Arkham Horror Card Game: Ultimate Buying Guide

Arkham Horror: The Card Game is a thrilling deck-building experience that caters to your darkest desires for adventure. As a cooperative game, it invites you and your fellow investigators to unite against the eerie horrors that lurk within its narrative. This game is part of the expansive Arkham Horror Files family, which includes a variety of board games, card games, and the newly accessible Arkham Horror: The Role-Playing Game (available on Amazon), complete with a comprehensive rulebook to enhance your experience.

Since its debut in 2016, Arkham Horror: The Card Game has evolved through numerous expansions and updates, enriching the gameplay with fresh content and deeper narratives. Purchasing the game can be a bit complex beyond the base set and initial campaign, offering various ways to customize and personalize your journey into the unknown.

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Dunwich Legacy Campaign Expansion

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Dunwich Legacy Investigator Expansion

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Path to Carcosa Campaign Expansion

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Path to Carcosa Investigator Expansion

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Forgotten Age Campaign Expansion

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Forgotten Age Investigator Expansion

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Circle Undone Campaign Expansion

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Circle Undone Investigator Expansion

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - Edge of The Earth Campaign Expansion

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - Edge of The Earth Investigator Expansion

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Scarlet Keys Campaign Expansion

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Scarlet Keys Investigator Expansion

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Dream-Eaters Campaign Expansion

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Dream-Eaters Investigator Expansion

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Innsmouth Conspiracy Campaign Expansion

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Innsmouth Conspiracy Investigator Expansion

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Feast of Hemlock Vale Campaign Expansion

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Feast of Hemlock Vale Investigator Expansion

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Drowned City Campaign Expansion

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Drowned City Investigator Expansion

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - Stella Clark Starter Deck

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - Nathaniel Cho Starter Deck

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - Jacqueline Fine Starter Deck

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - Harvey Walters Starter Deck

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - Winifred Habbamock Starter Deck

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - Murder at the Excelsior Hotel Scenario Pack

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - Fortune and Folly Scenario Pack

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - War of The Outer Gods Scenario Pack

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - Machinations Through Time Scenario Pack

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Labyrinths of Lunacy Scenario Pack

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Blob That Ate Everything Scenario Pack

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For those well-versed in the mysteries of Arkham Horror: The Card Game, here's a convenient carousel showcasing all the products discussed. For newcomers eager to delve deeper, continue reading to explore the game's offerings.

The Base Game

Arkham Horror: The Card Game

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MSRP: $59.95 USD
Players: 1-4
Playtime: 45 mins per player
Ages: 14+

The core set is your gateway to the chilling world of Arkham Horror. It includes five pre-built investigator decks, allowing you to dive straight into the Night of the Zealot campaign. This set offers a replayable introduction to the game, and if you find yourself captivated, a vast array of expansions awaits your exploration.

Arkham Horror Card Game Expansions

Unlike the board game expansions, the card game's expansions are split into campaign and investigator sets. Campaign expansions introduce new stories, while investigator expansions add new characters. This modular approach lets you tailor your experience, choosing to play new scenarios with or without the latest investigators.

The Dunwich Legacy

Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Dunwich Legacy Campaign Expansion

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Dunwich Legacy Investigator Expansion

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The Dunwich Legacy was the first expansion released, offering a gentle step up from the base game with user-friendly scenarios. It involves searching for lost investigators, reflecting the game's ongoing narrative of expanding its roster of characters with each new release.

The Path to Carcosa

Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Path to Carcosa Campaign Expansion

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Path to Carcosa Investigator Expansion

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This expansion brings a theatre production to Arkham, introducing new rules that are accessible to newcomers yet challenging enough for veterans. If you own the first edition, the second edition's enhancements might still entice you to upgrade.

The Forgotten Age

Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Forgotten Age Campaign Expansion

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Forgotten Age Investigator Expansion

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Embark on an expedition to an Aztec city in this challenging campaign, where the fabric of time itself is at stake. It's recommended for experienced players, and the second edition offers further refinements.

The Circle Undone

Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Circle Undone Campaign Expansion

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Circle Undone Investigator Expansion

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Dubbed "the witches pack," this expansion introduces powerful new investigators and a demanding campaign. The investigators are a must-have to fully enjoy the challenging scenarios.

The Edge of the Earth

Arkham Horror: The Card Game - Edge of The Earth Campaign Expansion

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - Edge of The Earth Investigator Expansion

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Venture into the Antarctic tundra, a classic setting for Lovecraftian horror. Navigate the perilous environment with or without the new investigators, making strategic choices at every turn.

The Scarlet Keys

Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Scarlet Keys Campaign Expansion

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Scarlet Keys Investigator Expansion

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Travel the world in this expansion, unraveling an international conspiracy involving mysterious keys. Its less linear structure allows for varied exploration, with or without the new investigators.

The Dream Eaters

Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Dream-Eaters Campaign Expansion

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Dream-Eaters Investigator Expansion

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This campaign offers two four-part storylines that can be played separately or combined into an eight-part epic. It's perfect for players looking for flexibility in their gaming sessions.

The Innsmouth Conspiracy

Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Innsmouth Conspiracy Campaign Expansion

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Innsmouth Conspiracy Investigator Expansion

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Experience a dynamic world that changes with rising water levels, adding a strategic layer to your gameplay as you navigate the flooded landscapes of Innsmouth.

The Feast of the Hemlock Vale

Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Feast of Hemlock Vale Campaign Expansion

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Feast of Hemlock Vale Investigator Expansion

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In this newer expansion, investigate the eerie happenings in Hemlock Vale during a festival, where the residents are oblivious to the lurking dangers. The campaign unfolds over three days, with different dynamics during day and night.

The Drowned City

Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Drowned City Campaign Expansion

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Drowned City Investigator Expansion

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The latest expansion pits you against the awakened Lovecraftian horror in the Drowned City. It's a thrilling addition to the series, challenging you to save the day against overwhelming odds.

Other ways to expand your deck-building adventures in Arkham

Starter Decks

Arkham Horror: The Card Game - Stella Clark Starter Deck

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - Nathaniel Cho Starter Deck

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - Jacqueline Fine Starter Deck

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - Harvey Walters Starter Deck

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - Winifred Habbamock Starter Deck

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If you're interested in adding new characters without committing to a full expansion, starter decks are a cost-effective option. Priced at $16.99 each, they introduce investigators like Harvey Walters, Nathaniel Cho, Jacqueline Fine, Winifred Habbamock, and Stella Clark, though they may not be as powerful as those found in campaign expansions.

Scenario Packs

Arkham Horror: The Card Game - Murder at the Excelsior Hotel Scenario Pack

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - Fortune and Folly Scenario Pack

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - War of The Outer Gods Scenario Pack

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - Machinations Through Time Scenario Pack

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Labyrinths of Lunacy Scenario Pack

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game - The Blob That Ate Everything Scenario Pack

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For a smaller dose of action, standalone scenario packs are available at $21.99 each. Murder at the Excelsior Hotel is a great entry-level scenario, while others like Fortune and Folly, Machinations Through Time, War of the Outer Gods, Labyrinths of Lunacy, and The Blob That Ate Everything offer diverse challenges.

Return to Boxes

Return to boxes enhance and revamp select campaigns, requiring the base campaign set to play. These are considered luxury items for dedicated fans, with some being hard to find. Available sets include Night of the Zealot, Dunwich Legacy, Circle of Carcosa, Circle Undone, and Forgotten Age. Some enthusiasts note that the Forgotten Age return-to box simplifies the original'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, requiring collectors to search for them.

The Bottom Line

For fans of Lovecraftian mythos, Arkham Horror: The Card Game is an essential exploration. Its cooperative nature allows for solo or group play, offering endless replayability across its expansive universe. While the game can be challenging with elements of chance, the card game's setup is more manageable than the board game's, making it a rewarding journey into the unknown.