"Arkham Horror Board Game: Ultimate Buying Guide"

The Arkham Horror universe boasts an extensive collection of games, so much so that we've divided them into two guides. In this buying guide, we'll explore the various families of board games within the franchise. If you're interested in the deck-building card games, you can find detailed information in our separate 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 influenced 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 or more of gaming.

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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 skip the detailed descriptions and go straight to the list of games and expansions, feel free to scroll through the catalog 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 players team up to combat various horrors. You can explore Arkham as one of six investigators, solving mysteries and battling terrifying creatures. The game features multiple campaigns and a significant luck element, making it highly replayable. However, it's not an easy game; setup and teaching can take time, and gameplay can last several hours. My first attempt with friends on the easiest campaign was a disaster, and solo play was equally challenging. But the thrill of finally winning is unmatched.

Arkham Horror: The Board Game Expansions

There are three expansions for Arkham Horror: The Board Game, each adding 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+

Under the Dark Waves is the largest expansion, focusing on underwater horrors. It introduces eight new investigators and four new scenarios, taking you 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 adds three new scenarios and three new investigators, opening up the French Hill neighborhood for exploration, complete with its own ghosts and monsters.

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+

The Dead of Night is a smaller expansion with two new scenarios and four new investigators, perfect for enhancing your base game experience.

Other Arkham Horror Board Games

Several other board games exist within the Arkham universe, each offering a unique, standalone adventure. These games don't require the base Arkham Horror game and come with their own expansions.

Elder Sign

Elder Sign

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

Elder Sign is a dice-rolling game that can be played with one to eight players. It's the most accessible game in the Arkham Files franchise, focusing on completing tasks and solving mysteries through dice rolls.

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: 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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Elder Sign has six expansions, including 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 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. It supports one to five players and uses an app to guide the narrative and gameplay. I enjoyed the blend of tactical gameplay and app integration, which also allows you to pause and resume games later.

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, facing Lovecraftian horrors. It requires the base game and is guided by an app.

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 gameplay element.

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 set on a boat escaping sea monsters. It's best for groups of five or six, with one player secretly being a traitor. It offers a unique experience within the Arkham catalogue, reminiscent of Battlestar Galactica but with a Lovecraftian twist.

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.

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 Arkham Horror's city focus. It's more accessible with quicker setup and simpler rules, appealing to beginner and mid-range gamers. It emphasizes 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, including 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 of some games and the franchise's first tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG).

The Arkham Horror: The Roleplaying Game

Arkham Horror released its first TTRPG last year, starting with a starter set followed by a core rulebook. I recommend starting with the starter set to get a feel for the game before diving into the rulebook.

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 that doesn't require 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 you're comfortable with the starter set, the Core Rulebook allows you to create your own TTRPG adventures in the Arkham Horror universe.

Video Game Versions

A digital version, Arkham Horror: Mother’s Embrace, was released on Steam in 2021. It's a solo game similar to the Mansions of Madness board game expansion, available on Steam and Switch for $19.99. However, it has received mixed reviews, with IGN giving it a 5 due to its story execution and handling of heavy topics.

Elder Sign also has a digital version, Elder Sign: Omens, available on Steam and mobile platforms since 2011. It's well-received and affordable at $5.99.

The Bottom Line

If you're a fan of Lovecraftian-themed games, the Arkham Horror franchise is a must-explore. Many of these games can be played solo or with friends, each offering a unique take on the Lovecraftian worlds. However, they are challenging, with significant elements of chance that can enhance replayability but also lead to frustration. Setup and learning can take time, though card games are generally quicker to set up than board games, even without expansions.