Dungeons & Dragons is perhaps more alive than ever. Although popular during the mid-'70s when it first came out, the game has achieved mainstream popularity and recognition today with shows such as Critical Role and Stranger Things that take inspiration from the franchise.

RELATED: Dungeons & Dragons: Tips For First-Time Players

Dungeons & Dragons has also inspired a countless number of spin-offs and game franchises that have captured the imaginations and attention of fans. Some of these include parodies that hilariously flip the franchise on its head with several funny depictions of tropes and inversions of some classic DND ideas. Although a departure from the traditional DND experience, fans of the fantasy genre and casual gamers alike will be able to recognize and delight in playing some of these parodies that echo sentiments of DND.

Munchkin

Munchkin

The classic card-based dungeon crawler that came out in 2001, Munchkin is a delightfully simple game where players kill whatever is in the dungeon, grab the treasure, and gain levels. Throw in some hefty amount of backstabbing and betrayal and one has the quintessential Munchkin experience. Players win by being the first to get to level 10 and it’s possible to have more than a single winner.

The game features several hilarious monster and reward cards. Several monsters such as Mimics and the Knight Mare (described as a really, really bad pony) poke fun at the whole monster-slaying aspect of the game despite being quite daunting. Meanwhile, other monsters like the Gazebo and Level 1 Potted Plant create moments of humor in a somewhat tense game (especially so in the late game) and the rewards are equally silly and outrageous.

A popular gateway game, Munchkin has spawned several expansions and versions which include Munchkin Cthulu, Munchkin Marvel, and Munchkin Warhammer 40,000. And yes, it’s very possible to mix and match different expansions together for a unique experience.

Tales Of The Arabian Nights

tales of the arabian nights box

Paying homage to the choose-your-own-adventure books that were popular in the '80s and '90s, Tales Of The Arabian Nights is precisely that – a choose-your-own-adventure book in a board game. Inspired by the exploits of legendary characters such as Aladdin, Sinbad, and Scheherazade, players will wander through the land in search of adventure.

RELATED: Best Board Games That Tell An Amazing Story

In the beginning, players select skills that will affect future encounters with various creatures and people. Players can improve and acquire new skills depending on their journeys. While some players may become powerful sultans of distant lands and visit enchanted places such as the Undersea Kingdom or Cave Of Wonders, others may become crazed beggars who fall into the gender-swapping lake.

The game isn’t about winning as it’s about the strange and wacky encounters players have that often lead to hilarious and ridiculous scenarios. With over 2000+ passages and a list of multiple encounters, players will never feel bored with this one.

The Red Dragon Inn

red dragon inn cards

Imagine Dungeons & Dragons but just set at the tavern. In The Red Dragon Inn, players have already been to the dungeon, killed the boss, and plundered its depths for treasure. Now they’re back at the inn spending their hard-earned gold on well, drinks. Why? Because that’s what good fantasy adventurers do alright? In fact, that’s all they do.

The game features players and their companions drinking, gambling, and roughing one another up (this can be done simultaneously in-game and at the table itself – just don’t spill anything). The player that is sober enough/conscious at the end of the game and manages to hold onto their gold coins is the winner.

The game features a fair amount of card management, some powers, tonnes of betting and bluffing, and player elimination. That means that players that get eliminated from the game can go sulk in the corner whilst everyone else laughs at them. A game about drinking (that should be paired with drinks) and laughing at the losers… What more could players want? The game also features several expansions. The more the merrier.

Eldritch Horror

eldritch horror setup

Now this game may not have much to do with Dungeons & Dragons, but it does have adventure and strange monsters/bosses that players need to kill, so it qualifies. In Eldritch Horror, players must work together to stop a certain group of cultists and events from summoning an Elder God into the world. Hint: the Elder God usually shows up so players need to kill it. Gasp!

RELATED: Best Lovecraftian Board Games

The game feels like Indiana Jones with players running around the world doing damage control, except this world is populated with horrible creatures that drain one’s sanity. Players will pick an investigator with some unique abilities and globe-trot around the world to solve mysteries, gun down monsters/cultists, or teleport through gates and explore dimensions beyond time and space, what fun!

However, should players fail in some way shape, or form, it gets really bad as they may get condition cards that make things harder. The alternative is to enter a dark pact to hopefully negate the bad effects but that can also mean damning oneself even further. Full of adventure and madness, Eldritch Horror features multiple expansions that introduce more Elder Gods and crazy, mad-inducing scenarios.

MORE: Board Games That Have Gorgeous Miniatures