Arkham Horror

[Zarniwoop]

This is a little gem of a game. Everytime we have played it people have wanted to play again which is always a good sign with a game that has a longer play time.

The pieces are beautifully made and fit the overall theme very well, the text on the cards, characters and monsters just pile on the theme and atmosphere.

Even playing with 8 people everyone feels part of the game as others take their turns. I won't deny the rules are complex at first glance but are easier to understand during play. But even getting some of the rules wrong adds to the fun so this is not a big problem.

This is a cooperative game where you play a group of people trying to halt the onslaught of monsters within Arkham and trying to prevent the awakening of one of the Ancient Ones. There are lots of elements to this game and plenty for each player to do each turn. There is a lot of things that can only be achieved by people doing different tasks. Each of the characters in this game has unique qualities that aid them and others in the game, making it interesting to try playing the game with different characters each time.

Arkham has lots of pieces, cards and a very large colourful board. The game last about 4 hours but it does not feel like a long game when playing as you are gripped all the way through as you try to battle the forces of evil within the game.

This is a very atmospheric boardgame and I would recommend this to anyone as it has loads of replayability and that's without looking at the various expansions..

[CardcoreGamer]

Arkham Horror is a groaning shambles of mechanics, cards, dice, text and tokens. It's a sprawling mess of a game which, to be honest, is far more complex than it needs to be. Add the weight of the expansions and it's probable that your floor will collapse. Arkham Horror is rather a shoddy game and is also one of my all-time favourite things to play.

The reason why is simple: The Game is alive and The Game is hungry. Arkham Horror is so steeped in theme that it will drip gelatinously off the table and seep into your socks, It might even crawl up your leg. Every single time I play this game I come away with bizarre stories to tell and the overwhelming feeling of impending doom and impenetrably weird circumstances is one I have never experienced with any other board game.

I love Arkham Horror, but I do wish it didn't leave claw marks on the fridge and stains on the carpet.

[Zarniwoop]

I kind of agree with that, I love the game to bits and of all the games I own it is a shining example of how to intergrate theme into a game though all aspects of its gameplay.
......... Yup BUT the rules are extensive and we have long since come to the conclusion that to play this game well you need someone who will act as GM, even if they still play a character in the game, who is familiar with the rules and helps the pace of the game by running everyone through their turns.

We played this a LOT at the early Raiders and have played through the FFG Leagues all of which has proved how much we all love this game. The expansions add extra madness and help keep the difficulty level right as players get more experienced with the game. There is not a game we have played of this though where we have not skipped/missed/Forgotten a least some rule or minor aspect but as long as the story flows and people are having fun at the table that is all that matters.

We have also adopted playing music during the game and the Midnight Syndicate stuff is thoroughly appropriate as atmospheric background music.