Arkham Horror Online
Arkham Horror online would take the popular board game and make it available for play over the Internet. Unfortunately, such a game doesn’t exist as of this writing, but the consistent popularity of H.P. Lovecraft and his tales of terror leaves the door open for such a possibility.
This page examines what an online version of Arkham Horror might look like. And for those who’ve grown up playing World of Warcraft, I’ll also provide examples of why the gaming world is ripe for an Arkham Horror MMORPG.
Arkham Horror Online Board Game
Internet versions of
Small World
and Cosmic
Encounter exist, so why not an Arkham Horror online game? Not
only does it offer unique subject matter, but the opportunities for both
visual and aural thrills are endless. I would love to see an otherworldly
gate burst to life in the streets of Arkham, followed by the howls or alien
shrieks of whatever creature came crawling out.
The Arkham Horror online version could offer players the chance to either enjoy the base set or play with any of the numerous expansions (such as Black Goat of the Woods, Kingsport Horror, orThe Lurker at the Threshold). An entire screen could be dedicated to investigators and their storylines, allowing gamers to choose their favorite with just a click of the mouse.
One of the biggest advantages to an online version of Arkham Horror would be set-up time. Anyone who’s played the game is familiar with the myriad of cards and counters that have to be shuffled and sorted through. The online version would instantly handle such chores, leaving you more time to enjoy the game and develop a strategy to save the world from the forces of darkness.
The online version of the Small World board game allows play against a human or bot opponent, but the cooperative nature of Arkham Horror would give it an advantage in the marketplace. Just like the board game, players would move monsters and generate new portals during their turn. This would allow for a greater sense of control, and players wouldn’t feel as though they were constantly being overwhelmed by the superior strategy of a computerized opponent.
Cosmic Encounter Online offers players the ability to track their lifetime stats and compete for prizes, and the same model could be applied to Arkham Horror Online. When logging on, players could choose to team up with real or computerized players. Either option would be greeted with enthusiasm by Arkham Horror fans who can’t get enough players together in real life.
Arkham Horror MMORPG
At the moment, there’s no such thing as an Arkham Horror MMORPG or a Call of Cthulhu MMORPG. That’s a shame, really, as the works of H.P. Lovecraft have more potential than Pirates of the Caribbean, which had its own short-lived MMORPG.
In case you’re not hip to such things, MMORPG stands for “massively multiplayer online role-playing game.” This means a large number of players create characters and then run them in a detailed virtual world. The fantasy genre has been the largest beneficiary of the MMORPG, with games such as World of Warcraft, Ultima Online, and EverQuest racking up millions of subscribers.
There are those, however, who feel that an MMORPG based on the works of H.P. Lovecraft would never work. Skeptics point out the overall lack of action in stories from the Cthulhu Mythos, as well as the diminished thrill of taking part in a horror-themed adventure more than once. According to these Internet pundits, once a nightmarish creature has been revealed, future encounters will hold no shock value for the players.
I disagree, of course. Just take a look at the Resident Evil series of video games. There’s plenty of action to be had, and the multiple sequels prove that people never tire of battling zombies and other supernatural creatures. There’s no reason why a Cthulhu-themed MMORPG couldn’t contain the same thrills, especially if you ramped up the level of action. After all, how cool is a zombie when compared to the foul majesty of mighty Cthulhu?
Here's a list of some of the reasons why an Arkham Horror online game should exist. While it’s unlikely to happen, I reserve the right to keep my fingers crossed.
Character Variety - There are tons of professions in the Arkham Horror board game, and this could easily translate into an MMORPG. Players could select from gangsters, private eyes, professors, or even stage magicians, and each would have their own unique set of skills and specialties. I’d love to see multiple versions of the game, such as one set in the 1920s and another more in keeping with the Delta Green setting. The latter would allow players to take on the roles of Texas Rangers, Navy SEALs, or anyone else capable of utilizing impressive firepower against the Old Ones and their followers.
Great Visuals - Just imagine a gaming session where a group of investigators band together to journey to R’lyeh and stop the rise of Cthulhu. The moment where the tentacled monstrosity rose from the depths of the ocean would be worth the monthly subscription price alone.
Plenty of Monsters - While most MMORPGs struggle to come up with cool opponents, the world of H.P. Lovecraft is already populated with nightmarish beasties. From a pack of flying Byakhee to towns overrun by Deep Ones (not to mention shotgun-wielding cultists), there would never be a lack of villains to battle and/or flee from.
Endless Possibilities - Numerous opportunities would be created by an Arkham Horror MMORPG. For example, characters could join factions like World of Warcraft, but this might take the form of government branches, detective agencies, and even secret societies or the faculty of Miskatonic University. Fictional locations such as Arkham and Innsmouth could be re-created in lavish detail, and players could learn arcane spells or wield more traditional weapons. The sanity loss element of the game would be crucial, with investigators racking up phobias and perhaps even required time in a sanitarium.
Arkham Horror Online doesn’t exist, and neither does an MMORPG version. The difficulties in creating either are obvious, but the enduring popularity of H.P. Lovecraft and the Cthulhu Mythos could mean that you’ll eventually see the Old Ones coming to a computer near you. In the meantime, you’ll have to amuse yourself by playing Arkham Horror, Mansions of Madness, and other popular horror board games.