The Arkham Horror universe boasts an extensive catalogue of games, so extensive, in fact, that we've split our recommendations into two guides. In this guide, we'll delve into the various families of board games. If you're interested in the deck-building card games within this universe, you can explore our dedicated Arkham Horror: The Card Game Buying Guide.
Arkham Horror is a long-standing franchise of horror-themed board games where players embark on missions that require significant communication to succeed. Each game offers multiple pathways shaped by the roles, expansions, and campaigns you choose. These games are also excellent for solo play, perfect for those times when you can't gather a group for an hour-plus gaming session.
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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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If you're eager to dive straight into the games and expansions, feel free to scroll through the catalogue above. For a deeper understanding of how these items interconnect and fit into the broader Arkham Horror universe, continue reading.
Arkham Horror: The Board Game
Arkham Horror (3rd Edition)
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MSRP: $65.95 USD
Players: 1-6
Playtime: 2-3 hours
Ages: 14+
Arkham Horror is a cooperative board game where players team up to combat various horrors. Embark on a journey through Arkham as one of six investigators to solve mysteries and defeat monstrous creatures. With multiple campaigns and a significant luck element, the game offers high replayability. However, it's challenging and requires time for setup and learning. Whether playing with friends or solo, the game can last multiple hours, and while losing can be frustrating, the thrill of a first victory is exhilarating.
Arkham Horror: The Board Game Expansions
There are three expansions that add depth to the Arkham Horror: The Board Game experience.
Arkham Horror: Under the Dark Waves Expansion
Arkham Horror: Under Dark Waves Expansion
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MSRP: $59.99 USD
Players: 1-6
Playtime: 2-3 hours
Ages: 14+
The Under the Dark Waves expansion introduces underwater horrors with eight new investigators and four new scenarios, taking players out of the city and into the sea.
Arkham Horror: Secrets of the Order Expansion
Arkham Horror: Secrets of The Order Expansion
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MSRP: $44.99 USD
Players: 1-6
Playtime: 2-3 hours
Ages: 14+
This medium-sized expansion adds three new scenarios and three investigators, expanding the game into the French Hill neighborhood, where ghosts and monsters lurk.
Arkham Horror: The Dead of Night Expansion
Arkham Horror: The Dead of Night Expansion
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MSRP: $32.99 USD
Players: 1-4
Playtime: 2-3 hours
Ages: 14+
This smaller expansion brings two new scenarios and four investigators, enhancing your gameplay experience with eerie nocturnal adventures.
Other Arkham Horror Board Games
Several other board games within the Arkham universe offer standalone experiences, each with its own unique setting and gameplay mechanics.
Elder Sign
Elder Sign
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MSRP: $39.99 USD
Players: 1-8
Playtime: 1-2 hours
Ages: 14+
Elder Sign, one of the earliest games in the Arkham Files franchise, is a dice-rolling game that can be enjoyed by one to eight players. It's the most accessible game in the series, focusing on chance and quick gameplay as players roll dice to complete tasks and solve mysteries before time runs out.
Elder Sign Expansions
Elder Sign has six expansions that add new challenges and elements to the game: 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 no further expansions are currently planned.
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)
Mansions of Madness (2nd Edition)
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MSRP: $109.95 USD
Players: 1-5
Playtime: 2-3 hours
Ages: 14+
This app-driven dungeon crawler offers a unique experience within the Arkham universe. The second edition is a standalone game that uses an app to guide players through the narrative and gameplay, making it easy to pause and resume later. It's a thrilling mix of tactical gameplay and digital storytelling.
Mansions of Madness Expansions
Two expansions enhance the Mansions of Madness experience, both cooperative and app-guided.
Mansions of Madness: Path of The Serpent Expansion
Mansions of Madness: Path of The Serpent Expansion
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MSRP: $69.99 USD
Players: 1-5
Playtime: 2-3 hours
Ages: 14+
This expansion takes players into the jungle, where they must navigate serpents and Lovecraftian horrors. It requires the base game and continues the app-driven narrative.
Mansions of Madness: Beyond the Threshold Expansion
Mansions of Madness: Beyond the Threshold Expansion
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MSRP: $39.19 USD
Players: 1-5
Playtime: 2-3 hours
Ages: 14+
This more affordable expansion introduces two new investigators, two new scenarios, and an insanity element, making it an accessible addition to your game.
Unfathomable
Unfathomable
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MSRP: $64.99 USD
Players: 3-6
Playtime: 2-4 hours
Ages: 14+
Unfathomable is a social deduction game where players try to escape a monster-filled sea on a boat. With a traitor among the group, it offers an immersive experience reminiscent of Battlestar Galactica but set in the Lovecraftian mythos. It's a longer game best suited for larger groups and can be a love-it-or-hate-it experience.
Unfathomable: From the Abyss Expansion
Unfathomable: From the Abyss Expansion
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This expansion adds new prelude cards, three new monstrous horrors, and new skills, items, and boon cards, enhancing the base game's variety and challenge.
Eldritch Horror
Eldritch Horror
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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 to beginners with quicker setup and simpler rules, focusing on strategy and puzzle-solving.
Eldritch Horror Expansions
There are eight expansions for Eldritch Horror, each adding new elements and challenges: Forsaken Lore, Mountains of Madness, Strange Remnants, Under the Pyramids, Signs of Carcosa, The Dreamlands, Cities in Ruin, and Masks of Nyarlathotep.
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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Other Ways to Play
Beyond traditional board games, the Arkham universe offers digital versions and a tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG).
The Arkham Horror: The Roleplaying Game
Arkham Horror entered the TTRPG space with a starter set and a core rulebook, providing new ways to explore the universe.
Arkham Horror: The Roleplaying Game - Hungering Abyss Starter Set
Arkham Horror: The Roleplaying Game - Hungering Abyss Starter Set
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MSRP: $34.99 USD
Players: 2-4
Playtime: 1-3 hours
Ages: 14+
The starter set is perfect for beginners, offering a sample campaign and no need for an experienced Game Master.
Arkham Horror: The Roleplaying - Game Core Rulebook
Arkham Horror: The Roleplaying - Game Core Rulebook
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MSRP: $49.99 USD
Players: 2-6
Playtime: 1-3 hours
Ages: 14+
After enjoying the starter set, players can dive deeper with the Core Rulebook, creating their own 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, similar to the Mansions of Madness board game, is available on Steam and Switch for $19.99. It has mixed reviews due to its story execution. Another digital version, Elder Sign: Omens, available on Steam and mobile platforms, offers a more affordable option at $5.99 and has received positive feedback.
The Bottom Line
For fans of Lovecraftian-themed games, the Arkham Horror universe is a treasure trove of immersive experiences. These games offer both solo and multiplayer options, each providing a unique take on the Lovecraftian mythos. However, they are challenging, with significant elements of chance that can affect replayability and frustration levels. Setup and learning times can be lengthy, though card games within the series are generally easier to set up than the board games.
