"Arkham Horror Board Game: Ultimate Buying Guide"

The Arkham Horror universe boasts a vast and diverse catalogue of games, so extensive that we've dedicated two separate guides to help you navigate them. This buying guide focuses on the various families of board games within the franchise. For those interested in the deck-building card games, please visit our Arkham Horror: The Card Game Buying Guide.

Arkham Horror is a long-standing series of horror-themed board games that immerses players in cooperative missions requiring extensive communication to succeed. The games offer multiple pathways that vary based on the roles, expansions, and campaigns you choose. They're also excellent for solo play, perfect for those times when you can't gather a group but still want to spend an hour or more delving into 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 Amazon!

If you're eager to dive straight into the games and their expansions, feel free to scroll through the catalog above. For a deeper understanding of how these items connect to one another and the broader Arkham Horror universe, continue reading below.

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 terrors. Embark on a journey through Arkham as one of six investigators, solving mysteries and defeating horrific beasts. With multiple campaigns to explore and a significant luck component, the game is highly replayable. However, it's not an easy game; it requires time to set up and teach, and gameplay can extend over multiple hours. My first attempt with friends on the easiest campaign was disastrous, and solo play proved challenging as well. The thrill of completing that first winning game is truly rewarding.

Arkham Horror: The Board Game Expansions

There are three expansions for the Arkham Horror board game, each adding new depth to the base game.

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+

The largest expansion, Under the Dark Waves, explores the horrors lurking beneath the water. It introduces eight new investigators and four new scenarios, taking players out of the city and into 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 includes three new scenarios and three additional investigators, opening up the French Hill neighborhood. Expect to encounter ghosts and monsters that will make your visit far from a quaint French getaway.

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 expansion with a corresponding price point. It adds two new scenarios and four new investigators, enhancing your adventures in the eerie darkness.

Other Arkham Horror Board Games

Several other board games exist within the Arkham Horror universe, each offering standalone adventures without requiring the base game. These titles, featuring familiar characters, come with their 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, one of the earliest games in the Arkham Files franchise, is a dice-rolling board game suitable for one to eight players. It's the most accessible game in the series, driven primarily by dice rolls. Players roll dice based on their investigator's stats to fight monsters, find clues, and 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 Asmodee!

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 is a standalone deck and can be played with or without the core game. The last expansion was released in 2018, and it's uncertain if more will follow.

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 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, setup, and gameplay. The combination of tactical gameplay and app integration is particularly engaging, and the app allows you to pause and resume games, though you'll need to set up the physical pieces 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

0See it at Amazon!

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

This expansion takes players into the jungle to face serpents and 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

0See it at Amazon!

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, making it an accessible addition to your collection.

Unfathomable

Unfathomable

0See it at Amazon!

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

Unfathomable is a unique game where players must escape a sea of monsters on a boat. It includes a social deduction element, best suited for groups of five or six, where one player is a traitor. It evokes the atmosphere of Battlestar Galactica but within the Lovecraftian mythos. Games can take several hours as players navigate the challenges of identifying the traitor while trying to survive.

Unfathomable offers a different experience from other Arkham games, appealing to fans of social deduction games like Battlestar Galactica.

Unfathomable: From the Abyss Expansion

Unfathomable: From the Abyss Expansion

0See it at Amazon!

This expansion adds new prelude cards, three new monstrous horrors (Shoggoth, the Drowned Spirit, and the Grasping Tendril), and new skills, items, and boon cards.

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 more global experience than the city-focused Arkham Horror. Players travel the world to complete objectives, with a quicker setup and simpler rules that make it more accessible to beginners and intermediate players. It emphasizes strategy and puzzle-solving, with the first game released 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 Amazon!

Eldritch Horror has eight possible 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 traditional board games, you can explore the Arkham universe through online versions and tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs).

The Arkham Horror: The Roleplaying Game

Arkham Horror ventured into TTRPGs with a starter set followed by a core rulebook. I recommend starting with the starter set to get a feel for the rules before moving to the rulebook for further adventures.

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 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 Amazon!

MSRP: $49.99 USD
Players: 2-6
Playtime: 1-3 hours
Ages: 14+

After trying the starter set, you can purchase the Core Rulebook to continue your TTRPG journey in the Arkham Horror universe.

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 an MSRP of $19.99. However, it has received mixed reviews, with IGN giving it a 5/10 due to poor story execution and handling of heavy topics.

Additionally, a digital version of Elder Sign, Elder Sign: Omens, is available on Steam and mobile platforms. Released in 2011, it has received mostly positive reviews and is priced at $5.99.

The Bottom Line

If you're a fan of Lovecraftian mythos-themed games, the Arkham Horror series is well worth exploring. The games offer diverse experiences, suitable for both solo and group play. However, be prepared for challenging gameplay with significant luck elements, which can enhance replayability but also lead to frustration. Setup and learning can take time, though the card games are generally quicker to set up than the board games, even without expansions.