Chilling Board Games Perfect for Your Halloween Gathering

Charles in Others Oct 14 • 26 min read

Halloween is a time of thrills, chills, and, of course, gatherings with friends and family. While costumes and candy are staples of the season, one of the best ways to celebrate Halloween is by immersing yourself in a spooky board game. Whether you love horror, mystery, or just a good laugh with friends, these Halloween-themed board games offer something for everyone.

In this guide, we’ll explore some of the best Halloween board games that bring horror, fun, and excitement to your tabletop. Whether you're looking for strategic battles, eerie investigations, or light-hearted fun, these games are perfect for setting the Halloween mood.

1. Betrayal at House on the Hill

Publisher: Avalon Hill
Number of Players: 3-6
Playtime: 60 minutes
Features: Explore a haunted mansion; one player becomes a traitor; high replayability with different scenarios.

Betrayal at House on the Hill is a quintessential Halloween board game, providing an immersive experience filled with twists and turns. Players explore a haunted mansion, building the board room by room as they go, uncovering eerie secrets and confronting supernatural events. What makes this game unique is its twist halfway through — one player becomes a traitor and the game shifts from cooperative to competitive.

With over 50 different haunting scenarios, each playthrough is different, ensuring high replayability. The atmosphere of the game, combined with the unpredictable nature of the haunt, makes this an excellent choice for a spine-tingling Halloween night.

Why Play This Game?
It’s ideal for players who enjoy thematic exploration, betrayal, and emergent storytelling. The evolving gameplay and traitor mechanic keep players on their toes, ensuring no two games are alike.

2. Mansions of Madness (Second Edition)

Publisher: Fantasy Flight Games
Number of Players: 1-5
Playtime: 120-180 minutes
Features: Cooperative game with app integration; investigate horrors in a Lovecraftian setting.

Mansions of Madness (Second Edition) is a deeply immersive game that combines cooperative gameplay with Lovecraftian horror. Players take on the roles of investigators exploring terrifying mansions and locations while solving puzzles, battling monsters, and uncovering dark mysteries.

One of the most innovative aspects of this game is its app integration. The app serves as the dungeon master, guiding players through the narrative and randomizing events, ensuring that no two games are the same. The game also features a rich, atmospheric setting inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft, making it perfect for fans of cosmic horror.

Why Play This Game?
This is a great pick for players who want a deep, narrative-driven experience and enjoy working together to uncover chilling secrets. The app adds a modern touch to the gameplay, creating a seamless, dynamic experience.

3. Gloom

Publisher: Atlas Games
Number of Players: 2-4
Playtime: 60 minutes
Features: Unique storytelling mechanics; aim to bring your characters to miserable ends before other players do.

If you have a dark sense of humor, Gloom is the game for you. In this quirky card game, each player controls a family of odd characters, aiming to give them the most miserable life possible before sending them to their untimely deaths. The storytelling mechanics are what set this game apart, as players narrate the tragic and often humorous events that befall their characters.

The game’s transparent cards are another standout feature, allowing players to layer negative or positive effects on their characters as they try to lower their family’s self-worth while sabotaging other players.

Why Play This Game?
Gloom’s macabre humor and storytelling elements make it a fun, lighthearted game with a spooky twist. It’s perfect for Halloween gatherings where laughter is just as important as the theme.

4. Dead of Winter: A Crossroads Game

Publisher: Plaid Hat Games
Number of Players: 2-5
Playtime: 60-120 minutes
Features: Semi-cooperative survival game set in a zombie apocalypse; includes moral dilemmas.

For those who crave a blend of survival and horror, Dead of Winter offers a tense, post-apocalyptic experience. Players lead groups of survivors trying to outlast a harsh winter while fending off zombies and facing moral dilemmas. What makes this game unique is its semi-cooperative nature. While players work together to achieve group objectives, each has their own secret agenda, which could involve betraying the group.

Crossroads cards introduce unexpected narrative events, often forcing players to make tough decisions that can affect the entire game. The balance between cooperation and personal goals keeps players engaged, adding layers of strategy and tension.

Why Play This Game?
Dead of Winter is perfect for players who enjoy strategic survival games with an element of psychological tension. It’s ideal for a spooky, high-stakes Halloween night where trust is put to the test.

5. Horrified

Publisher: Ravensburger
Number of Players: 1-4
Playtime: 60 minutes
Features: Cooperative game featuring classic Universal monsters; players work together to save the town.

Fans of classic horror will love Horrified, a cooperative game where players must band together to defend a town from famous Universal monsters like Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster, and the Wolfman. Each monster has its own unique abilities and weaknesses, so players must strategize to defeat them while protecting the town’s citizens.

The game's cooperative nature makes it easy for new players to jump in, and its varied difficulty levels ensure that it remains challenging and exciting, no matter how experienced the group is.

Why Play This Game?
Horrified’s blend of classic horror themes and cooperative gameplay makes it a perfect Halloween pick for families and groups who want to fight monsters rather than each other.

6. One Night Ultimate Werewolf

Publisher: Bezier Games
Number of Players: 3-10
Playtime: 10 minutes per round
Features: Fast-paced social deduction game; players take on hidden roles to identify the werewolves.

One Night Ultimate Werewolf is a thrilling social deduction game where players are assigned hidden roles, with some becoming werewolves and others trying to root them out. The fast-paced rounds, combined with the need for quick thinking and deception, make this game ideal for large gatherings.

Each round lasts just 10 minutes, so even if a player is eliminated, they won’t have to wait long for the next game. The variety of roles and abilities ensures that each round feels fresh and exciting.

Why Play This Game?
This game is great for groups looking for a quick, easy-to-learn game with lots of interaction. It’s particularly suited to Halloween parties, where suspense and laughter are key ingredients.

7. Murder Mystery Party Games

Publisher: Various
Number of Players: Varies
Playtime: 2-3 hours
Features: Various themed scenarios where players gather clues and try to solve a whodunit.

Murder mystery party games are a staple for Halloween, offering a blend of role-playing, deduction, and storytelling. Players are assigned characters and given clues, and it’s up to them to figure out who the murderer is. These games come in various themes, from classic 1920s settings to modern-day mysteries, allowing for a tailored experience based on the group’s preferences.

The immersive nature of these games often encourages players to dress up and fully engage in the mystery, making them a great option for a Halloween event with a theatrical flair.

Why Play This Game?
If you’re looking for a more interactive and role-playing-heavy experience, a murder mystery game is the perfect Halloween choice. It’s ideal for players who love solving puzzles and getting into character.

8. The Fury of Dracula

Publisher: Fantasy Flight Games
Number of Players: 2-5
Playtime: 150 minutes
Features: Asymmetrical gameplay; one player acts as Dracula while others hunt him down across Europe.

In The Fury of Dracula, one player takes on the role of Dracula, moving secretly across Europe and spreading his influence, while the other players control hunters trying to track him down. The asymmetrical nature of the game creates a tense, strategic experience as the hunters race against time to corner Dracula before his plans come to fruition.

This game excels at creating a cat-and-mouse atmosphere, with hidden movement, deduction, and combat mechanics that make each session feel like a thrilling chase.

Why Play This Game?
It’s perfect for players who enjoy strategic, team-based gameplay with a classic horror theme. The game’s complex mechanics and long playtime make it ideal for a dedicated group looking for a deep, immersive Halloween experience.

9. Killer Bunnies and the Quest for the Magic Carrot

Publisher: Lunar Corporation
Number of Players: 2-8
Playtime: 60-90 minutes
Features: Humorous card game featuring bunnies fighting for the magical carrot; lots of randomness.

For a more lighthearted Halloween game, Killer Bunnies and the Quest for the Magic Carrot offers quirky fun with a lot of randomness. Players compete to collect the elusive magic carrot by playing cards that can help or hinder their opponents. The game’s unpredictable nature and humorous theme make it a great choice for a more casual gaming experience.

Why Play This Game?
If you’re in the mood for something silly and chaotic, Killer Bunnies offers a fun and fast-paced experience that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

10. The Halloween Game

Publisher: Not specified
Number of Players: 2-8
Playtime: 30-60 minutes
Features: A party game themed around Halloween challenges; includes trivia and mini-games.

The Halloween Game is a party game designed specifically for the spooky season, offering players a mix of Halloween-themed trivia and mini-games. It’s perfect for a casual Halloween gathering, providing light entertainment that can easily accommodate players of all ages.

Why Play This Game?
This game is ideal for families or groups looking for a simple, accessible party game to complement their Halloween festivities.

11. Cthulhu: Death May Die

Publisher: CMON
Number of Players: 1-5
Playtime: 90-120 minutes
Features: Combine episodic gameplay with cooperative mechanics; fight against the mythos and attempt to defeat Cthulhu.

Cthulhu: Death May Die is a cooperative game that plunges players into the chaos of the Cthulhu mythos. Players work together to disrupt cult rituals and ultimately confront and defeat ancient, powerful beings like Cthulhu himself. With episodic gameplay, the game offers different scenarios that build on the overall narrative.

The game's miniatures and high production value add to its immersive atmosphere, making it a standout choice for horror and adventure fans.

Why Play This Game?
This is perfect for a challenging, cooperative game with rich thematic content and plenty of tension. Fans of Lovecraftian horror will find this to be a top-tier choice for Halloween night.

Final Thoughts

Halloween is the perfect time to gather friends and family for a night of thrilling board games. Whether you’re battling zombies in Dead of Winter, uncovering supernatural secrets in Betrayal at House on the Hill, or trying to outsmart your friends in One Night Ultimate Werewolf, there’s something on this list for every group and every taste.

These Halloween board games offer a range of experiences, from intense, story-driven adventures to light-hearted party games, making them a great way to celebrate the season. So gather around the table, dim the lights, and prepare for a hauntingly good time!