Fantasy Games
Browse all Fantasy board games in the Meeple Pulse database.
Styles
AbstractAbstract StrategyAdventureAnimalsCard GameChildren's GameCivilizationCo-operativeCompetitiveDiceEconomicEducationalEuroExpansion for Base-gameFamilyFantasyFightingHistoricalHorrorMedium HeavyPartyParty GamePrint & PlayPuzzle-LikeRacingReal-timeSpace ExplorationSportsStrategyTerritory BuildingThematicWargame
Themes
AbstractAdventureAncientAnimalsArtBusinessCard GameCo-operativeComic BookCooperativeCrimeEconomicEnvironmentalismExplorationFantasyHistoricalHorrorHumorIntrigueLiteraryMagicMarvelMedievalModernMuseumMysteryMythologyNatureNauticalParty GamePoliticalPress Your LuckRacingSatireSci-FiSocial CommentarySocial InteractionSpaceSuperheroesThematicTravelWarWesternWord-Guessing
Mechanics
3D PlacementActingAction / DexterityAction DraftingAction Point AllowanceAction Point Allowance SystemAction Point SystemAction PointsAction ProgrammingAction QueueAction RetrievalAction SelectionAction/EventAlliancesAlternate ActivationApp-AssistedApp-DrivenArea ControlArea InfluenceArea MajorityArea Majority / InfluenceArea MovementArgumentationAsymmetricAsymmetric FactionsAsymmetric GameAsymmetric PowersAsymmetrical PowersAuction & BiddingAuction/BiddingAuctioningBag BuildingBettingBetting and BluffingBetting and WageringBetting and WagersBiddingBingoBlind BiddingBluffingCampaign / Battle Card DrivenCampaign / LegacyCampaign / Legacy GameCampaign / Mission-basedCampaign / ScenariosCampaign GameCampaign PlayCard DraftingCard DrawingCard DrivenCard Driven ActionCard Driven CombatCard Driven Dice AllocationCard Driven MovementCard ManagementCard PlayCard Play / Hand ManagementCard Play Conflict ResolutionCard SheddingCard-Driven MovementCharacter CreationCharacter ProgressionChit-Pull SystemCo-op PlayCo-operative GameCo-operative PlayCode-breakingCombat ResolutionCombo ChainCommand CardsCommodity SpeculationCommunication LimitsContract FulfillmentContractsCooperative GameCooperative GameplayCooperative PlayCooperative Trick-takingDebateDeck BuildingDeck ConstructionDeck, Bag, and Pool BuildingDeck-BuildingDeductionDexterityDice DraftingDice PlacementDice RollingDiplomatic InfluenceDraftingDynamic Battle SystemEnclosureEnd Game BonusesEngine BuildingEngine-BuildingEscape RoomEvent DrivenExplorationFarmingFlip and WriteFollowFollow ActionGrid CoverageGrid MovementHand ManagementHex-and-CounterHexagon GridHidden MovementHidden RolesI Cut You ChooseIncomeInfluence / Area MajorityLadder ClimbingLegacyLegacy ElementsLegacy GameLegacy SystemLimited CommunicationLine DrawingLine of SightMancalaMap AdditionMap MovementMarketMarket DraftingMarket ManipulationMarket MechanicMarket SpeculationMatchingMeasurement MovementMemoryMission ObjectivesModular BoardModular Board ConstructionMove Through DeckMovement PointsMovement TemplatesMulti-Use CardsMulti-use CardsMultiple ScenariosMust FollowNarrative ChoiceNarrative Choice / ParagraphNegotiationNegotiation MechanicsNetwork & Route BuildingNetwork BuildingNetwork and Route BuildingOne vs ManyOne vs. ManyOpen DraftingOwnershipPaper-and-PencilPartnershipsPattern BuildingPattern RecognitionPick-up and DeliverPlayer EliminationPlayer InteractionPlayer JudgePoint SaladPoint to Point MovementPolyominoesPush Your LuckPush-Your-LuckPuzzlePuzzle-LikePuzzle-SolvingRaceReal-TimeRecipe FulfillmentResource ManagementRole PlayingRole SelectionRoll / Spin and MoveRondelRoute BuildingRoute-BuildingRoute/Network BuildingSanity SystemScenario / Campaign PlayScenario / Mission / Campaign GameScenario / Mission FunctionSecret Unit DeploymentSemi-Cooperative GameSet CollectionSheddingSimulationSimultaneous ActionSimultaneous Action SelectionSimultaneous Hidden AllocationSocial DeductionSocial InteractionSolo / Solitaire GameSpace ExplorationStat Check / Skill CheckStock HoldingStorytellingStrategic PlanningTableau BuildingTactical Decision-MakingTake ThatTargeted CluesTeam PlayTeam-Based GameTeam-Based GuessingTeamworkTech TreesTech Trees / Tech TracksTechnology & Armament TracksTechnology TreeTension & Aggression TracksTile DraftingTile LayingTile PlacementTime TrackTime TravelTower DefenseTrack MovementTradingTrick-takingTug of WarTurn Order: PassTurn Order: Stat-BasedUnit PlacementVariable Phase OrderVariable Player PowersVariable Set-upVariable SetupVictory Point TracksVotingWord AssociationWord GameWord GuessingWord-GuessingWord-guessingWordplayWorker Placement

RANK #4,105
Magical Athlete
2003Welcome to the most prestigious and unpredictable sporting event in the fantasy realm! "Magical Athlete" is a whimsical and chaotic racing game where you take on the role of a team manager, tasked with recruiting a powerful squad of fantasy creatures and heroes to compete in a series of grand races. Your ultimate goal is to accumulate the most Victory Points by having your athletes place first or second in these contests. The journey to victory begins not on the track, but at the auction block. Each manager starts with a pool of seed money, which they must shrewdly spend to draft a team from a wild and varied roster. From nimble elves and sturdy dwarves to powerful wizards and bizarre monsters, each potential athlete brings a unique talent to the table. Assembling a synergistic and adaptable team is the first crucial step towards claiming the championship trophy.
The gameplay is elegantly divided into two distinct phases: drafting and racing. The drafting phase is a clever market-style auction where new athletes are revealed one by one. Unchosen athletes slide down a price track, becoming more affordable over time, creating tense decisions about when to snatch a bargain or splurge on a premium racer. Once everyone has assembled their team of five, the races begin! For each of the game's four or five races, players secretly select one athlete from their team to compete. The race itself unfolds with a simple 'roll and move' mechanic—players roll a single six-sided die to advance their pawn. However, this simple foundation is where the magic truly happens. Every single athlete possesses a unique, often game-breaking, special power. These variable player powers are the heart of the game, completely subverting the basic rules and turning each race into a spectacle of delightful chaos.
The enduring appeal of "Magical Athlete" lies in its embrace of pure, unadulterated fun and spectacular, unpredictable moments. It is not a game of deep, contemplative strategy, but rather a generator of laughter and unforgettable stories. The magic is in the surprising interactions between the dozens of unique character abilities. One racer might be able to leap over opponents, another might run backwards but twice as fast, and a third might force everyone else to re-roll their dice. This creates a highly interactive and dynamic experience where no lead is ever truly safe and the underdog can snatch victory at the last second. Its simple rule set makes it incredibly accessible for new players and families, while the immense variety of athletes ensures high replayability. "Magical Athlete" is the perfect choice for groups seeking a lighthearted, hilarious, and engaging game where the outrageous journey on the track is just as rewarding as crossing the finish line first.
4-5 90m⚖️ 1.3

Onward: Twisted
2026The Twisted expansion introduces a complete solo mode for Onward: The MOBA Game. Face 32 Twisted Heroes and the Outsider as it joins the fight in the lanes. Then add a Twist or Wild Twist to push the experience further with unique rules and alternate setups.
1-2 90m⚖️ 3.4

In Tainted Grail, you will choose your path as four enemy types confront you, each one with a different level of difficulty and different rewards for taking them down. Shift between foes to build a well-rounded hero for a final fight against the boss. Combos in combat are critical as the dial severely limits the dice you can apply to enemies, but you can get around those restrictions by playing combat cards to unlock more options. The deck-building and combat card combinations change your strategy each time you engage an enemy! If you don't want to face a certain enemy or are scouting for a different one further down in its deck, cast it aside into the Menhir Stack at the end of an engagement. After eight turns, you will face off against an extremely difficult boss, who will bring one or more Menhir Stack minions along for the fight. If you defeat it, you've won the game!
-description from the publisher
1 60m⚖️ 3.0