The Arkham Horror universe boasts an extensive collection of games, so much so that we've created two separate guides to help you navigate them. In this buying guide, we'll explore the various families of board games within the franchise. For those interested in the deck-building card games, please refer to our dedicated Arkham Horror: The Card Game Buying Guide.
Arkham Horror is a well-established series of horror-themed board games that immerse you and your fellow players in cooperative missions requiring strategic communication to succeed. Each game offers multiple pathways, influenced by your choice of roles, expansions, and campaigns. These games are also excellent choices for solo play, perfect for when you're looking to spend over an hour exploring without a group.
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 prefer to bypass detailed descriptions and dive straight into the list of games and expansions, feel free to scroll through the catalog above. For a deeper understanding of how each item fits within 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 players team up to combat various terrors. You can journey through Arkham as one of six investigators, solving mysteries and battling horrific creatures. With multiple campaigns and a significant luck element, including dice rolls for objectives and encounters, the game offers high replayability.
However, this game isn't easy. It requires time to set up and teach, and gameplay can last several hours or be completed quickly depending on your luck. If you lose, you can switch investigators but start anew, losing any progress. My initial experience with friends on the easiest campaign was challenging, and solo play was no less demanding. The thrill of finally winning with your group is unmatched.
Arkham Horror: The Board Game Expansions
There are three expansions for the Arkham Horror board game, each adding 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 Under the Dark Waves expansion introduces horrors lurking beneath the water. It includes eight new investigators and four new scenarios, taking you beyond the city 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 adds three new scenarios and three investigators, introducing the French Hill neighborhood to explore, complete with ghosts and monsters.
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 that adds two scenarios and four investigators, enhancing your experience in the dark hours.
Other Arkham Horror Board Games
Several other board games within the Arkham Horror universe offer standalone adventures, not requiring the base game. Each provides a unique experience within the Lovecraftian setting, with some having 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 game accommodating one to eight players. It's the most accessible in terms of chance and offers six physical expansions. Gameplay revolves around rolling dice to complete tasks and navigate encounters, using your investigator's stats to fight monsters, find clues, and solve mysteries within a time limit.
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 can be played standalone. The last expansion was released in 2018, with no current plans for further expansions.
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, with the app guiding narrative and gameplay. I found the combination of physical pieces and app-driven elements engaging, and the ability to pause and resume games is a nice touch, though you'll need to set up the board again.
Mansions of Madness Expansions
There are two cooperative expansions for Mansions of Madness, guided by the app.
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 you into the jungle, facing serpents and Lovecraftian horrors. It requires the base game and uses the app for guidance.
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 element, enhancing the game at a lower cost.
Unfathomable
Unfathomable
0See it at Amazon MSRP: $64.99 USD Players: 3-6 Playtime: 2-4 hours Ages: 14+ Unfathomable is a social deduction game set on a boat escaping sea monsters. It's best for larger groups of five or six, with one player secretly being a traitor. It offers a unique experience akin to Battlestar Galactica but within the Lovecraftian mythos. Sessions can last multiple hours as players navigate trust and betrayal to survive.
Unfathomable provides a different experience from other Arkham games, appealing to fans of social deduction games.
Unfathomable: From the Abyss Expansion
Unfathomable: From the Abyss Expansion
0See it at Amazon This expansion adds new prelude cards, three new horrors, and new skills, items, and boon cards, enhancing the base game's variability.
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, appealing to beginner and mid-level gamers. It's more about strategy and puzzle-solving, 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 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 or the franchise's tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG).
The Arkham Horror: The Roleplaying Game
Arkham Horror ventured into TTRPGs last year, starting with a starter set and followed by a core rulebook. The starter set is ideal for beginners, offering a sample campaign without needing an experienced Game Master.
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 new players, providing a sample campaign and no need for a seasoned 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 expand your adventures with the Core Rulebook, allowing for new TTRPG experiences in the Arkham Horror universe.
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, available on Steam and Switch for $19.99. It received mixed reviews, with IGN giving it a 5 due to poor story execution and handling of heavy topics.
Elder Sign also has a digital version, Elder Sign: Omens, released in 2011, available on Steam and mobile platforms for $5.99. It has mostly positive reviews on Steam.
The Bottom Line
If you're a fan of Lovecraftian-themed games, the Arkham Horror series offers a rich and diverse range of experiences. Many of these games can be enjoyed solo or with friends, each presenting a unique take on the Lovecraftian worlds. However, be aware that these games can be challenging, with a significant element of chance that adds to both replayability and potential frustration. Setup and learning times can be substantial, though card games are generally quicker to set up than board games, even without expansions.
