Sadly, a lot of great Halloween board games max out at three or four players, and a lot of the larger horror-themed games aren’t so hot. But don’t fret! You have options. Here are our picks for the best Halloween party games to break out this year if you need a horror-themed game that’ll play well with five or more players.
15. Mysterium
Mysterium is a beautifully haunting murder mystery board game that combines Dixit-like mechanics with paranormal investigation. Average playing time: 45 minutes One player is the Ghost, who can’t speak and can only communicate with players using visions (vague illustration cards with no text). The rest of the players are Mediums, who use the visions they’re given to solve the crime: who did it, where they did it, and with what weapon. While Mysterium is a good thematic fit for Halloween, it does require a certain kind of group for maximum fun—players who are creative, plus a Ghost who knows what they’re doing.
14. Letters From Whitechapel
In Letters From Whitechapel, one player is Jack the Ripper who’s seeking out victims while the rest of the players are police detectives trying to apprehend Jack before he can complete his gruesome streak. Average playing time: 90 minutes The key aspect that makes this a winner is that Jack the Ripper’s movements are hidden, so the detectives really must follow his trail and deduce his whereabouts based on clues. But Jack the Ripper has a few tricks up his sleeves to lose his tail and get ahead. Like Mysterium, Letters From Whitechapel is a one-versus-many board game, which is the main reason why we’re ranking it this lowly on our list. It’s a great Halloween game, but not an easy one for a Halloween party.
13. King of Tokyo: Halloween
King of Tokyo: Halloween is actually an expansion to King of Tokyo, adding two new Halloween-themed monsters, twelve new Power cards, and a set of six orange dice that complete the Halloween theme. Average playing time: 30 minutes King of Tokyo is a fast-paced game where players take on the roles of different monsters as they clash and fight for control of Tokyo. The first one to destroy Tokyo—or the last one standing—is the winner. We recommend grabbing the King of Tokyo Monster Box because it includes the base game, the Halloween and Power Up! expansions, plus a few more exclusive cards.
12. Zombie Dice (Horde Edition)
Zombie Dice (Horde Edition) is a quick and easy game that involves custom dice with three faces: Brain, Footsteps, Shotgun. On your turn, you roll three dice and may re-roll any Footsteps. You then decide whether to stop and collect OR keep going by rolling another set of three dice. Average playing time: 15 minutes Every Brain you collect is worth a point, but if you end up with three Shotguns at any point during your turn, your turn instantly ends and you don’t get to collect any Brains that turn. It’s great for bigger groups since it’s so simple to learn, so fast to play, and so fun when players keep pushing their luck.
11. Last Night on Earth
Last Night on Earth is an old but classic survival board game inspired by horror movies that pits players against zombie hordes. Four of the players are heroes, while the fifth and sixth players control the zombies. Average playing time: 60 to 90 minutes Players take on character roles that each have their own quirks and abilities, and there are multiple scenarios (e.g. survival, rescue, escape) that change how each game plays out. Explore the board to find items that’ll help in the battle against the zombie onslaught. The 10th Anniversary Edition is a stark improvement over the original, incorporating extra mechanics (like Experience and Fire) along with brand new cards and heroes, plus an improved rulebook.
10. Elder Sign
Not many dice games have an average playing time of 90 minutes, but Elder Sign makes full use of every minute. Average playing time: 90 minutes Players are investigators who must work together and find the Elder Signs to ward off the arrival of an Ancient One. Elder Signs aren’t easy to find, and there’s a countdown mechanic that keeps you on the edge of your seat, with each turn bringing the Ancient One another step closer. This one’s simpler than other similar Cthulhu-themed games—like Arkham Horror and Eldritch Horror—so it’s a solid pick for a one-night Halloween experience shared between board game newbies and veterans.
9. The Hunger
The Hunger is a deckbuilding game in which every player is a vampire who’s competing against the rest to hunt down as humans as they can and complete secret objectives. They must also obtain a rose and return to the castle before sunrise. Average playing time: 60 minutes Each player has their own deck with speed cards used to move around and hunt humans. But the more you hunt, the slower you become—and you may not make it back to the castle in time. The Hunger is a fun one with mechanics that aren’t too commonly found in the types of board games that come out on Halloween.
8. Mascarade
Mascarade is a fast-paced bluffing game where players are each dealt (face-down) a unique character card with a unique action. Average playing time: 30 minutes On your turn, you can take any action by claiming to be that character—but if you’re caught by a player who’s actually the character, you lose your turn. Or, if you don’t want to risk bluffing, you can take your card along with someone else’s card, secretly shuffle, and hand one back to them. Like any real masquerade, it’s hard to tell who anyone is—and some may even lose track of who they are themselves. It’s a terribly fun game for a large group, and it’s perfectly themed for Halloween.
7. A Touch of Evil
In A Touch of Evil, players are monster-hunting heroes who must investigate the town of Shadowbrook and its surrounding countryside for answers as they prepare to take down the Supernatural Villain. Average playing time: 60 to 120 minutes There are four different Villains in the game, each one with their own unique set of Minions that change the feel of the game. There are eight different Hero characters, each bringing something different to the table. A Touch of Evil can be played cooperatively (everyone works together to bring down the Villain) or competitively (the first to reach and take down the Villain wins). Either way, it’s a solid hour or two of fun for a Halloween party with guests who are open to a moderately complex game.
6. Betrayal at House on the Hill
Betrayal at House on the Hill is fast becoming a classic Halloween board game because everything about it works: the horror theme, the collaborative first half, the unpredictable house layout, the moment of betrayal. Average playing time: 60 minutes And once the traitor is revealed, the stakes are ramped up all the way to the climax where only one team can win. The third edition of Betrayal at House on the Hill includes 50 different scenarios that each play out in different ways. Not only is the atmospheric narrative fun to experience, it’s also highly replayable.
5. Let’s Split Up
If you want your Halloween party to be more active, Let’s Split Up is a surprisingly fun one-versus-many activity that’s best played in a large home, church, or office with lots of room to move and hide. Average playing time: 30 to 90 minutes The Killer must complete the tasks on their Killer Card and can only start killing—by touching with their glowing foam knife-baton—once they’ve completed at least three tasks. One such task might be: “Yell out a 30-second monologue about what made you become a killer.” The Suburbos (all non-Killer players) all have individual objectives to complete via Suburbo Cards to gain points. Incomplete objectives result in lost points. Dead Suburbos can still play by relaying information or passing Suburbo Cards between players.
4. Fangs
Fangs is a fast-paced social deduction game that’s perfect for groups who want more depth than the aforementioned Mascarade. Average playing time: 30 minutes Players are each dealt a secret character identity, with characters being either Vampire, Werewolf, or Human. Generally speaking, Werewolves and Vampires want to destroy each other while Humans just want to survive—but it’s tough when nobody knows who’s who. Each turn, players can move locations, find equipment, and gather information to deduce identities. You need to act before your enemies take you out, but not so quickly that you accidentally take out allies!
3. Eldritch Horror
Fair warning: Eldritch Horror is the heaviest game on this list, clocking in at between two to four hours for a complete playthrough. But if you have a larger group that’s willing to commit, it’s a real Halloween winner. Average playing time: 120 to 240 minutes The premise is similar to the aforementioned Elder Sign: players are investigators who must work together to fend off the arrival of an Ancient One. But in Eldritch Horror, you’re doing way more than simply collecting Elder Signs. It’s a much more involved game. Gather clues, solve mysteries, and be strong in the face of otherworldly encounters. You’ll be on the edge of your seats because Eldritch Horror isn’t an easy game. But whether you win or lose, your group will walk away having shared a memorable experience.
2. Wizards & Werewolves
Don’t let the box art for Wizards & Werewolves turn you away, and don’t roll your eyes at its description as a “Magical Hide and Seek” game. Wizards & Werewolves comes with three game modes, but our favorite is the complex mode with Player Role Cards that grant special abilities. Average playing time: 20 to 90 minutes Players are split into equal teams: Werewolves and Wizards. One Werewolf is the Alpha Werewolf, who wears a glowing blue armlet and hides glowing crystals at the start. The Wizards all wear armlets that glow red. The Werewolves aim to convert Wizards by tagging them. Wizards want to destroy the Alpha Werewolf, but they must first find and hold a crystal before they can tag the Alpha Werewolf. If a Wizard is tagged while holding a crystal, they don’t convert—but they lose the crystal. As for special abilities, they include: healing converted Wizards, temporarily banishing non-Alpha Werewolves, being able to walk outside the field marker boundaries, and more. It’s a game that’s suitable for kids but just as fun for adults with the Player Role Cards—especially when played at night outdoors. Combine two sets to play a massive field game with up to 20 players!
1. One Night Ultimate Werewolf
I’ll be honest: I’m not a huge fan of the original Mafia/Werewolf game because of the moderator, the baseless accusations, the many nights, the eliminations that leave players bored and waiting. Average playing time: 10 minutes One Night Ultimate Werewolf solves those issues. It condenses the full experience into a single night, so you aren’t waiting an hour to play the next game. And with there only being a single night, the stakes are ramped up—you only have one shot to get things right. One Night Ultimate Werewolf is driven by an accompanying app, which eliminates the need for a moderator. Plus, there are a dozen character cards with unique abilities, which introduces real ways to gather information and deduce who might actually be the werewolf. Games are quick at just 10 minutes, but the impact of each session hits hard. It’s addictive and it’s perfect for a Halloween party—everyone will want to keep playing just one more time.
