Graveyard Picnic: Halloween Board Games

It's time for a second post in anticipation of Halloween! Normally next week will be the last article on this theme so if there is anything you absolutely want to read, be sure to drop me a line.

If you're still panicking about what in the name of all that is evil you might possibly do at your Halloween party, look no further; you have stumbled upon the perfect solution. Board games are great at parties and provide for much more interaction than watching films (my second go-to Halloween activity). Since plenty of games have sufficiently creepy themes, I'm here to propose a couple of appropriate Halloween games. As always when I recommend something, I have test-~~driven~~played all of these (not counting the variants!) and I love every single one of the games on this list.

The town of Arkham has never been the quietest place around, but now things are really turning around for the worst. You and a couple of aquaintances have the feeling that something bad is about to happen, so it is up to you to investigate every part of Arkham in the hopes of solving the mystery, or at least stop those strange gates from opening. If you're lucky, no ancient deities will devour you; if you're very lucky, that is.

Tip: rulebook-wise, this is a challenging game so it helps having someone around who already knows Arkham Horror. Otherwise, having the BoardGameGeek forums nearby will also help.

The clan of the Beast and the clan of the Rose have been at war for ages and are now looking to finish their feud in the bloodiest way possible. To win Blood Bound, you will need a couple of helpful clan members, good deduction skills and a talent for bluffing. The goal of the game is to kill the elder of the opposite team but that is easier said than done; one small problem: the only thing you know is whose team you're on and whose team your neighbours claims to be on, so you'll have to be careful when you get stabbing...

I always like describing Ghooost! as 'UNO for goths' but that does not do it justice by far. The rules are slightly more complex, there's actual artwork, the theme is spooky and the characters on the cards are references to existing horror stories. The goal of the game is for every player to get rid of the cards in their haunted mansion as quick as possible. The best part of the game: the loser has to make a ghastly sound.

The goal of Gloom literally is to have your given family die as miserable as possible. To make that happen, a series of utterly terrible events has to occur. Or, if you're feeling like annoying someone, you can thwart your opponents by making their families live happily ever after.

Inspired by H.P. Lovecraft's stories, Mansions of Madness is one of the most intense, atmospherical horror games I have ever played. There are several scenarios in which you and your friends play investigators that have to unravel the mysteries of a certain location. Working together is vital if you want to find the clues and expose the secrets of the game.

The Munchkin card game series has so many expansions and editions that there are plenty of options, even for a Halloween party: Munchkin Bites!, Munchkin Zombies and Munchkin Cthulhu can all be played as stand-alone games or can be mixed up if you would like to be, say, a slow voodoo cultist with black lipstick and goth boots of the elder gods. Hilarity is unavoidable.

A small village is tormented by werewolves. It is time for the villagers to take a stand and find out who the real werewolves are - and get rid of them. However, no one knows for sure who they are because during daytime, they look just like everyone else. Every player, villager or werewolf, has to use their best convincing and bluffing skills to make sure the village is safe... one way or another.

Zombie Dice is one of the silliest, fastest and funnest horror games ever. You're a zombie and obviously, you're hungry. The goal is to be the first to eat thirteen or more brains. Sounds easy enough for any decent zombie, but sadly, these humans are both capable of running away and shooting you in the head.

The zombie apocalypse is upon us and you and your friends are looking to escape from the dreadful town you're stuck in. However, you really only care about your own safety - the other can gets their brains eaten, for all you care. Basically, the goal of the game is to survive and be the first to get to the helicopter that will fly to safety.

I have attempted to keep my Lovecraft obsession within bounds for this one, so maybe one of these days a 'Lovecraft Board Games' post will pop up, you never know. Be sure to leave a comment if I've forgotten your favourite creepy board or card game.