"Arkham Horror Board Game: Ultimate Buying Guide"

The Arkham Horror universe boasts an expansive collection of games, so extensive that we've divided our coverage into two comprehensive guides. This buying guide focuses on the various families of board games within the franchise. If you're curious about the deck-building card games, you can explore our dedicated Arkham Horror: The Card Game Buying Guide.

Arkham Horror is a long-established franchise that offers a thrilling experience of horror-themed board games. Players embark on cooperative missions that require effective communication to triumph. Each game offers multiple pathways, influenced by the roles, expansions, and campaigns you choose. These games are also excellent for solo play, perfect for those times when you don't have a group to join you for an hour or more of gameplay.

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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 want to dive straight into the catalog of games and expansions, feel free to scroll through the listings above. For a deeper understanding of how these items interconnect within the broader Arkham Horror universe, continue reading below.

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 teams of players work together to combat various horrors. Embark on a journey through Arkham as one of six investigators, solving mysteries and defeating terrifying creatures. With multiple campaigns to explore and a significant luck component involving dice rolls for objectives and encounters, the game offers high replayability. However, be prepared for a challenging experience; setting up and teaching the game can take time, and gameplay can span multiple hours. My first venture into the easiest campaign with friends ended disastrously, and solo play was no easier. The thrill of finally winning is worth the effort, though, as your entire party will celebrate the victory.

Arkham Horror: The Board Game Expansions

The Arkham Horror board game has three expansions, each adding depth and new dimensions to the base game.

Arkham Horror: Under the Dark Waves Expansion

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

The largest expansion, Under the Dark Waves, dives into the horrors lurking beneath the sea. It introduces eight new investigators and four new scenarios, taking players from the city to the ocean depths.

Arkham Horror: Secrets of the Order Expansion

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

A medium-sized expansion, Secrets of the Order, includes three new scenarios and three additional investigators. It expands the game to the French Hill neighborhood, where you'll encounter ghosts and monsters that turn your adventure into anything but a peaceful getaway.

Arkham Horror: The Dead of Night Expansion

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

The Dead of Night is a smaller expansion with a corresponding price point. It adds two new scenarios and four more investigators to enhance your nocturnal adventures.

Other Arkham Horror Board Games

Several other board games exist within the Arkham Horror universe, each offering a unique standalone experience. These games are not directly connected to the main Arkham Horror board game, so you don't need the base game to enjoy them. They feature familiar characters and offer new adventures.

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 board game 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 choose investigators with specific stats to fight monsters, gather 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: Omens of the Deep

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Elder Sign: Grave Consequences

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Elder Sign: Omens of Ice

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Elder Sign has 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, playable with or without the core game. The last expansion was released in 2018, and future releases are uncertain.

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+

Mansions of Madness is an app-driven dungeon crawler set in the same universe as Eldritch Horror and Elder Sign. The second edition is a standalone game that can be played with one to five players. The app guides the narrative, setup, and gameplay, including roll results and directions. I enjoyed the combination of physical pieces and the app, which also allows you to pause and resume games later, though you'll need to remember the board setup.

Mansions of Madness Expansions

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+

Path of The Serpent takes players into the jungle, facing serpents and Lovecraftian horrors. Like the base game, it's app-guided and requires the original to play.

Mansions of Madness: Beyond the Threshold Expansion

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MSRP: $39.19 USD
Players: 1-5
Playtime: 2-3 hours
Ages: 14+

Beyond the Threshold is a more affordable expansion that introduces two new investigators, two scenarios, and an insanity element, making it an accessible addition to your collection.

Unfathomable

Unfathomable

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

Unfathomable involves escaping a sea filled with monsters aboard a boat. Suitable for three to six players, it's best with five or six due to its social deduction component. One player is a traitor, adding tension and immersion. It resembles Battlestar Galactica but in a Lovecraftian setting, with sessions lasting multiple hours as players navigate survival and betrayal. This game offers a unique experience within the Arkham catalog, appealing to fans of social deduction games.

Unfathomable: From the Abyss Expansion

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From the Abyss introduces new prelude cards, three monstrous horrors (Shoggoth, the Drowned Spirit, and the Grasping Tendril), along with new skills, items, and boon cards.

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 global adventure, contrasting with the neighborhood-focused Arkham Horror. Players travel worldwide to complete objectives, making it more accessible with quicker setup and simpler rules. It's ideal for beginners and mid-range gamers, focusing on strategy and puzzle-solving. The first game in the series was 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

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Eldritch Horror has 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

Beyond traditional board games, you can explore the Arkham universe through online play or tabletop roleplaying games.

The Arkham Horror: The Roleplaying Game

Arkham Horror ventured into tabletop roleplaying with a starter set and a core rulebook released last year. Start with the accessible starter set before diving into the more comprehensive rulebook.

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 Hungering Abyss Starter Set is ideal for beginners, featuring a sample campaign and no need for an experienced Game Master.

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, you can expand your adventures with the Core Rulebook, designed for ongoing TTRPG experiences 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, has mixed reviews due to its story execution and handling of heavy topics. It's available on Steam and Switch for $19.99. Additionally, Elder Sign: Omens, released in 2011, offers a digital experience on Steam and mobile platforms for $5.99 and has received mostly positive reviews.

The Bottom Line

For fans of Lovecraftian-themed games, the Arkham Horror franchise is a must-explore. These games offer diverse experiences, playable both solo and with friends. However, they are challenging, with a significant luck element that enhances replayability but can also lead to frustration. Setup and learning times are substantial, though card games are generally quicker to prepare than board games, even without expansions.