Which HeroQuest expansion after the base game?

2-5 players (base) Dungeon crawler About 60-120 min

The game

Already own HeroQuest? Every box after the base is a quest pack of new adventures and figures. The question is which theme, and whether your base is the main game or First Light.

2-5 players: heroes plus one Zargon. Quest packs need the HeroQuest game system (the base game; First Light is the lighter starter system).

First Light is a starter system. HeroQuest First Light is a standalone beginner box with its own quests. Avalon Hill sells it as an entry point that works with the quest packs, with fewer components than the big base.

The classics were reprinted first. Kellar's Keep, Return of the Witch Lord, The Frozen Horror and Mage of the Mirror are the 1989-1992 packs, reissued first for a reason: they continue the base game's story.

Quest packs do not need each other. Apart from story taste, you can buy them in any order. Nothing here unlocks another box.

Which boxes do you already own?

Put on the table what you already have, and how many of you play.

You usually play with

2-5

Release timeline

Base reissue 2021, Kellar's Keep and Return of the Witch Lord (from 1989), The Frozen Horror and Mage of the Mirror (from 1992), Prophecy of Telor, Rise of the Dread Moon 2023, Spirit Queen's Torment, Against the Ogre Horde and Jungles of Delthrak 2024, First Light and Crypt of Perpetual Darkness 2025, Wizards of Morcar 2026.

The graph

How the HeroQuest boxes connect, plus the mechanics. An arrow starts at the expansion and points to the box it needs.

needs another box
contains this box
part of the line
game mechanic

Depending on what you want

You want	Get
Continue the base story	Kellar's Keep, then Return of the Witch Lord
Snow and a barbarian focus	The Frozen Horror
An elf focus	Mage of the Mirror
Brand-new quests	Rise of the Dread Moon
Dragons	Crypt of Perpetual Darkness

Tick your boxes at the top and the answer follows.

At the table

Box	What it brings
HeroQuest	The game system: 14 quests, 4 heroes, Zargon.
HeroQuest: First Light	Standalone starter system with its own quests.
Kellar's Keep	10 quests. The first classic sequel.
Return of the Witch Lord	10 quests against the undead.
The Frozen Horror	10 quests in the ice, a barbarian focus.
Mage of the Mirror	10 quests, an elf focus, Sinestra.
Rise of the Dread Moon	10 new quests, a knight hero.
Spirit Queen's Torment	14 quests on a spirit theme.
Prophecy of Telor	13 quests, a warlock hero.
Against the Ogre Horde	Classic ogre quests modernised, plus new ones.
Jungles of Delthrak	16 quests with branching paths, a berserker.
Crypt of Perpetual Darkness	10 quests with a dragon, by Joe Manganiello.
Wizards of Morcar	10 quests, classic and new, with evil wizards.

Compatibility

Box	Needs	Players
HeroQuest	standalone base	2-5
HeroQuest: First Light	plays on its own	2-5
Kellar's Keep	needs base	2-5
Return of the Witch Lord	needs base	2-5
The Frozen Horror	needs base	2-5
Mage of the Mirror	needs base	2-5
Rise of the Dread Moon	needs base	2-5
Spirit Queen's Torment	needs base	2-5
Prophecy of Telor	needs base	2-5
Against the Ogre Horde	needs base	2-5
Jungles of Delthrak	needs base	2-5
Crypt of Perpetual Darkness	needs base	2-5
Wizards of Morcar	needs base	2-5

Hero dice, furniture packs and the Hero Collection are component extras, outside the picker.

FAQ

Which HeroQuest expansion first?

Kellar's Keep, then Return of the Witch Lord. They are the direct sequels to the base game's quests.

What is HeroQuest First Light?

A standalone starter box with new quests and lighter components. A cheaper way in than the big base game.

Do quest packs need the previous packs?

No. Each needs the game system. Story order is the order in the timeline below.

Who publishes HeroQuest in English?

Avalon Hill / Hasbro. Original designer: Stephen Baker.