Arkham Horror Boardgame

The town has been overrun by monsters, you're lost in time and space, about to go insane, and Yog-Sothoth is stirring. Arkham Horror is a HUGE boardgame, loaded with counters, markers, tokens, and a staggering number of decks of cards. The game is, as well covered, based on H. P. Lovecraft's stories. As others have amply covered the mechanics, I won't say much other than to reiterate that it really is a complicated game, but you do get used to it. I will point out one important thing: Arkham Horror is that rarity among board games, a game that actually plays well solitaire. Since the game is basically all the players against the board, one player can play it well. It rapidly became clear to me that a single player playing one investigator is inevitably doomed: gates open faster than you can possibly close them, and a single investigator has zero chance against any of the Ancient Evils. But knowing this up front, the fun is seeing how horribly wrong things can go before you get driv... Read more

I'm not a board game person or a fan of H.P. Lovecraft, but I really enjoyed this game. The rules are quite complicated; you do learn them pretty quickly, though. The game could probably go for days; we cheated and stopped after 2.5 hours. The pieces and board are very sturdy and the art is gorgeous. As far as entertainment, this is an extremely fun game for a large group of people (at least 4). Beginners can play this game without becoming too frustrated and when you know what you're doing, it's still challenging and interesting. It has a lot of replay value. I assume this goes without saying, but not for children (too complicated and difficult and a little bit scary).

This is definitely one of the best board games I have ever played, and is very solidly constructed, with the actual box more of a linen than a standard paper cardboard, and all the punch out pieces very sturdy and well designed, with stunning artwork throughout the entire game. That said, this boardgame is not for the faint of heart, as the gameplay space required is very large, and the rules fairly complex. A definite must for Lovecraft fans, boardgame nerds, or any combination thereof. As for specific details, I won't waste the space rephrasing what someone else has already done far more fluently and in depth- if you are thinking about purchasing this game, go check it out at boardgamegeek.com, and look at the reviews, the best out there for board games like this one.

Well, maybe it's just me, but I love really detailed games like this, especially one with Lovecraftian monsters and themes, what could be better? Admittedly though, my husband did not like this one. This reminds me of when I bought a D&D; game and tried to get my sister to play it with me. No such luck. Oh well. I've never been a D&D; nerd or anything like that, so I can understand that this game is overwhelming for those who have never encountered these types of really detailed games. The rules are pretty complicated and even incomprehensible at the beginning, I'll admit, and my husband felt that they take away from the fun of the game. True, I suppose. It is even recommended that the game be played several times, just to get the "feel" of it. Let this just be a warning to those who buy this game: it is extremely detailed and complicated. Be sure you want to spend a long time first setting it up (and it does take a long time, with all the pieces that must be punched ou... Read more

Arkham Horror is extraordinarily complex, and can be a very long game, but it's a ton of fun. Investigators search Arkham and the realms beyond for clues, weapons, and other tools to fight the Ancient Ones. What makes it such a great game is that the mechanics make it a constantly-shifting battle. The investigators can have one thing planned, and everyone knows what their part is going to be, and then suddenly a new effect occurs, entirely shifting the dynamics of what's going on in the game. Teamwork, communication between the players, collaboration, and strategic planning are all vital to the group's success. Another great feature of this game is that it can be played solo--an option I recommend for first-timers, before introducing it to a group. I solo'd the game before introducing it to my game group, and it was very, very helpful. As I mentioned, there are a LOT of mechanics at work in this game, and it helps to play through it a time or two to get used to what's going on. Ult... Read more