With Halloween approaching, there are numerous ways for people to celebrate the spooky season. Some people enjoy watching scary movies and TV series. Some people enjoy horror video games. But here in Gaming Library, we will pull out some of the best horror-themed board games to play with our friends.
If horror films or video games aren’t your thing, Gaming Library offers scary board games that’ll definitely get you in the Halloween spirit. No Spirit of the Glass here; put the board and the planchette away. You don’t need to summon spirits or demons to have great fun unwittingly!
Let’s get into these spooky board games one by one.
One Night Ultimate Werewolf Daybreak
There’s nothing scarier than realizing your friends have turned on you... especially when they’re howling at the moon.
One Night Ultimate Werewolf Daybreak adapts the classic social deduction gameplay of Werewolf, where innocents must identify the werewolves to win. It’s Among Us meets Underworld, but in board game form. Unlike the original, this version condenses the excitement into just one round, making for a fast-paced, single-evening game. This keeps the game fresh and is an ideal spooky board game for Halloween parties where you want to keep the party going.
Zombicide
If The Last of Us taught us anything, it’s that surviving the apocalypse requires teamwork, resource management, and nerves of steel.
Zombies have appeared in everything from movies to some of the best horror survival games, and Zombicide allows players to experience firsthand the craziness and bloodshed of zombies.
In the game, players assume the roles of various survivors and work to improve their skills and abilities to fight the zombies surrounding them. It’s the ideal game for zombie fans everywhere, as they can fight the zombie apocalypse themselves and see how difficult it is to survive the undead on all sides. After all, the game implies that there are far more zombies than bullets.
Ticket to Ride: Ghost Train
All aboard the Ghost Train for some eerie yet delightful fun!
For a more family-friendly option this Halloween, Ticket to Ride: Ghost Train is a spooktacular version of the classic game that’s perfect for kids. Players build rail routes through a haunted world filled with ghosts, pumpkins, and creepy stations. The game keeps the rules simple so it’s easier for younger players to join in the fun while offering enough strategy for adults to enjoy. It’s a lighthearted way to celebrate Halloween, letting everyone enjoy the spooky action without any real scares.
Mysterium Kids: Captain Echo’s Treasure
Imagine Bluey meets The Sixth Sense. That’s Mysterium Kids.
Abstract storytelling takes a spooky turn in Mysterium Kids: Captain Echo’s Treasure. One of the best horror tabletop games that’s also kid-friendly, it reimagines the system made popular by the original Mysterium game, where ghosts (yes, real ones!) help you solve mysteries, especially their murders.
In Mysterium Kids (and classic Mysterium), one player takes on the role of a ghost who can only communicate through a deck of stunningly illustrated cards. The ghost uses these cards to guide the other players, acting as paranormal investigators, to uncover hidden treasure before the night ends. By introducing a more structured ruleset and a deeper theme, the Mysterium system builds on Dixit’s original concept, creating a game that’s not only more immersive but also more challenging.
Final Girl
If you’ve ever yelled “Don’t go in there!” at a horror movie screen, this one’s for you.
Final Girl feels like stepping straight into an ‘80s slasher flick: campy, chaotic, and absolutely thrilling. You’re the last girl standing, fighting for your life against a relentless killer, and every move feels like it could be your last scream. It’s one of the best solo board games out there, and it captures that heart-pounding tension perfectly.
Each round, you’ll spend precious in-game time buying cards, rolling dice, and making those gut-wrenching decisions that swing between bold strategy and desperate panic. One second you’re confident, the next you’re running for your life. It’s giving Jason, Freddy, and a sprinkle of Scream Queen realness.
The production is stunning, too. Each “feature film” box (yes, they actually look like VHS tapes!) unfolds into your battleground, with one side showing the killer’s stats and the other your doomed location. There are already eight different feature films, with more on the way, and each one offers a new killer, a new map, and a fresh nightmare to survive.
It’s tense, it’s cinematic, and yes, it’s punishingly hard to win. But that’s the beauty of it. If survival were easy, then every final girl would still be alive, right?
Pandemic: Reign of Cthulhu
If regular Pandemic feels too grounded, why not trade viruses for ancient, world-ending gods?
For fans of cooperative games with straightforward mechanics, Pandemic: Reign of Cthulhu is the best horror-themed board game. It’s Doctor Strange meets H.P. Lovecraft. Based on the popular Pandemic system, this version replaces disease outbreaks with Lovecraftian horrors. Players work together to seal gates and stop ancient evil from taking over the world. The spooky theme adds just the right amount of Halloween creepiness, and the simple gameplay makes it accessible to novice and expert players.
It’s a race against time and madness. Can your group keep the cosmic horrors at bay before it’s too late?
Unfathomable
Welcome aboard the high seas, where betrayal is just another wave.
In Unfathomable, players board the SS Atlantica, headed for Boston, Massachusetts, only to face a terrifying threat from the Deep Ones, led by the Eldritch sea monsters Mother Hydra and Father Dagon, who seek to sink the ship. Think Among Us at sea, but with sea monsters and secret loyalties. Human players must fend off these horrors while managing the ship’s four vital resources, all in a bid to survive the journey to Boston. Consequently, they must uncover who among them is a traitor. At the end of each player’s turn, Mythos cards introduce a new crisis that the group must solve together.
Arkham Horror: The Card Game
It’s giving Stranger Things, but with Lovecraftian trauma.
Arkham Horror: The Card Game blends the worlds of roleplaying and card games, immersing players in Lovecraftian mystery, monsters, and madness. In this scary board game, two players (or three, if you have two Core sets) step into the eerie town of Arkham, New England. Whether haunted by the Necronomicon’s dark secrets or forced to hide evidence of otherworldly threats, players must navigate their investigations carefully.
With custom decks in hand, you’ll need courage to face the unknown. Each adventure is part of a larger campaign, where your choices and actions carry lasting consequences beyond the immediate scenario.
Blood on the Clocktower
If you love Knives Out or Murder, She Wrote, but wish they were more chaotic, this is your game.
If you’re looking for a great game to play with a big group this Halloween, Blood on the Clocktower is a must-try. This social deduction game is perfect for groups of five to twenty players, and the more, the merrier, or in this case, the spookier! Each player takes on a role, with one secretly being the killer. Players must work together, using bluffing and deduction to figure out who’s responsible before the clock runs out. With plenty of twists and turns, it’s a suspense-filled way to bring a large group together for some Halloween fun.
Mansions of Madness
Every horror story needs a cursed mansion, right?
Mansions of Madness feels like stepping into a slow-burn horror movie where the fear doesn’t come from jump scares, but from the creeping realization that something ancient and unspeakable is watching you from the shadows. Strange disappearances, eerie whispers, and creatures slithering through the fog all build up that signature Lovecraftian dread that fans of Arkham Horror know so well.
This cooperative exploration game takes you deep into the Cthulhu mythos, with every decision pulling you further into mystery and madness. What makes it stand out is its companion app (available on Android, iOS, and Steam), which doesn’t just guide the story, it sets the mood. It handles mechanics, narrates with haunting voice lines, and surrounds you with eerie soundscapes that make you feel like you’re exploring a living nightmare.
Like Betrayal at House on the Hill, you’ll start with just a few tiles of the mansion, or the dark streets of Arkham, before venturing deeper. Each door hides a new lead, a new horror, or a new clue that draws you closer to the truth. Of course, in true Lovecraftian fashion, that truth might just break your mind.
And let’s talk about the components: miniatures, tokens, maps. It’s a tactile dream for any tabletop fan. Yes, setup can take a while, but once you’re in, the payoff is incredible. Mansions of Madness is a haunting, cinematic experience that pulls you into the madness one room at a time. (I remember playing this with my friends after a wedding we attended in Tagaytay all while we were looking dapper in suits. Hahaha!)
Alice is Missing
Imagine a mystery told entirely through text messages.
Discover the truth behind the girl’s disappearance in Alice is Missing. In this creepy "silent" board game, players use their phones to text one another as they dig into the mystery of Alice Briarwood, a high school junior who vanished from the quiet town of Silent Falls in Northern California. The game begins with around 45 minutes of character creation, where you build your backstory, connections to Alice, and ties to the other players. Then, over the next 90 minutes, you’ll send in-game texts, slowly uncovering the chilling truth behind Alice’s disappearance.
Bloodborne: The Board Game
For those who think Halloween isn’t complete without boss fights.
For those who crave action and want to fight monsters this Halloween, Bloodborne: The Board Game offers a swift, combat-heavy experience. Based on the popular video game, players take on the roles of hunters battling through nightmarish creatures in a dark and twisted world. With intense combat, strategic choices, and challenging boss battles, Bloodborne provides an adrenaline-pumping experience that’s perfect for anyone looking for more than just jump scares. Gather your group, sharpen your weapons, and prepare for a bloody good time fighting monsters this Halloween!
Dungeons and Dragons
Finally, if you want to craft your own horror story, Dungeons & Dragons is the perfect canvas.
Your Halloween adventure in the amazing realm of Dungeons and Dragons begins with the D&D Starter Set and D&D Essential Kit! In the cooperative storytelling roleplaying game D&D, players are transported to various fantastical worlds where they must battle monsters, locate treasure, and complete quests. Everything you need to create a character and start your first adventure is available in these Starter and Essential sets, such as adventure books, rulebooks, and character sheets. Whether you’re channeling Castlevania vibes or writing your own Critical Role: Halloween Special, the only limit is your imagination.
Celebrate Halloween with the Spookiest Board Games from Gaming Library!
As Halloween approaches, there’s no better way to celebrate than by gathering friends and family for some scary and exciting board games. These games are perfect for delivering thrills and chills while letting players dive into eerie narratives and spine-tingling challenges. You can communicate with ghosts in Mysterium Kids, battle the undead in Zombicide, or uncover secrets in Alice is Missing. Each game brings a unique flavor of Halloween magic.
So, don your costumes, prepare for trick-or-treaters, and host a game night filled with fun and fear.
About Gaming Library
Gaming Library is your ultimate destination for board games, offering a diverse selection perfect for families, friends, and gamers of all levels—from beginners to seasoned pros. 🌟 We carefully curate our collection by sourcing the best titles from around the globe, ensuring there’s something for everyone, whether you’re a casual player or a hardcore hobbyist. 🎲 Our mission is to bring people together, strengthen family bonds, and create lasting friendships through the joy of tabletop gaming. Beyond the fun, we believe board games are a powerful way to develop essential skills and sharpen critical thinking—skills you can carry into everyday life. Explore our world of games and discover the perfect match for your next game night!
