Arkham Horror Card Game: Buying Tips

Dive into the shadowy world of Arkham Horror: The Card Game, a thrilling cooperative deck-building experience that lets you and your friends tackle the chilling mysteries of the Lovecraftian universe. Since its debut in 2016, this game has expanded significantly, offering a vast array of expansions and revisions that enhance and personalize your gameplay journey.

Part of the expansive Arkham Horror Files family, this card game shares its dark universe with board games and the latest addition, the accessible Arkham Horror: The Role-Playing Game (available on Amazon), along with its expansive rulebook. Whether you're new to the series or a seasoned investigator, the game's complexity and depth cater to all levels of players.

Purchasing the game can be a bit complex, especially beyond the base deck and initial campaign. With numerous expansions and customization options, you have the freedom to tailor your experience to your liking.

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 entry point into the eerie world of Arkham Horror. It comes with five pre-built investigator decks, ready to dive into the first scenario, the Night of the Zealot campaign. This provides a taste of the game's replayable depth, setting the stage for a plethora of expansions.

Arkham Horror Card Game Expansions

The expansions for Arkham Horror: The Card Game differ from the board game versions. While board game expansions include full stories, scenarios, and new investigators, the card game splits these into campaign expansions for new stories and investigator expansions for new characters. This approach allows you to tailor your experience, choosing whether to invest in new stories, characters, or both.

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, designed as a gentle step up from the base game. It introduces a user-friendly set of scenarios where you search for lost investigators, fitting well with the franchise's ongoing development through new investigator sets.

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 comes to Arkham. Its rules are accessible for new players yet challenging enough for veterans. If you own the first edition, the engaging differences in the second edition might justify a purchase.

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 AmazonExplore the ruins of an Aztec city in this challenging expansion, not recommended for newcomers until they've tried others. Now in its second edition, it promises an even more engaging experience.

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 AmazonKnown as "the witches pack," this expansion introduces powerful new investigators. The campaign is tough, making the inclusion of these investigators highly beneficial.

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 AmazonJourney to the Antarctic tundra, a classic Lovecraftian setting, where peril lurks around every corner. The expansion's challenges can be faced with or without the coordinating investigators.

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 adventure to unravel an international conspiracy. This less linear expansion allows for exploration with or without the new 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 offers two storylines: Dream Quest and Web of Dreams. You can play them separately or combine them into a longer narrative, adding flexibility to your gameplay.

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 a dynamic world that changes based on water levels, adding a strategic layer to your gameplay as you navigate through flooded locations.

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, investigate the strange happenings in Hemlock Vale over three days, with gameplay dynamics shifting between 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, where you confront the awakened Lovecraftian horror in a flooded city, challenging you 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 but hesitant to dive into a full expansion, starter decks are a more affordable option. They include five investigators: Harvey Walters, Nathaniel Cho, Jacqueline Fine, Winifred Habbamock, and Stella Clark, each priced at $16.99 and often available at a discount.

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 AmazonFor a smaller dose of action, standalone scenario packs offer a cost-effective way to expand your game. Priced at $21.99 each, they include options like Murder at the Excelsior Hotel, Fortune and Folly, Machinations Through Time, War of the Outer Gods, The Labyrinths of Lunacy, and The Blob That Ate Everything. Murder at the Excelsior Hotel is particularly suitable for newcomers.

Return to Boxes

Return to boxes revamp and add content to existing campaigns, requiring the original campaign set to play. These are luxury items for dedicated fans, some of which may be hard to find due to discontinuation or limited availability. Currently available return-to-boxes include Night of the Zealot, Dunwich Legacy, The Path to Carcosa, The Circle Undone, and The Forgotten Age. The Forgotten Age return-to-box is praised for simplifying the original expansion's complexities.

Parallel Investigator Packs

Parallel investigators offer alternate versions of existing characters with enhanced abilities and stats. Like Return to Boxes, these are not easily found at major retailers and require some searching by collectors.

The Bottom Line

For fans of Lovecraftian-themed games, Arkham Horror: The Card Game offers a rich universe to explore. Its cooperative nature allows for solo play or group adventures, with a high degree of replayability. However, be aware that the game can be challenging, with significant elements of chance that can both enhance replayability and increase frustration. While setup and learning may take some time, the card game's setup is generally easier than the board game versions, making it a more accessible entry into the dark world of Arkham.