Arkham Horror: The Card Game Buying Guide

Dive into the chilling world of Arkham Horror: The Card Game, a cooperative deck-building experience where you and your friends collaborate to conquer terrifying cosmic horrors. This engaging game, part of the expansive Arkham Horror Files universe, also includes the accessible Arkham Horror: The Role-Playing Game (available on Amazon) and its recently released, comprehensive rulebook. Since its 2016 debut, Arkham Horror: The Card Game has expanded significantly, offering numerous ways to customize your gameplay experience beyond the core set and initial campaign.

Featured in this article

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The Base Game

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MSRP: $59.95 USD
Players: 1-4
Playtime: 45 mins per player
Ages: 14+

The core set provides everything needed to begin your chilling adventure. Five pre-built investigator decks allow immediate entry into the "Night of the Zealot" campaign, offering a replayable introduction to the Arkham Horror: The Card Game world. Numerous expansions await those seeking further challenges.

Arkham Horror Card Game Expansions

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Unlike the board game, Arkham Horror: The Card Game expansions offer separate campaign and investigator packs. This allows for flexible expansion, enabling players to add new stories or characters as desired. You can enjoy new scenarios without immediately purchasing new investigators, tailoring the experience to your preferences.

The Dunwich Legacy

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The first expansion, The Dunwich Legacy, serves as a user-friendly introduction to more complex scenarios, focusing on the search for lost investigators—a theme mirrored in the game's expansion structure.

The Path to Carcosa

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This expansion introduces a theatrical production to Arkham, presenting engaging scenarios for both new and experienced players. The second edition offers updates even for owners of the first edition.

The Forgotten Age

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Explore the ruins of an Aztec city in this challenging campaign, where a mystery threatens the fabric of time itself. Its difficulty makes it best suited for players with experience from other expansions. Also available in a second edition.

The Circle Undone

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Affectionately known as "the witches pack," this expansion features powerful investigators to counter its challenging campaign. Acquiring the investigators is highly recommended.

The Edge of the Earth

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Brave the Antarctic tundra in this expansion, where peril lurks at every turn. The coordinating investigators offer a strategic advantage, but are not strictly required.

The Scarlet Keys

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Embark on a global journey to unravel an international conspiracy involving the collection of keys and a race against the Red Coterie. This expansion offers a less linear exploration experience than many others.

The Dream Eaters

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This campaign includes two four-part storylines: "Dream Quest" and "Web of Dreams," playable separately or combined for an extended eight-part adventure.

The Innsmouth Conspiracy

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Experience a dynamic world in this expansion, where water levels impact location accessibility, adding a strategic layer to gameplay.

The Feast of the Hemlock Vale

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Investigate strange happenings in Hemlock Vale during a festival, where mutated wildlife and a sinister presence threaten the unsuspecting residents. Gameplay dynamics shift between day and night.

The Drowned City

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The newest expansion, The Drowned City, challenges players to confront a Lovecraftian deep one awakening.

Other ways to expand your deck-building adventures in Arkham

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Starter Decks

Add investigators without committing to full expansions. While less powerful than campaign investigators, these starter decks offer cost-effective additions to your roster. (Harvey Waters, Nathanial Cho, Jacqueline Fine, Winnifred Habbamock, and Stella Clark are available at approximately $16.99 each, often found on sale.)

Scenario Packs

Standalone scenarios offer smaller, self-contained adventures (approximately $21.99 each). "Murder at the Excelsior Hotel" is considered a beginner-friendly option.

Return to Boxes & Parallel Investigator Packs

These are revamps and additions to select campaigns, offering enhanced experiences for dedicated players. Availability may be limited.

The Bottom Line

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game provides a compelling solo or multiplayer experience for Lovecraft enthusiasts. While challenging and incorporating elements of chance, the card game offers easier setup than its board game counterpart and significant replayability.