Arkham Horror: The Card Game is a thrilling deck-building experience that lets you tailor your gameplay to your darkest desires. As a cooperative game, you and your fellow investigators team up to confront the chilling horrors lurking in the shadows. This game is a part of the expansive Arkham Horror Files universe, which includes a variety of board games, card games, and the newly released, user-friendly Arkham Horror: The Role-Playing Game (available on Amazon), along with its comprehensive rulebook.
Since its debut in 2016, Arkham Horror: The Card Game has evolved through numerous expansions and updates, offering players a rich and evolving experience. However, navigating the purchase of the game and its expansions can be complex, as there are various ways to customize and enhance your gameplay.
Featured in this article
### Arkham Horror: The Card Game
0See it at Amazon### 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 Amazon### 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 Amazon### 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 Amazon### 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 Amazon### 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 Amazon### 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 Amazon### 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 Amazon### 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 Amazon### 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 Amazon### 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 Amazon### 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 Walmart### 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 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 eerie world of Arkham Horror. It includes five pre-built investigator decks, allowing you to dive straight into the Night of the Zealot campaign. This initial experience offers a taste of the game's replayable nature, setting the stage for a vast array of expansions to explore further.
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 complete stories and new investigators, the card game separates these elements. You can purchase campaign expansions for new stories and investigator expansions for new characters, allowing you to tailor your investment in the game's narrative and character development.
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 mysterious theatre production arrives in Arkham. The added rules are accessible for 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 the fabric of time itself. It's a challenging campaign, best suited for players who have already experienced 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 powerful new investigators and a challenging campaign. The investigators' bonuses are a significant advantage, making them a worthwhile addition alongside the campaign.
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 horror. With peril lurking around every corner, strategic decision-making is crucial, whether you choose to include 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 AmazonEmbark 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 compared to others, 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 includes 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 features a dynamic world that changes based on water levels, adding a strategic layer to your gameplay as you navigate through the ever-shifting environment.
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 investigate strange occurrences in Hemlock Vale during a festival, where residents are oblivious to the lurking dangers. The campaign unfolds over three days, 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 in this thrilling new adventure.
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 found 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 dose of action compared to full expansions. Priced at $21.99 each, these packs include Murder at the Excelsior Hotel, Fortune and Folly, Machinations Through Time, War of the Outer Gods, Labyrinths of Lunacy, and The Blob That Ate Everything. Murder at the Excelsior Hotel is particularly recommended for newcomers.
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 return-to-box is noted for simplifying some of the original campaign's complexities.
Parallel Investigator Packs
Parallel investigators offer alternate versions of existing investigators with enhanced abilities and stats. Like Return to Boxes, these packs can be harder to find at major retailers, requiring collectors to search more diligently.
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 iterations. However, be prepared for a challenging experience with elements of chance that can add both excitement and frustration. While setup and learning may take some time, the card game is generally easier to manage than its board game counterparts, making the journey through the horrors of Arkham more accessible.