These Are the Best Dark Souls Board Game Expansions

Dark Souls is a wildly popular franchise that challenges players to die over and over again in pursuit of perfection. In 2017, Steamforge Games gave this gem a second life, bringing Dark Souls: The Board Game straight to the table of the fans of the game series. The board game has become a fascinating portal between the fun of exploring a video game and the joy of gaming in real life. In fact, the Dark Souls board game still finds its way into the club of top board games inspired by video games.

Some Dark Souls fans have been mesmerized by the board game ever since its release, feeling nostalgia for its earlier expansions and longing for new ones to come. Other Dark Souls fans, however, are a bit behind on the Dark Souls board game. It’s no wonder that they might feel a little lost with how many expansions and core sets there are to choose from. One definitely can’t blame them. Dark Souls: The Board Game boasts at least fifteen expansions, not to mention the new Dark Souls core set, The Sunless City and all the expansions that it might inspire.

Even long-time players of this challenging tabletop game scramble to find out which of the latest expansions are worth their time, effort, and money. After all, not every expansion has received critical acclaim from Dark Souls fans. Most of them, however, have at least a few features that make them a must-have for a dedicated Dark Souls fan.

Dark Souls expansions abound as much as unforgettable quotes from the Dark Souls game series do. Only the expansions that contribute something special to the game’s already challenging gameplay have made it to this list.

On that note, let’s get started with an honorable mention. It’s Dark Souls: The Board Game – Executioner’s Chariot Expansion. Though it may not be an essential expansion, it sure packs quite a few delights. It comes with chariot battles, quality figurines, and encounter cards for levels 1 – 4. Players also get to battle against necromancers and skeletons.

Let’s move on to the most delicious part, fellow undying ones. If other video games that Dark Souls fans appreciate no longer help fill that void, worry not. There are more expansions of the Dark Souls board game to explore, more stuff to loot, and more bosses to defeat in real life.

7

Dark Souls: The Board Game – Characters Expansion

Best for Expanding the Number of Playable Character Classes

• Number of Miniatures: 16
• Number of Cards: 113
• Number of Boards: 6
• Playtime: 90 – 120 minutes

The thrill that comes with some of the coolest weapons in the Dark Souls game series is just too tempting not to give in to. One feature in the original Dark Souls video games that has conquered the hearts of many fans, though, is the choice of character classes. Unfortunately, the original Dark Souls: The Board Game somewhat misses the mark by including only four character classes.

The Dark Souls fans who miss this crucial feature are bound to find the Characters Expansion a must-have in their collection. This expansion gives six more playable character classes, being a major improvement in gameplay. The original board game features the assassin, the warrior, the knight, and the herald. In the Characters Expansion, Dark Souls fans can experience playing as the thief, the pyromancer, the cleric, the mercenary, the deprived, and the sorcerer.

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6

Dark Souls: The Board Game – Iron Keep Expansion

Best for Thematic Boss Encounters and Increased Difficulty Levels

• Number of Miniatures: 16
• Number of Cards: 72
• Number of Boards: 0
• Playtime: 90 – 120 minutes

Those who dare to try and enter the Iron Keep will most certainly be in for a fight. The Iron Keep Expansion is not for the faint-hearted, and it might refresh your fascination with some of the top strength weapons in Dark Souls. With the keep swarming with Alonne Knights, Ironclad Soldiers, Crystal Lizards, and more, players will be in for a long road ahead of them in this locale.

In addition, the expansion comes with a few other special items. Players gain 1 Sir Alonne health dial, 1 Smelter Demon health dial, and an insert on the rules. This expansion also works like a charm with the expansion Dark Souls: The Board Game – The Old King.

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5

Dark Souls: The Board Game – Darkroot Expansion

Best for Providing a Touch of Variety in Bosses and Enemies

• Number of Miniatures: 16
• Number of Cards: 75
• Number of Boards: 0
• Playtime: 90 – 120 minutes

One complaint among some fans of the Dark Souls original board game used to be minimal replayability due to a limited set of bosses and enemies. Before this expansion, many fans of the game didn’t have much to work with. With the Darkroot Expansion, however, players get to face two key bosses: Great Grey Wolf Sif and Artorias.

Another bonus is that this expansion doesn’t overcomplicate gameplay with any rule revisions. As a case in point, The Sunless City comes with a learning curve, showing us that rule revisions can get quite complicated in the Dark Souls world.

In addition, in the Darkroot Expansion of the original core set, players gain a few more things than just a couple of big bad bosses. They also get tokens, character dials, a list of rules, and more board gaming delights.

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4

Dark Souls: The Board Game – Explorers Expansion

Best for Treasure and Ambushes

• Number of Miniatures: 27
• Number of Cards: 81
• Number of Boards: 0
• Playtime: 90 – 120 minutes

In case you catch yourself thinking there aren’t enough tricks in the game, you can try your hand at this expansion. The Explorers Expansion spices up ambushes in the game with the help of mimics. Something looks and feels like loot, so it must be loot – nope. That would be a mimic, and players get points for outwitting them. Besides the mimic action resembling the notorious Russian roulette, players also get a bit of a decor upgrade. This expansion adds in nice little terrain miniatures to really spruce up all the dungeons and dark spaces.

Mimics, Silver Knight Spearmen, and Firebomb Hollow aren’t all that players can expect. In addition to Old Dragonslayer, players get to beat up another major boss – The Pursuer. Additionally, this expansion includes a slew of other items, such as 1 mimic health dial, 1 The Pursuer health dial, 1 Old Dragonslayer health dial, and the usual insert on the rules.

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3

Dark Souls: The Board Game – Phantoms Expansion

Best for Adding More Challenge Behind Every Ember and Soul Trade

• Number of Miniatures: 21
• Number of Cards: 138
• Number of Boards: 0
• Playtime: 60 – 90 minutes

While the soul trades for Summons definitely throw off some players, others find the thrill of fighting Invaders behind every ember gained to be worthwhile. No doubt, with the number of miniatures offered, there’s a lot to toy with, yet that’s not all.

The expansion packs 3 blank Invader tokens, 6 standard Invader tokens, and 6 advanced Invader tokens. It also comes with 1 Invader health dial, 1 Summon health dial, and an insert on game directions.

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2

Dark Souls: The Board Game – The Four Kings Expansion

Best for Mega Bosses That Are Most Accurate to the Dark Souls Lore

• Number of Miniatures: 4
• Number of Cards: 27
• Number of Boards: 1
• Playtime: 30 – 45 minutes

Praised among many fans of the Dark Souls board game for being an expansion with lore-accurate bosses, The Four Kings Expansion is hard to overlook. After all, the diverse lore in Dark Souls is one of the things that this franchise is so respected for. With four kings to battle, strategy will definitely be a major determiner in any player’s success in The Four Kings Expansion.

This expansion comes with just enough to help you relive the thrill of some of the toughest quests in Dark Souls. Besides cards, miniatures, and a board, players also get 4 Four Kings identifier tokens, 4 Four Kings health dials, and an insert on the rules.

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1

Dark Souls: The Board Game – Asylum Demon Expansion

Best for Boss Fights, Collecting Gear Opportunities, and Building Up Characters

• Number of Miniatures: 1
• Number of Cards: 32
• Number of Boards: 1
• Playtime: 30 – 45 minutes

The Asylum Demon Expansion has earned its place in the hearts of players looking to build up their character. Unlike many expansions that tend to anticipate more experienced and stronger players, this expansion offers a sort of easy mode and has two decks. While the Asylum Demon is better suited for beginners, the Stray Demon is optimal for those who long for a challenge.

In addition, the expansion features 1 Asylum Demon health dial, 4 pillar tokens, and an insert on game directions.

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