
- BGG rank
- BGG #356
- BGG rating
- 7.7
Arkham Horror (Third Edition)
- 1–6 players
- 120–180 min
- Complexity 3.4/5
- 2018

Rules assistance for Arkham Horror: Innsmouth Horror Expansion
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Arkham Horror: Innsmouth Horror Expansion is an expansion for Arkham Horror released in 2009 for 1–8 players, 180 minutes per game, and ages 13 and up. It was designed by Kevin Wilson and Richard Launius and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Dice Rolling, and Point to Point Movement.
Of all the cities found in H.P. Lovecraft’s vision of Massachusetts, perhaps none is quite so deadly as the small fishing village of Innsmouth. Decrepit and dying, Innsmouth is being consumed from within by an ancient pact once made to save the town. The investigators will find every hand turned against them as they explore its rotting docks and fetid beaches. In the end, perhaps the only way to save Innsmouth is by destroying it along with the terrible creatures that haunt its waters near Devil Reef. Innsmouth Horror introduces several new game concepts to the Arkham Horror Series, including Personal Stories unique to each investigator as well as the Innsmouth Look. The town of Innsmouth is hostile to the investigators, and they may well find themselves thrown in jail and fed to a Shoggoth while they search the town for evidence to call in the Feds. However, leaving Innsmouth to fester is a bad idea, since the Deep Ones will gather and rise, bringing with them the Ancient One. Innsmouth Horror also adds 16 new investigators, eight new Ancient Ones, two new Heralds, Epic Battle cards for the new Ancient Ones, over 30 new monster markers, plenty of new encounters, and an expansion board featuring the town of Innsmouth. Over all, this expansion adds over 300 new cards to the base game.
Arkham Horror: Innsmouth Horror Expansion supports 1–8 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Arkham Horror: Innsmouth Horror Expansion is 180 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Arkham Horror: Innsmouth Horror Expansion for ages 13 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Arkham Horror: Innsmouth Horror Expansion has a complexity rating of 3.6 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Arkham Horror: Innsmouth Horror Expansion belongs to these categories: Fighting, Horror, and Adventure. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Dice Rolling, and Point to Point Movement. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Arkham Horror: Innsmouth Horror Expansion are: Kevin Wilson and Richard Launius. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Arkham Horror: Innsmouth Horror Expansion as an expansion for Arkham Horror. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Arkham Horror to use it. Check that your edition of Arkham Horror is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.