Arkham Horror Board Game: Buying Tips

The Arkham Horror universe boasts an extensive collection of board games, so extensive that we've split our coverage into two comprehensive guides. In this particular guide, we'll delve into the various families of board games within the Arkham Horror universe. For enthusiasts of the deck-building card games that also fall under this umbrella, please visit our dedicated Arkham Horror: The Card Game Buying Guide.

Arkham Horror is a beloved franchise of horror-themed board games that have been captivating players for years. These games immerse you and your fellow players in thrilling missions that demand close collaboration to emerge victorious. Each game offers multiple pathways that vary based on the roles you choose, the expansions you include, and the campaigns you undertake. Moreover, these games are excellent options for solo play when you find yourself without a group to spend an hour or more exploring the eerie world of Arkham.

Featured in this article

### Arkham Horror (3rd Edition)

0See it at Amazon### Arkham Horror: Under Dark Waves Expansion

0See it at Amazon### Arkham Horror: Secrets of The Order Expansion

0See it at Amazon### Arkham Horror: The Dead of Night Expansion

0See it at Amazon### Elder Sign

0See it at Amazon### Elder Sign: The Gates of Arkham Expansion

0See it at Amazon### Elder Sign: Omens of the Pharaoh Expansion

0See it at Amazon### Elder Sign: Unseen Forces Expansion

0See it at Amazon### Elder Sign: Grave Consequences

0See it at Asmodee### Elder Sign: Omens of Ice

0See it at Asmodee### Elder Sign: Omens of the Deep

0See it at Asmodee### Mansions of Madness (2nd Edition)

0See it at Amazon### Mansions of Madness: Path of The Serpent Expansion

0See it at Amazon### Mansions of Madness: Beyond the Threshold Expansion

0See it at Amazon### Unfathomable

0See it at Amazon### Unfathomable: From the Abyss Expansion

0See it at Amazon### Eldritch Horror

0See it at Amazon### Eldritch Horror: Mountains of Madness Expansion

0See it at Amazon### Eldritch Horror: Under the Pyramids Expansion

0See it at Amazon### Eldritch Horror: Masks of Nyarlathotep Expansion

0See it at Amazon### Eldritch Horror: The Dreamlands Expansion

0See it at Amazon### Eldritch Horror: Forsaken Lore Expansion

0See it at Amazon### Eldritch Horror: Strange Remnants Expansion

0See it at Amazon### Eldritch Horror: Signs of Carcosa Expansion

0See it at Amazon### Eldritch Horror: Cities in Ruin Expansion

0See it at Amazon### Arkham Horror: The Roleplaying Game - Hungering Abyss Starter Set

0See it at Amazon### Arkham Horror: The Roleplaying - Game Core Rulebook

0See it at AmazonFor those eager to bypass the detailed descriptions and jump straight to the game listings and expansions, feel free to scroll through the catalog above. However, if you're keen on understanding how these items interconnect and fit into the broader Arkham Horror universe, continue reading below.

Arkham Horror: The Board Game

### Arkham Horror (3rd Edition)

0See it at AmazonMSRP: $65.95 USDPlayers: 1-6 Playtime: 2-3 hoursAges: 14+Arkham Horror is a cooperative board game where players team up to combat various terrors. Embark on a journey through the mysterious city of Arkham as one of six investigators, solving mysteries and vanquishing monstrous foes. With multiple campaigns to explore and a significant luck component, the game offers high replayability. Be prepared, though; it's not an easy game. Setup and learning can take time, and gameplay may last several hours. If luck isn't on your side, games can end quickly, but completing that first victorious campaign is a thrilling achievement.

Arkham Horror: The Board Game Expansions

Enhance your Arkham Horror experience with three expansions that add new layers of depth to the base game.

Arkham Horror: Under the Dark Waves Expansion

### Arkham Horror: Under Dark Waves Expansion

0See it at AmazonMSRP: $59.99 USDPlayers: 1-6 Playtime: 2-3 hoursAges: 14+Under the Dark Waves is the largest expansion for Arkham Horror, focusing on aquatic horrors. It introduces eight new investigators and four new scenarios, taking your adventure from the city to the sea.

Arkham Horror: Secrets of the Order Expansion

### Arkham Horror: Secrets of The Order Expansion

0See it at AmazonMSRP: $44.99 USDPlayers: 1-6 Playtime: 2-3 hoursAges: 14+This medium-sized expansion adds three new scenarios and three new investigators. Explore the French Hill neighborhood, but beware of the ghosts and monsters that lurk there.

Arkham Horror: The Dead of Night Expansion

### Arkham Horror: The Dead of Night Expansion

0See it at AmazonMSRP: $32.99 USDPlayers: 1-4Playtime: 2-3 hoursAges: 14+The Dead of Night is a smaller, more affordable expansion. It includes two new scenarios and four new investigators to help you face the nocturnal horrors.

Other Arkham Horror Board Games

Explore other standalone board games within the Arkham universe that don't require the base Arkham Horror game. These titles offer unique adventures and may include their own expansions.

Elder Sign

### Elder Sign

0See it at AmazonMSRP: $39.99 USDPlayers: 1-8 Playtime: 1-2 hoursAges: 14+Elder Sign is a dice-rolling game that accommodates one to eight players. As one of the more accessible games in the Arkham Files series, it challenges you to roll dice to complete tasks and navigate six encounters, fighting monsters and finding clues to solve mysteries before time runs out.

Elder Sign Expansions

### Elder Sign: The Gates of Arkham Expansion

0See it at Amazon### Elder Sign: Omens of the Pharaoh Expansion

0See it at Amazon### Elder Sign: Unseen Forces Expansion

0See it at Amazon### Elder Sign: Omens of the Deep

0See it at Asmodee### Elder Sign: Grave Consequences

0See it at Asmodee### Elder Sign: Omens of Ice

0See it at AsmodeeElder Sign offers 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 that can be played independently. The latest expansion was released in 2018, with no further expansions announced.

Mansions of Madness (2nd Edition)

### Mansions of Madness (2nd Edition)

0See it at AmazonMSRP: $109.95 USDPlayers: 1-5Playtime: 2-3 hoursAges: 14+This app-driven dungeon crawler is a standalone game set in the same universe as Eldritch Horror and Elder Sign. Play with one to five players, guided by an app that manages the narrative, roll results, and gameplay direction. The app also allows you to pause and resume your game later, though you'll need to set up the physical pieces again.

Mansions of Madness Expansions

Enhance your Mansions of Madness experience with these cooperative expansions, both guided by the app.

Mansions of Madness: Path of The Serpent Expansion

### Mansions of Madness: Path of The Serpent Expansion

0See it at AmazonMSRP: $69.99 USDPlayers: 1-5 Playtime: 2-3 hoursAges: 14+Explore the jungle and face Lovecraftian horrors with this expansion. It requires the base game and is guided by the app.

Mansions of Madness: Beyond the Threshold Expansion

### Mansions of Madness: Beyond the Threshold Expansion

0See it at AmazonMSRP: $39.19 USDPlayers: 1-5Playtime: 2-3 hoursAges: 14+This more affordable expansion introduces two new investigators, two new scenarios, and an insanity gameplay element, making it an accessible addition to your collection.

Unfathomable

### Unfathomable

0See it at AmazonMSRP: $64.99 USDPlayers: 3-6Playtime: 2-4 hoursAges: 14+Unfathomable is a unique social deduction game set on a boat surrounded by sea monsters. It accommodates three to six players and is best with five or six. With a traitor among the group, you must navigate the game to uncover who is friend or foe while trying to escape alive. It offers a different experience within the Arkham catalogue, ideal for fans of social deduction games like Battlestar Galactica.

Unfathomable: From the Abyss Expansion

### Unfathomable: From the Abyss Expansion

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

Eldritch Horror

### Eldritch Horror

0See it at AmazonMSRP: $59.95 USDPlayers: 1-4Playtime: 1-3 hoursAges: 14+Eldritch Horror offers a global adventure compared to the city-focused Arkham Horror. Navigate the world cooperatively to complete objectives. It's more accessible with a quicker setup and simpler rules, making it suitable for beginner and mid-range gamers. The game emphasizes strategy and puzzle-solving, with the first release in 2013.

Eldritch Horror Expansions

### Eldritch Horror: Mountains of Madness Expansion

0See it at Amazon### Eldritch Horror: Under the Pyramids Expansion

0See it at Amazon### Eldritch Horror: Masks of Nyarlathotep Expansion

0See it at Amazon### Eldritch Horror: The Dreamlands Expansion

0See it at Amazon### Eldritch Horror: Forsaken Lore Expansion

0See it at Amazon### Eldritch Horror: Strange Remnants Expansion

0See it at Amazon### Eldritch Horror: Signs of Carcosa Expansion

0See it at Amazon### Eldritch Horror: Cities in Ruin Expansion

0See it at AmazonEldritch Horror includes eight expansions: Forsaken Lore, Mountains of Madness, Strange Remnants, Under the Pyramids, Signs of Carcosa, The Dreamlands, Cities in Ruin, and Masks of Nyarlathotep, each adding new elements to the game.

Other Ways to Play

Explore the Arkham universe beyond traditional board games through online versions and tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs).

The Arkham Horror: The Roleplaying Game

Arkham Horror recently ventured into TTRPGs with a starter set and a core rulebook. Start with the accessible starter set before diving into the more comprehensive rulebook.

Arkham Horror: The Roleplaying Game - Hungering Abyss Starter Set

### Arkham Horror: The Roleplaying Game - Hungering Abyss Starter Set

0See it at AmazonMSRP: $34.99 USDPlayers: 2-4 Playtime: 1-3 hoursAges: 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

0See it at AmazonMSRP: $49.99 USDPlayers: 2-6 Playtime: 1-3 hoursAges: 14+After exploring the starter set, the Core Rulebook allows you to embark on new adventures in the Arkham Horror universe.

Video Game Versions

A digital version of Arkham Horror, Arkham Horror: Mother's Embrace, was released on Steam in 2021. This single-player game, reminiscent of 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 for its storytelling issues. Elder Sign: Omens, another digital offering, 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 universe is a treasure trove of immersive experiences. These games cater to both solo and group play, offering unique takes on the Lovecraftian worlds. Keep in mind, though, that they can be challenging with significant elements of chance, which can enhance replayability but also lead to frustration. Setup and learning might take some time, but the depth and variety of the games make them well worth the effort.