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Mansions of Madness – For your hardcore tabletop gamer mates
Bring to life a H.P Lovecraftian mystery in all its supernatural splendour with this horror themed tabletop RPG for 1-5 players. Part of the Arkham Horror Files series of games, Mansions of Madness is an awesome co-op game for any Halloween get-to-together. Play as investigators that are thrust into the depths of a horrific mysterious scenario where grotesque creatures and other evils plague your reality and try to stop you from reaching your goals. One of the brilliant things about this game is that the app constructs the narrative, so even beginners to the game can grasp how to play very quickly. This is a very immersive game with many gameplay elements. Battle horrors from the Lovecraftian universe, collect clues and solve puzzles before reality collapses around you, you die, or insanity takes over you! Gameplay can run between 2-3 hours depending on the scenario, but you can pause the game at any time in the app. The scenarios are also very replayable as the app randomises the map and the roles of the characters in the story. You can purchase extra scenarios in the app too and there are plenty of expansion packs which, as well as new scenarios, add new tiles, elements and monsters to your game. Due to the vivid horror imagery of this game, I wouldn’t recommend this one for a family game session with children.
Arkham Horror: The Card Game – For when you and your friends are into deck building
Another great co-op game for 1-4 players from the world of H.P Lovecraft; this time in card format. Arkham Horror: The Card Game is an ace alternative to Mansions of Madness if you prefer a card game set up. As with any RPG card game, the deck building feature for your character can change the game and your characters advantages or weaknesses dramatically. The base game comes with the start of a campaign and from here you can purchase additional scenario packs to carry on with this campaign, or purchase completely new campaigns! Many dangers and horrors are waiting for you and you must strategically battle through various horrifying creatures and complete multiple skill tests to succeed. Unlike Mansions of Madness, Arkham Horror: The Card Game doesn’t require an app to play the game. Again, gameplay takes around 2-3 hours. Why not make your own atmospheric soundtrack for this one or use a H.P Lovecraft inspired playlist on Spotify to add to the horror! As with Mansions of Madness, I wouldn’t recommend this game for families with children.
Friday the 13th: Horror at Camp Crystal Lake – For your classic horror fans
Celebrating Halloween with a classic horror movie night with your friends? Then for an additional fright, why not play Friday the 13th: Horror at Camp Crystal Lake! For 3-5 players, this card- based game is great to accompany your horror film fest as it is easy to pick up and play. You each play as a “Camp Counsellor” trying to collect resources around the campgrounds before Jason attacks you and you are forced to retreat to the Cabin. Resources earn you blood splatter points and the highest score after five days (or rounds) is the winner. But watch out! Fear cards also add random elements and events into the game to keep up the suspense. This is very much a game of chance in a lot of ways but there is some strategy to it too. Gameplay lasts around an hour for this one. Due to the bloody themes of this game, I wouldn’t recommend this one for families with children.
Horrified – For frightful families, and friends!
Got older children that want to join in on the fun? Then Horrified might be the perfect game for you. Horrified is an ace co-op tabletop game for 1-5 players that combines strategy with your favourite horror monsters. In this original version you are trying to save the town and its villagers from being terrorised! This version includes Dracula, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, Frankenstein’s Monster and Frankenstein’s Bride, The Wolfman, The Invisible Man, and The Mummy, all of which require you to complete a unique set of tasks before you can vanquish them. The great thing about this game is that it is simple to play yet has enough elements to keep the game interesting for all ages. And when you want a bit of a challenge, you can increase the difficult by adding additional monsters into your game. Gameplay lasts between 1-2 hours depending on the difficulty level. It’s also good to note that there are now a few versions of this game, each with a different set of monsters.
BOOoop – For couples or two mates that love Halloween, and cats!
The Halloween version of Boop, this game... well... try to imagine if noughts and crosses and draughts had a wooden cat filled baby that wanted to play on a squared cushioned bed, then add some ghastly ghost cats into the mix and you have BOOop! Sounds crazy, I know, but there is something very fun and addictive about this two-player game. The aim of the game is to get three kittens in a row to grow them into adult cats, and then get three adult cats in a row to win. Well, that sounds simple you say! And, in theory, I suppose it is. But when you place a cat on the bed, any other cat in an adjacent space boops onto the next adjacent space. Soon you’ve got cats and kittens booping all over the place, falling off the bed and making a scene. And watch out for them spooky ghost cats! They scare your cats and kittens so much they boop over other cats or kittens! This head-to-head game would also be great fun for older kids too. And if you have a cat, I’m sure they’ll appreciate watching the Halloween fun sat in the lid of the box!
Cthulhu and Monster Fluxx – For when all everyone wants is a quick card game
If you haven’t played any Fluxx games before you’re in for a treat! This 2-6 player card game can last anything from 5 – 30 minutes and the rules are... well... you and the cards make the rules! You start out just drawing a card and playing a card but different cards make new rules throughout the game. These can be as simple as drawing two cards instead of one, or playing two cards instead of one, but there are other crazy rules too; some which are themed depending on which deck you are playing. To win, all you have to do is complete an active goal card. This usual requires you to have played certain cards, or “keepers”, onto the table in front of you. I’ve featured two sets here which are keeping in with the Halloween theme, but there are many different themed decks, all of which have their own merits! With these two sets, Monster Fluxx would be a great introductory deck and would be great for kids too, whereas Cthulhu Fluxx, I would recommend for teenagers or adults that have played other versions of Fluxx, as the additional rules are more complicated with this version.
Thanks for reading my frightening feature! Happy gaming, and I hope you have a horribly fun Halloween!
