Arkham Horror: The Board Game Buying Guide

The Arkham Horror universe boasts a vast collection of games, so much so that we've divided them into two guides. This buying guide focuses on the various board games; for the deck-building card games, please see our Arkham Horror: The Card Game Buying Guide.

Arkham Horror is a long-running franchise of cooperative horror board games. Players collaborate to complete missions, with multiple pathways available depending on chosen roles, expansions, and campaigns. These games also excel as solo experiences for those times when gathering a group proves difficult.

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Want to skip the blurbs and go straight to the various games and expansions? Scroll through the catalog above. For a deeper dive into the connections between these games and the Arkham Horror universe, continue reading below.

Arkham Horror: The Board Game

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 overcome various terrors. Choose from six investigators to solve mysteries and defeat monstrous foes. Multiple campaigns offer high replayability due to the significant element of chance and the unpredictable nature of occult events. Be warned: this game is challenging, with a lengthy setup and playtime. While solo play is possible, success requires significant skill and luck. Victory, however, is incredibly rewarding.

Arkham Horror: The Board Game Expansions

Three expansions enhance the base game, adding depth and complexity:

Arkham Horror: Under the Dark Waves Expansion

MSRP: $59.99 USD Players: 1-6 Playtime: 2-3 hours Ages: 14+

This large expansion introduces underwater horrors, eight new investigators, and four new scenarios, taking players beyond the city and into the depths of the sea.

Arkham Horror: Secrets of the Order Expansion

MSRP: $44.99 USD Players: 1-6 Playtime: 2-3 hours Ages: 14+

This medium-sized expansion includes three new scenarios, three new investigators, and explores the haunted French Hill neighborhood of Arkham.

Arkham Horror: The Dead of Night Expansion

MSRP: $32.99 USD Players: 1-4 Playtime: 2-3 hours Ages: 14+

A smaller, more affordable expansion featuring two new scenarios and four new investigators.

Other Arkham Horror Board Games

These standalone games offer distinct Arkham experiences, unconnected to the main Arkham Horror board game:

Elder Sign

MSRP: $39.99 USD Players: 1-8 Playtime: 1-2 hours Ages: 14+

A dice-rolling game, accessible to a wide range of players. Solve mysteries and defeat monsters before time runs out. Six expansions are available.

Elder Sign Expansions

Elder Sign features six expansions: Unseen Forces, Gates of Arkham, Omens of Ice, Grave Consequences, Omens of the Deep, and Omens of the Pharaoh. Grave Consequences is a standalone deck.

Mansions of Madness (2nd Edition)

MSRP: $109.95 USD Players: 1-5 Playtime: 2-3 hours Ages: 14+

An app-driven dungeon crawler, offering a unique blend of physical and digital gameplay. The app manages setup, narrative, and results, making it highly replayable. Two expansions are available.

Mansions of Madness Expansions

Two cooperative expansions guided by the app: Path of the Serpent and Beyond the Threshold.

Unfathomable

MSRP: $64.99 USD Players: 3-6 Playtime: 2-4 hours Ages: 14+

A social deduction game with a Lovecraftian twist. Players must escape a sea of monsters while uncovering a traitor among them. One expansion, From the Abyss, is available.

Eldritch Horror

MSRP: $59.95 USD Players: 1-4 Playtime: 1-3 hours Ages: 14+

A globe-trotting adventure with simpler rules and quicker setup than Arkham Horror. Focuses on strategy and puzzle-solving. Eight expansions are available.

Eldritch Horror Expansions

Eight expansions: 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

Explore the Arkham Horror universe through online versions of some board games and the franchise's tabletop roleplaying game:

Arkham Horror: The Roleplaying Game

A TTRPG with a starter set (Hungering Abyss) and a core rulebook. The starter set is ideal for beginners.

Video Game Versions

Digital versions of Arkham Horror and Elder Sign are available on various platforms.

The Bottom Line

Arkham Horror offers a diverse range of games for Lovecraft fans, playable solo or with friends. While challenging and possessing a high degree of chance, these games provide significant replayability and immersive experiences within the Lovecraftian mythos.