# Mansions of Madness: Forbidden Alchemy ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2011 - **BGG Rating**: 7.7 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 2-5 (Best with: 5) - **Duration**: 120-180 min - **Weight**: 3.09 / 5 - **Designers**: Corey Konieczka - **Artists**: Christopher Burdett, Henning Ludvigsen, Peter Wocken - **Publishers**: Fantasy Flight Games, Arclight Games, Edge Entertainment, Galakta, Giochi Uniti, Heidelberger Spieleverlag - **Categories**: Adventure, Expansion for Base-game, Exploration, Horror, Miniatures, Murder / Mystery, Puzzle, Science Fiction - **Mechanics**: Area Movement, Dice Rolling, Hand Management, Modular Board, Pick-up and Deliver, Role Playing, Team-Based Game, Variable Player Powers ## Verdict If you love investigative horror spiked with mad‑science, this expansion will keep you glued.Unique new investigatorsInnovative themed scenariosHigh‑quality componentsNearly full translation requiredLong playtimeHIGHLY RECOMMENDED ## Description Mansions of Madness: Forbidden Alchemy arrives as the first major expansion for the classic investigative horror game. It adds four new investigators, each with unique abilities, two terrifying monster types, and nearly 250 new cards covering trauma, mythos, combat and side‑effects. The centerpiece is three brand‑new scenarios: "Return of the Reanimator", where the team infiltrates a vermin‑infested manor to locate the infamous Dr. Herbert West; "Yellow Matter", a tale of alien‑based experiments that asks who is the experimenter and who is the subject; and "Lost in Time and Space", which introduces time‑travel mechanics, shuttling players between the mid‑19th century and the mid‑21st century in search of a dangerous device. To bring these stories to life, the expansion supplies six detailed map tiles, 40 tokens and markers, plus exclusive rules for alchemy puzzles, mutations and temporal manipulation. Core mechanics—area movement, dice rolling, hand management, modular board—remain, while new pick‑up‑and‑deliver tasks and variable player powers deepen the cooperative aspect. With a playtime of two to three hours, the set demands careful attention and solid teamwork, rewarding players with an even darker atmosphere and intricate puzzle challenges that broaden the base game. In short, Forbidden Alchemy expands the Mansions of Madness universe with more mad‑science horror, fresh narratives, and components that make each session more immersive. ## FAQ ### How many players can join? 2 to 5 players, matching the base game. ### What’s the typical playtime? Between 120 and 180 minutes, depending on the scenario and group experience. ### Do I need the base game? Yes, Forbidden Alchemy is an expansion and requires Mansions of Madness (first edition). ### Do I need prior knowledge of Cthulhu? Not required, but familiarity with the Cthulhu mythos enhances understanding of some mythos cards. ### What new components are included? Four investigators, two monster types, roughly 250 new cards, 40 tokens/markers, and six detailed map tiles. ### Are there new rules? Yes, the expansion adds exclusive rules for alchemy puzzles, mutations and time‑travel mechanics. ### Is the modular board hard to set up? The tiles are designed for easy snapping together; setup takes a few minutes before the scenario starts. ## Price Comparison ### Best International Offers - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 21.95 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=150948&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 29.50 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=1662212&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 229.00 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=489328&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/203/mansions-of-madness-forbidden-alchemy?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com