
- BGG rank
- BGG #80
- BGG rating
- 7.9
Mansions of Madness: Second Edition
- 1–5 players
- 120–180 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 2016

Rules assistance for Mansions of Madness: House of Fears
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.
Mansions of Madness: House of Fears is an expansion for Mansions of Madness released in 2012 for 2–5 players, 120–180 minutes per game, and ages 13 and up. It was designed by Tracy Hickman and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Area Movement.
An influential film director is holding a screening of his latest production in the abandoned estate Whale Manor, and you've been asked to attend! There's just one catch: Whale Manor is haunted by the spirits of dead actors, all of whom are cursed to relive the drama of their films again and again. House of Fears is a print-on-demand story expansion for Mansions of Madness! This cinematic adventure by acclaimed novelist Tracy Hickman thrusts players into a living 1920s movie – but can they escape the horror before the film's tragic ending?
Mansions of Madness: House of Fears supports 2–5 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 Mansions of Madness: House of Fears is 120–180 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 Mansions of Madness: House of Fears 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.
Mansions of Madness: House of Fears has a complexity rating of 3.1 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.
Mansions of Madness: House of Fears belongs to these categories: Murder / Mystery, Horror, and Exploration. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Area 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 Mansions of Madness: House of Fears are: Tracy Hickman. 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 Mansions of Madness: House of Fears as an expansion for Mansions of Madness. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Mansions of Madness to use it. Check that your edition of Mansions of Madness is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.