Enter the magical world of Thra in Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal Board Game, an adventure board game from River Horse inspired by the beloved 1982 fantasy film.

The Great Conjunction is approaching, and the fate of Thra hangs in the balance. The Gelflings Jen and Kira must find the missing shard and restore the Dark Crystal before the three suns align. Standing in their way are the cunning Skeksis and their dangerous servants.

In this cooperative adventure board game, players work together to overcome challenges, explore iconic locations from the film and race against time to complete their quest before the Great Conjunction arrives.

The game brings the world of Jim Henson's classic film to the tabletop with a beautifully illustrated 2' × 2' game board featuring locations including Aughra's Observatory, the Valley of the Stones and the Crystal Castle, alongside character miniatures, cards, dice and a collection of tokens and standees.

Whether you're a lifelong fan of The Dark Crystal, a collector of Jim Henson games or simply looking for an atmospheric fantasy adventure to play with friends and family, this River Horse board game offers a chance to step directly into one of fantasy cinema's most distinctive worlds.

Why You'll Love It

• A board game based on Jim Henson's classic film The Dark Crystal.
• Play cooperatively with 2–4 players.
• Take on the roles of characters from the world of Thra.
• Race against the approaching Great Conjunction.
• Explore beautifully illustrated locations from the movie.
• Includes collectible character miniatures of Jen, Kira, skekSil and skekUng.
• Includes Fizzgig alongside Kira.
• Face the dangerous servants of the Skeksis.
• Combines adventure, exploration, dice rolling and card-driven challenges.
• Features a large 2' × 2' illustrated game board.
• A fantastic choice for fans of Jim Henson and fantasy adventure.
• Makes an especially appealing gift for The Dark Crystal fans and collectors.
• A nostalgic way to revisit one of the most distinctive fantasy films of the 1980s.

How to Play

The story of The Dark Crystal Board Game revolves around a race against time.

The three suns are moving towards the Great Conjunction, and the Gelflings have only a limited opportunity to restore the Dark Crystal and prevent the Skeksis from maintaining their rule over Thra.

Players take on characters from the world of the film and work together to complete the mission.

The beautifully illustrated game board represents locations from the movie, including Aughra's Observatory, the Valley of the Stones and the Crystal Castle. As you explore Thra, you'll encounter cards, enemies and challenges that can make the journey increasingly difficult.

The game uses a mixture of polyhedral dice, cards, character abilities and tokens to resolve the challenges faced by your party.

The six included dice range from a D4 through to a D20, giving the game a distinctly adventure-game feel.

You also have special abilities available to your characters, allowing the different heroes to contribute to the adventure in their own way.

But the biggest threat isn't simply an individual enemy.

Time is running out.

The Orrery turn track represents the approaching Great Conjunction, creating an ongoing pressure to keep moving towards your objective rather than spending too long dealing with individual problems.

To succeed, your group needs to work together, manage the threats facing you and ultimately find the shard needed to heal the Dark Crystal before it is too late.

That combination of cooperative play, adventure, exploration and a race against time makes the game particularly appealing to fans of the original film.

Who Is This Game For?

Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal Board Game is an excellent choice for:

• Fans of The Dark Crystal.
• Jim Henson fans and collectors.
• Players who enjoy fantasy adventure games.
• Families looking for a cooperative board game.
• Players who enjoy games based on films.
• Fans of River Horse's licensed games.
• Collectors looking for The Dark Crystal merchandise.
• Players who enjoy dice-driven adventure games.
• Groups of 2–4 players.
• Anyone who loves the imaginative world of Thra.

It's particularly appealing if you grew up with The Dark Crystal and want something that allows you to revisit the world of Jen, Kira, Fizzgig and the Skeksis in a tabletop format.

It's also worth considering as a gift for someone who loves fantasy films but may not traditionally think of themselves as a board gamer.

Why Buy From Roll The Dice?

At Roll The Dice, we're passionate about games that give people a reason to gather around the table.

As an independent UK board game retailer, we stock everything from quick family card games to larger adventure and strategy experiences.

The Dark Crystal Board Game is particularly special because it combines a recognisable piece of fantasy cinema with a physical tabletop experience. The large illustrated board, character figures, cards and dice make it an especially attractive addition to a collection.

For fans of the original film, it's more than just another board game—it's an opportunity to spend some time back in Thra.

Every order is packed with care by fellow board gamers, with fast UK dispatch and friendly customer service.

Game Information

Feature	Details
Players	2–4
Recommended Age	6+
Playing Time	Approximately 60–120 minutes
Game Type	Cooperative Adventure Board Game
Theme	Fantasy / The Dark Crystal
Publisher	River Horse Games
Based On	Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal
Board Size	2' × 2'
Designer	Alessio Cavatore

There is some inconsistency between retailer listings for both age and playing time: River Horse's current product information doesn't prominently state these specifications, while UK retailers variously list the game as 6+ or 14+ and 60 or 60–120 minutes.

For your Shopify specification fields, I would use the age and playing time printed on the exact edition you have in stock.

What's Included?

The River Horse edition includes:

• 4 collectible character figures:
  • Jen
  • Kira with Fizzgig
  • skekSil the Chamberlain
  • skekUng the Garthim-Master
• 2' × 2' illustrated game board
• 25 World Cards
• 9 Mystic Cards
• 7 Skeksis Cards
• 15 Minion Cards
• More than 20 game tokens
• 6 polyhedral dice:
  • D4
  • D6
  • D8
  • D10
  • D12
  • D20
• 4 Character Sheets
• 4 Special Ability Cards
• 4 Garthim standees and bases
• Slave Podlings standee and base
• Gourmand Skeksis standee and base
• Slave-Master Skeksis standee and base
• Orrery turn track
• Rules booklet

The component list is confirmed by River Horse and other current retailer listings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Dark Crystal Board Game?

Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal Board Game is a fantasy adventure board game from River Horse based on the classic 1982 film. Players work together to help save Thra before the Great Conjunction.

Is The Dark Crystal Board Game based on the original film?

Yes. The game is based on Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal, rather than being based on the Netflix series The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.

How many people can play The Dark Crystal Board Game?

The game supports 2–4 players.

Is The Dark Crystal Board Game cooperative?

Yes. The game is designed around players working together towards the goal of restoring the Dark Crystal before the Great Conjunction.

Who can you play as?

The game includes four main character figures: Jen, Kira, skekSil the Chamberlain and skekUng the Garthim-Master. Kira's figure also includes Fizzgig.

What is the objective of the game?

Players must work towards finding the shard and healing the Dark Crystal before the Great Conjunction. The game therefore combines adventure with a race against time.

What locations from The Dark Crystal are included?

The illustrated board features locations from the film including Aughra's Observatory, the Valley of the Stones and the Crystal Castle.

Does The Dark Crystal Board Game include miniatures?

Yes. The game includes four highly collectible character figures representing Jen, Kira, skekSil and skekUng. It also includes cardboard standees representing various enemies and other characters.

How long does The Dark Crystal Board Game take?

Retailer listings generally put the game at around 60–120 minutes, although published specifications vary between sellers. Check the exact edition you are stocking for the most accurate information.

What age is The Dark Crystal Board Game suitable for?

Retailer listings vary considerably on the recommended age, with some listing 6+ and others 14+. Check the age recommendation on the specific edition you are selling before adding it to Shopify.

Is The Dark Crystal Board Game good for fans of Jim Henson?

Absolutely. The game features characters, locations and themes directly inspired by the original film, making it particularly appealing to fans and collectors.

Is The Dark Crystal Board Game suitable for families?

The game is described by River Horse as a family board game, and it supports 2–4 players. However, the relatively long playing time means it is better suited to families who are happy to spend an hour or more on a game.

Is this the Dark Crystal card game?

No. The Dark Crystal: The Card Game is a separate River Horse product. The product described here is Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal Board Game, which uses a board, character figures, cards, dice and tokens.

What games are similar to The Dark Crystal?

If you enjoy The Dark Crystal Board Game, you may also enjoy Labyrinth: The Board Game, The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-earth, Horrified, Mice and Mystics and other cooperative fantasy adventure games.

You May Also Enjoy

If you enjoy The Dark Crystal Board Game, you may also like:

• Labyrinth: The Board Game – Another River Horse game inspired by a classic Jim Henson fantasy film, featuring a race through a magical maze.
• Horrified – Work together to defeat classic monsters in this accessible cooperative adventure game.
• Mice and Mystics – A story-driven cooperative adventure where players take on the roles of heroic mice.
• The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-earth – A deeper cooperative fantasy adventure set in Tolkien's world.
• The Dark Crystal: The Card Game – A separate River Horse card game for fans who want another tabletop experience inspired by Thra.

Looking for more fantasy games? Explore our Fantasy Board Games, Cooperative Games, Adventure Games, Games Based on Films and Jim Henson Games collections to discover your next adventure.