Out of all my hobbies, there isn’t a single thing that I can point to as the “big bang” moment when my interest in it sparked. All with one exception, board games, and that flash of inspiration was the first time I played Arkham Horror 2nd Edition from Fantasy Flight Games, back around 2008. One of my earliest Facebook photos is of me and my friends sitting around the dining room table at my mom’s with our standees lined up facing the Cthulhu's giant card as we made our final stand. Now, that same edition that sparked my love for the hobby has its sights on coming back as Arkham Horror Remastered and its campaign that will help make it a reality is launching in just a few short days over on Gamefound. IGN had a chance to speak with members of Fantasy Flight Game’s team about the project, the first in what they are calling their “Vault Series”.
This revived version of the much beloved Second Edition of Arkham Horror marks the first release in what Fantasy Flight Games has dubbed its “Vault Series”. An effort that looks to bring back and reintroduce classic games from the company’s legendary backlog to modern audiences. In Arkham’s case, this version of the cooperative Lovecraftian series has been out of print for a number of years with a whole other (and rather different) third edition between then and now.
“Arkham Horror 2nd Edition is a cornerstone of the industry that paved the way for many modern gaming experiences. It’s a fan favorite that many people have affectionately called their first entrance into board gaming. It’s actually the first FFG board game I ever played,“ Wesley Mouri, FFG’s brand ambassador says. “Because it has been out of print for some time, we have seen a number of fans looking to complete their collections or eager to experience this classic title for the first time. Balancing those made it the perfect choice for our debut Vault Series title.”
For folks that have spent years wandering the streets of Arkham, closing interdimensional gates and shutting down the nefarious machinations of cultists and cosmic horrors in the 2nd Edition, Remastered will feel like coming home. In fact, the team’s goal is to make it a smoother experience to get new players into this world, taking lessons learned over the course of the past 15 years since the last expansion was released.
Dane Beltrami, the designer who has been working on updating the 2nd Edition for Remastered explains it like this: “Many of the rules have been clarified either via wording or graphic design. Cards more clearly state what they do and require less upkeep/references to other rules. That said, some bigger things did change – such as combining the Arkham Encounter Phase and the Other World Encounter Phase into a single Encounter Phase. Overall, the big focus was to make it so that effects didn’t rely on you needing to look up things frequently throughout the game.” Dane continues, saying: “This was accomplished by having cards more clearly state exactly what they do and by making use of intuitive graphic design to act as reminders for players to make use of during the gameplay. One example of this is that the terror track was given a clearer graphic design so that players know what happens at each terror threshold.”
On the topic of the designs and artwork, Remastered looks to be adopting a similar artstyle to that found in FFG’s incredibly popular and ongoing Arkham Horror: Living Card Game, which saw its own new core set release earlier this year that we reviewed. An observation that Dane elaborated on, “There was a conscious effort to unify the look of Arkham Horror Remastered with the current aesthetic established by the Arkham Horror Living Card Game.
As we have continued to develop the Arkham brand, we have seen the aesthetic evolve significantly. Our primary goal with this updated art direction is to modernize the experience for a new generation of players. By bringing these elements together, we create a more cohesive and accessible look that still feels true to the dark, atmospheric aesthetic of Arkham Horror. We want every player, old or new, to feel fully immersed in this world.”
While the campaign preview over on Gamefound and FFG themselves have already shown off some of the updated visuals Remastered is sporting, one such example of this work we get to share with you investigators, exclusively here on IGN, is “Tulzscha - The Green Flame”, one of the heralds from the Kingsport expansion. The artwork, created by artist Peter Polach, features the mysterious cultists attempting to shield themselves from the menacing green fire, brought to the forefront of the image instead of small in the background, but the skulls and other horrors still clearly shown in Tulzscha itself.
When it comes to the pledges themselves, while the specifics we really won’t know until it launches, we do have an idea of what some folks can expect, courtesy of Wesley: “We have designed the pledge options to be flexible, so you can choose the best experience for you and your friend group. For those looking for the full experience, we have a bundled option which includes the base game and all available expansions.” For those that may not want to commit all at once though, they have you covered too, “but for those who might prefer to build their set piece by piece, you will also be able to pledge for the base game and then select specific expansions as individual add-ons.”
While much of Arkham Horror Remastered has me excited, as someone who does own the original version of Second Edition and this being a reintroduction of the ruleset for the modern tabletop masses, I was hopeful that I could supplement my missing expansions with these newly remastered (and far easier to obtain) options instead. Unfortunately, for those who were hoping for the same, there is some unfortunate news.
“While the core gameplay hasn’t changed, the Remastered version of Arkham Horror 2nd Edition makes use of updated graphic design and streamlined text on cards. As a result, the two versions of the game aren’t compatible with each other,” Dane explains. Like, I get it, and maybe it’s for the best so I can retire my worn and frayed 2nd Edition to let it live out the rest of its glory years in a cool, dry, and dark place in my house, but still doesn’t mean I can’t be a bit bummed, right?
One of the stars of the Arkham Games are the investigators - the characters that players assume the roles as - with most people I have played with usually having a favorite. For myself, I will now and forever be a Dexter Drake player. Drake being a magician with a killer cape, and top hat (think Tuxedo Mask from Sailor Moon but swap out the mask for a killer mustache and you have a good idea). Taking the chance, I wanted to find out who Wesley and Dane tended to opt for when an Elder God was acting up.
“Probably Diana Stanley is my go-to choice. She was actually one of the first investigators I picked up for a game, and I had such a memorable experience with her that I ended up playing as her every time after that.” Dane shares. “There is something about that initial connection that really sticks with you. If I look at my most-played investigators over the years, though, I tend to gravitate toward Leo Anderson, Mandy Thompson, and Jim Culver. Each of them offers such a different way to tackle the horrors of Arkham, which is part of what keeps the game so endlessly replayable.”
Wesley, however, appears to be cut from the same cape cloth as myself. “I’m also a huge Dexter Drake fan! I actually dressed up as him for Halloween last year. And speaking of well dressed, Jenny Barnes is another favorite. Anyone who can dual-wield pistols while wearing a set of pearls is always going to be on the top of my list. Mechanically speaking, I am a fan of Minh Thi Phan. Having a reliable support character to boost team stats shouldn’t be underestimated.”
The original Arkham Horror, designed by Richard Launius, will be turning 40 years old next year, and the line of games that he helped create is more popular than ever. The 2nd Edition’s popularity would go on to not only spawn numerous expansions but would also help give birth to a whole line of Fantasy Flight Game products under the “Arkham Horror Files” flag, with so many already that we have a full Buyer’s Guide dedicated to. It seems fitting then that arguably the most recognizable and endearing version of the eldritch board game would be granted new life to celebrate.
Existing Arkham Horror Expansions
“Our immediate goal” Wesley says, “is to successfully reintroduce the 2005 ruleset to fans, both new and old. We are putting all our energy into making this release the best it can be, and we look forward to seeing how the community engages with it.”
For tabletop hobbyists that have never stepped foot into the cult-ridden city, there is no better time to seriously consider checking it out. For everyone else, get your axes ready and renew your membership to the Silver Twilight Lodge, looks like we have gates that aren’t going to close themselves.