Arkham Horror: The Card Game is a thrilling deck-building card game that allows you to tailor your experience to your dark heart's desires. It's a cooperative game where you and your fellow players join forces to confront the lurking horrors. This game is part of the expansive Arkham Horror Files universe, which includes board games, card games, and the newly introduced Arkham Horror: The Role-Playing Game, along with its comprehensive rulebook, available on Amazon.
Launched in 2016, Arkham Horror: The Card Game has evolved through numerous expansions and updates. Purchasing the game can be a bit complex beyond the base set and initial campaign, as there are multiple ways to customize and enhance your gameplay experience.
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### Arkham Horror: The Card Game
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### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Dunwich Legacy Campaign Expansion
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### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Dunwich Legacy Investigator Expansion
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### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Path to Carcosa Campaign Expansion
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### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Path to Carcosa Investigator Expansion
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### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Forgotten Age Campaign Expansion
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### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Forgotten Age Investigator Expansion
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### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Circle Undone Campaign Expansion
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### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Circle Undone Investigator Expansion
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### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - Edge of The Earth Campaign Expansion
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### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - Edge of The Earth Investigator Expansion
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### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Scarlet Keys Campaign Expansion
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### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Scarlet Keys Investigator Expansion
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### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Dream-Eaters Campaign Expansion
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### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Dream-Eaters Investigator Expansion
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### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Innsmouth Conspiracy Campaign Expansion
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### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Innsmouth Conspiracy Investigator Expansion
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### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Feast of Hemlock Vale Campaign Expansion
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### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Feast of Hemlock Vale Investigator Expansion
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### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Drowned City Campaign Expansion
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### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Drowned City Investigator Expansion
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### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - Stella Clark Starter Deck
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### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - Nathaniel Cho Starter Deck
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### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - Jacqueline Fine Starter Deck
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### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - Harvey Walters Starter Deck
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### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - Winifred Habbamock Starter Deck
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### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - Murder at the Excelsior Hotel Scenario Pack
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### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - Fortune and Folly Scenario Pack
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### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - War of The Outer Gods Scenario Pack
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### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - Machinations Through Time Scenario Pack
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### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Labyrinths of Lunacy Scenario Pack
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### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Blob That Ate Everything Scenario Pack
0See it at AmazonHere's a swipe-able, all-in-one carousel of everything discussed in the article, for those who feel confident enough about their Arkham Horror: The Card Game knowledge to skip the blurbs. For everyone else, keep on reading.
The Base Game
### Arkham Horror: The Card Game
0See it at AmazonMSRP: $59.95 USDPlayers: 1-4Playtime: 45 mins per playerAges: 14+The core set is your gateway to the Arkham Horror Card Game universe. It includes five pre-built investigator decks, allowing you to dive straight into the Night of the Zealot campaign. This set offers a rich, replayable introduction to the game, and if you enjoy it, a vast array of expansions awaits.
Arkham Horror Card Game Expansions
The expansions for Arkham Horror: The Card Game differ from those of the board game. While board game expansions include full stories, scenarios, and new investigators, the card game separates these elements. You can purchase campaign expansions for new stories and investigator expansions for new characters. This modular approach lets you tailor your investment in the game, allowing you to play new scenarios with or without the latest investigators.
The Dunwich Legacy
### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Dunwich Legacy Campaign Expansion
0See it at Amazon### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Dunwich Legacy Investigator Expansion
0See it at AmazonThe Dunwich Legacy was the first expansion released, offering a gentle step up from the base game with user-friendly scenarios. It involves searching for lost investigators, reflecting the game's ongoing narrative development through new investigator sets in each expansion.
The Path to Carcosa
### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Path to Carcosa Campaign Expansion
0See it at Amazon### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Path to Carcosa Investigator Expansion
0See it at AmazonIn this expansion, a theatre production arrives in Arkham. The added rules are accessible to new players, yet challenging enough to keep veterans engaged. If you own the first edition, the second edition's enhancements might still be worth exploring.
The Forgotten Age
### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Forgotten Age Campaign Expansion
0See it at Amazon### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Forgotten Age Investigator Expansion
0See it at AmazonThis expansion takes you to the ruins of an Aztec city, where a mystery threatens to unravel time itself. It's a challenging campaign, best suited for players who have experience with other expansions. The second edition offers further refinements.
The Circle Undone
### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Circle Undone Campaign Expansion
0See it at Walmart### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Circle Undone Investigator Expansion
0See it at AmazonDubbed "the witches pack," this expansion introduces investigators with powerful bonuses, which are essential for tackling its challenging campaign. If you're planning to get this campaign, the investigators are highly recommended.
The Edge of the Earth
### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - Edge of The Earth Campaign Expansion
0See it at Amazon### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - Edge of The Earth Investigator Expansion
0See it at AmazonThis expansion transports you to the Antarctic tundra, a classic setting for Lovecraftian horrors. With peril lurking around every corner, strategic decision-making is crucial, whether you use the coordinating investigators or not.
The Scarlet Keys
### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Scarlet Keys Campaign Expansion
0See it at Amazon### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Scarlet Keys Investigator Expansion
0See it at AmazonThis campaign involves traversing the world to unravel an international conspiracy centered around collecting keys and racing against the Red Coterie. Its less linear structure offers a unique exploration experience, with or without the investigators.
The Dream Eaters
### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Dream-Eaters Campaign Expansion
0See it at Amazon### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Dream-Eaters Investigator Expansion
0See it at AmazonThis campaign features two four-part storylines: Dream Quest and the Web of Dreams. You can play them separately or combine them into an eight-part epic, offering flexibility based on your available time.
The Innsmouth Conspiracy
### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Innsmouth Conspiracy Campaign Expansion
0See it at Amazon### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Innsmouth Conspiracy Investigator Expansion
0See it at AmazonThis expansion introduces an ever-changing world influenced by water levels that can flood locations, adding a dynamic layer to your strategic gameplay.
The Feast of the Hemlock Vale
### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Feast of Hemlock Vale Campaign Expansion
0See it at Amazon### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Feast of Hemlock Vale Investigator Expansion
0See it at AmazonIn this newer expansion, you visit Hemlock Vale, where residents prepare for a festival while oblivious to dangers like mutated wildlife and a sinister presence. You have three days to investigate, with different dynamics during day and night.
The Drowned City
### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Drowned City Campaign Expansion
0See it at Asmodee Store### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Drowned City Investigator Expansion
0See it at AmazonThe latest expansion, The Drowned City, pits you against the awakened Lovecraftian horror. It's up to you and your team to save the day.
Other ways to expand your deck-building adventures in Arkham
Starter Decks
### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - Stella Clark Starter Deck
0See it at Amazon### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - Nathaniel Cho Starter Deck
0See it at Amazon### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - Jacqueline Fine Starter Deck
0See it at Amazon### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - Harvey Walters Starter Deck
0See it at Amazon### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - Winifred Habbamock Starter Deck
0See it at WalmartIf you're interested in adding new characters without committing to a full expansion, starter investigator decks are a cost-effective option. These decks introduce new investigators to enhance your gameplay, though they may not be as powerful as those in campaign expansions. Available characters include Harvey Walters, Nathaniel Cho, Jacqueline Fine, Winifred Habbamock, and Stella Clark, all priced at $16.99, with occasional discounts.
Scenario Packs
### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - Murder at the Excelsior Hotel Scenario Pack
0See it at Amazon### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - Fortune and Folly Scenario Pack
0See it at Amazon### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - War of The Outer Gods Scenario Pack
0See it at Amazon### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - Machinations Through Time Scenario Pack
0See it at Walmart### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Labyrinths of Lunacy Scenario Pack
0See it at Amazon### Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Blob That Ate Everything Scenario Pack
0See it at AmazonStandalone scenario packs offer a smaller, more focused gameplay experience than full expansions. Priced at $21.99 each, they include Murder at the Excelsior Hotel, an entry-level scenario, along with Fortune and Folly, Machinations Through Time, War of the Outer Gods, Labyrinths of Lunacy, and The Blob That Ate Everything.
Return to Boxes
Return to boxes enhance and revamp select campaigns, requiring the base campaign set to play. These are considered luxury items, best suited for dedicated fans. Some are out of print, making them challenging for collectors to find. Available return-to-boxes include Night of the Zealot, Dunwich Legacy, Circle of Carcosa, Circle Undone, and Forgotten Age. The Forgotten Age box is said to address some of the original expansion's complexities.
Parallel Investigator Packs
Parallel investigators offer alternate versions of existing investigators with different abilities and enhanced stats. Like Return to Boxes, these are not widely available at major retailers, requiring collectors to search for them.
The Bottom Line
If you're a fan of Lovecraftian mythos, the Arkham Horror universe is a must-explore. Arkham Horror: The Card Game offers both solo and cooperative play, with endless replayability across its various expansions. However, be prepared for a challenging experience with elements of chance that can add both excitement and frustration. While setup and learning can take time, the card game is generally easier to set up than its board game counterparts, making the journey through the horrors of Arkham more accessible.
