The Arkham Horror universe boasts a vast array of games, so diverse that we've split our coverage into two guides. This buying guide will explore the various families of board games within the Arkham Horror universe. For those interested in the deck-building card games, you can find more details in our dedicated Arkham Horror: The Card Game Buying Guide.

Arkham Horror is a renowned franchise of horror-themed board games, where players collaborate on missions that require significant communication to succeed. Each game offers multiple pathways, influenced by the roles, expansions, and campaigns you choose. These games are also excellent for solo play, perfect for those times when you can't gather a group for a lengthy board game session.

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

For those looking to dive straight into the list of games and expansions, you can scroll through the catalog above. For a deeper understanding of how these items connect to each other and 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 work together to combat various horrors. Embark on a journey through Arkham as one of six investigators, tackling mysteries and defeating monstrous creatures. The game offers multiple campaigns and a significant luck element, making each playthrough highly replayable due to dice rolls and the unpredictable nature of the occult.

However, this game is not for the faint-hearted. It requires time for setup and learning, and gameplay can stretch over several hours, or conclude quickly if luck is not on your side. Losing a game can be frustrating as you must start anew with a different investigator, forfeiting any progress made. My first attempt with friends on the easiest campaign was a complete disaster, and even solo play posed its challenges. The thrill of finally winning will have your entire party celebrating.

Arkham Horror: The Board Game Expansions

There are three expansions for Arkham Horror, each adding new layers of depth to the base game.

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, focusing on underwater horrors. It introduces eight new investigators and four new scenarios, taking you from the city into the depths of 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 adds three new scenarios and three new investigators. It opens up the French Hill neighborhood, where you'll face ghosts and monsters that make the area anything but a peaceful 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+The Dead of Night expansion is smaller in scope and price, offering two new scenarios and four new investigators to help you navigate the horrors lurking in the night.

Other Arkham Horror Board Games

Several other board games within the Arkham Horror universe offer standalone adventures, not requiring the base game to play. Each game provides a unique experience within the Lovecraftian setting, with some even having their own expansions.

Elder Sign

### Elder Sign

0See it at AmazonMSRP: $39.99 USDPlayers: 1-8 Playtime: 1-2 hoursAges: 14+Elder Sign is one of the earliest games in the Arkham Files series, designed for one to eight players. It's a dice-rolling game that's more accessible than other games in the franchise. The gameplay revolves around rolling dice to complete tasks and navigate through six encounters, using your chosen investigator's stats to fight monsters, uncover clues, and solve the mystery before time runs out.

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. Notably, Grave Consequences is a standalone deck that can be played independently or alongside the core game. The last expansion was released in 2018, with no further expansions announced.

Mansions of Madness (2nd Edition)

### Mansions of Madness (2nd Edition)

0See it at AmazonMSRP: $109.95 USDPlayers: 1-5Playtime: 2-3 hoursAges: 14+Mansions of Madness is an app-driven dungeon crawler set within the Arkham universe. It's a standalone game that shares the same world as Eldritch Horror and Elder Sign, playable with one to five players. The app guides you through the narrative, setup, and gameplay, managing everything from story progression to dice rolls.

I personally enjoy the blend of physical and digital elements. The app allows you to pause and resume games, though you'll need to set up the board again. Taking a photo of the board setup can help you remember where everything goes when you return.

Mansions of Madness Expansions

Mansions of Madness has two expansions, both cooperative and app-guided.

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+Path of The Serpent takes you into the jungle, facing serpents and other Lovecraftian horrors. It requires the base game and is guided by an app.

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 mechanic, making it an accessible addition to the game.

Unfathomable

### Unfathomable

0See it at AmazonMSRP: $64.99 USDPlayers: 3-6Playtime: 2-4 hoursAges: 14+Unfathomable is a unique game where players try to escape a sea of monsters aboard a ship. Best suited for five to six players, it includes a social deduction element where one player is secretly a traitor. The game draws inspiration from Battlestar Galactica, offering an immersive experience in a Lovecraftian setting. It can take several hours as players work to uncover the traitor and escape.

Unfathomable offers a different experience from other Arkham games, appealing to fans of social deduction games but potentially polarizing for others.

Unfathomable: From the Abyss Expansion

### Unfathomable: From the Abyss Expansion

0See it at Amazon

This expansion adds new prelude cards for varied starting conditions, three new monstrous horrors (Shoggoth, the Drowned Spirit, and the Grasping Tendril), and new skills, items, and boon cards.

Eldritch Horror

### Eldritch Horror

0See it at AmazonMSRP: $59.95 USDPlayers: 1-4Playtime: 1-3 hoursAges: 14+Eldritch Horror offers a global adventure, contrasting with the city-focused Arkham Horror. Players travel worldwide to complete objectives in a cooperative setting. It's more accessible than Arkham Horror, with quicker setup and simpler rules, making it a great entry point for new and mid-level gamers. The game emphasizes strategy and puzzle-solving.

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 of some games or delve into the franchise's tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs).

The Arkham Horror: The Roleplaying Game

Arkham Horror introduced its first TTRPG last year, starting with a starter set and followed by a core rulebook. I recommend starting with the starter set to get a feel for the game before moving on to 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 ideal for beginners, offering a sample campaign that doesn't require 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 experiencing the starter set, the Core Rulebook allows you to continue your TTRPG adventures in the Arkham Horror universe.

Video Game Versions

A digital version, Arkham Horror: Mother’s Embrace, was released on Steam in 2021. This single-player game mirrors the Mansions of Madness board game expansion. It's available on Steam and Switch for $19.99, though it has received mixed reviews due to its storytelling and handling of heavy themes.

Another digital offering, Elder Sign: Omens, is available on Steam and mobile platforms for $5.99, with mostly positive reviews.

The Bottom Line

For fans of Lovecraftian horror, the Arkham Horror universe offers a rich array of games, many of which can be enjoyed solo or with friends. Each game presents a unique take on the Lovecraftian world, though they can be challenging due to their complexity and reliance on chance. While setup and learning times may be substantial, the depth and replayability make these games highly rewarding for enthusiasts.