As the veil between different planes of existence grows thinner, many minds turn towards the end of October. To a time when bonfires and Jack-o-lanterns are lit to restrain restless creatures to the edges of fire-cast shadows whilst much merrymaking is had with music, dance and feasting.
If you find yourself playing host to raucous celebrations, or in attendance of such at the behest of another, mayhap your time with kith and kin can be enriched with the ancient practice of playing games. For what better way is there to share in joys and sorrows than to pit yourselves against mythical foes or to challenge one another in a battle of wits.
In other words: if you want a fun party this October 31, check out some of these spooky games for a good time with friends and family.
1. Mysterium
Available for £34.99
A classic tale of a haunted manor, a mysterious death and convening with forces from the afterlife, Mysterium is one of the most appropriately immersive games you can find for a chilling night of scares (it even has an official Spotify playlist with atmospheric music).
Between one to six players take on the role of psychics trying to uncover the murderer, location and weapon of a puzzling crime scene. One player however becomes the ghost that gives clues to the psychics in the form of abstract, beautifully illustrated tarot-sized vision cards.
The thoughtful design makes every card and component a feast for the eyes whilst the gameplay — like with the publisher's other popular title Dixit — is image-based and very simple for new players to pick up (although set-up can be time-consuming for first-time players). For those who may have played their fair share of Mysterium, Libellud have released two expansion packs filled with new
suspects, locations, objects and story clues cards, Hidden Signs and Secrets & Lies.
2. Eat the Reich
Available for £20.99
Fans of role-playing and Dungeons & Dragons may prefer a TTRPG on their party table. What can be more appropriate for this season than a role-playing game where you become a vampire general whose goal is to drink all of Hitler's blood using ultra-violent, high-speed gameplay?
The dice pool system used by this RPG is explained in a stunningly illustrated, highly stylised rulebook. You have a roster of pregenerated vampire characters to embody and a clear goal with even clearer zombie enemies swarming the Parisian horizon. A slim volume that you can read through quickly and a campaign that can last a night or three, Eat the Reich is an bloody fantastic addition to a horror-themed games session.
Side note: if you're looking for dice to complement your horror gaming sessions, look no further than Dice Goblin's Fiendish and Deathknight sets, both of which come with their own bags and stickers.
3. Hellton Palace
Hellton Palace is a board game for a very small party. A party of two to be exact. Both players step into the role of hotel managers deep in the underworld trying to outlast each other by keeping their respective hotels operational in the face of their guests’ monstrous enthusiasm which destroys hotel rooms and foundations alike.
Your bellhops will welcome deities, mythological beasts, monsters and fairy tale creatures into your establishment. All of these terrifying guests, along with the boards, tokens and rulebook, are illustrated with bold and eye-catching graphics that are excellent at simplifying a game whose complexity can ramp up to 4D chess levels. Yet, on initial set-up, it's easy to play: just welcome guests one by one and refer to your Player Aid for how each visitor will destabilise your hotel. For a full look at the game including an unboxing, take a look at our game guide.
4. Betrayal Deck of Lost Souls
As soon as you open up the game, your spirit becomes trapped in the Deck of Lost Souls until you can escape the tarot cards. Along with other trapped souls, you must race against the horrors lurking within the deck before the traitor amongst you unleashes the Final Curse. Betrayal and bluffing will be your most powerful tools so keep them close while you hunt for the secret hidden in the cards' design.
You may have heard of the popular Betrayal at House on the Hill by Avalon Hill. This 3–5 player standalone cooperative strategy card game likewise comes from the mysterious House on the Hill as a cursed relic discovered in the House's attic. The deck's full-colour artwork is sometimes overwhelming in its density and detail but there's no denying that whether you escape the cards or not, you'll be hypnotised by the stunning designs.
5. Bag of Dungeon 2: The Cursed Forest
The sequel to Gunpowder Studio's popular Bag of Dungeon, The Cursed Forest is likewise a tile-laying fantasy adventure game for 1–4 players. If you love dungeon crawlers, Bag of Dungeon 2 will scratch your monster-slaying, adventuring and looting itch with ideal October theming as you journey through a cursed forest teeming with evil creatures.
To fans of dungeon crawlers, this game will be like a cosy bath of familiar mechanics whilst remaining simple enough to serve as a gentle introduction to the genres for players completely new to it. And don't forget the fast tidy-up after a tiring gaming night as all the elements fit neatly into a bag (hence the name).
+1. Dark Souls: The Board Game
With the Dark Souls board game, you can experience the ultimate horror: that of an empty wallet.
In all seriousness, while the cost of this 1–3 player cooperative board game is something to screech at, the weight of the box does belie just how much is packed in. This includes over 200 tokens, nearly 200 cards, four large double-sided game tiles and, not to forget, 15 detailed miniatures with 3 large bosses amongst them.
Those even passingly familiar with the Dark Souls video game series know its signature 'dismantling-a-brick-wall-with-your-head' difficulty. The Sunless City delivers on that same experience in tabletop form with a brutal adventure where you will die again and again and again. And then once more.
Side note: wouldn't it be nice to get some colour on those 15 Dark Souls miniatures to make your gameplay even more immersive? Our paint sets and brushes by The Army Painter are ready for the job, particularly if you're giving the minis an appropriately terrifying makeover.
Tag us on our socials (Instagram, Facebook) if you decide to liven up your October with any of these horror-themed tabletop games!
