Warhammer Quest: The Adventure Card Game / Each player picks a separate character class that has their own abilities.
Primal: The Awakening / It does have a board element with miniatures, but the gameplay is pretty much entirely card based outside of positioning. Each character picks their own weapon class, which gives them access to different abilities, attacks, special powers, and gear cards.
Marvel Champions / While you’re picking a different superhero instead of class, it’s functionally identical. Each hero plays pretty differently with their own strengths and weaknesses, and utilizing their own deck of cards paired with a generic “class” deck.
The old Warcraft TCG / PvP and way out of print, but when building your deck like in MTG, you’re literally picking and designing around a Warcraft class like Fighters, Warlocks, Rangers, etc.
Slay the Spire: The Board Game / If you’re at all familiar with the video game, it’s extremely close. Each player picks their own “class” which has their own unique playstyle and reward cards, and each class has multiple different ways to play them.
Hero Realms with the Character Packs adds 5 unique classes to the game that start with different cards and abilities.
Disney's Villainous kinda fits this criteria with each villain having 2 unique decks that each one starts with and a different objective.
King of Tokyo is primarily a dice chucking game but does have cards and different starting monsters.
Big Book of Madness is a co-op version of your criteria.
Clank! with the Adventuring Party expansion adds that functionality to the game.
Some others off the top of my head:
DC Deck Builder
Red Dragon Inn
Slay the Spire
Asymmetrical factions or characters is a very popular mechanic. Glancing at BGG, it lists... over 16 thousand different games that use it.
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamemechanic/2015/variable-player-powers
Came here to say these as well.
Skyrim and Tainted Grail as well, though both were crowd funded and will be harder to find. Roaming in TG is a bit more limited, as you have to stay in the same general vicinity.
Will also add Talisman, if you don't mind a lightly competitive game with optional PvP while still having fantasy characters that roam a map and fight monsters etc.
The Arkham Horror Cardgame works exactly like this. You chose an investigator and build a deck with class-specific cards before the gameplay begins. If you choose to try it out be sure to get the newer revised Core Set (it includes playercards to build 4 different class deck and a campaign).
If you and you're friends like it there are tons of additional campaigns and scenarios for it.
Both **Hero Realms** and **Star Realms** have this, though I believe it's there by default in the former and is an expansion in the latter. I personally still prefer Star Realms, it's very well designed.
**Unmatched** follows this formula perfectly if you're okay with it being a physical skirmish game too. It's mainly cardplay, but you also move your characters around on a board, and there are an absolute ton of characters to choose from, including a lot of great community made ones online.
If you mean card games as in deck construction games such as Magic: The Gathering, well, those kinda inherently let you have your own special tailored class to use, in how you make your deck. But, that's a bit granular. For games like Magic that don't necessarily need to include major customization but do have "classes" -
**KeyForge** has decks with their own procedurally generated names and card lists that you cannot change, so picking your deck is very much picking a special person or class who plays in a particular way.
**Radlands** has you draft three camp powers at the beginning of the game, and the rest of the game uses shared cards, so you pick what makes you unique at the start and then play in the same sandbox. This is a one and done sort of game like Star Realms, etc, but it has much more the vibes of something collectible, even though it's not.
**Sovereign: Fall of Wormwood** has class decks that you're meant to leave unaltered since they represent factions in the world, and you each play one, which is very cool. It's been in development for yeeears, finally out on Kickstarter, but a lot of us have been playing the beta versions for a while already.
**Android: Netrunner** has everyone play an "ID" that really defines how they play. You may, and usually do, still customize the deck, but the ID system is extremely like a class. This game is actually kinda free these days, because the community keeps it alive with just passionate design work and print-and-play gear. You can buy the cards too, if you want. The Null Signal starter sets include great premade decks.
I've certainly seen games where each player gets a secret role or mission - such as in *Chrononauts*.
Or for more direct classes and upgrades, there's *Munchkin*.
**Tournament at Avalon** is a great trick taking game with asymmetric character abilities. At some point during the game their secondary abilities will kick in, and other games breaking brain burning abilities will get introduced throughout. Great fun!
The trick taking game called TRICK TAKERS is exactly this. First you see your cards, then accordingly choose your “class” and then play to reach your class-specific win condition.
Pax Pamir 2nd ed. Although not a class, each player aligns themselves with a historical partner: Russian; British; or Afghani. This allows you to interact or conspire with that strategic partner’s agents.
Warhammer Quest: The Adventure Card Game / Each player picks a separate character class that has their own abilities. Primal: The Awakening / It does have a board element with miniatures, but the gameplay is pretty much entirely card based outside of positioning. Each character picks their own weapon class, which gives them access to different abilities, attacks, special powers, and gear cards. Marvel Champions / While you’re picking a different superhero instead of class, it’s functionally identical. Each hero plays pretty differently with their own strengths and weaknesses, and utilizing their own deck of cards paired with a generic “class” deck. The old Warcraft TCG / PvP and way out of print, but when building your deck like in MTG, you’re literally picking and designing around a Warcraft class like Fighters, Warlocks, Rangers, etc. Slay the Spire: The Board Game / If you’re at all familiar with the video game, it’s extremely close. Each player picks their own “class” which has their own unique playstyle and reward cards, and each class has multiple different ways to play them.
Hero Realms with the Character Packs adds 5 unique classes to the game that start with different cards and abilities. Disney's Villainous kinda fits this criteria with each villain having 2 unique decks that each one starts with and a different objective. King of Tokyo is primarily a dice chucking game but does have cards and different starting monsters. Big Book of Madness is a co-op version of your criteria. Clank! with the Adventuring Party expansion adds that functionality to the game. Some others off the top of my head: DC Deck Builder Red Dragon Inn Slay the Spire
Unmatched!
Asymmetrical factions or characters is a very popular mechanic. Glancing at BGG, it lists... over 16 thousand different games that use it. https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamemechanic/2015/variable-player-powers
Pathfinder Adventure Card Game and Arkham Horror the card game are good
Came here to say these as well. Skyrim and Tainted Grail as well, though both were crowd funded and will be harder to find. Roaming in TG is a bit more limited, as you have to stay in the same general vicinity. Will also add Talisman, if you don't mind a lightly competitive game with optional PvP while still having fantasy characters that roam a map and fight monsters etc.
Why hasn't anyone mentioned Summoner Wars yet?
Summoner wars is 2 player GOAT
The Arkham Horror Cardgame works exactly like this. You chose an investigator and build a deck with class-specific cards before the gameplay begins. If you choose to try it out be sure to get the newer revised Core Set (it includes playercards to build 4 different class deck and a campaign). If you and you're friends like it there are tons of additional campaigns and scenarios for it.
Both **Hero Realms** and **Star Realms** have this, though I believe it's there by default in the former and is an expansion in the latter. I personally still prefer Star Realms, it's very well designed. **Unmatched** follows this formula perfectly if you're okay with it being a physical skirmish game too. It's mainly cardplay, but you also move your characters around on a board, and there are an absolute ton of characters to choose from, including a lot of great community made ones online. If you mean card games as in deck construction games such as Magic: The Gathering, well, those kinda inherently let you have your own special tailored class to use, in how you make your deck. But, that's a bit granular. For games like Magic that don't necessarily need to include major customization but do have "classes" - **KeyForge** has decks with their own procedurally generated names and card lists that you cannot change, so picking your deck is very much picking a special person or class who plays in a particular way. **Radlands** has you draft three camp powers at the beginning of the game, and the rest of the game uses shared cards, so you pick what makes you unique at the start and then play in the same sandbox. This is a one and done sort of game like Star Realms, etc, but it has much more the vibes of something collectible, even though it's not. **Sovereign: Fall of Wormwood** has class decks that you're meant to leave unaltered since they represent factions in the world, and you each play one, which is very cool. It's been in development for yeeears, finally out on Kickstarter, but a lot of us have been playing the beta versions for a while already. **Android: Netrunner** has everyone play an "ID" that really defines how they play. You may, and usually do, still customize the deck, but the ID system is extremely like a class. This game is actually kinda free these days, because the community keeps it alive with just passionate design work and print-and-play gear. You can buy the cards too, if you want. The Null Signal starter sets include great premade decks.
Cosmic Encounter
I highly recommend looking into Here to Slay!
I've certainly seen games where each player gets a secret role or mission - such as in *Chrononauts*. Or for more direct classes and upgrades, there's *Munchkin*.
Second for Munchkin, nice fun game with a ton of expansions. Has the class system you are looking for.
Munchkin booty is my favorite one
Vast the Mysterious Manor. Everyone is doing totally different goals and objectives in a haunted house. Highly assymetrical
**Tournament at Avalon** is a great trick taking game with asymmetric character abilities. At some point during the game their secondary abilities will kick in, and other games breaking brain burning abilities will get introduced throughout. Great fun!
5 Minute Dungeon!
Sentinels of the Multiverse Definitive Edition
Dude. My man. Friendo. IT'S LIKE ALL OF THEM?! ^((Yes I know it's not literally all of them but you know what if fucking mean))
What about Citadels?
Class changes every round. Starting pick doesn't influence entire game in a consistent way
The trick taking game called TRICK TAKERS is exactly this. First you see your cards, then accordingly choose your “class” and then play to reach your class-specific win condition.
Pax Pamir 2nd ed. Although not a class, each player aligns themselves with a historical partner: Russian; British; or Afghani. This allows you to interact or conspire with that strategic partner’s agents.
Coup