Halloween is coming and it seems to be the perfect time to write down some suggestions about Horror Board Games.
I’m not a person who’s attracted by scary stuff at all, like horror movies and such, but some of these board games are so well designed and realized, that it would be a shame to not mention them. There’s nothing to fear though, no one will jump out of nowhere and scare you… unless your friends know your weaknesses.
Either you are that friend or the poor victim, why not take a look at these horror board games? They will definitely help set up the atmosphere for a spooky night.
We are about to dig into this list made of fear, blood, ghosts and monster.. will you join us?
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Mysterium
What if Clue and Dixit had a baby? Well..that would definitely be Mysterium.
A horrible crime has been committed in this beautiful manor and it’s up to the group of physic investigators to collaborate with the ghost and identify the murderer.
By using cards the ghost will try to help the group identify the possible murderer before the time runs out. The players will have to work together and decipher the ghost’s hints.
Mysterium is perfect for a family game night, as it’s easy to learn and due to its cooperative nature kids can also join.
If you are interested to know more about the game, check out our Mysterium review.
The main fun is to try to understand what the ghost wants to tell you with one card, as it could have a different meaning or it could be a “trash” card that the ghost needs to get rid of.
Even better? You can use all Dixit expansions cards you want!
MYSTERIUM
2 – 7 players | 42 min | 10+
Exit: The Game – The Catacombs of Horror
Exit: the game is a series of puzzle games that transform your living room into an escape room.
This particular version takes place in Paris’ catacombs and players must solve riddles and puzzles in order to find their lost friend and escape from the world of darkness in time.
Unfortunately, like any legacy board game, each version of Exit: The Game can only be played once as you have to mark, fold and tear the game materials.
Also, it’s worth mentioning that The Catacombs of Horror is more suitable for seasoned Exit: The Game players as its difficulty is well above average.
EXIT: THE GAME – THE CATACOMBS OF HORROR
1 – 4 players | 120 – 240 min | 16+
Gloom
Apparently, some say if misery was endured in life, a good afterlife is awaiting.
Well.. this odd family needs your help to grant it.
The goal in Gloom is simple: make your characters as miserable as possible before their long-lasting rest (aka death) comes to visit them.
While you suffer the greatest tragedies, your opponents will receive cheerful gifts from you and vice versa.
So.. gather a group of friends that likes to dive into an interesting turn of events and make your character suffer.. and remember: the more, the better.
There won’t be much time spent reading the rule book as Gloom is easy to learn and the cards tell basically what you need to do.
GLOOM
2 – 4 players | 60 min | 13+
Betrayal at House on the Hill
In Betrayal at House on the Hill, each player picks a character to explore a scary old mansion.
All the players contribute to exploring the house by picking a random tile up from the stack and facing what each room set aside for them; at a certain moment of the exploration, the Haunt will be triggered and from there the game becomes a “fight to survive” kind of game.
Betrayal at House on the Hill has great replayability due to the fact that it’s pretty impossible that the randomly picked tiles would ever create the same house.
The game starts as a co-op and soon it becomes a 1 vs all game, but the player who triggers the haunt is not always the traitor and this creates a lot of suspense and strategy.
I think that this game, even though has been released a few years ago now, still holds the title as one of the best horror board games of all time.
Will you make it until the end?
BETRAYAL AT HOUSE ON THE HILL
3 – 6 players | 60 min | 12+
Mansion of Madness
Mansion of Madness is a 1 vs all kind of board game and the game is set in the same universe as Eldritch Horror, in which one player takes on the role of the Keeper and all other
players take on the roles of Investigators.
The Keeper’s winning condition is to carry out his own secret evil plan, which can range from driving the investigators mad to bringing the world to an end. Fear, paranoia, and occasionally hordes of monsters are the keeper’s weapons.
He also wins if all the Investigators are eliminated from the game.
On the other side, the Investigators must work together to collect artefacts, weapons, and clues to force the Keeper to reveal his plan and to eventually stop it.
Mansion of Madness base game has 5 unique stories, each with a different cards setup and three possible endings.
MANSION OF MADNESS
1 – 5 players | 120 – 180 min | 14+
Nyctophobia
Nyctophobia means fear of the dark. In this cooperative game, players work together to escape a pitch black forest where a maniacal predator is hunting them.
In order to make the experience more real, players will cover their eyes and will have to rely on their touch to navigate the board and escape safely.
Only the player that will take on the role of the hunter will be able to actually see the board, while the others will have to navigate by using their memory and touch only.
Nyctophobia is easily one of the weirdest games around and that’s what makes it appealing, moving on from the initial awkwardness the game provides great immersion.
NYCTOPHOBIA
3 – 5 players | 30 – 45 min | 9+
Zombicide: Black Plague
Ever wonder how you will cope in a zombie apocalypse? Wait no more.
Zombicide is a cooperative game where players face hordes of zombies while trying to complete quests, survive and, of course, kill as many zombies as possible.
We are used to seeing zombies portrayed in modern society contexts; the fact that this board game takes place in medieval times is what makes it interesting and possibly slightly better than the original version.
Plus, isn’t it boring to always use the same weapons to smash their brains?! Why not try a crossbow for once?!
The miniatures included in the box help to set up the atmosphere and make the haunt more satisfying.
ZOMBICIDE: BLACK PLAGUE
1 – 6 players | 60 – 180 min | 14+
One Night Ultimate Werewolf
One Night Ultimate Werewolf is the perfect game for a Halloween party.
The board game allows up to 10 players to take part in this short story; after secretly choosing their character every player will close their eyes and following the Announcer’s commands the game will start rolling. During the night the werewolves will kill someone.
The goal is to find at least one of the werewolves hiding within the villagers, but the task won’t be that easy, as other characters will awake during the night too and will use their powers to mess things up.
The game is very easy to learn, you could even skip the rulebook as the Announcer will tell each player what their character needs to do and guide them through the night.
One Night Ultimate Werewolf is a super quick (10-15min) board game and this makes it an amazing filler to play in between more meaty games.
ONE NIGHT ULTIMATE WEREWOLF
3 – 10 players | 10 min | 8+
Eldritch Horror
Eldritch Horror is inspired by its famous predecessor Arkham Horror, but this time the horrible events will take place on a global scale, in a scary journey where our researchers will touch the most remote corners of the Earth.
In this game, players take on the role of researchers with a specific goal: prevent the Ancient One from awakening.
To do so, players will need to gather clues, solve perilous encounters while going across the planet, gather essential materials to combat terrifying monsters, and seal the portals that bring these terrifying creatures onto Earth.
Each player must choose a character from a pool of twelve researchers, each one with unique abilities and weaknesses, that add to the game a pinch of variety and replayability.
ELDRITCH HORROR
1 – 8 players | 120 – 240 min | 14+
Nemesis
Published by the amazing Awaken Realms, Nemesis is a semi-cooperative board game, in which players are members of a crew on a ship plagued by evolving hostile creatures.
The purpose of the game is to fulfil a secret mission given to you at the start of the game while also figuring out how to get off the ship alive.
What’s interesting, but also an element of stress that some players might not like is that the game falls into semi-cooperative mechanics; this means that each player could work together for a certain time, but ultimately they have to fulfil their personal goal in order to win the game.
Expect a good dose of betrayal and chaos, because when the aliens are chasing you there won’t be much time for strategy and alliances.
Nemesis is a highly thematic, tough (with a high degree of unpredictability), terrifying and intense board game. Perfect for this Horror board games list!
NEMESIS
1 – 5 players | 90 – 180 min | 12+
The Others: 7 Sins
The Others: 7 Sins is a 1 vs all type of game, in which a player takes on the role of one of the Seven Deadly Sins, summoned to bring the apocalypse that will destroy the world, and the other players are F.A.I.T.H. Heroes that have to team up in order to stop the invasion.
While the Sins player summons creatures to corrupt, burn and ruin the city, the Heroes fight back with their power and skill. In the end, either the Hero players triumph as a group or the Sins player will win alone.
The first two Sins, Pride and Sloth, are included in this base game, with the other five Sins available as separate expansions.
THE OTHERS: 7 SINS
2 – 5 players | 90 min | 14+
Cthulhu Death May Die
“Cultists. Doing idiotic rituals again. Going to summon an Elder God, destroy the world. The usual. But we’ve got something different planned. We’re going to disrupt their little ritual. Mess it up real good.“
Players take control of a squad of detectives assigned with taking down an Elder God who has been summoned to Earth in Cthulhu: Death May Die.
Because they are behind time and have no way to stop the summoning process from starting, the players’ goal will be to shoot the Elder God while he is defenceless for a brief moment after being summoned.
To do so, players must either gather enough data to discover a vulnerability or alter the ritual just enough to create one.
Players will work together to fight cultists, find answers, and protect their already shattered minds from degrading any more.
CHTULHU DEATH MAY DIE
1 – 5 players | 90 – 120 min | 14+
Blood on the clocktower
“A Demon is on the loose, murdering by night and disguised in human form by day. Some have scraps of information.
Others have abilities that fight the evil or protect the innocent. But the Demon and its evil minions are spreading lies to confuse and breed suspicion.“
Blood on the Clocktower is a bluffing game played by 5 to 20 players on opposing Good and Evil teams, with the action overseen by a Storyteller player who makes key choices.
Players interact openly and talk secretly during the ‘day’ phase to trade knowledge or spread misinformation, resulting in a player’s death if a majority accuses them of being Evil.
Players close their eyes and are woken one by one by the Storyteller to acquire information, create mischief, or kill during a ‘night’ phase. To survive this game of murder and mystery, you’ll need to use all of your deduction skills.
And don’t worry if you die, you can actually still play the game as a ghost.
A note on this one: we actually didn’t try the game yet, but from what we saw on their official website we think that this game could be a great addition to your collection. Just imagine playing the game on Halloween’s night, wearing spooky costumes and surrounded by the warmth of burning candles… I personally can’t wait to try it!
Release date: 30 nov 2021.
BLOOD ON THE CLOCKTOWER
5 – 20 players | 30– 120 min | 15+
Horrified
How can a game that brings together some of the most iconic monsters of all time, not be included in a list that features some of the best horror board games? Impossible.
Horrified is a cooperative game in which all the players have to defeat the monsters before the town is destroyed. If the players overcome all of the Monsters they’re up against, by clearing some tasks, they’ll win the game.
Each monster is unique, and so the task needed to defeat him. For example, to defeat Dracula you have to smash his four coffins and then overcome him; or for the Mummy, you have to break the curse and return him to his tomb.
Great game that evokes the memories of those movies that made these monsters famous to the world audience.
HORRIFIED
1 – 5 players | 60 min | 10+
Dead Man’s Cabal
In Dead Man’s Cabal, you and your fellow gamers are a bunch of practitioners of the dark arts who want to throw a party. But there’s a problem, none of you has actual friends.
It’s time to raise some dead bodies from under the ground to get this party finally started! So gather together corpses, crystal skulls, and runes to resurrect them.
Dead Man’s Cabal’s gameplay is a brilliant interplay of a unique action selection method that allows players to take both a private and group action, demanding stressful decision making on the timing of the game’s various stages. Collect corpses, crystal skulls, and runes to resurrect the dead.
The game is fairly simple, but timing the actions in the proper order to avoid assisting your competitors more than yourself requires careful preparation.
DEAD MAN’S CABAL
2 – 4 players | 60 min | 12+
I hope you found something useful out of this horror board games list. Let us know if you play any of these games on your next Halloween game night!
