Arkham Horror: The Board Game Buying Guide

The Arkham Horror universe boasts a vast collection of games, so much so that we've divided them into two guides. This buying guide focuses on the various board games; for the deck-building card games, please see our Arkham Horror: The Card Game Buying Guide.

Arkham Horror is a long-running franchise of cooperative horror board games. Players collaborate to complete missions, with multiple pathways available depending on chosen roles, expansions, and campaigns. These games also offer excellent solo experiences for those times when a group isn't available.

Featured in this article:

Arkham Horror (3rd Edition)
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Arkham Horror: Under the 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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Want to skip the descriptions and jump straight to the games and expansions? Browse the catalog above.

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 players team up against various terrors. Choose from six investigators to solve mysteries and defeat monstrous creatures. Multiple campaigns offer high replayability due to a significant luck element and the potential for chaotic events. Be warned: this game is challenging, with a lengthy setup and playtime. While solo play is possible, success requires skill and a bit of luck. Winning your first game will be incredibly rewarding!

Arkham Horror: The Board Game Expansions

Three expansions enhance the base game:

Arkham Horror: Under the Dark Waves Expansion
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MSRP: $59.99 USD Players: 1-6 Playtime: 2-3 hours Ages: 14+

This large expansion introduces underwater horrors, eight new investigators, and four new scenarios.

Arkham Horror: Secrets of the Order Expansion
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MSRP: $44.99 USD Players: 1-6 Playtime: 2-3 hours Ages: 14+

This medium-sized expansion adds three new scenarios, three investigators, and a new location to explore.

Arkham Horror: The Dead of Night Expansion
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MSRP: $32.99 USD Players: 1-4 Playtime: 2-3 hours Ages: 14+

A smaller expansion with two new scenarios and four new investigators.

Other Arkham Horror Board Games

Several standalone board games offer unique Arkham adventures:

Elder Sign

Elder Sign
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MSRP: $39.99 USD Players: 1-8 Playtime: 1-2 hours Ages: 14+

A dice-rolling game playable by one to eight players, considered the most accessible in the Arkham Files franchise. It's a standalone game with six expansions.

Elder Sign Expansions

Six expansions are available for Elder Sign.

(Images and links to each expansion as provided in the original text)

Grave Consequences is a standalone deck and can be played with or without the core game. The last expansion was released in 2018; future releases are uncertain.

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+

An app-driven dungeon crawler, this standalone game combines physical components with an app for narrative guidance, roll results, and gameplay direction. The app allows for pausing and resuming games.

Mansions of Madness Expansions

Two app-driven expansions exist for Mansions of Madness:

(Images and links to each expansion as provided in the original text)

Unfathomable

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

A social deduction game set on a ship beset by monsters. One player is secretly a traitor. Best played with five or six players.

Unfathomable: From the Abyss Expansion
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This expansion introduces new prelude cards, monstrous horrors, 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+

A globe-trotting cooperative game with simpler rules and quicker setup than Arkham Horror. Focuses on strategy and puzzle-solving.

Eldritch Horror Expansions

Eight expansions are available for Eldritch Horror:

(Images and links to each expansion as provided in the original text)

Other Ways to Play

Explore the Arkham universe through online versions of some board games and the Arkham Horror tabletop roleplaying game.

The Arkham Horror: The Roleplaying Game

A starter set and core rulebook are available for the TTRPG:

(Images and links to each item as provided in the original text)

Video Game Versions

Arkham Horror: Mother's Embrace (Steam, Switch)

A single-player digital adaptation with mixed reviews.

Elder Sign: Omens (Steam, Mobile)

A digital version of Elder Sign with generally positive reviews.

The Bottom Line

Arkham Horror offers diverse, challenging, and replayable games within the Lovecraftian mythos, playable solo or with friends. However, be prepared for potentially lengthy setup and playtime, and a significant element of chance.