Arkham Horror

Customer Reviews

Great Atmosphere, Great Value Review by Nicholas

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I was daunted the first time I played Arkham Horror, because it seemed very convoluted and required a significant amount of time to play it. While the second statement holds true for most cases, I couldn't be more wrong about the accessibility of the game. Like FFG's Battlestar Galactica, there are a multitude of options and gameplay elements, but individually the elements are simple to understand. The key to this game is to keep track of the turn order and any outstanding global effects that occur in the game. It's co-operative, which makes it easier to interest people who are new to longer, more intense RPG/Strategy games, and it's the co-operative element that adds a lot of the excitement to the game. Much like going to see a scary movie with a bunch of friends, this game is an experience. It's not a good starting game to someone who is new to boardgames in general, but with patience and a really good snack and music selection you can have a fantastic, atmospheric evening with a bunch of friends. (Posted on 2/1/12)

Great, but heavy, co-op game Review by Charles

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I've owned Arkham Horror for a long time, but don't get to play it often enough. As with most Fantasy Flight Games products, it has fabulous production values in terms of components and artwork. The game play is very thematic and there are a lot of options for each player. The rule book is not the best, and there are a lot of things to track which can be tough to manage.

If you like horor or co-op games, this is a must have for your collection. (Posted on 11/4/11)

Awsome Game Review by Nicholas

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The game lasts about 4 hours, so you do need a good chunk of time to play it. However, it is very enjoyable to play. The rules can be a bit difficult to learn at first, but after a few plays of the game they come fairly naturally.
There is lots of variety in characters to choose and ancient ones to challenge so there is plenty of variety. In addition, if the game every becomes mundane you can always purchase one of the many expansions which add new mechanics, boards, and cards to the game.
One thing that bothers me is that using the stands on the cardboard characters does leave a mark on it.

Overall, it is a nice game with nice atmosphere. (Posted on 9/12/11)

THE classic co-operative game! Review by Charles

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Arkham Horror is very mechanic heavy, but the artwork is simply top notch and the game makes perfect use of the theme and source material. It plays almost like an RPG, and relies a lot on teamwork and cooperation. If you have a good gaming group this game is well worth the purchase. (Posted on 8/23/11)

Funtimes with Elder Gods! Review by HungryHobbit

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A great game for the lovecraft enthusiast. An ever changing experience and with the added bonus of a sense of humour this game keeps you well entertained. Embrace the madness :)

It takes a bit to set this game up but it is usually worth it. We have yet to actually win the game but really...who wins when an elder god comes into play?

Great for power outs or cabin in the woods play especially. Candlelight for the win! (Posted on 7/20/11)

Great Game all around! Review by Karen

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We never get bored with this game, it's different every time we play. Great thought went into the whole storyline and characters. We've played game after game and whether defeated or victorious we all have a fun time playing, and will be getting some expansions soon. (Posted on 2/23/11)

story in a box Review by Keven

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Arkham Horror, where to begin. This is a cooperative game, where 'investigators'(players) play against the board in order to stop a greater evil from comsuming the Arkham area, and eventually the world.

The game itself is easy enough to play with 2 players, and up to 8 are permitted according to the box. You can even set up solo games if you so wish, though Arkham Horror is moer fun with friends.

Arkham Horror is difficult, and you may lose more often than you win. But the times you have with friends sitting around joking and making fun of one another while you are losing can be almost as fun as any game I've ever played. Not only that, but when you actually do win, it feels like you have accomplished something.

The mood for the game is perfect, it's dark and forboding. The familiarity of the world contrasts well with the unfamiliar. This game can be played like any board game, where you take your piece and move it around and do things. However, there is a backstory included for each investigator that can provide some fun for people who like to get into character a little bit more.

Overall it is a great game, especially for fans of horror genre games, though anyone who enjoys games should be able to find things they enjoy. Recommended for 4 to 6 players for best results. (Posted on 5/10/10)

Great for Genre Fans and Coop Gamers Review by Wasgo

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Arkham Horror is a long, drawn out affair. It requires a commitment of over three hours, and lacks the competitive edge of many war games. If you try to include non-gamers, it will be a long night.

It's does an amazing job of showcasing the genre, and provides a good balance of challenge and reward. For someone looking for a lighter role-playingless version of an RPG, it's a very good choice. (Posted on 12/21/09)

Thoughts after one play Review by Jasmine

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I have only played Arkham Horror once and found that the game, while interesting, simply takes too long. My personal preference are for games that play out in 90 minutes or less. With an average playtime of well over 3 hours, Arkham Horror requires an endurance and interest span (not attention span) that I cannot afford.

For me, if you can play something more interesting several times over in the time it takes to play one game that is only relatively interesting, I would rather play the former.

Arkham Horror is a good game for fans of the game. It is dripping with it, as there are many choice cards full of background text to read out. However, due to the amount of time the game takes, near the end you will be summarizing the text anyways, which takes away a little of the atmosphere and the fun.

Although there is plenty of tension and co-op involved, I can't help but lose interest in the game after the first hour or so. However, there are many types of gamers and if you are looking for an in-depth co-op game for your multi-hour gaming group, then this is a tried and true bet. Personally, I wouldn't mind a shorter variation of the game. (Posted on 11/5/09)

Co-op for the hardcore Review by Murray

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Just like there are war strategy games that are quick and light in flavor versus similar games that are incredibly complex and plays for half a day, there are also co-op games that follow the same vein.

My personal favourite co-op game is Pandemic and, in general, I tend to favour games that can be completed within an hour or an hour and a half. As such, Arkham Horror tended to drag on for me and there is no real mounting pressure mechanism built into the game, just a steady grind with the occassional colossal upsetting event.

Personal feelings aside, Arkham Horror is a very well made game and has many expansions as well as features built into the base game that makes sure that each session plays differently than the last. The game is huge and prodcution quality, like with most Fantasy Flight games, is very high.

The game is fairly complex and it helps to have an experienced player lead the game. The actual ruleset and gameplay mechanics are well designed, and they would have to be, seeing how this game is essentially the grandaddy of all co-op games. The theme of the game is very strong and there is a lot of story and text that helps to add some flavour to the monotony. The single play option is a definite bonus, since it can create that one experienced player needed to lead a group.

This game is not well suited for a casual crowd. With RPG elements and a lot of information and resources to keep track of, this game is best enjoyed with a small group of hardcore gamers. If you have a group that you regularly play with and spend whole evenings dedicated to board games, this is a great game to try out. (Posted on 9/8/09)