Arkham Horror: The Card Game Buying Guide

Dive into the chilling world of Arkham Horror: The Card Game, a captivating cooperative deck-building experience where you and your friends collaborate to overcome terrifying cosmic horrors. This engaging game, part of the expansive Arkham Horror Files universe, offers a thrilling blend of strategy and suspense. It's also part of a larger world including the accessible Arkham Horror: The Role-Playing Game (available on Amazon) and its recently released, comprehensive rulebook.

Since its 2016 debut, Arkham Horror: The Card Game has expanded significantly, with numerous revisions and expansions. Building your perfect deck is a key part of the fun, offering a deeply customizable experience beyond the core game and initial campaign.

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The Base Game

MSRP: $59.95 USD Players: 1-4 Playtime: 45 mins per player Ages: 14+

The core set provides everything needed to begin your investigation. It includes five pre-built investigator decks, allowing immediate entry into the "Night of the Zealot" campaign. This provides a great introduction to the world of Arkham Horror: The Card Game, with ample replayability. Further expansion options are vast.

Arkham Horror Card Game Expansions

Unlike the board game, Arkham Horror: The Card Game expansions differ. Board game expansions include complete stories and scenarios, along with new investigators. The card game separates campaign expansions (new stories) and investigator expansions (new characters). This allows for flexible investment, enabling players to enjoy new scenarios with existing investigators or vice-versa.

The Dunwich Legacy

The first expansion, The Dunwich Legacy, serves as a smooth transition from the base game, featuring user-friendly scenarios. The search for lost investigators subtly reflects the game's expansion through new investigator sets.

The Path to Carcosa

This expansion introduces a theatrical production to Arkham, offering engaging scenarios for both new and experienced players. Even those owning the first edition might find the second edition's updates compelling.

The Forgotten Age

Explore the ruins of an Aztec city in this challenging campaign, where a mystery threatens the fabric of time. Its difficulty makes it best suited for players with experience in other campaigns. It's also available in a second edition.

The Circle Undone

Affectionately known as "the witches pack," this expansion introduces powerful investigators to counter its challenging campaign. Acquiring the investigators is highly recommended when purchasing this campaign.

The Edge of the Earth

Brave the Antarctic tundra in this expansion, where Lovecraftian horrors lurk around every icy corner. The expansion's difficulty is further amplified by the absence of the coordinating investigators.

The Scarlet Keys

Embark on a global journey to unravel an international conspiracy involving a collection of keys and a race against the Red Coterie. This less linear expansion offers a unique investigative experience, whether or not you utilize the accompanying investigators.

The Dream-Eaters

This campaign features two four-part storylines: "Dream Quest" and "Web of Dreams," playable separately or combined for an extended eight-part adventure.

The Innsmouth Conspiracy

Experience a dynamic world in this expansion, where water levels impact location accessibility, adding a strategic layer to gameplay.

The Feast of Hemlock Vale

Investigate strange happenings in Hemlock Vale, where a festival masks dangers like mutated wildlife and a sinister presence. Day and night cycles impact gameplay dynamics within the three-day investigation.

The Drowned City

The newest expansion, The Drowned City, challenges players to confront a Lovecraftian deep-one awakening.

Other Ways to Expand Your Arkham Adventures

Starter Decks

Add investigators without committing to full expansions. These offer cost-effective additions, though their power may not match campaign investigators (Harvey Waters, Nathaniel Cho, Jacqueline Fine, Winifred Habbamock, and Stella Clark).

Scenario Packs

Standalone scenarios offering shorter adventures than full expansions (Murder at the Excelsior Hotel, Fortune and Folly, Machinations Through Time, War of the Outer Gods, Labyrinths of Lunacy, and The Blob That Ate Everything).

Return to Boxes and Parallel Investigator Packs

Return to boxes (revamps of existing campaigns) and Parallel Investigator Packs (alternate investigator versions) are considered luxury items for dedicated fans and may be harder to find at major retailers.

The Bottom Line

Arkham Horror: The Card Game offers a deeply engaging experience for Lovecraft enthusiasts, playable solo or with friends. Its vast universe and numerous iterations provide endless replayability, though its challenging nature and elements of chance may increase both enjoyment and frustration. Setup is simpler than the board game counterpart, even with expansions.