Even when it’s not Halloween, sometimes it is fun to play a game where the focus is all about the horror genre. And just as watching a scary movie is more fun with friends, we think you will find these horror-themed tabletop games are more fun and spine-tingling with your closest pals. Be sure to set the mood as you play, though, with a fantastic playlist of creepy, dark songs, mood lighting like flickering candles and glowing lanterns, and, of course, spooky snacks to add that final touch. Just be sure to keep a flashlight handy in case the lights go out and you hear something go BUMP in the next room… Watch out for those tentacles!
The Top Ten Scary Board Games
Arkham Horror
Age: 14+ Players: 1-8 Time: 120-240 minutes
Arkham Horror is an award-winning cooperative board game set around adventure and horror in H.P. Lovecraft’s version of the 1920s. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos mixes with the real world and the idea that humans share the universe with nigh incomprehensible alien entities who are so powerful they can casually eradicate our world without meaning. Arkham Horror’s main goal is for you and your friends to race around the city of Arkham and close dimensional gates. If too many gates are opened it will allow a destructive entity to enter the world and cause unfathomable destruction.
As this is a cooperative game, your chosen character will need to work together with everyone at the table. As the game unfurls, you’ll acquire new skills, weapons, spells, and allies that will aid you in your effort to shut down the portals. At the start of each game, you can choose from a pool of investigators who offer their own items, spells, and custom upgrades. All of your decisions in the game matter because if too many portals open, the entity crosses over and you will face it in a hopeless last-ditch boss battle to end all battles, making Arkham Horror a great horror game.
Atmosfear: 30th Anniversary Edition
Age: 12+ Players: 3-6 Time: 60 minutes
This 30th-anniversary version of Atmosfear brings the classic horror game into the 21st century with updates to game components, visuals, and rules about using QR codes to replace the older version’s VHS tapes. You and your friends choose between six characters who all offer their own strengths. The game’s goal is to navigate the board and collect keys so they can enter the middle part of the game board and face the Gatekeeper. The QR codes in the game act to convey the Gatekeeper and keep you on a timer so everyone feels the high stakes that have always made Atmosfear so unique.
The new designs used in Atmosfear also help to give it more replayability and keep you and your friends eager to start new games after finishing the one you’re playing. One major change has been incorporating event cards that allow unexpected challenges and twists in the game. Another change that brings replay value is removing the need for a VHS tape to have the Gatekeeper speak to you and your friends, though the QR codes definitely meet this enhancement perfectly. With a good group of friends, the built-in strategy, and the need for alliances, you’re sure to love this dark, twisted adventure into cooperative gameplay with a strong horror theme.
Elder Sign: Unseen Forces
Age: 14+ (Community 12+) Players: 1-8 Time: 90 minutes
Elder Sign: Unseen Forces is another game set within the Lovecraft-written Cthulhu Mythos. Part of what sets this game apart from others is it’s a cooperative card and dice game. The goal is to seal away an ancient entity of unfathomable power. The gameplay consists of players taking turns and using their characters to explore and eventually stop the Eldritch Being from entering Earth.
Elder Sign: Unseen Forces is an expansion that adds more rules and mechanics to the base game of Elder Sign. One of those new mechanics is a dice that is black and white. Black means the players deal with a curse and white means the players receive a blessing that will aid them in their gameplay. The game also introduces new cards that give you and your friends additional choices and some new eldritch beings and monsters that want to find you and stop you from accomplishing your goal.
Mansions of Madness: A Cooperative Game
Age: 14+ (Community 12+) Players: 1-5 Time: 120-180 minutes
Mansions of Madness is a revamping of the classic cooperative play board game that now makes use of phone apps to enrich the experience. Not only do the choices in your game matter but the videos add another layer to the dynamic narrative that happens while playing the game. The game has multiple scenarios that play out over the setting of both Innsmouth and Arkham, locations from H.P. Locecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos.
At the beginning of the play, you and your friends pick from a group of investigators. Each one offers abilities that will aid in your adventure. Besides fighting monsters, players have to use their investigator’s abilities and items to solve puzzles that will then unlock the next part of the story. Each investigator is unique in play so it introduces a replayability element. Each game can easily take 2-3 hours but the time is well spent with this game because the elements come together to make it a must-have for anyone who loves this genre of game and Lovecraft. It is often considered one of the best horror games for its immersive experience and engaging gameplay.
The Night Cage: Shrieking Hollow
Age: 14+ Players: 1-5 Time: 40-60 minutes
A cooperative board game, The Night Cage: Shrieking Hollow centers around you and your friends waking up in utter darkness with only a tiny candle to offer light. The only way to escape is as a group gathering keys and locating the hidden gate. Exploring is hindered by having only this tiny light. Every time light is removed from a tile, it’s removed from the gameplay, and if you double back you’ll find yourselves on new paths not yet explored.
The game itself is a cooperative tile-placement filled with horror. Light is used as a mechanic that’s vital for not only finding important items but also staying alive. You and up to four of your friends can play together, with each game taking about an hour.
The Night Cage: Shrieking Hollow is an expansion to the base game The Night Cage. It adds the mechanic of a being called The Other. This being lives in the depths of the darkness and throughout the game it will destroy tiles as players explore them. If you are a big fan of horror elements, you’ll have to decide if you’re ready to fight or if you need to run from the horror…
The Thing
Age: 18+ Players: 2-4 Time: 45 minutes
The Thing is a cooperative hidden role party game where one player is a parasitic alien capable of changing its form at any point to look like another person. The alien’s goal is to separate everyone and kill them one by one, while everyone else is trying to stay alive and prevent the alien’s escape.
One of the main focuses of this game is recreating the setting and emotions that the film of the same name evokes. In this way, the game unfolds over several acts, such as one in which you must explore the Norwegian base and uncover the alien spaceship. Another scene occurs where everyone must test their blood in front of each other to show if they are human or not.
Tension in The Thing revolves around you and your friends making the most out of your limited resources. You have little time and even less human power needed for every task. Even if you maximize your time and energy you won’t know till the end if you succeed because of the variety of things that can randomly go right or go wrong.
Who Goes There? One Night Ultimate Werewolf
Age: 14+ (Community 12+) Players: 3-4 Time: 110 minutes
As film buffs know, John Carpenter’s The Thing is both a remake of Who Goes There? and also an adaptation of the novella that was the inspiration behind both movies. This board game, Who Goes There?, is directly adapted from the novel and movie, so the players all begin as humans but an alien entity quickly infiltrates and your ability to trust your friends begins to wither.
Every decision is about trying to buy time so you can better build and use equipment. In addition to the alien, you and your friends must contend with the harsh Antarctica weather and the growing doubt about who is who – or what. Game rules force players to work together with trade because supplies are limited, however, it is possible for a player to be infected via trade.
And though the game is centered on the same title, The Thing and Who Goes There? are two very different games and both worth playing if you love this kind of storyline play. Much like Betrayal at House on the Hill, Who Goes There? offers a unique blend of cooperative gameplay and hidden betrayal, making it a thrilling experience.
Dawn of the Zeds, Third Edition
Age: 14+ Players: 1-5 Time: 120 minutes
In the third edition of Dawn of the Zeds, you’ll discover a game about you and your friends deciding to visit the town of Farmingdale. With no warning, a virus begins turning the people of the town into zombies. While no one is 100% sure of all the ways the virus spreads, it is known that physical contact is one of the few confirmed ways. However, as the virus spreads, what matters is you and your friends do not want to become snacks for the undead. As the game starts, you find out the National Guard is on the way but it will take several days for them to arrive.
What will you do until the army arrives? With no good choice available, you and your friends are forced to work with the town to protect each other. The cooperative gameplay is based around protecting the town and putting zombies back to rest the hard way.
Cthulhu: Death May Die
Age: 14+ (Community 10+) Players: 1-5 Time: 90-120 minutes
Cthulhu: Death May Die takes an original approach to games based on Lovecraft. Instead of heroes trying to stop an entity from entering the world, you and your friends are attempting to summon an Eldritch being. Each episode is split into two acts. The first act involves the players working together to summon a being. Following this, the second act occurs, in which you and your friends face the being in combat and realize the consequences of your summons. To add to the chaos of gameplay, all characters begin the game insane. This leads to players possibly losing control at the worst possible moments, but also the randomness can act in your favor. If you’re lucky.
To provide game variance and keep it from growing stale, Cthulhu: Death May Die comes with a variety of scenarios with their own stories and objectives. There is no specific order the scenarios must be played in, so you and your friends can pick what looks the most fun and dive in for the horror at hand, using vision cards to enhance the experience.
Fury of Dracula
Age: 10+ (Community 12+) Players: 2-5 Time: 180 minutes
A new edition of the now classic 1987s game Fury of Dracula. This new edition offers updated artwork and graphics that help convey the dark nature of this game which is, of course, based on the classic novel by Bram Stoker Dracula.
In Fury of Dracula, you and your friends play as hunters who are attempting to hunt down and kill Dracula. The gameplay is divided into day and night. Player-controlled hunters can act during daylight and nighttime while Dracula is famously limited to acting only at night. The goal is to defeat Dracula before he can increase his influence points to 13. As long as players plan carefully they’ll be able to save the day – but victory is absolutely not guaranteed.
Whenever your characters come across Dracula or his minions, the game switches to combat mode. This adds another layer to the game plan and gives Dracula a chance to show off his powers.
Types of Horror Board Games
Horror board games can be categorized into several types, each offering a unique experience for players. Here are some of the most common types of horror board games:
Cooperative Horror Games
Cooperative horror games are designed for players to work together to achieve a common goal, often survival or defeating a monster. These games promote teamwork, strategy, and communication among players. Examples of cooperative horror games include:
Arkham Horror: The Card Game
Mansions of Madness
Dead of Winter
The Last Friday Night
In these games, players must work together to overcome challenges, share resources, and make decisions that will impact the outcome of the game. Cooperative horror games are perfect for players who enjoy working together and experiencing a sense of camaraderie. Whether you’re sealing away ancient evils in Arkham Horror or surviving a zombie apocalypse in Dead of Winter, these games offer thrilling experiences that require collaboration and strategic thinking.
Competitive Horror Games
Competitive horror games, on the other hand, pit players against each other, often with one player taking on the role of a monster or traitor. These games promote competition, strategy, and social deduction. Examples of competitive horror games include:
One Night Ultimate Werewolf
Betrayal Legacy
The Haunting House
Friday the 13th: The Game
In these games, players must use their wits and cunning to outmaneuver their opponents, often by deceiving or manipulating them. Competitive horror games are perfect for players who enjoy a challenge and a sense of competition. Whether you’re trying to identify the werewolf in One Night Ultimate Werewolf or surviving the night in Friday the 13th: The Game, these games offer intense and suspenseful experiences that keep everyone on their toes.
Horror Board Games for Different Players
Horror board games can be enjoyed by players of all ages and experience levels. Here are some recommendations for horror board games suitable for different types of players:
Horror Games for Large Groups
If you’re looking for horror board games that can accommodate a large group of players, here are some options:
One Night Ultimate Werewolf (3-10 players)
Betrayal Legacy (3-5 players)
Mansions of Madness (1-5 players)
Dead of Winter (2-5 players)
These games are perfect for large groups of friends or family members who want to experience a horror-themed game together. They offer a fun and social experience that’s sure to leave everyone screaming for more. Whether you’re uncovering the traitor in Betrayal Legacy or exploring haunted mansions in Mansions of Madness, these games provide plenty of thrills and chills for everyone involved.
Also Read: Best Horror Board Games: Our Top 9 Picks
Conclusion
We hope reading this list has inspired you to pick up a new game. Even if it’s not October there is always a good reason to pick a game with darker themes. For some, it helps them work through angst or frustration. Others just enjoy a dark dive into the world of Lovecraft, Dracula, or creepy things that go BUMP! in the night…
FAQ
1. What makes Arkham Horror a standout horror board game?
Arkham Horror is a cooperative board game set in the 1920s, inspired by H.P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos. Players work together to close dimensional gates and prevent a destructive entity from entering the world. The game is known for its deep narrative, character development, and strategic gameplay that requires teamwork.
2. How does Atmosfear: 30th Anniversary Edition update the classic horror game?
The 30th-anniversary edition of Atmosfear modernizes the classic game by replacing VHS tapes with QR codes, enhancing visuals, and incorporating event cards for unexpected challenges. These updates increase replayability and maintain the high-stakes atmosphere that fans love.
3. What is unique about The Night Cage: Shrieking Hollow?
The Night Cage: Shrieking Hollow is a cooperative tile-placement horror game where players must escape a dark labyrinth with only a small candle for light. The game introduces a new mechanic with The Other, a being that destroys tiles, adding to the suspense and strategy.
4. How does Cthulhu: Death May Die differ from other Lovecraft-themed games?
Cthulhu: Death May Die offers a unique twist by having players summon an Eldritch being instead of preventing its arrival. The game is split into two acts, requiring players to work together to summon and then combat the being, with characters starting off insane, adding unpredictability to the gameplay.
5. What are the main challenges in Fury of Dracula?
In Fury of Dracula, players take on the roles of hunters trying to locate and defeat Dracula. The game features day and night phases, with Dracula acting only at night. Players must strategically plan to prevent Dracula from gaining influence points, and combat mode adds an extra layer of challenge when encountering Dracula or his minions.