The Arkham Horror universe boasts an extensive collection of board games, so much so that we've split our coverage into two guides. In this buying guide, we'll explore the various families of board games. If you're interested in the deck-building card games within the same universe, be sure to check out our dedicated Arkham Horror: The Card Game Buying Guide.
Arkham Horror is a long-standing franchise of horror-themed board games that immerse you and your fellow players in thrilling missions requiring teamwork to triumph. Each game offers multiple pathways influenced by the roles, expansions, and campaigns you choose. These games are also excellent choices for solo play, perfect for those times when you're looking to delve into a gripping board game experience 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 AmazonIf you want to dive straight into the various games and expansions, feel free to scroll through the catalog above. For a deeper understanding of how each item connects to the broader Arkham Horror universe, continue reading below.
Arkham Horror: The Board Game
### Arkham Horror (3rd Edition)
0See it at AmazonMSRP: $65.95 USDPlayers: 1-6 Playtime: 2-3 hoursAges: 14+Arkham Horror is a cooperative board game where players team up to combat various horrors. Embark on a journey through Arkham as one of six investigators, solving mysteries and battling fearsome creatures. With multiple campaigns to explore and a significant luck element, including dice rolls for objectives and encounters, the game offers high replayability. Be prepared for a challenge; setup and learning the game can take time, and gameplay can last several hours. While it can be played solo, mastering it may require several attempts. The thrill of your first victory with a group is truly rewarding.
Arkham Horror: The Board Game Expansions
There are three expansions that add depth to the base game of Arkham Horror.
Arkham Horror: Under the Dark Waves Expansion
### Arkham Horror: Under Dark Waves Expansion
0See it at AmazonMSRP: $59.99 USDPlayers: 1-6 Playtime: 2-3 hoursAges: 14+Under the Dark Waves is the largest expansion, introducing underwater horrors. It adds eight new investigators and four new scenarios, taking the game beyond the city and into the sea.
Arkham Horror: Secrets of the Order Expansion
### Arkham Horror: Secrets of The Order Expansion
0See it at AmazonMSRP: $44.99 USDPlayers: 1-6 Playtime: 2-3 hoursAges: 14+This medium-sized expansion includes three new scenarios and three additional investigators, opening up the French Hill neighborhood. Be prepared for ghostly and monstrous encounters that challenge your idea of a peaceful French getaway.
Arkham Horror: The Dead of Night Expansion
### Arkham Horror: The Dead of Night Expansion
0See it at AmazonMSRP: $32.99 USDPlayers: 1-4Playtime: 2-3 hoursAges: 14+Dead of Night is a smaller expansion that adds two new scenarios and four investigators to your base game, enhancing your nocturnal adventures.
Other Arkham Horror Board Games
The Arkham Horror universe includes other standalone board games, each offering unique adventures within the same thematic world. These games don't require the base Arkham Horror game and come with their own expansions.
Elder Sign
### Elder Sign
0See it at AmazonMSRP: $39.99 USDPlayers: 1-8 Playtime: 1-2 hoursAges: 14+Elder Sign is a dice-rolling game within the Arkham Files franchise, accommodating one to eight players. It's the most accessible game in the series, driven by dice rolls to complete tasks and navigate six encounters. Players use their investigator's stats to fight monsters, uncover clues, and solve mysteries against the clock.
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 AsmodeeElder Sign has six expansions, including 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 that can be played independently or with the core game. The last expansion was released in 2018, with no further releases announced.
Mansions of Madness (2nd Edition)
### Mansions of Madness (2nd Edition)
0See it at AmazonMSRP: $109.95 USDPlayers: 1-5Playtime: 2-3 hoursAges: 14+This app-driven dungeon crawler immerses players in the same universe as Eldritch Horror and Elder Sign. Playable with one to five players, the app guides you through setup, narrative, and gameplay. It offers a seamless experience, allowing you to pause and resume games later. The combination of physical pieces and the app creates an engaging tactical experience.
Mansions of Madness Expansions
There are two cooperative expansions for Mansions of Madness, both guided by the app.
Mansions of Madness: Path of The Serpent Expansion
### Mansions of Madness: Path of The Serpent Expansion
0See it at AmazonMSRP: $69.99 USDPlayers: 1-5 Playtime: 2-3 hoursAges: 14+This expansion ventures into the jungle, where players face serpents and Lovecraftian horrors. It requires the base game and is driven by the app, enhancing your adventure with new challenges.
Mansions of Madness: Beyond the Threshold Expansion
### Mansions of Madness: Beyond the Threshold Expansion
0See it at AmazonMSRP: $39.19 USDPlayers: 1-5Playtime: 2-3 hoursAges: 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 AmazonMSRP: $64.99 USDPlayers: 3-6Playtime: 2-4 hoursAges: 14+Unfathomable is a social deduction game set on a boat amidst a sea of monsters. Best suited for groups of five or six, it features a traitor mechanic similar to Battlestar Galactica but set in the Lovecraftian mythos. Players must navigate the game to uncover the traitor while trying to escape alive. It's a unique experience within the Arkham catalogue, appealing to fans of social deduction games.
Unfathomable: From the Abyss Expansion
### Unfathomable: From the Abyss Expansion
0See it at AmazonThis expansion adds new prelude cards for varied starting conditions, three new monstrous horrors, and new skills, items, and boon cards to enhance gameplay.
Eldritch Horror
### Eldritch Horror
0See it at AmazonMSRP: $59.95 USDPlayers: 1-4Playtime: 1-3 hoursAges: 14+Eldritch Horror offers a global adventure compared to the more localized setting of Arkham Horror. Players cooperate to complete objectives around the world. It's more accessible than Arkham Horror, with quicker setup and simpler rules, making it ideal for beginners and mid-level gamers. The focus is on strategy and puzzle-solving, and the first game in the series was 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 AmazonEldritch 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
Explore the Arkham universe beyond traditional board games with online play and tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs).
The Arkham Horror: The Roleplaying Game
Arkham Horror introduced its first TTRPG last year, starting with a starter set followed by a rulebook. Begin with the starter set to get acquainted with the rules and gameplay before diving into 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 AmazonMSRP: $34.99 USDPlayers: 2-4 Playtime: 1-3 hoursAges: 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 AmazonMSRP: $49.99 USDPlayers: 2-6 Playtime: 1-3 hoursAges: 14+After trying the starter set, the Core Rulebook allows you 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. It's a solo game that shares similarities with the Mansions of Madness board game expansion. Available on Steam and Switch for $19.99, it has received mixed reviews, with IGN giving it a 5/10 due to issues with story execution and handling of heavy topics.
Elder Sign also has a digital version, Elder Sign: Omens, available on Steam and mobile platforms since 2011. It's affordable at $5.99 and has mostly positive reviews on Steam.
The Bottom Line
For fans of Lovecraftian-themed games, the Arkham Horror series is a must-explore. The games offer diverse experiences, playable both solo and with friends. However, be aware that these games are challenging, with significant elements of chance that can enhance replayability but also lead to frustration. Setup and learning time can be lengthy, though card games are generally quicker to set up than board games, even without expansions.
