"Arkham Horror Board Game: Buying Guide Essentials"

The Arkham Horror universe boasts an extensive collection of games, with so many options that we've divided them into two comprehensive guides. In this guide, we'll explore the various families of board games within this universe. For details on the deck-building card games, you can find more in our dedicated Arkham Horror: The Card Game Buying Guide.

Arkham Horror is a long-standing franchise of horror board games where players collaborate on missions, requiring substantial 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're without a group to dive into an hour-plus 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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For those eager to jump straight into exploring the various 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 teams of players work together to combat various horrors. Embark on a journey through Arkham as one of six investigators to solve mysteries and defeat terrifying creatures. With multiple campaigns and a significant luck component, the game offers high replayability. However, be prepared for a challenging experience that may take time to set up and master. Whether playing with friends or solo, the thrill of your first victory will be immensely rewarding.

Arkham Horror: The Board Game Expansions

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

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, introduces aquatic horrors with 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

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

Secrets of the Order expands your journey to the French Hill neighborhood, offering three new scenarios and three additional investigators amidst ghostly and monstrous threats.

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 provides a more compact expansion with two new scenarios and four additional investigators, enhancing your nocturnal adventures in Arkham.

Other Arkham Horror Board Games

Dive into other standalone board games within the Arkham universe, each offering unique 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 for one to eight players. It's the most accessible game in the series, driven by dice rolls to complete tasks and navigate encounters, offering a fast-paced experience.

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 boasts six expansions, each adding new elements and challenges to the core game. Grave Consequences is unique as it can be played standalone or with the core game. The last expansion was released in 2018, with no further expansions 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 within the Arkham universe. This standalone game, playable with one to five players, uses an app to guide the narrative and gameplay. It's an engaging experience that combines tactical gameplay with a rich story, and the app allows you to pause and resume your game easily.

Mansions of Madness Expansions

Enhance your Mansions of Madness experience with two cooperative expansions guided by the app.

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+

Path of The Serpent takes you into the jungle, confronting serpents and Lovecraftian horrors. This expansion requires the base game and offers new adventures.

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+

Beyond the Threshold is a more affordable expansion that introduces two new investigators, two new scenarios, and an insanity gameplay element, enriching your game experience.

Unfathomable

Unfathomable

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

Unfathomable offers a unique social deduction experience aboard a ship besieged by sea monsters. Best suited for groups of five or six, this game challenges players to identify a traitor among them while trying to escape. It's a love-it-or-hate-it game, reminiscent of Battlestar Galactica but set in the Lovecraftian universe.

Unfathomable: From the Abyss Expansion

Unfathomable: From the Abyss Expansion

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From the Abyss expands the game with new prelude cards, monstrous horrors, skills, items, and boon cards, adding variety and depth to your Unfathomable experience.

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, distinct from the city-centric Arkham Horror. It's more accessible with a quicker setup and simpler rules, focusing on strategy and puzzle-solving. Released in 2013, it provides a thrilling experience for both new and seasoned gamers.

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, each enhancing the game with new challenges and elements.

Other Ways to Play

Explore alternative ways to experience the Arkham universe beyond traditional board games.

The Arkham Horror: The Roleplaying Game

Arkham Horror ventured into tabletop roleplaying games last year, introducing a starter set and a core 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 newcomers, 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 trying the starter set, the Core Rulebook allows you to continue your adventures in the Arkham Horror universe.

Video Game Versions

A digital version, Arkham Horror: Mother’s Embrace, was released on Steam in 2021. This solo game, reminiscent of the Mansions of Madness board game, has received mixed reviews, particularly for its story execution. It's available on Steam and Switch for $19.99.

Elder Sign also has a digital version, Elder Sign: Omens, available on Steam and mobile platforms for $5.99, and it has received mostly positive reviews.

The Bottom Line

If you're a fan of Lovecraftian-themed games, the Arkham Horror universe is a must-explore. These games offer diverse experiences, playable both solo and with friends, each presenting unique challenges and atmospheres. However, they are challenging, with a significant luck component that adds replayability but also potential frustration. Setup and learning can be time-consuming, though the card games tend to be quicker to set up than the board games, even without expansions.