Arkham Horror Board Game: Buying Tips

The Arkham Horror universe offers a diverse range of board games that cater to different gameplay styles and preferences. This buying guide is dedicated to exploring the various families of board games within the franchise. For those interested in the deck-building card games, be sure to check out our separate guide on Arkham Horror: The Card Game.

Arkham Horror is a long-established franchise renowned for its immersive horror-themed board games. Players collaborate on missions, relying heavily on communication to achieve victory. Each game offers multiple pathways influenced by the roles, expansions, and campaigns chosen, providing a rich, dynamic experience. These games are also excellent for solo play, perfect for those times when you want to dive into the eerie world of Arkham alone.

If you're eager to dive into the specifics of each game and expansion, feel free to scroll through our detailed catalog below. For a deeper understanding of how these elements fit together within the broader Arkham Horror universe, continue reading.

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Arkham Horror (3rd Edition)

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Arkham Horror: Under Dark Waves Expansion

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Arkham Horror: Secrets of The Order Expansion

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Arkham Horror: The Dead of Night Expansion

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Elder Sign

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Elder Sign: The Gates of Arkham Expansion

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Elder Sign: Omens of the Pharaoh Expansion

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Elder Sign: Unseen Forces Expansion

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Elder Sign: Grave Consequences

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Elder Sign: Omens of Ice

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Elder Sign: Omens of the Deep

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Mansions of Madness (2nd Edition)

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Mansions of Madness: Path of The Serpent Expansion

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Mansions of Madness: Beyond the Threshold Expansion

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Unfathomable

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Unfathomable: From the Abyss Expansion

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Eldritch Horror

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Eldritch Horror: Mountains of Madness Expansion

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Eldritch Horror: Under the Pyramids Expansion

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Eldritch Horror: Masks of Nyarlathotep Expansion

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Eldritch Horror: The Dreamlands Expansion

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Eldritch Horror: Forsaken Lore Expansion

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Eldritch Horror: Strange Remnants Expansion

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Eldritch Horror: Signs of Carcosa Expansion

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Eldritch Horror: Cities in Ruin Expansion

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Arkham Horror: The Roleplaying Game - Hungering Abyss Starter Set

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Arkham Horror: The Roleplaying - Game Core Rulebook

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Arkham Horror: The Board Game

Arkham Horror (3rd Edition)

0See it at Amazon! MSRP: $65.95 USD Players: 1-6 Playtime: 2-3 hours Ages: 14+ Arkham Horror is a cooperative board game where players work together to combat various horrors. Embark on a journey through Arkham as one of six investigators to solve mysteries and defeat terrifying creatures. With multiple campaigns to explore and a significant luck component, the game boasts high replayability. However, be prepared for a challenging experience that requires time to set up and learn. Whether playing with friends or solo, the thrill of completing your first winning game is unparalleled.

Arkham Horror: The Board Game Expansions

There are three expansions for Arkham Horror, each adding depth to the base game.

Arkham Horror: Under the Dark Waves Expansion

Arkham Horror: Under Dark Waves Expansion

0See it at Amazon! MSRP: $59.99 USD Players: 1-6 Playtime: 2-3 hours Ages: 14+ Under the Dark Waves is the largest expansion, focusing on underwater horrors. It introduces eight new investigators and four new scenarios, taking players from the city to the sea.

Arkham Horror: Secrets of the Order Expansion

Arkham Horror: Secrets of The Order Expansion

0See it at Amazon! MSRP: $44.99 USD Players: 1-6 Playtime: 2-3 hours Ages: 14+ This medium-sized expansion adds three new scenarios and three new investigators, allowing exploration of the French Hill neighborhood amidst ghosts and monsters.

Arkham Horror: The Dead of Night Expansion

Arkham Horror: The Dead of Night Expansion

0See it at Amazon! MSRP: $32.99 USD Players: 1-4 Playtime: 2-3 hours Ages: 14+ The Dead of Night is a smaller expansion, offering two new scenarios and four new investigators to navigate the horrors that emerge in the night.

Other Arkham Horror Board Games

Several other board games within the Arkham universe offer standalone experiences, not requiring the base Arkham Horror game. Each provides a unique adventure with familiar characters.

Elder Sign

Elder Sign

0See it at Amazon! MSRP: $39.99 USD Players: 1-8 Playtime: 1-2 hours Ages: 14+ Elder Sign is a dice-rolling game within the Arkham Files franchise, suitable for one to eight players. It's the most accessible game in the series, driven by dice rolls to complete tasks and navigate six encounters. Players use their investigator's stats to fight monsters, uncover clues, and solve mysteries before time runs out.

Elder Sign Expansions

Elder Sign: The Gates of Arkham Expansion

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Elder Sign: Omens of the Pharaoh Expansion

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Elder Sign: Unseen Forces Expansion

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Elder Sign: Grave Consequences

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Elder Sign: Omens of Ice

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Elder Sign: Omens of the Deep

0See it at Asmodee! Elder Sign has six expansions, including Unseen Forces, Gates of Arkham, Omens of Ice, Grave Consequences, Omens of the Deep, and Omens of the Pharaoh. The last expansion was released in 2018, and it's unclear if more will follow.

Mansions of Madness (2nd Edition)

Mansions of Madness (2nd Edition)

0See it at Amazon! MSRP: $109.95 USD Players: 1-5 Playtime: 2-3 hours Ages: 14+ Mansions of Madness is an app-driven dungeon crawler set in the Arkham universe. It's a standalone game that can be played with one to five players, using an app to guide the narrative and gameplay. The app enhances the experience by managing setup, narrative, and roll results, allowing players to pause and resume games later.

Mansions of Madness Expansions

There are two expansions for Mansions of Madness, both cooperative and app-guided.

Mansions of Madness: Path of The Serpent Expansion

Mansions of Madness: Path of The Serpent Expansion

0See it at Amazon! MSRP: $69.99 USD Players: 1-5 Playtime: 2-3 hours Ages: 14+ This expansion leads players into the jungle, facing serpents and Lovecraftian horrors. It requires the base game and uses the app for guidance.

Mansions of Madness: Beyond the Threshold Expansion

Mansions of Madness: Beyond the Threshold Expansion

0See it at Amazon! MSRP: $39.19 USD Players: 1-5 Playtime: 2-3 hours Ages: 14+ A more affordable expansion, Beyond the Threshold introduces two new investigators, two new scenarios, and an insanity gameplay element, enhancing the base game's accessibility.

Unfathomable

Unfathomable

0See it at Amazon! MSRP: $64.99 USD Players: 3-6 Playtime: 2-4 hours Ages: 14+ Unfathomable involves escaping a sea of monsters on a boat, featuring a social deduction element. Best suited for groups of five or six, players must identify a traitor among them while trying to survive. It offers a unique experience within the Arkham catalog, appealing to fans of social deduction games.

Unfathomable: From the Abyss Expansion

Unfathomable: From the Abyss Expansion

0See it at Amazon! This expansion adds new prelude cards, three monstrous horrors, and new skills, items, and boon cards, enhancing the game's variety and challenge.

Eldritch Horror

Eldritch Horror

0See it at Amazon! MSRP: $59.95 USD Players: 1-4 Playtime: 1-3 hours Ages: 14+ Eldritch Horror offers a more global experience than Arkham Horror, with players navigating the world to complete objectives. It's more accessible with a quicker setup and simpler rules, appealing to beginners and mid-range gamers. The game focuses on strategy and puzzle-solving, released in 2013.

Eldritch Horror Expansions

Eldritch Horror: Mountains of Madness Expansion

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Eldritch Horror: Under the Pyramids Expansion

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Eldritch Horror: Masks of Nyarlathotep Expansion

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Eldritch Horror: The Dreamlands Expansion

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Eldritch Horror: Forsaken Lore Expansion

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Eldritch Horror: Strange Remnants Expansion

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Eldritch Horror: Signs of Carcosa Expansion

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Eldritch Horror: Cities in Ruin Expansion

0See it at Amazon! Eldritch Horror has eight expansions, including Forsaken Lore, Mountains of Madness, Strange Remnants, Under the Pyramids, Signs of Carcosa, The Dreamlands, Cities in Ruin, and Masks of Nyarlathotep.

Other Ways to Play

Beyond traditional board games, the Arkham universe offers digital and tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG) experiences.

The Arkham Horror: The Roleplaying Game

Arkham Horror ventured into TTRPGs last year with a starter set and a core rulebook. The starter set is ideal for beginners, featuring a sample campaign that doesn't require an experienced Game Master.

Arkham Horror: The Roleplaying Game - Hungering Abyss Starter Set

Arkham Horror: The Roleplaying Game - Hungering Abyss Starter Set

0See it at Amazon! MSRP: $34.99 USD Players: 2-4 Playtime: 1-3 hours Ages: 14+ The starter set is perfect for those new to TTRPGs, offering an accessible entry into the Arkham universe.

Arkham Horror: The Roleplaying - Game Core Rulebook

Arkham Horror: The Roleplaying - Game Core Rulebook

0See it at Amazon! MSRP: $49.99 USD Players: 2-6 Playtime: 1-3 hours Ages: 14+ Once familiar with the starter set, players can delve deeper with the Core Rulebook, crafting their own TTRPG adventures in the Arkham Horror universe.

Video Game Versions

A digital version, Arkham Horror: Mother's Embrace, was released on Steam in 2021. This single-player game, akin to the Mansions of Madness board game, is available on Steam and Switch for $19.99. However, it has received mixed reviews, with IGN giving it a 5 out of 10 for its story execution and handling of heavy topics.

Another digital version, Elder Sign: Omens, released in 2011, is available on Steam and mobile platforms for $5.99 and has garnered mostly positive reviews.

The Bottom Line

For fans of Lovecraftian-themed games, the Arkham Horror franchise offers a rich tapestry of experiences. These games, playable both solo and with friends, provide unique and challenging adventures within the Lovecraftian worlds. Be prepared for a steep learning curve and a high level of chance that can both enhance replayability and add to the game's difficulty. While setup and learning times can be substantial, the card games are generally easier to get started with compared to the board games, even without expansions.