The Arkham Horror Board Game
The Arkham Horror board game, published by Fantasy Flight Games, draws directly from the works of H.P. Lovecraft, an influential writer who created the Cthulhu mythos during the 1920s and 1930s. This setting, filled with crazed cultists and destructive alien entities, has become the centerpiece for numerous novels, feature films, video games, and comic books.
Arkham Horror players take on the role of investigators, brave men and women who struggle to protect the world from unspeakable evil. In order to do so, they must utilize weapons, spells and allies, while fighting to stay alive and retain their last bit of sanity. Succeed, and Earth survives a little while longer. Fail, and the planet is overrun by nightmares beyond your wildest imaginings.
Arkham Horror and the Cthulhu Mythos
The Cthulhu Mythos refers to a shared world created by author H.P.
Lovecraft and later expanded on by his colleagues and admirers. Lovecraft
began weaving these tales around 1925, with his stories focusing on
ill-fated encounters between mankind and ancient beings, as well as the
general insignificance of humanity within the hierarchy of the cosmos.
Following Lovecraft’s death, friend and fellow author August Derleth continued to publish his works and expand upon the Cthulhu mythos. In the decades that followed, stories involving the cruel Outer Ones and Great Old Ones increased in popularity, influencing writers like Stephen King, Alan Moore, Clive Barker and Neil Gaiman.
The name of the mythos is drawn from Cthulhu, a tentacle-faced horror who remains Lovecraft’s most enduring creation. Along with beings like Azathoth, Yog-Sothoth and Nyarlathotep, these powerful entities exist on the fringes of reality, their mad whims carried out by cultists who seek to bring them forth and topple the established order.
Arkham Horror Rules - How to Play Arkham Horror
The Arkham Horror rules can be demanding for beginners, but any confusion can be cleared up through repeated play. Recommended for those 12 years and older, the game is suitable for anywhere from one to eight players. And since each turn of Arkham Horror presents a multitude of options, expect the average session to last at least three hours.
As investigators seek to gather spells and weapons to combat the forces of the Ancient Ones, portals will begin to open throughout Arkham and the various cities included in expansions. Monsters will then scurry into the world, intent on wreaking havoc and devouring anyone unlucky enough to cross their path. As more monsters appear, the overall terror level will rise and result in shops closing and townsfolk running for their lives. This causes the Doom Track to slowly increase, which will eventually lead to an Ancient One (drawn randomly at the beginning of the game) waking from their slumber and battling the investigators in a winner-take-all showdown.
Besides defeating the Ancient One in the final battle, investigators can also win the game by closing portals, slaying monsters, and preventing the diabolical being from waking in the first place. This will require teamwork, exploration of bizarre dimensions, and plenty of stealth and/or gunfire. While the rules for the Arkham Horror board game will challenge even the most experienced player, a well-prepared group working together should stand a strong chance of survival.
Arkham Horror Review
Those seeking an Arkham Horror review have come to the right place, as this site includes a detailed analysis of the basic set, as well as the numerous expansions on the market. Just keep in mind that opinions will differ when it comes to reviews of Arkham Horror, as the complex nature of the game and multitude of pieces can be overwhelming to some. However, patient players or those in a weekly gaming group may be thrilled by the game’s attention to detail and high replay value. Ultimately, you’ll need to play it for yourself and form your own conclusions.
Arkham Horror Expansions
An updated version of the game was released in 2005, and its popularity led to numerous Arkham Horror expansions hitting the market within a year. There have been eight supplements to date, with more planned for the future. Several of these expansions for Arkham Horror offer new boards that can be played in conjunction with the original, allowing investigators to travel to troubled Lovecraftian locations such as Innsmouth and Dunwich. Expansions also include new investigators, Ancient Ones, weapons, spells, and a number of new gaming options and rules variants.
Available Arkham Horror expansions include (in order of release):
Curse of the Dark Pharaoh - Released in 2006 and again in 2011, this card-only expansion pits investigators against the horrors that are unleashed when an Egyptian exhibit comes to Arkham.
Dunwich Horror -
Featuring an additional board, this
Arkham Horror expansion
is set in the town of Dunwich and adds injury and madness cards, as well as
a gigantic, rampaging monster.
The King in Yellow - When a celebrated play comes to Arkham, madness and mayhem once again grip the city. A card-only expansion that introduces the Herald mechanic, a sinister new way to challenge the investigators and pave the way for the arrival of the Ancient Ones.
Kingsport Horror - Set in the troubled town of Kingsport, this board-based expansion includes rifts into other dimensions, aquatic monstrosities, and powerful beings who oppose the forces of darkness.
Black Goat of the Woods - This story begins with the disappearance of several girls, and the investigators must stop the mad plans of cultists from coming to fruition. Difficulty cards allow players to adjust the challenge of gameplay, while Corruption cards simulate the festering influence of the Cthulhu Mythos.
Innsmouth Horror - Another board expansion, this time set in the coastal town of Innsmouth. Unlike previous Arkham Horror expansions where investigators try to preserve the status quo, Innsmouth Horror is set in a town where the forces of evil have already gained a sizable foothold.
The Lurker at the Threshold - Players can now make pacts with otherworldly forces, as well as learn about the unique relationships between investigators. Also includes a new herald sheet along with spells, weapons and much more.
Miskatonic Horror - A new gameplay option is included, as well as almost 450 cards for use with the various Arkham Horror expansion sets.
Call of Cthulhu Games
While the 2005 version of Arkham Horror is one of the most popular releases to come along in recent years, there are a number of other Call of Cthulhu games to be aware of. The most notable is the Call of Cthulhu role-playing game, a lethal campaign set in the 1920s that requires investigators to put their lives and sanity on the line against the dread powers of the Outer Gods. Modern-day settings also exist, such as the award-winning Delta Green. In this version, players often take on the roles of military or law enforcement personnel in order to combat shambling terrors and alien conspiracies. Constantly out of print, Delta Green can usually be found on eBay for several hundred dollars, which is a testament to both its quality and popularity.
For those seeking a more casual gaming experience, an array of Call of Cthulhu card games and board games exist. These range from Munchkin Cthulhu and Cthulhu 500 to Cthulhu Mash and Cults Across America. Most of these games cast players as doomed heroes desperately struggling to fight back beings that they can’t fully hope to understand.
Fantasy Flight Games, the company behind the Arkham Horror board game, also publishes the Call of Cthulhu Collectible Card Game (aka Call of Cthulhu Living Card Game). Functioning in much the same way as Magic: The Gathering, the Cthulhu CCG requires players to manage a variety of cards in their hand in order to win. In addition to the base set, Fantasy Flight games releases Call of Cthulhu booster packs on a regular basis and sponsors a number of live and online tournaments.
The Arkham Horror board game has been wowing critics and fans since its initial release in 1987. While the rules and artwork may have changed considerably over time, the spirit of the game remains the same. If you’re new to the Cthulhu Mythos or works of H.P. Lovecraft, playing Arkham Horror will provide an entertaining introduction to a setting that’s been making an impression for over 70 years.