Arkham Horror Board Game: Ultimate Buying Guide

The Arkham Horror universe boasts an extensive range of board games, so extensive in fact that we've split our coverage into two guides. In this comprehensive buying guide, we'll explore the various families of board games within the Arkham Horror franchise. If you're looking for insights into the deck-building card games also part of this universe, you can find detailed information in our separate guide, the Arkham Horror: The Card Game Buying Guide.

Arkham Horror is a long-standing franchise renowned for its immersive horror-themed board games. Players embark on thrilling missions that demand teamwork and strategic communication to triumph. Each game offers multiple pathways, influenced by the choice of roles, expansions, and campaigns. These games are not only perfect for group play but also make excellent solo experiences for those times when you want to dive into a gripping adventure alone.

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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 jump straight to the various games and expansions, feel free to scroll through the catalog 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 teams of players work together to combat various horrors. You can explore the city of Arkham as one of six investigators, solving mysteries and battling terrifying creatures. With numerous campaigns and a significant luck element that involves dice rolls to overcome challenges and bosses, the game offers high replayability.

However, be prepared for a challenging experience. Setting up and learning the game can take time, and gameplay sessions can stretch over several hours. If you're unlucky, games can conclude quickly. In cases of defeat with fewer than six players, you can choose a new investigator but will lose any accumulated stats, making it a tough restart. My first attempt with friends on the easiest campaign was a disaster, and even playing solo was challenging. The sense of achievement when you finally win is unparalleled.

Arkham Horror: The Board Game Expansions

Arkham Horror has three expansions that add depth to the base game.

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 largest expansion, Under the Dark Waves, delves into aquatic horrors. It introduces eight new investigators and four new scenarios, taking your adventures from the city to 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 includes three new scenarios and three new investigators, expanding your exploration to the French Hill neighborhood, where ghosts and monsters await.

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+

Dead of Night is a smaller expansion with two new scenarios and four new investigators, offering more horror to explore during the darkest hours.

Other Arkham Horror Board Games

Several other board games exist within the Arkham Horror universe but are standalone experiences. These games offer unique adventures within the same thematic world, often featuring familiar characters.

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 series, is a dice-rolling board game suitable for one to eight players. It's the most accessible of the Arkham games, focusing on chance. Players roll dice to complete tasks and encounter challenges, racing against time to solve mysteries.

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 can be played as a standalone game. The last expansion was released in 2018, with no further releases announced.

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. It supports one to five players and uses an app to guide the narrative, manage gameplay, and track progress. The combination of physical and digital elements creates an immersive experience. The app also allows you to pause and resume games, though you'll need to set up the board again.

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

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MSRP: $69.99 USD
Players: 1-5
Playtime: 2-3 hours
Ages: 14+

This expansion takes you into the jungle to face serpents and Lovecraftian horrors. It requires the base game to play.

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 mechanic, 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 is a unique game set on a boat surrounded by sea monsters. It includes a social deduction element, ideal for groups of five or six. One player is a secret traitor, adding tension and intrigue. It's a lengthy game, filled with strategy and suspicion, reminiscent of Battlestar Galactica but within the Lovecraftian mythos.

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 global adventure, with players traveling around the world to complete objectives. It's more accessible than Arkham Horror, with quicker setup and simpler rules, making it suitable for beginners and mid-level gamers. It focuses more on strategy and puzzle-solving.

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 the standard board games, you can explore the Arkham universe through online versions or tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs).

The Arkham Horror: The Roleplaying Game

Arkham Horror ventured into TTRPGs last year, starting with a starter set followed by a core rulebook. The starter set is perfect for beginners, offering a sample campaign without the need for an experienced Game Master.

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 highly accessible for new players, providing an entry point into the TTRPG world without needing 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+

Once familiar with the starter set, you can expand your adventures with the Core Rulebook.

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 rating it a 5 due to its handling of the story and heavy themes.

Elder Sign also has a digital version, Elder Sign: Omens, available on Steam and mobile platforms since 2011. It's affordable at $5.99 and has garnered mostly positive reviews.

The Bottom Line

For fans of Lovecraftian mythos games, the Arkham Horror series is a must-explore. These games offer unique experiences that can be enjoyed solo or with friends. However, they are challenging, with significant elements of chance that can enhance replayability but also lead to frustration. Setup and learning times are considerable, though card games within the series are generally quicker to set up than the board games, even without expansions.