It's an amazing game, but easily one of the most expensive boardgame hobby to get into. If you even try to get all the cards a couple campaign cycles in, you've probably already spent enough money that could buy several other premium big box boardgames instead. Now of course, that being said, Arkham Horror has some of the best scenario design in the boardgame space, including incredible replay value if the players are really into deckbuilding and experimentation.
What a coincidence you came out with this video, as I just bought the revised core set last week after pretty much ignoring the entire series because of the reasons you mentioned. I played a few games already and it's been great. I have the new expansions and some starter decks on order. Great video!
My biggest issue with the Arkham LCG is actually the theme. I love the 1920s setting and I usually love the earlier, more grounded scenarios, but they usually fall apart for me once we get to the last or second to last scenario and I'm battling some great old one in a weird plane of existence. Battling monsters on a train or having a car chase with some mobsters is super fun but after the big boss I always feel a bit underwhelmed.
I have the first 2 campaigns and I'm constantly amazed of how they manage to tell very differently feeling stories just with cards. From a desperate and action-packed against time to tense hide and seek to quiet investigation, the interaction of mechanics and theme is brilliant as is the Chaos Bag. I'm not a huge card game player or competent deck builder but I love just throwing some cards together and then getting kicked about by the cruelty of that evil bag.
Just getting into this with the revised box this week. Haven't actually sat down to try to play yet. I would have never bought this under the old packaging/release scheme.
My wife & I started playing this a few months ago, after a buddy gave me the old core set. Really enjoying the strong story elements and character progression. Didn’t take long to see the benefit of owning a second core, which I purchased. Good on FFG for updating the core set and changing the release structure going forward. Just ordered Curse of the Rougarou scenario to play over the holidays. Growing up 3 hours away from New Orleans, I couldn’t pass it up.
Arkham has officially surpassed LOTR for me (in spite of my love for the theme), it’s just got a much more interesting system and better narrative hooks. MC and AH feel very different though. If I had to keep only one I’d probably say AH just because it’s fresher in my mind and individual games make a bigger impact on me, but the pickup and play of MC is something I adore and it’s my usual “crank out a quick solo game” game. I don’t see either of them leaving my collection anytime soon, even though I’ve been trimming down my games pretty vigilantly. (2021 has a net reduction in the games on my shelf, in spite of many reviews)
@@TheCardboardHerald interesting. I saw that you’ve played both Netrunner (my favorite game ever) and LOTR LCG (my current go to solo game), which scratches my deck building itch when i can’t/don’t play Netrunner. I’ve heard that LOTR is superior in depth of deck building and tactical challenge, but Arkham is superior in narrative/campaign and as a shared multiplayer coop experience. Does that align with your impressions? I’ve really enjoyed your takes and just subscribed. Thanks for your content!
Wait People don’t just have dozens of loose crown royal bags lying around? Agreed tho the intentional scarcity in the original copy (ie single copies of cards that were full playset auto includes) really killed my desire to deck build
I bought the entire game and all expansions that follow the new model because of this. Where did you get the idea for the designs on the popsicle sticks?
I bought two core sets (to play with my teen daughter and solo), well I bought one then soon realised I need another, in 2019 just before by health took a serious nosedive and then obviously before the pandemic hit. Once the pandemic hit and it became obvious my health issues were here to stay, I kinda put it away because I just couldn't deal any more and it was so hard to get hold of any more content for it, especially English language versions here in France. They're constantly out of stock on Philibert's website and when they do come in, I'm broke! But these new expansion sets make it look a much more manageable proposition, when the time comes. It's really tempting me back, sparking my interest again. I like your lollipop sticks! I have a whole bag here somewhere that I bought for the kids to do crafts, I'll have to paint some up myself! I did sew my own mythos bag, after all.
For sure. I’m really looking forward to checking out the new expansion, though. Might be the Alaskan in me but I just like arctic (or in this case Antarctic) climates.
Great review. I'm so glad that Fantasy Flight Games finally has a sensible release format for this game.
It's an amazing game, but easily one of the most expensive boardgame hobby to get into. If you even try to get all the cards a couple campaign cycles in, you've probably already spent enough money that could buy several other premium big box boardgames instead. Now of course, that being said, Arkham Horror has some of the best scenario design in the boardgame space, including incredible replay value if the players are really into deckbuilding and experimentation.
I did come from MtG and 40K before. After those AH:LCG was quite welcome XD
What a coincidence you came out with this video, as I just bought the revised core set last week after pretty much ignoring the entire series because of the reasons you mentioned. I played a few games already and it's been great. I have the new expansions and some starter decks on order. Great video!
Thank you! Glad you are digging it too. Cheers from Alaska!
My biggest issue with the Arkham LCG is actually the theme. I love the 1920s setting and I usually love the earlier, more grounded scenarios, but they usually fall apart for me once we get to the last or second to last scenario and I'm battling some great old one in a weird plane of existence. Battling monsters on a train or having a car chase with some mobsters is super fun but after the big boss I always feel a bit underwhelmed.
I have the first 2 campaigns and I'm constantly amazed of how they manage to tell very differently feeling stories just with cards. From a desperate and action-packed against time to tense hide and seek to quiet investigation, the interaction of mechanics and theme is brilliant as is the Chaos Bag. I'm not a huge card game player or competent deck builder but I love just throwing some cards together and then getting kicked about by the cruelty of that evil bag.
That chaos bag tells me you own cats.
Brilliant deduction!
Nothing worse to buy a cool tabletop or card game *in store* to just discovers the extensions aren't available anywhere else.
Just getting into this with the revised box this week. Haven't actually sat down to try to play yet. I would have never bought this under the old packaging/release scheme.
Straight to the point and very well presented!! Thank you for an awesome review!
My pleasure. Thanks for watching & cheers from Alaska!
My wife & I started playing this a few months ago, after a buddy gave me the old core set. Really enjoying the strong story elements and character progression. Didn’t take long to see the benefit of owning a second core, which I purchased. Good on FFG for updating the core set and changing the release structure going forward. Just ordered Curse of the Rougarou scenario to play over the holidays. Growing up 3 hours away from New Orleans, I couldn’t pass it up.
The later released products are way better.
How was it playing two player?
Yeah... They got me too with the revised model. Bah! Haha
So now…. Who wins in a fight? Arkham Horror, Marvel Champions, or Lord of the Rings?
Arkham has officially surpassed LOTR for me (in spite of my love for the theme), it’s just got a much more interesting system and better narrative hooks. MC and AH feel very different though. If I had to keep only one I’d probably say AH just because it’s fresher in my mind and individual games make a bigger impact on me, but the pickup and play of MC is something I adore and it’s my usual “crank out a quick solo game” game. I don’t see either of them leaving my collection anytime soon, even though I’ve been trimming down my games pretty vigilantly. (2021 has a net reduction in the games on my shelf, in spite of many reviews)
Arkham Horror
@@TheCardboardHerald interesting. I saw that you’ve played both Netrunner (my favorite game ever) and LOTR LCG (my current go to solo game), which scratches my deck building itch when i can’t/don’t play Netrunner. I’ve heard that LOTR is superior in depth of deck building and tactical challenge, but Arkham is superior in narrative/campaign and as a shared multiplayer coop experience. Does that align with your impressions? I’ve really enjoyed your takes and just subscribed. Thanks for your content!
Just finishing my first full campaign. The popsicle sticks are a fantastic idea, I'll be buying a bag of those today.
Wait People don’t just have dozens of loose crown royal bags lying around? Agreed tho the intentional scarcity in the original copy (ie single copies of cards that were full playset auto includes) really killed my desire to deck build
I bought the entire game and all expansions that follow the new model because of this. Where did you get the idea for the designs on the popsicle sticks?
Just thought what would be cool and spooky. Some of it is drawn from symbolism on card backs, others were more “IDK, tentacles are cool”.
I bought two core sets (to play with my teen daughter and solo), well I bought one then soon realised I need another, in 2019 just before by health took a serious nosedive and then obviously before the pandemic hit. Once the pandemic hit and it became obvious my health issues were here to stay, I kinda put it away because I just couldn't deal any more and it was so hard to get hold of any more content for it, especially English language versions here in France. They're constantly out of stock on Philibert's website and when they do come in, I'm broke!
But these new expansion sets make it look a much more manageable proposition, when the time comes. It's really tempting me back, sparking my interest again.
I like your lollipop sticks! I have a whole bag here somewhere that I bought for the kids to do crafts, I'll have to paint some up myself! I did sew my own mythos bag, after all.
Great analysis!
100% agree. Personally I would never invest in a cycle until I could buy the whole thing at once.
For sure. I’m really looking forward to checking out the new expansion, though. Might be the Alaskan in me but I just like arctic (or in this case Antarctic) climates.
Great explanation of a (hopefully) cautionary tale for publishers in the future.
The rulebook is atrocious.
Can’t recommend it.