The Arkham Horror universe boasts an extensive catalog of games, so much so that we've split our guides into two to cover them comprehensively. In this buying guide, we'll explore the various families of board games within the franchise. If you're looking for details on the deck-building card games, you can find that information in our dedicated Arkham Horror: The Card Game Buying Guide.
Arkham Horror is a long-standing franchise of horror-themed board games, where players embark on cooperative missions that require effective communication to succeed. The games offer multiple pathways depending on the roles, expansions, and campaigns chosen, making them versatile for both group play and solo sessions, which can last over an hour.
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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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Want to skip the details and go straight to the games and expansions? Scroll through the catalog above. For a deeper understanding of how these items connect to each other and the broader Arkham Horror universe, continue reading.
Arkham Horror: The Board Game
Arkham Horror (3rd Edition)
0See it at Amazon 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. Players can explore Arkham as one of six investigators, solving mysteries and battling monstrous entities. With multiple campaigns and a significant luck component, the game offers high replayability. However, it's challenging and requires time for setup and learning. Whether playing with friends or solo, the game can last several hours, and failure means starting over with a new investigator.
Arkham Horror: The Board Game Expansions
There are three expansions for the Arkham Horror board game, each adding new layers of depth.
Arkham Horror: Under the Dark Waves Expansion
Arkham Horror: Under Dark Waves Expansion
0See it at Amazon MSRP: $59.99 USD Players: 1-6 Playtime: 2-3 hours Ages: 14+
Under the Dark Waves is the largest expansion, introducing aquatic horrors with eight new investigators and four new scenarios that take players from the city to the sea.
Arkham Horror: Secrets of the Order Expansion
Arkham Horror: Secrets of The Order Expansion
0See it at Amazon MSRP: $44.99 USD Players: 1-6 Playtime: 2-3 hours Ages: 14+
This medium-sized expansion adds three new scenarios and three investigators, introducing the French Hill neighborhood and its ghostly inhabitants.
Arkham Horror: The Dead of Night Expansion
Arkham Horror: The Dead of Night Expansion
0See it at Amazon MSRP: $32.99 USD Players: 1-4 Playtime: 2-3 hours Ages: 14+
The Dead of Night is a smaller, more affordable expansion with two scenarios and four investigators, enhancing the base game's nocturnal horrors.
Other Arkham Horror Board Games
Several other board games within the Arkham Horror universe offer standalone adventures, each with its own expansions.
Elder Sign
Elder Sign
0See it at Amazon MSRP: $39.99 USD Players: 1-8 Playtime: 1-2 hours Ages: 14+
Elder Sign, an early entry in the Arkham Files franchise, is a dice-rolling game suitable for one to eight players. It's the most accessible game in the series, focusing on completing tasks and solving mysteries through dice rolls, with six expansions available.
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, with Grave Consequences being a standalone deck. The last expansion was released in 2018.
Mansions of Madness (2nd Edition)
Mansions of Madness (2nd Edition)
0See it at Amazon MSRP: $109.95 USD Players: 1-5 Playtime: 2-3 hours Ages: 14+
Mansions of Madness is an app-driven dungeon crawler in the same universe as Eldritch Horror and Elder Sign. It supports one to five players and uses an app for narrative guidance, making it easy to pause and resume play.
Mansions of Madness Expansions
There are two expansions for Mansions of Madness, both app-guided and cooperative.
Mansions of Madness: Path of The Serpent Expansion
Mansions of Madness: Path of The Serpent Expansion
0See it at Amazon 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, requiring the base game.
Mansions of Madness: Beyond the Threshold Expansion
Mansions of Madness: Beyond the Threshold Expansion
0See it at Amazon MSRP: $39.19 USD Players: 1-5 Playtime: 2-3 hours Ages: 14+
Beyond the Threshold is a more affordable expansion, adding two investigators, two scenarios, and an insanity element.
Unfathomable
Unfathomable
0See it at Amazon MSRP: $64.99 USD Players: 3-6 Playtime: 2-4 hours Ages: 14+
Unfathomable involves escaping sea monsters on a boat, with a social deduction element where players must identify a traitor among them. It's suited for larger groups and offers a unique experience within the Arkham catalog.
Unfathomable: From the Abyss Expansion
Unfathomable: From the Abyss Expansion
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From the Abyss adds new prelude cards, monstrous horrors, skills, items, and boon cards, enhancing the base game's depth.
Eldritch Horror
Eldritch Horror
0See it at Amazon 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, emphasizing 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, each adding new elements to the game.
Other Ways to Play
Beyond board games, the Arkham universe can be experienced through online play and tabletop role-playing games.
The Arkham Horror: The Roleplaying Game
Arkham Horror ventured into tabletop role-playing with a starter set and a core rulebook released last year.
Arkham Horror: The Roleplaying Game - Hungering Abyss Starter Set
Arkham Horror: The Roleplaying Game - Hungering Abyss Starter Set
0See it at Amazon MSRP: $34.99 USD Players: 2-4 Playtime: 1-3 hours Ages: 14+
The starter set is ideal for beginners, offering a sample campaign without needing an experienced Game Master.
Arkham Horror: The Roleplaying - Game Core Rulebook
Arkham Horror: The Roleplaying - Game Core Rulebook
0See it at Amazon MSRP: $49.99 USD Players: 2-6 Playtime: 1-3 hours Ages: 14+
After exploring the starter set, players can dive deeper with the core rulebook for new adventures.
Video Game Versions
A digital version, 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, though it has received mixed reviews due to story execution issues. Additionally, Elder Sign: Omens is available on Steam and mobile platforms for $5.99, offering a more positively received digital experience.
The Bottom Line
For fans of Lovecraftian-themed games, the Arkham Horror franchise offers a rich and varied experience. With options for solo and group play, each game presents a unique take on the Lovecraftian universe. However, be prepared for challenging gameplay with a significant luck factor, which can enhance replayability but also increase frustration. Setup and learning times are considerable, though the card games tend to be quicker to get started than the board games.
