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Arkham Horror: The Card Game

Fantasy Flight Games, Arclight Games, asmodee · Board game · 2016
1–2 · best 2 Solo 60–120 min Weight 3.6/5
8.7 rating Ludopedia
8.1 rating BGG
How to Play Buy · from US$ 35.15
8.7 rating Ludopedia
8.1 rating BGG
Buy · from US$ 35.15 How to Play Ask about Rules
Our Verdict
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

If you're looking for a deeply thematic, narrative-driven card game with RPG elements, Arkham Horror: The Card Game will pull you into its Lovecraftian mysteries. It's perfect for players who enjoy building a story as much as building a deck.

Highlights
  • Immersive Lovecraftian narrative and atmosphere
  • Deep character customization and deck building
  • Engaging blend of RPG and card game
  • Rich, evolving campaign experience
Keep in mind
  • High complexity for new players
  • Requires multiple core sets for 3-4 players
  • Ongoing investment for full content
Learn How to Play Step by Step Check out our complete step-by-step rules guide.
Access Rules Guide

About the game

What you do in a play session

Get ready to dive into the dark mysteries of Arkham Horror: The Card Game, an experience that blends RPG and card game in a way only the Lovecraftian universe can. Here, you and up to three friends (with two core sets) take on the role of investigators in the quiet New England town of Arkham. But don't think it's just about skills: your characters come with their own flaws and traumas, perhaps a dangerous flirtation with the Necronomicon or the need to hide terrible truths from the general population. All of this is reflected in your custom deck, which will be your tool to unravel terrifying secrets.

Each adventure in this LCG (Living Card Game) pulls you deeper into the plot. You'll encounter sinister cultists, macabre rituals, haunted houses, and bizarre creatures, all while the Ancient Ones try to break through the barriers to our world. The main mode of play is the campaign, where every choice and action you take has consequences that extend far beyond the current scenario. Your decisions can earn you valuable experience, allowing you to better prepare your investigator for the challenges yet to come. It's an intense cooperative journey where the narrative is built with your choices, ensuring that each game is unique and full of tension.

Expansions

Published additional content

89 items
Arkham Horror: The Card Game – A Light in the Fog: Mythos Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – A Phantom of Truth: Mythos Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – A Thousand Shapes of Horror: Mythos Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Before the Black Throne: Mythos Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Black Stars Rise: Mythos Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Blood on the Altar: Mythos Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Carnevale of Horrors: Scenario Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Carolyn Fern Promo Cards Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Curse of the Rougarou: Scenario Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Dark Side of the Moon: Mythos Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Devil Reef: Mythos Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Dim Carcosa: Mythos Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Echoes of the Past: Mythos Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Edge of the Earth: Campaign Expansion Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Edge of the Earth: Investigator Expansion Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Film Fatale: Scenario Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – For the Greater Good: Mythos Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Fortune and Folly: Scenario Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Guardians of the Abyss: Scenario Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Harvey Walters: Investigator Starter Deck Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Heart of the Elders: Mythos Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Horror in High Gear: Mythos Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – In The Clutches of Chaos: Mythos Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – In Too Deep: Mythos Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Into the Maelstrom: Mythos Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Jacqueline Fine: Investigator Starter Deck Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Jenny Barnes Promo Cards Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Lost in Time and Space: Mythos Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Machinations Through Time: Scenario Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Murder at the Excelsior Hotel: Scenario Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Nathaniel Cho: Investigator Starter Deck Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Norman Withers Promo Cards Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Point of No Return: Mythos Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Return to the Circle Undone Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Return to the Dunwich Legacy Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Return to the Forgotten Age Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Return to the Night of the Zealot Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Return to the Path to Carcosa Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Roland Banks Promo Cards Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Shattered Aeons: Mythos Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Silas Marsh Promo Cards Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Stella Clark: Investigator Starter Deck Arkham Horror: The Card Game – The Blob That Ate Everything: Scenario Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – The Boundary Beyond: Mythos Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – The Circle Undone: Campaign Expansion Arkham Horror: The Card Game – The Circle Undone: Expansion Arkham Horror: The Card Game – The Circle Undone: Investigator Expansion Arkham Horror: The Card Game – The City of Archives: Mythos Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – The Depths of Yoth: Mythos Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – The Dream-Eaters: Campaign Expansion Arkham Horror: The Card Game – The Dream-Eaters: Expansion Arkham Horror: The Card Game – The Dream-Eaters: Investigator Expansion Arkham Horror: The Card Game – The Drowned City: Campaign Expansion Arkham Horror: The Card Game – The Drowned City: Investigator Expansion Arkham Horror: The Card Game – The Dunwich Legacy: Campaign Expansion Arkham Horror: The Card Game – The Dunwich Legacy: Expansion Arkham Horror: The Card Game – The Dunwich Legacy: Investigator Expansion Arkham Horror: The Card Game – The Essex County Express: Mythos Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – The Feast of Hemlock Vale: Campaign Expansion Arkham Horror: The Card Game – The Feast of Hemlock Vale: Investigator Expansion Arkham Horror: The Card Game – The Forgotten Age: Campaign Expansion Arkham Horror: The Card Game – The Forgotten Age: Expansion Arkham Horror: The Card Game – The Forgotten Age: Investigator Expansion Arkham Horror: The Card Game – The Innsmouth Conspiracy: Campaign Expansion Arkham Horror: The Card Game – The Innsmouth Conspiracy: Expansion Arkham Horror: The Card Game – The Innsmouth Conspiracy: Investigator Expansion Arkham Horror: The Card Game – The Labyrinths of Lunacy: Scenario Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – The Lair of Dagon: Mythos Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – The Midwinter Gala: Scenario Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – The Miskatonic Museum: Mythos Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – The Pallid Mask: Mythos Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – The Path to Carcosa: Campaign Expansion Arkham Horror: The Card Game – The Path to Carcosa: Expansion Arkham Horror: The Card Game – The Path to Carcosa: Investigator Expansion Arkham Horror: The Card Game – The Scarlet Keys: Campaign Expansion Arkham Horror: The Card Game – The Scarlet Keys: Investigator Expansion Arkham Horror: The Card Game – The Search for Kadath: Mythos Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – The Secret Name: Mythos Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – The Unspeakable Oath: Mythos Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – The Wages of Sin: Mythos Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Threads of Fate: Mythos Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Undimensioned and Unseen: Mythos Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Union and Disillusion: Mythos Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – War of the Outer Gods: Scenario Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Weaver of the Cosmos: Mythos Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Where Doom Awaits: Mythos Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Where the Gods Dwell: Mythos Pack Arkham Horror: The Card Game – Winifred Habbamock: Investigator Starter Deck Barkham Horror: The Card Game – The Meddling of Meowlathotep: Scenario Pack

Rules videos

Learn by watching before you open the box

12 videos

In English

Rules manual

Official PDF file

Rules manual — Arkham Horror: The Card Game English · PDF
Download Manual

Best player count

BGG community vote

1–2 players
1 REC
2 BEST

Where to Buy

Prices monitored daily

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Game details

Mechanics, categories, families and credits

Mechanics

Action Points Area Movement Communication Limits Cooperative Game Deck Construction Events Hand Management Map Deformation Modular Board Player Elimination Push Your Luck Role Playing Scenario / Mission / Campaign Game Solo / Solitaire Game Stat Check Resolution Variable Player Powers

Categories

Adventure Card Game Collectible Components Exploration Horror Novel-based

Families

Collectible: Living Card Game (Fantasy Flight Games) Game: Arkham Horror – The Card Game Mechanism: Campaign Games Mechanism: Tableau Building Players: Games with expansions that change player count Players: Games with Solitaire Rules Players: Two-Player Only Games Series: Arkham Horror Files (Fantasy Flight Games) Theme: Cthulhu Mythos Versions & Editions: Card Versions of Non-Card Games
Publisher Fantasy Flight Games, Arclight Games, asmodee, Asterion Press, Edge Entertainment, Galakta
Designer MJ Newman, Nate French
Artist Christopher Hosch, Henning Ludvigsen, Ignacio Bazán Lazcano, Marcin Jakubowski, Mercedes Opheim, Zoe Robinson

Community

Data from BoardGameGeek

83,970owners
11,727wishlist
715want to play

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers before you buy

7 questions
How many players can participate in a game of Arkham Horror: The Card Game?
The base game is designed for 1 to 2 players, but if you have two core sets, you can expand the experience to include up to 4 investigators. Perfect for a night of mysteries with friends!
What is the average game duration?
Prepare for an immersive session! A game typically takes 60 to 120 minutes, depending on the scenario and the complexity of your decisions. It's a game you savor.
Is it a complex game to learn?
It has a BGG weight of 3.5658/5, indicating a medium-high complexity. It's not a 'filler,' but the learning curve is worth it for the depth and immersion it offers. Think of it as a card-based RPG!
Do I need expansions to enjoy the game?
The core set already offers a complete campaign and many hours of gameplay. However, the Arkham Horror LCG universe is vast, and expansions add new stories, investigators, and challenges, deepening the experience. It's a 'Living Card Game,' so new content is constant!
Who is Arkham Horror: The Card Game for?
It's ideal for H.P. Lovecraft fans, players who enjoy cooperative games with strong narrative and RPG elements, and those who aren't afraid of a game with a lot of text and strategic decisions. If you like building decks and seeing your choices impact the story, you've found your game!
Are the components of good quality?
Yes, Fantasy Flight Games is known for the quality of its components. The cards are well-illustrated and made of good material, and the game's art greatly contributes to the dark and immersive atmosphere.
Is the game highly language dependent?
Yes, the game is quite language dependent. There's a lot of text on scenario, investigator, and skill cards, making a good grasp of English or the use of community-translated materials almost essential.

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