My wife isn't really into board/card games, besides the more well known ones. I've been thinking of picking this up for something that we can play together. She really likes mystery games/novels, we've played MoM 2nd and she really liked it and this whole Arkham theme, but just didn't like the length of the missions (some of them are up to 6 hours long!).

How long does a typical game of Arkham take? Where does it fall in complication from Catan to MoM 2nd? Is it a game all about team work like LOTR? Is there a story line to follow and get involved in?

Thanks!

About 1-2 hours. It's a deeper narrative than MoM2 and you can explore your characters and their personalities more.

A single core should give you a pretty good feel of the game.

hen playing a campaign, so long as you don't die or let the world die, you will continue your game through subsequent scenarios. Even sometimes when you don't succeed. Future scenarios change based on your previous successes (or lack thereof) and the decisions you make along the way.

That said, there is a lot of card play and strategizing throughout the game. If she's fine with that, I'd say go for it.

This is reasonable good couples game because it includes a lot of team work.

But... The gard management, the timing, the resource management, action management can be really hard in this game. I like card games. Have played some of the most deep and difficult ones during my life, so this one is easy compared to them, but it still is a card game and thus not on the easy side. And I am not talking about losing the game, just managing it. It is a matter that has to be taken account!

Theme... Does your wife like horror and grim stories... If yes, then even a harder game is manageable. Because this game has THEME all over it.

If she is familiar with games like Magic, LOT lcg, even Dominion, then there is a hope. If not, it is hard uphill, unless the theme wins out!

IMHO Dying in these games is the salt and butter, so it should happen!

I wanted to add, my GF loves MOM2 but doesn't care for this game. Deck building and upgrading is not her style, its a large part of the game.

It is shorter than MOM so that's a plus. Technically each campaign is 8 scenarios each 1-2 hours long. I usually just play one a night with my group. Part of me thinks if I could show my gf the game again, that she will like it. The rest of me thinks that part of me is a fool.

Arkham Horror 3rd edition is coming out soon which has the same theme, is a board game and says it will be 1-2 hours long.

For a baseline of complexity: My wonderful wife has mastered Catan and both seasons of Pandemic Legacy, but Terraforming Mars is not her speed as far as complexity. She loves Elder Sign (all expansions) and is interested in trying Eldritch Horror. My wife and I love playing Arkham Horror together.

To answer your questions: Games take about 1-2 hours. As for complexity, she was intimidated because I've been playing CCGs for over 20 years and she has not. Per her request, I started by building decks for her and just suggesting the upgrades, then slowly removed the "training wheels." Now she makes shopping lists of upgrades before starting the campaign and is building her own decks. I want to get to her envisioning the final form of her deck and building towards it, but we're not there yet. We discuss strategy but play our own turns (important.) It is fully cooperative and there is most definitely a story, which is one of the best features.

I also suggest Pandemic: Legacy as a fantastic couples game and a fully co-op gaming experience. I love AH:LCG and totally suggest it, but **** I miss Pandemic: Legacy...

Thanks everyone for the responses, lots of help. We have played Pandemic Legacy before with another couple, and while she really enjoyed the game play itself, the act of organizing, travelling to their house, setting up etc.. got to be to much of a chore I feel like for her. Now with a little one we just don't have the time to commit to any sort of campaign game with others. That is why i thought this would be perfect as it is something we can pull out on a week night after the little one is in bed, play a 1-2 hour game from the comfort of our own couch on a cold winter night and not have to worry about anything else.

I think we will give this a shot, the buy in is a fair price and even if it isn't something she enjoys, I will be able to play it solo or with a friend.

A thing to consider: while the deckbuilding is intense, it can be handled by just one player.

I've played it with my brother before, and he enjoys the game, but the deckbuilding is more investment than he wants to have and too complicated for him with all the expansions. So he points to a character he wants, I build him a deck and when we gets XP, he says something like "Gimme a bigger gun" and I upgrade his deck for him.

Works pretty well.

It is, but I do recommend doubling up on the core set right away before pitching it to her and pre-preparing decks for the first time.

15 hours ago, tsuruki said:

It is, but I do recommend doubling up on the core set right away before pitching it to her and pre-preparing decks for the first time.

Definitely! Just have her pick a character! That's a MUCH easier choice. Here are some good decks if you have two cores.

"Honey this will become fun as soon as we spend more money on it and you sit down for an hour to fumble with cards you've never seen before" is a terrible way to pitch a game

It's more like "which of these people interests you most? Her? Sure. Gimme half an hour and I'll have everything set up."

My wife and I play. She also enjoys MoM 2nd Edition, but probably isn't a "board game person". I tend to make my own decks and sometimes I make hers also. Sometimes we steal decks from ArkhamDB.com. While this game can be pretty involved, it can easily be involved for one person and not even a little involved for the other person.