HeroQuest Is BACK — The Legendary Tabletop Dungeon Crawler Returns on PC in 2027!

Some games never really go away. They just wait for the next generation to roll the dice. HeroQuest, the tabletop classic that helped define the dungeon-crawling adventure genre, is coming back as a video game. Nomad Games and Balor Games have revealed HeroQuest: Digital Edition, an officially licensed adaptation of the iconic board game, unveiled during The MIX Fall Showcase. It is coming to PC via Steam in 2027, with a Closed Beta playtest planned before launch.

For anyone who grew up with the original box, this is a genuine event. HeroQuest first hit tables in 1989 and became the gateway dungeon crawler for an entire generation: a board, a set of plastic miniatures, a stack of quests, and one player sitting behind the screen as the evil wizard Zargon, throwing monsters at their friends. The digital edition is built around that exact fantasy, and it keeps the structure that made the original so endlessly replayable.

The setup is pure HeroQuest. The sinister Dread sorcerer Zargon seeks to conquer the Realm, and only four brave heroes stand in his way. Players will lead the Barbarian, the Dwarf, the Elf, and the Wizard on a perilous quest into the dungeon to destroy the forces of Dread and protect the Realm. Each hero brings their own strengths to the party. The Barbarian breaks through enemy defenses with brute force. The Dwarf searches for traps and disarms them. The Wizard unleashes arcane power from the back line. The Elf mixes capable close combat with magic. Survival depends on the fellowship working together, combining those abilities and positioning carefully to overcome whatever Zargon throws at them.

But here is the twist that makes this more than a straight adaptation: you can play the villain. In HeroQuest: Digital Edition, one player can take on the role of Zargon, plotting and scheming behind the scenes to strike down the opposing fellowship. That fifth seat at the table changes the entire dynamic. A human Zargon can lay traps, spring ambushes, and adapt to the heroes’ plans in ways no scripted AI ever could. It turns every session into a genuine contest of wits, and it is the feature that could make this the version of HeroQuest that groups keep coming back to.

The game is built to flex around however your group wants to play. You can command the entire party of heroes solo, descending into the dungeon on your own. Or you can play online co-op with up to four players, each controlling a single hero, with a fifth player able to take on the role of Zargon. Combat is tactical and turn-based, and it keeps the dice-rolling heart of the tabletop original. You roll the dice of fate to determine your path forward, which means even the best-laid plan can fall apart on a bad roll. That tension, the mix of strategy and pure luck, is exactly what made the original so addictive.

Then there is the feature that could give the game near-endless life: the Quest Editor. Players can craft their own quests, building custom dungeons and adventures for their group. On top of that, built-in mod.io integration lets you explore quests forged by the community, opening the door to a constantly growing library of player-made adventures. Custom quests were always how groups kept HeroQuest going long after they had finished the quests in the box. Giving that habit a home on PC, with a shared library of community dungeons, might be the smartest thing about this announcement.

The pedigree is encouraging, too. Nomad Games is the studio behind Talisman: Digital Edition, so this is a team that already knows how to turn a beloved tabletop game into a digital one without losing its soul. The game is officially licensed, with the HeroQuest trademarks belonging to Hasbro, and Balor Games is publishing. Balor describes itself as a “Triple I” independent publisher formed by former leaders of Humble Games, focused on long-term stewardship of high-quality creative works.

There is no exact release date yet beyond the 2027 window, and no beta schedule has been announced. The next thing to watch is the Closed Beta playtest, which is where players will first get dice in hand and find out whether a digital Zargon can match the real thing. You can wishlist HeroQuest: Digital Edition on Steam now, and the developers point players to the official website for upcoming Closed Beta news.

Watch the reveal trailer here:

Source: Nomad Games and Balor Games announcement via GamesPress. Wishlist it on Steam.

Love dungeon crawlers? Check out Gloomhaven’s Successor Just Hit 1.0 — Frosthaven Is OUT NOW on PC (30% Off at Launch) and A Brand-New 2D Castlevania Launches Thursday — Free Demo Out Now.

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