Best Horror Board Games: Our Top 9 Picks

Of all the different genres of board games out there, some of the most thematic and engaging are horror games. We all like a good horror movie! They keep us on the edge of our seats, glued to our screens and there’s a deep love/hate relationship with being scared that, despite everything, makes us want to keep coming back for more. If done right, a good horror board game can create the same kind of tense and suspenseful atmosphere that we’re accustomed to when watching a scary movie, but in some ways more so.

When playing through a horror board game, we’re plunged into the middle of a not-so-pleasant scenario and faced with all kinds of danger with the highest stakes possible: our sanity and our lives! Playing the role of a character firsthand who’s encountering nightmarish beings and life-threatening risks leaves you feeling very invested in the outcome of the game and creates a drive that makes you want to succeed more than in your average board game.

Whether you’re trying to escape a knife-wielding maniac chasing after you or help stop the end of the world from a cosmic horror, these games with a horror theme create a thrilling and exciting experience.

Best Horror Board Games

Below are a selection of some of the best horror board games on the market. All are a little different, but all are horrifying in their own way:

Fury of Dracula

Published by: Fantasy Flight    Ages: 14+    Players: 2-5    Time: up to 3 hours

Starting with a game featuring one of the patriarchs of the horror genre, “Fury of Dracula” revolves around vampire hunters chasing the titular creature of the night to try and save Europe from his evil. Dracula will use deception and try to mislead the hunters whilst trying to widen the reach of his influence. Hunters will chase the father of all vampires down day and night, but will they succeed in sending him to the grave?

“Fury of Dracula” puts one player in the shoes of Dracula himself, whilst the others take on roles of protagonists from the Bram Stoker novel, such as Van Helsing and John Seward. The vampire hunter’s goal is obvious, hunt down and defeat Dracula by dealing 15 points of damage to him. Dracula meanwhile must advance his influence track up to 13.

The gameplay is divided into a hunter phase and a Dracula phase. Hunters will have their turn split into both day and night and can take various actions like moving around the board to visit different European cities, recover health, find items, trade items with other players, or search a location for Dracula. Hunters are more powerful in the day and have fewer actions available at night, which is of course when Dracula is at his most powerful.

Dracula’s phase takes place at night as he sleeps in the day. He’ll carry out various actions via encounter cards which are used to set traps for the hunters and play out various scenarios that will help him with eluding and attacking the hunters.

As time goes on, through a mix of strategy and the luck of the cards, hunters will periodically engage Dracula in battle and use item cards to try and do as much damage as possible before he escapes to try and spread his influence across different parts of Europe.

“Fury of Dracula” is an immersive and tense game where no two playthroughs are ever the same. Hunters have the advantage of numbers but Dracula can utilize his encounter cards to level the playing field. It can take 2-3 hours to complete the game, but it offers a great combination of strategy, cooperation, and teamwork, and it’s a worthwhile experience and investment of your time.

Mansions of Madness

Published by: Fantasy Flight    Ages: 14+    Players: 1-5    Time: up to 3 hours

Set in a Lovecraftian universe, players will work together as investigators visiting Arkham’s desolate and cursed mansions. Working together, they’ll take on complex puzzles and fight off monsters across several thrilling scenarios while trying to overcome their fears and avoid succumbing to insanity.

The second edition, and now the recent third edition of the game, are both played with the assistance of a free app, but gameplay remains fairly similar between both editions. You’ll choose a scenario to play through and an investigator with unique skills to play as and the app will assist you with showing which board tiles to lay down, any markers to place, and add some flavor text as you go along to read aloud as well. Players will need to investigate the mansion, uncover clues, and complete the scenario in order to win the game.

During the player’s turn, they will take various actions throughout the game and make skill checks to see if they’re successful. Each investigator has a set of stats that will help them when performing these checks and dice are rolled to see if they’re successful. There is also a “Mythos Phase” that takes place after the investigator phase.

This is where all kinds of strange events can happen and usually negatively impact the players in the form of random or predetermined events.  This can involve encountering all kinds of otherworldly horrors that investigators will need to battle and try and overcome with a combination of the items they’ve found and the luck of the dice.

Players will periodically take physical or mental damage as they delve deeper into the mansion, too much of either can have dire consequences and result in insanity or death!

With a game as vast as this, several hundred words do not do Mansions of Madness justice. It’s not a perfect game, of course, but it is unequaled in its ability to create memorable group experiences. It’s an exquisite tabletop game with tons of greatly crafted components and provides a tense and eerie experience each time, especially when combined with the sound effects the app provides. This is a must-own for Lovecraft fans and offers several expansions for those who need more after completing the base game missions.

Nemesis

Published by: Awaken Realms    Ages: 12+    Players: 1-5    Time: up to 3 hours

If you ever wondered how well you would hold up in one of the “Alien” movies, Nemesis gives you a chance to see if you would survive and for just how long in an encounter with deadly creatures from another world. This sci-fi survival horror game offers a tense cinematic experience full of bells and whistles set in the cold reaches of space, where of course, nobody can hear you scream.

Nemesis is a semi-cooperative game in which players take on the role of a ship crew member and must complete certain objectives and escape their run-down ship to win the game. Some objectives will benefit the crew as a whole whilst others will benefit the player who specifically chose that goal. Sometimes goals will conflict with each other and the game can end up as a bit of a free-for-all as players try to destroy one of the ship’s engines whilst others try to repair it.

Whichever objective is selected, players must find their way around the ship and use cards to perform actions as well as their character-specific skills to aid them in completing their mission as quickly and quietly as possible. Too much noise will disturb the hostile organisms hiding within the ship that act as the primary antagonists in the game.

Players will find items as they explore to help them dispatch the intruders but certain players are more naturally equipped to deal with the otherworldly threat (you would want to be playing as the soldier over the scientist any day when cornered by xenomorph-esque creature three times your size!). There is player elimination in this game, which is worth noting because we normally don’t love it, but it’s such a rich experience that you’ll still be engaged, even if the aliens take you.

Along with the game’s incredible models and components, Nemesis delivers a thrilling, tense, and atmospheric experience that can’t be beaten. Needless to say, fans of the “Alien” movies will get the most out of it, but everyone should enjoy the game regardless as each playthrough offers boundless levels of exploration and things to do and each character class provides a unique gameplay experience.

Whitehall Mystery

Published by: Fantasy Flight Games    Ages: 14+    Players: 2-4    Time: up to 2 hours

Whitehall Mystery transports players to the fog-laden streets of Victorian London, where they are thrust into a cat-and-mouse game of deduction and deception. One player assumes the role of the infamous Jack the Ripper, endeavoring to outmaneuver the other players, who play as detectives tasked with tracking him down before he can complete his series of gruesome crimes.

Set against the backdrop of the historic Whitehall district, this game is rife with tension and intrigue. The player embodying Jack moves secretly across the game board, leaving behind a trail of clues that the detectives must interpret to predict his movements and apprehend him. The detectives must work together, sharing insights and strategies, yet they’re always aware that time is against them.

Detailing a blend of historical accuracy and engaging gameplay, Whitehall Mystery offers a uniquely immersive experience. The board itself is a meticulous recreation of 1888 London, providing not only a challenging game environment but also a visual and educational journey into the past. Strategy and teamwork are paramount, as the detectives must coordinate their efforts, while Jack must cleverly mislead and evade to succeed. Each playthrough is a tense and thrilling narrative, making Whitehall Mystery a compelling game for those who love deduction, history, and the thrill of the chase.

Horrified

Published by: Ravensburger    Ages: 10+    Players: 1-5    Time: 60 Minutes

A true treat for fans of the Universal Monsters and their classic movies. In this cooperative game, players come together to try and defend their town against some of the most iconic monsters of all time. Each monster must be dispatched slightly differently so it’s up to players to work together and plan their approach carefully in order to successfully fend off the undead fiends and stop the town from being destroyed.

In Horrified, players will need to work together to defeat famous monsters like Dracula, Frankenstein, The Invisible Man, and The Wolf-man before the town they’re terrorizing is overrun completely. The game’s difficulty is scalable and those wanting a more challenging experience can add more monsters to the playthrough.

Each monster has a unique set of instructions for how to set them up, how they act during the game, and how to dispatch them. This is great for replay value as there are quite a few different combinations you can have and will provide plenty of new experiences. Players take a series of actions each turn like moving to different locations, taking or sharing items, moving villagers around the board, or performing unique character actions.

As play advances and villagers are saved, players will receive perk cards and items to provide them with useful bonuses and buffs to aid them with defeating monsters. Monsters meanwhile will draw cards and resolve various actions like moving around the board and attacking players or villagers. If enough villagers or players are beaten, the terror rating increases. When this reaches a certain level, the players lose.

Gameplay is fairly simple and each playthrough shouldn’t take more than an hour, which means Horrified provides a more accessible experience for non-hardcore gamers when compared to some other games on this list. That said, Horrified offers a unique experience with a variety of player characters, perk cards, and the monsters themselves, no two playthroughs are ever the same. A fun strategic game especially for fans of classic horror movies.

Zombicide

Published by: CMON    Ages: 14+    Players: 1-6    Time: 60 Minutes

What would this list be without including a game about Zombies? One of the most expansive and adaptable games out there is Zombicide! Players take on the role of a survivor with a unique ability and team up with each other against hordes of the undead. They just need to make sure they don’t run out of bullets!

Focusing on the base game alone as there are a ton of expansions and spin-offs, Zombicide offers ten scenarios for players to complete using different modular map tiles. The gameplay is essentially made up of three things: moving, searching, and fighting. As players kill more zombies, they’ll gain experience points and as they gain more they will unlock skills and abilities unique to that character.

The only downside to this is that your character becomes stronger, and the hordes of zombies will grow bigger! Zombies will periodically spawn from different points on the map and the amount will vary depending on the experience of your character. Players will need to search buildings for more powerful equipment to counteract the growing zombie threat but must be strategic in their approach so they don’t get trapped or overwhelmed.

If this happens, other players can try and draw the horde toward them by causing enough noise, so collaboration and working together is crucial to ensure all players make it to the end.

Zombicide is not a particularly difficult game to learn to play and each scenario on its own does not take long to complete, but the overall experience is truly entertaining. With simple mechanics, it’s easy to start up a game, and with so many expansions and alternative versions, there’s tons of hours that can be spent on this franchise

Eldritch Horror

Published by: Fantasy Flight Games    Ages: 14+    Players: 1-8    Time: 2-4 Hours

Eldritch Horror is a cooperative adventure game inspired by the mythos of H.P. Lovecraft. Set against the backdrop of the early 20th century, players take on the roles of investigators traveling around the globe, unraveling mysteries, and protecting humanity from otherworldly threats known as Ancient Ones. Each investigator offers a unique set of skills and backstory, providing a rich narrative experience as players attempt to gather clues and solve mysteries.

The core of Eldritch Horror lies in its storytelling. The game weaves a complex narrative filled with suspense and horror throughout each playthrough, maintained via a series of cards that detail encounters, events, and quests. Players must work together to collect assets, spells, and allies while facing daunting challenges from monstrous creatures to disturbances in the fabric of reality itself.

Character development is crucial as the game progresses. Investigators gain skills and suffer traumas that affect their performance, providing a deep sense of immersion. The game’s difficulty is scalable, with several Ancient Ones to choose from, each presenting its own unique challenges and story arcs, vastly altering the feel and strategy of the game.

Eldritch Horror’s expansive game board encompasses the entire globe, from the dark alleys of Arkham to the forbidden deserts of Egypt, emphasizing the global scale of the ancient threat. The game’s rich, thematic artwork and detailed components further enhance the atmosphere, plunging players into a relentless struggle against the encroaching darkness.

With numerous expansions available, Eldritch Horror’s replayability is immense, offering new investigators, Ancient Ones, cards, and components to integrate with the base game. Each expansion adds depth and complexity, promising that no two games are the same. Eldritch Horror is a testament to cooperative strategy and narrative depth, making it an essential experience for fans of Lovecraftian horror and cooperative board gaming.

Arkham Horror: The Card Game

Published by: Fantasy Flight Games    Ages: 14+    Players: 1-2 (up to 4 with two core sets)    Time: 60-120 Minutes

Arkham Horror: The Card Game immerses players in the eerie world of H.P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu mythos. Unlike traditional board games, Arkham Horror is a living card game that evolves with each play session, offering a unique blend of traditional card game mechanics with role-playing elements. Players assume the roles of paranormal investigators in the early 20th century, tasked with unraveling mysteries, gathering clues, and confronting eldritch forces threatening the fabric of reality.

Each player builds a deck that represents their investigator’s strengths, weaknesses, and resources, allowing for deep customization and strategy. The game’s narrative-driven scenarios push players to make difficult choices that have long-lasting consequences, shaping the story’s direction and their character’s development. With a core set allowing for solo or cooperative play for two (or up to four with additional sets), gamers can face the cosmic horrors alone or team up with their fellow investigators to stand against the darkness. It carries an amazing amount of narrative weight for a tabletop game.

The game’s scalability in difficulty and a rich library of expansions ensure that Arkham Horror: The Card Game provides endless replayability. Each expansion introduces new scenarios, additional characters, monsters, and mysteries, continually expanding the arcane world and offering fresh challenges for even the most experienced players. Whether new to the Lovecraftian universe or a seasoned veteran, players will find thrilling adventures and terrifying encounters in their quest to prevent the Ancient Ones’ awakening.

One Night Ultimate Werewolf

Published by: Bezier Games    Ages: 8+    Players: 3-10    Time: 10 Minutes

In the fast-paced, thrilling game of One Night Ultimate Werewolf, each player assumes the role of a unique character in a quaint village that’s been infiltrated by cunning werewolves. The game takes place over the course of a single night, during which players must deduce who among them is a werewolf in disguise. With roles ranging from the insidious Werewolf to the insightful Seer, each character has special abilities that come into play during the night phase. When the day breaks, the debate begins. Players discuss their findings, cast suspicions, and ultimately vote on who they believe the werewolves are.

The beauty of One Night Ultimate Werewolf lies in its quick playtime and the high level of engagement it demands from players. It’s a social deduction game that combines strategy, persuasion, and the ability to read others. No two games are the same, thanks to a vast array of character roles that change the dynamics of each playthrough.

This game is perfect for those who love a good mystery and enjoy the challenge of piecing together clues under time pressure. A session doesn’t last more than ten minutes, making it an excellent choice for parties or quick gatherings, yet it often leads to several consecutive rounds of laughter-filled accusations and wild speculation.

Betrayal at the House on the Hill

Published by: Avalon Hill Ages: 12+ Players: 3-6 Time: 60 mins

Betrayal is a suspenseful and exciting game where players explore a haunted mansion, revealing its secrets and surviving the horrors within. Players will have to work together to complete the various scenarios within the game unless the traitor in their party is able to sabotage them first!

Players take turns exploring a randomly generated mansion, moving through the rooms, and resolving the events that transpire within it. Tiles are drawn at random and placed as players venture deeper into the mansion and uncover more of its mysteries. Players can move from room to room, collect items, and trade them as well as attack other players. Certain rooms will prompt players to draw from one of the several card decks that come with the game.

Event cards will provide flavor text and require players to roll dice or use the stats of their character to resolve what happens. Item cards will provide players with useful items to help them overcome the tricky encounters they’ll face. Omen cards are a mixed bag; they will sometimes be beneficial but there are risks involved also. They will also prompt you to ‘roll a haunt’ which can potentially trigger a scenario to start and reveal who the traitor amongst the group is.

Each scenario is different but players must ultimately work together to thwart the betrayer’s plans and fulfill their own objectives to be successful. The betrayer meanwhile must vanquish the survivors and achieve their own goals.

Betrayal combines mystery and horror elements to offer a unique experience with each playthrough. Offering fifty scenarios and over forty tiles, players will never experience the same game twice. Combined with straightforward rules and a relatively short playtime, the game offers a great strategic and suspenseful experience for both casual and hardcore gamers.

Also Read: Two Player Board Games

Conclusion: Try a New Horror Game

These are our picks for some of the best horror board games. If you have any that didn’t make the list we’d love to hear your thoughts and why you like them so much!

Check out our list of the best mystery board games next.

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