Arkham Horror: Board Game Purchase Tips

The Arkham Horror universe boasts an extensive range of games, so much so that we've split our coverage into two guides. This buying guide delves into the various families of board games within the franchise. If you're interested in the deck-building card games, head over to our dedicated Arkham Horror: The Card Game Buying Guide.

Arkham Horror is a long-standing series of horror-themed board games where players collaborate on missions that require strategic communication to succeed. The games offer multiple pathways influenced by the roles, expansions, and campaigns you choose. They are also excellent for solo play when you're looking for an immersive experience without needing a group to spend hours on a board game.

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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're eager to jump straight to exploring the various games and their expansions, feel free to scroll through the catalog above. For a deeper understanding of how these items connect within the expansive Arkham Horror universe, continue reading.

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 an adventure through Arkham as one of six investigators, tackling mysteries and defeating terrifying creatures. The game offers multiple campaigns and a significant luck element, ensuring high replayability. However, it's not an easy game; setup and teaching can take time, and gameplay can last several hours, depending on luck. Even solo play is challenging, but the thrill of finally winning with your party is exhilarating.

Arkham Horror: The Board Game Expansions

Arkham Horror's base game can be expanded with three additional layers of depth.

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 underwater horrors, featuring eight new investigators and four new scenarios, taking you beyond the city and into 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+

A medium-sized expansion, Secrets of the Order adds three new scenarios and three new investigators. It opens up the French Hill neighborhood, where you'll encounter ghosts and monsters amidst a far-from-quaint French getaway.

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+

This smaller expansion includes two new scenarios and four new investigators, enhancing your base game with more nocturnal horrors.

Other Arkham Horror Board Games

Several standalone board games within the Arkham universe offer unique adventures without requiring the base Arkham Horror game.

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 game that's highly accessible. It's a standalone game with six expansions, where gameplay revolves around dice rolls to complete tasks and navigate encounters.

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, including Unseen Forces, Gates of Arkham, Omens of Ice, Grave Consequences, Omens of the Deep, and Omens of the Pharaoh. Grave Consequences can be played standalone, and the last expansion was released in 2018.

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's playable with one to five players, with the app guiding the narrative and gameplay. The combination of physical and digital elements makes for a seamless experience, with the ability to pause and resume games.

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 to the jungle, facing Lovecraftian horrors. 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

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MSRP: $39.19 USD
Players: 1-5
Playtime: 2-3 hours
Ages: 14+

A more affordable expansion, Beyond the Threshold 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 unique game where players attempt to escape a sea of monsters on a boat, featuring a social deduction component. It's best for groups of five or six, with a traitor element reminiscent of Battlestar Galactica but set in the Lovecraftian mythos. It's a lengthy, immersive experience that may not appeal to everyone but is a must-try for fans of social deduction games.

Unfathomable: From the Abyss Expansion

Unfathomable: From the Abyss Expansion

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This expansion adds new prelude cards, three new monstrous horrors (Shoggoth, the Drowned Spirit, and the Grasping Tendril), along with 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 compared to Arkham Horror's city-centric focus. It's more accessible for beginners and mid-range gamers with quicker setup and simpler rules. The game emphasizes strategy and puzzle-solving, with its first release in 2013.

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: 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 traditional board games, you can explore the Arkham universe through online versions and the franchise's tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs).

The Arkham Horror: The Roleplaying Game

Arkham Horror ventured into TTRPGs with a starter set followed by a core rulebook. The starter set is recommended for beginners.

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 highly accessible for new players, including 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+

Once familiar with the starter set, you 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. It's a solo game similar to the Mansions of Madness board game but 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, released in 2011, which has received mostly positive reviews on Steam and is priced at $5.99.

The Bottom Line

If you're a fan of Lovecraftian-themed games, the Arkham Horror series offers a rich, diverse experience. Many of these games are suitable for solo play as well as group sessions, each providing a unique take on the Lovecraftian worlds. Keep in mind, though, that these games can be challenging with significant elements of chance, which can enhance replayability but also lead to frustration. Setup and learning curves can be steep, but the card games are generally easier to set up than the board games, even without expansions.