Image via Avalon Hill
As the weather gets cooler, many of us buckle down and prep for a long few months indoors. But while saying goodbye to summer is always hard, fall’s coziness has plenty to offer. In particular, I love October for its transition to autumn weather and for all the spooky season goodness. What better way to lean into the month’s vibes than finding a great board game to enjoy with family and friends?
Whether you’re planning a Halloween board game get-together or just looking for an on-theme way to spend an evening indoors, there are plenty of great options. Here at Bonus Action, we like to keep things cozy, but we’re also not afraid of a little spooky season fun. So, I’m rounding up a few great board games that will be a perfect fit for your October game night… or any time you want something on the spooky side.
Betrayal at the House on the Hill
- Price: $59.99 on Amazon
- Age Rating: 12+
- Players: 3-6
Am I the only one in my friend group still obsessed with Betrayal? Tragically, yes, I am. This spooky tile-building game has solid replay potential thanks to its library of different scenarios. At first, you’re just exploring the abandoned house, building your game board as you go. But once you trigger the Haunt, you dive into a variety of supernatural situations with unique win conditions. Some are fully co-operative, while others pit you against your husband’s entire friend group as the lone enemy character (ask me how I know).
Betrayal at the House on the Hill has a few different editions that put a unique spin on the game, as well. We’ve got a copy of the Dungeons & Dragons versions here at home, while our friends have the standard 3rd edition. And of course, if you want to really lean extra hard into the horror vibes, there’s a Pennywise-themed Betrayal at Neibalt House. If I had to pick just one game for a Halloween game night, Betrayal would be my pick.
Horrified: Dungeons & Dragons
- Price: $34.99 on Amazon
- Age Rating: 10+
- Players: 1-5
Nothing says October game night quite like facing off against a few terrifying monsters with your friends. And personally, there are no monsters I’d rather battle than the ones found in the pages of a Dungeons & Dragons sourcebook. So of course, Horrified: Dungeons & Dragons makes my short list of games for a perfectly spooky October game night.
Horrified: Dungeons & Dragons is a co-op strategy game where you step into the shoes of heroes tasked with protecting Waterdeep from some truly terrifying foes. Work together with your friends to solve puzzles and work your way through to epic final battles with iconic D&D monsters like the Beholder and Displacer Beast. And hey, since it’s Halloween, you should probably go ahead and dress like your chosen character while you’re at it.
Mysterium
- Price: $47.99 on Amazon
- Age Rating: 10+
- Players: 3-7
If you want something a bit more casual than my last few picks, Mysterium will likely fit the bill. This guessing game puts players in the role of psychic investigators exploring a haunted mansion to solve a crime. One player portrays the ghost of the victim, sending clues to help the psychics crack the case. It’s sort of like Clue, but if it were a visual guessing game.
This has a nice, relaxed game flow and relatively quick setup. Each round features a series of visual clues, which guide players to guess the killer, murder weapon, and location of the ghost’s demise. Though the theme is spooky, the game itself is pretty cozy, making it a great, family-friendly option for your October game night.
Looking for more tabletop gaming coverage? Check out the upcoming game from Apiary designer Connie Vogelmann.
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