Which Expansion

Talisman (Revised 4th Edition) expansions

Base game: 2–6 players90+ minPegasus Spiele16 expansions checked
  1. #1 overall

    Talisman: The Reaper

    Buy this first

    BGG rates it 7.34 from 2,848 ratings, the most-rated expansion. A BGG poster always plays with it and says it could be part of the base game; others find it quieter at two players.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: Four characters (Dark Cultist, Sage, Knight, Merchant), 90 Adventure cards, 26 Spells, 12 Warlock Quest cards and a Grim Reaper figure that players steer against each other.

    Expansion2–6 playersAbout the same rules loadFine for any group
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeek
  2. #2 overall

    Talisman: The Dungeon

    Worth it

    BGG rates it 7.34 from 2,214 ratings. BGG posters pick it for a first corner expansion: a risky region with better rewards and a route to the Dungeon Master ending.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: A new Dungeon region board, over 100 new cards and five characters (Gladiator, Amazon, Swashbuckler, Gypsy, Philosopher) with a way to chase a second endgame route.

    Big box2–6 playersAbout the same rules loadFine for any group
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeek
  3. #3 overall

    Talisman: The Highland

    Worth it

    BGG rates it 7.31 from 1,643 ratings. A BGG poster says it speeds the game up with beatable enemies and plenty of gold, and several list it among their top three expansions.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: A new Highland region board, over 100 new cards, six characters and the Eagle King; mountain trips pay in gold and gems and add beatable early enemies.

    Big box2–6 playersAbout the same rules loadFine for any group
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeek
  4. #4 overall

    Talisman: The City

    Worth it

    BGG rates it 7.44 from 1,317 ratings. A BGG poster calls it a good way to spend gold; another ranks it lowest of the corner boards because it adds shopping rather than adventure.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: A City board with its own deck, shops (Stables, Armoury, Magic Emporium), Wanted Poster bounties, new characters and alternative endings.

    Big box2–6 playersAbout the same rules loadFine for any group
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:Amazon
  5. #5 overall

    Talisman: The Woodland

    Worth it

    BGG rates it 7.50 from 898 ratings, one of the best-rated corner boards. A BGG poster names it among three adventure regions worth choosing first.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: A fae-themed Woodland region with five new characters, new alternative endings and the treasures and threats of the Woodland deck.

    Big box2–6 playersAbout the same rules loadFine for any group
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeek
  6. #6 overall

    Talisman: The Cataclysm

    Worth it

    BGG rates it 7.62 from 563 ratings, the highest of the large 4th Edition boxes. A BGG poster includes it in their three for the new board and denizens.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: A post-apocalypse board of settlements and mutated nature, with new denizens and cards for a different tone from the fantasy base game.

    Big box2–6 playersAbout the same rules loadFine for any group
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:Amazon
  7. #7 overall

    Talisman: The Harbinger

    Worth it

    BGG rates it 7.27 from 571 ratings. A BGG poster says it adds an end-of-the-world timer so the game cannot drag on, but also makes it harder; another includes it in their top three.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: The Harbinger figure and an end-of-the-world timer: demons and plague escalate and everyone loses if no one wins before the world ends.

    Expansion2–6 playersAbout the same rules loadFine for any group
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:Amazon
  8. #8 overall

    Talisman: The Frostmarch

    Depends on your group

    BGG rates it 7.15 from 1,660 ratings. A BGG poster says its main gain is more Craft monsters, which the base game lacks; others suggest it or Sacred Pool as general-purpose small boxes.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: Four characters, 84 Adventure cards, 20 Spells, 24 Warlock Quest cards and three alternative endings, including a climactic battle with the Ice Queen.

    Expansion2–6 playersAbout the same rules loadFine for any group
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeek
  9. #9 overall

    Talisman: The Sacred Pool

    Depends on your group

    BGG rates it 7.22 from 1,391 ratings. A BGG poster pairs it with the Reaper as one pick and another suggests it for general good cards; it is a variety pack with no new region.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: Four characters (Chivalric Knight, Dread Knight, Cleric, Magus), alternative endings, Stable cards, Quest Reward cards and Neutral alignment cards.

    Expansion2–6 playersAbout the same rules loadFine for any group
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:Amazon
  10. #10 overall

    Talisman: The Blood Moon

    Depends on your group

    BGG rates it 7.28 from 1,175 ratings. A BGG poster lists it among the three to pick, but another suggests leaving the Werewolf out at two players, where landing on an opponent is rare.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: Over 100 Adventure cards, new spells, characters and endings, plus a Day/Night Time card that flips on Events and a roaming Werewolf.

    Expansion2–6 playersAbout the same rules loadFine for any group
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:Amazon
  11. #11 overall

    Talisman: The Firelands

    Depends on your group

    BGG rates it 7.08 from 649 ratings, the lowest of the 4th Edition small boxes except Dragon. A BGG poster calls Alliances harder than Firelands, Harbinger and Dragon, so it adds real pressure.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: The Ifrit and a fire that burns away resources and sets whole regions ablaze; players race for the Crown of Command before it spreads.

    Expansion2–6 playersAbout the same rules loadFine for any group
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:Amazon
  12. #12 overall

    Talisman: The Lost Realms

    Depends on your group

    BGG rates it 7.23 from only 154 ratings. It reissues two older small boxes in one set; buy it only if you want both, since the Nether Realm and Deep Realms are not listed in this guide.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: The Nether Realm and The Deep Realms reissued as one set: Nether Deck enemies such as the Pyrochanter and Titan Wraith, plus the Deep Realms content.

    Expansion2–6 playersAbout the same rules loadFine for any group
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeek
  13. #13 overall

    Talisman: The Dragon

    Most groups can skip

    BGG rates it 6.89 from 1,274 ratings, the lowest of the 4th Edition expansions. A BGG owner sold it for adding complication to a light game; Alliances is called harder than Dragon.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: A dual-sided Inner Region (familiar terrain or the Dragon Tower), six characters, over 300 tokens and cards, and Draconic Lords that grow stronger over the game.

    Big box2–6 playersAdds more rulesBest for experienced groups
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:Amazon
  14. #14 overall

    Talisman: Alliances - Fate Beckons

    Depends on your group

    BGG rates it 7.35 from 148 ratings. Co-op only and campaign-based, with a high difficulty a BGG group lost three games at three players; buy it for co-op, not for variety in normal play.

    Needs: Needs the Talisman 5th Edition base game, a separate box from the Revised 4th Edition.

    Adds: A cooperative campaign of five Trials with a Doom Tracker; heroes place Talismans on Places of Power, unseal a Portal and beat each Trial's adversary, unlocking sealed boxes of cards.

    Expansion2–6 playersAdds more rulesFine for any group
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:Amazon
  15. #15 overall

    Talisman: Nemesis - Call of the Hunt

    Depends on your group

    BGG rates it 7.77 from only 41 ratings. It needs at least three players and one of them plays the Nemesis, so it suits groups that want a one-vs-many mode, not the standard race.

    Needs: Needs the Talisman 5th Edition base game, a separate box from the Revised 4th Edition.

    Adds: One-versus-many play: heroes cooperate through three Trials with unique adversaries and villains while one Nemesis player commands beasts; opening boxes unlocks new cards and figures.

    Expansion3–6 playersAdds more rulesFine for any group
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:Amazon

Stuck between two?

Not yet ranked · 1

We don’t have enough solid reviews to rank these, so we aren’t recommending them yet. Here is what we know.

  • Talisman Sagas: Crown of Blood — Gothic-horror Dracula theme: play Mina Harker or Van Helsing, race to Dracula's Castle overlay, with new enemies, events, magical objects and Ongoing Event cards.Expansion · 2–6 players

Talisman (Revised 4th Edition) expansions: quick answers

Which Talisman (Revised 4th Edition) expansion should I buy first?

Talisman: The Reaper. BGG rates it 7.34 from 2,848 ratings, the most-rated expansion. A BGG poster always plays with it and says it could be part of the base game; others find it quieter at two players.

Is Talisman: The Reaper worth it?

Our verdict: buy this first. It adds: Four characters (Dark Cultist, Sage, Knight, Merchant), 90 Adventure cards, 26 Spells, 12 Warlock Quest cards and a Grim Reaper figure that players steer against each other.

Talisman: The Reaper or Talisman: The Dungeon: which first?

We’d buy Talisman: The Reaper first. See the side-by-side comparison for what each adds and needs.

Other games’ expansion guides

Same publisher

Rankings are our editorial picks, built from the reviews linked on each expansion page. Last checked 2026-10-15.