Ancient gods have slumbered for millennia, fading into myth and legend. But cultists and deranged individuals have found ways to bring them back. Strange occurrences plague the quiet town of Arkham, and it’s up to you, the investigator, to uncover the truth. As you dig deeper, you’ll face horrors beyond comprehension—ghouls, ghosts, and acolytes lurking in the shadows.
Arkham Horror: The Card Game, a Living Card Game (LCG) by Fantasy Flight Games, first hit shelves in 2016 and quickly became a favorite among horror fans and card game enthusiasts. The core set offers a three-scenario campaign, but expansions continue to roll out, with the latest one arriving in May 2024.
But does this ongoing expansion model keep the game fresh? Does it truly capture the Lovecraftian horror? Is it fun with a group, or better played solo? We took the plunge to find out!
Theme – The Ultimate Lovecraft Experience
🔮 Rating: 10/10
This game drips with atmosphere. Every session immerses you in the twisted world of H.P. Lovecraft, full of mystery, paranoia, and eldritch horror. The storytelling is masterful—filled with unexpected twists and dread-inducing encounters that will keep you on edge.
While the core campaign is fairly linear, it’s highly replayable, and you can always crank up the difficulty for a more intense experience. Want to take it even further? Play in a dimly lit room with candles for that extra punch of horror!
If you’re looking for a game that truly feels like stepping into a Lovecraft novel, this is it.
Gameplay – A Slow Start, but Worth It
🎲 Rating: 8/10
If you’ve played Fantasy Flight games before, you’ll know that their rulebooks can be... a lot. And Arkham Horror LCG is no different—it comes with two rulebooks and a campaign book.
At first, it feels overwhelming. The game isn’t as intuitive as you might expect from a card game, and the first session will have you flipping through the rulebook a lot. But stick with it, because once you understand the mechanics, the game becomes incredibly rewarding.
What Makes the Gameplay Unique?
- Deckbuilding: Each investigator has unique attributes and skills, and deck-building adds a strategic layer.
- No Dice: Instead of dice, you use a chaos token bag, which randomly alters the difficulty of actions.
- Make-Shift Game Board: Cards create a dynamic map, making each game feel different.
- It’s Brutal: This game does not hold your hand—characters will die or go insane.
The difficulty adds to the immersive horror experience, and the game embraces failure as part of the storytelling.
Artwork – A Love Letter to Lovecraft
🖼 Rating: 9/10
Like all Fantasy Flight games, the artwork is gorgeous and perfectly captures the eerie, unsettling world of Arkham.
🔹 Pros:
✔ Highly detailed and immersive illustrations.
✔ Consistent 1920s aesthetic that makes you feel like you’re in Arkham.
🔹 Cons:
✖ Some monsters are fully illustrated rather than hinted at, which slightly diminishes their horror factor (Lovecraft would have left them to the imagination).
Despite this, the artwork enhances the gameplay and immerses you further into the nightmare.
Interactivity – Best Played Solo or With a Small Group?
👥 Rating: 8/10
Unlike most cooperative games, Arkham Horror LCG is fantastic for solo play. If you enjoy the idea of sitting down with a great horror story and experiencing it firsthand, this game delivers.
It can be played with up to four players, and while cooperative play is engaging, teaching new players can be frustrating because of the complex rules.
✔ Solo Mode: One of the best solo board game experiences out there.
✔ Co-op: Great once everyone knows the rules, with strong player interaction.
✖ Downside: First-time players may struggle with the rule-heavy mechanics.
If you’re a fan of narrative-driven solo games, this is an excellent choice.
Expansions – Worth the Investment?
📦 Rating: 9/10
Since 2016, Fantasy Flight has released nine full campaigns and multiple standalone scenarios, each offering new mechanics, investigators, and terrifying stories.
But let’s be real: this game isn’t cheap. Each campaign costs as much as the core set, making it an expensive hobby.
The Good:
✔ Each expansion introduces fresh mechanics and stories.
✔ Some expansions include new investigators, adding replayability to older campaigns.
✔ Fantasy Flight has streamlined packaging, making it easier to collect full campaigns.
The Bad:
✖ Expensive—buying expansions adds up fast.
✖ Storage issues—some older expansion boxes are unnecessarily large.
Despite these downsides, the expansions breathe new life into the game, ensuring you never run out of stories to experience.
Final Verdict – Is Arkham Horror LCG for You?
⭐ Overall Rating: 4.4/5 ⭐
✔ If you love deep, atmospheric horror games, this is a must-have.
✔ If you enjoy solo gaming, you’ll find one of the best experiences here.
✔ If you don’t mind a learning curve, the gameplay is incredibly rewarding.
✖ If you dislike complex rule systems, this might not be for you.
For Lovecraft fans, Arkham Horror LCG is one of the best ways to experience his universe in a board game format.
Pro Tip: Organize Your Game with the Boardbrix Insert!
🔥 Faster setup, less mess, more time to uncover cosmic horrors! 🔥
One of the biggest downsides of Arkham Horror LCG? Keeping everything organized. Between investigator decks, scenario cards, and expansion content, the game can quickly turn into a storage nightmare.
That’s where our Boardbrix Insert for Arkham Horror LCG comes in!
✔ Neatly stores all components for quick setup.
✔ Prevents card damage and keeps everything in order.
✔ Compatible with expansions, so your growing collection stays organized.