the group quests resume. If smacking issues actually onerous is your model (and also you need a cool new set of blue cube to play with) then The Frozen Horror growth could also be for you.
Jungles of Delthrak
MSRP: $44.99 USD
- 1-5 gamers (solo play requires the free HeroQuest companion app)
- Ages 14+
Contents
- Quest ebook w/ 16 new quests
- 29 miniatures ( 8 orcs, 6 goblins, 3 abominations, 2 doorways)
- 39 cardboard items
- 36 playing cards
Poisonous snakes, menacing spiders, and ruins aplenty await heroes that want to journey into the Jungles of Delthrak. This quest pack takes gamers duties gamers with retrieving a highly effective artifact and get to the underside of the Dread Blight that has seeped its approach into the roots of the jungle. In addition to a bunch of model new enemies to face and a few fairly nifty new impact components (the inexperienced hearth a private favourite), Jungles of Delthrak introduce the brand new Berserker and Explorer hero courses to choose from. With its 16 quests to take a look at, this quest pack gives a lot of worth for those who wish to take their Hero Quest game out of the dungeons and beneath canopies of timber as a substitute.
Character Packs
Hero Collection: Rogue Heir of Elethorn
MSRP: $14.99 USD
Contents
- New Rogue class
- 2 miniatures (2 totally different physique sculpts for the Rogue)
- 13 playing cards (12 game playing cards, 1 story card)
Every good adventuring social gathering wants the sneaky stabbing rouge character, and with the Rouge Heir of Elethorn character pack, that’s precisely what you get. This field comes full with fashions and playing cards that includes two totally different physique sorts and has expertise that make the most of throwing daggers, attacking a number of instances, and dealing more harm when a foe is already engaged with a teammate. The solely draw back is the dearth of any actual story or quests that discover more of the character.
Hero Collection: Path of the Wandering Monk
MSRP: $14.99 USD
Contents
- New Monk class
- 2 miniatures (2 totally different physique sculpts for the Monk)
- 8 game playing cards
- 1 scroll prop
One with the weather and with fists as lethal as any blade, the Monk is one of the more distinctive courses you may decide from in HeroQuest. By using the weather of wind, water, earth and hearth – every with two particular results related to every aspect – the monk has a lot of utility that may show useful in a pitch. From crusing over traps with the ability of the wind to blasting an vitality blast from their fingers with the ability of hearth which may hit a giant quantity of enemies directly, the Monk might fill that spot as a last-ditch trump card. In order to make use of these highly effective Fire assaults although, could have required you to have the opposite three parts expended first. As a grasp of unarmed fight, the monk doesn’t include beginning armor or a weapon, however with three defend cube and getting two assault cube when attacking unarmed, doesn’t imply they’re a pushover. Much just like the the Rogue Heir, the primary draw back to this small character pack is that it doesn’t include a quest or two that dives into their story.
The End
Hasbro and Avalon Hill show no indicators of slowing down their help for the heroes and their questing anytime quickly. A complete new technology of gamers are attending to dungeon dive and study from the clever Mentor, creating recollections they are going to cherish for the remaining of their lives. While HeroQuest could also be a bit mild on mechanics for an older and more skilled crowd making an attempt out this legacy for the primary time, the neighborhood has created a wealth of customized guidelines and distinctive quests that will help with that.
HeroQuest stays a basic within the board gaming pastime, and its future appears to be like shiny.
For more, take a look at our picks for the best escape room board games, in addition to the best board games for teens. And when you have a sizable group for game night time, additionally see the best board games for 6 players.
Scott White is a freelance contributor to IGN, aiding with tabletop video games and guide protection. Follow him on X/Twitter or Bluesky.