The leaves have changed colors, the spiderwebs are up, and pumpkins have invaded porches. It is officially the Halloween season, and fans of spooky themes might be looking for a few good board games to take to parties or to play with a warm cup of cider in the evening. Thankfully, this guide has a few suggestions that are great for players at any spook level.
Below, we have selected our top five favorite board games of 2025 that are just spooky enough to be fun and on theme without being too much for younger players.
1. Twisted Cryptids – Unstable Games
- Players: 2-4
- Gameplay Duration: 60 Minutes
- Age Range: 10+
- Price: $20+
Do you love cryptid creatures? Do you want to prove that Bigfoot is the best? Then Twisted Cryptids is the game to grab. This adorable four-player title pits infamous creepy folktales against each other in a bid to become a “true legend”.
Twisted Cryptids is a game of strategy, where players will need to use a collection of cards and careful board placement to grow their infamy. The winner becomes the most famous Cryptid.
Twisted Cryptids also offers two expansion packs, each adding two additional cryptids to the playable list available in the base game. This is a game for anyone who loves strategy, competition, and a more complex board game than a deck of cards.
2. Talisman 5th Edition – Hasbro Games
- Players: 2-6
- Gameplay Duration: 1-4 Hours
- Age Range: 12+
- Price: $59.99+
Talisman is the perfect game for fans of D&D who don’t have time for a full campaign. This multi-hour board game is the modernized reimaging of the classic game by the same name, and allows players to take on the role of adventurers like Assassins, Wizards, and Elves.
Through a series of carefully managed encounters, each player will race toward the center of the gameboard to claim the Crown of Command.
Talisman is a game that is perfect for TTRPG fans looking for a quick round of exciting fun that doesn’t require a GM or extra planning. It’s a great pick for a Halloween party or a cozy night in.
3. Horrified: Dungeons & Dragons – Ravensburger
- Players: 1-5
- Gameplay Duration: 50 Minutes
- Age Range: 10+
- Price: $29.99
Horrified: Dungeons & Dragons is a fresh take on the classic game where players must destroy monsters tormenting a town. This version of the game sees a cooperative group of players tackling iconic monsters in D&D, including a red dragon and a Beholder, among many others.
Horrified: Dungeons & Dragons captures all the joy of the classic TTRPG in a 50-minute session, and provides a gameplay experience perfect for long-time fans and those new to D&D. The spooky themes carried from the original Horrified gameplay make it a perfect option for those looking to add something to a Halloween party.
4. Stupid Deaths – University Games
- Players: 2-6
- Gameplay Duration: 20 Minutes
- Age Range: 12+
- Price: $27.99
Perfect for a teen party, Stupid Deaths turns tragedy into comedy. In this game, players will be battling the Grim Reaper as they try to guess whether deaths from history details in a deck of cards are true or false. Those who get the answers right can continue to outrun the reaper until their luck runs out.
This is a game with elements of dark humor, but it is great for anyone who enjoys a board game with less setup, fewer rules, and a shorter duration. This is particularly good for older kids and adults looking for a fun way to pass the evening.
5. House of Danger – Z-Man Games
- Players: 1-8
- Gameplay Duration: 50 Minutes
- Age Range: 10+
- Price: $16.81
If you love storytelling and grew up on Choose Your Own Adventure books, then House of Danger is a must-have for the fall season. In this cooperative game, players must escape the house of dangers by collecting clues and solving puzzles.
However, player autonomy is the driving factor of the narrative, and one wrong move could see the entire party trapped in the house forever. House of Danger has an escape-room feel with excellent replayability. It is great for fans of Clue, but offers a deeper and more challenging style of gameplay. It’s a terrifying story for high stakes and plenty of twists and turns.
Any of these games will create a spooky atmosphere for board game players as they celebrate the Halloween season.
Leave a Reply