Is Planet Apocalypse a Board Game or an RPG?
Both. Planet Apocalypse exists as two separate products built around the same demon-invasion premise: a cooperative board game for 1 to 5 players, and a 350+ page sourcebook for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition. They share a setting and a designer, Sandy Petersen, but they run on completely different rules and get bought for different reasons.
That split trips people up. Someone searches "Planet Apocalypse" expecting one product and lands on two listings with different prices, different formats, and right now, different stock status. This guide breaks down what's actually in each box, who each one fits, and what to do given that the board game is currently sold out.
What's in the Planet Apocalypse Board Game Box?
A complete cooperative campaign. The core box supports 1 to 5 players, all on the same side, fighting back a demonic invasion that escalates session over session and builds toward a final confrontation with a demon lord. There's no traitor mechanic and no hidden roles here. The board pushes back against you, not the other players.
Demons pour in from distinct circles of Hell, each behaving differently rather than repeating the same wave pattern. Different demon lords change the endgame at a structural level, so a group that's beaten one campaign faces a genuinely different problem the next time out. The miniatures come from concept artist Keith Thompson, and they carry his angular, theologically-grounded style rather than generic fantasy monster sculpts. It's a heavy, premium production, in line with how Petersen Games builds every centerpiece release.
The core game lists for $99.99 direct from Petersen Games. It's currently sold out. Stock on this title moves, so if you want the board game specifically, check the live product page or sign up for a restock notification rather than assuming it's available to add to cart today.
What's in the Planet Apocalypse 5E RPG Sourcebook?
A full campaign toolkit for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition. The sourcebook runs more than 350 pages and drops a complete demonic apocalypse into any fantasy world you're already running, with new subclasses, feats, spells, and magic items built around a setting where Hell has already broken through.
The bestiary alone holds more than 70 monster stat blocks. Fifteen Arch Lords anchor the campaign framework, each one casting its own personal version of Hell that warps the surrounding territory to match its nature, which gives a Dungeon Master distinct regional threats instead of one undifferentiated demon tide. Three complete adventures are included, ready to run rather than needing to be built from scratch. You don't need the board game or any of its components to use this book. It runs entirely on the D&D 5E core rules your table already knows.
The physical sourcebook is $59.99, and a digital PDF version is available at $24.99, on sale from its regular $59.99 price. Both formats are in stock at the Planet Apocalypse 5E RPG product page right now.
Who Should Buy the Board Game First?
Groups who play board games together on a regular cadence. If your table sets up a box, plays a session or a short campaign arc, and packs it back up, the board game is the format built for you. It's a pure cooperative experience with premium miniatures and a demon lord fight at the end of every campaign, no dice-master or GM prep required beyond reading the rulebook.
Collectors chasing the miniature line specifically should also lean toward the board game, once it's back. The demon and demon lord sculpts don't appear in the RPG sourcebook. That said, sold out means sold out right now, so this group is the one most affected by current stock. Watching for a restock notice or checking back on the product page periodically is the realistic move until inventory returns.
Who Should Buy the 5E RPG Sourcebook First?
Dungeon Masters running an ongoing 5E campaign who want an apocalyptic arc without stitching one together from three different sourcebooks. The premise here is sharper than a typical "stop the villain before disaster" arc: the fiends already won the opening move, and your party plays in the wreckage, defending what's left rather than preventing what already happened.
This is also the group with an actual purchase to make today. The board game's stock issue doesn't touch the RPG line at all. Physical and digital copies are both available now, and the digital PDF at $24.99 gets a table playing the same evening if a physical book isn't practical. Players who already own the Planet Apocalypse board game on BoardGameGeek and want more of the setting will find the sourcebook a natural next purchase, and it doesn't require owning the board game at all to get full value.
What Do the Two Products Actually Cost?
Here's the full picture, side by side. The board game core box is $99.99 when in stock, currently sold out. The RPG sourcebook is $59.99 physical or $24.99 digital, both in stock. Shipping on any in-stock order processes within 48 hours (2 business days, Monday through Friday), then ships USPS Ground Advantage to the US in 2 to 5 business days, or DHL Ground to Canada in 3 to 7 business days. Rates are calculated at checkout based on destination and package weight. There's no standing free-shipping offer.
Worth noting: the digital PDF's $24.99 price is a discount off its normal $59.99 listing, so it's the cheapest legitimate way into the setting right now if you're on a budget or just want to read the book before committing to a physical copy.
What Should You Do Right Now?
Start with what's actually available. The board game is sold out today, so buying it right now isn't an option no matter how much a listing page might make it look tempting. If the cooperative board game is what you want, the honest move is to check the product page for restock, or watch Petersen Games' channels for a restock announcement.
If you run or play D&D 5E, there's no reason to wait. The 5E RPG sourcebook is in stock in both formats, ships within 48 hours if physical, and gets you into the Planet Apocalypse setting the same day if you grab the digital PDF. Groups who already own the board game and want to dig deeper into the lore will find the sourcebook adds real, usable campaign content rather than a rehash of what's already in the box. For a closer look at everything the setting includes beyond these two core products, our full Planet Apocalypse 5E guide covers the book in more depth, and our board game buying guide walks through whether the core box is worth the wait.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need the Planet Apocalypse board game to use the 5E RPG sourcebook?
No. The 5E RPG sourcebook is a standalone Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition supplement. You need the D&D 5E core rules to run it, but no board game components. It works with any 5E-compatible campaign setting on its own.
Is the Planet Apocalypse board game in stock right now?
As of this writing, the core Planet Apocalypse board game is showing sold out at $99.99 on petersengames.com. The 5E RPG sourcebook remains in stock in both physical and digital formats. Check the live product page for current availability before planning a purchase.
How much does the Planet Apocalypse 5E sourcebook cost?
The physical book is $59.99. A digital PDF version is $24.99, currently discounted from its regular $59.99 price. Both formats are in stock direct from Petersen Games.
Which one should a new player start with, the board game or the RPG book?
It depends on how your group plays. Board game groups who want a single-session cooperative fight against demons should start there when it restocks. Groups who already run D&D 5E campaigns and want a full apocalyptic setting to drop into an existing world should start with the RPG sourcebook, which is available now.
Are the board game and the RPG sourcebook part of the same story?
Yes. Both share the same demon-invasion premise created by Sandy Petersen, but they are separate products with separate rule systems. The board game is a cooperative tabletop game for 1 to 5 players. The RPG sourcebook is a 350+ page D&D 5E campaign supplement.
Ready to get into the Planet Apocalypse setting today? The 5E RPG sourcebook is in stock now, physical or digital. Prefer the board game? Check the Planet Apocalypse product page for restock status before your next order.
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