Which Arkham Horror: The Card Game expansion after the base game?

1-4 players (base) Co-op / deck-building About 1-2 h per scenario

The game

Already own a core set? Here is which Campaign Expansion to buy next, which core set each one needs, and which boxes would make you pay twice.

1-4 players, 14+. Two core sets: the Revised Core Set for Chapter One and the 2026 Core Set that opens Chapter Two. The ten Chapter One campaigns need the Revised Core Set encounter cards; Children of Blood needs the 2026 Core Set.

Campaign Expansion, not Investigator Expansion. Every Chapter One campaign comes in two boxes. The Campaign Expansion holds all the scenarios. The Investigator Expansion holds only player cards for your decks: optional, buy it later.

Old format = same campaign. Early campaigns were sold as a deluxe box plus six Mythos Packs. If you own those, the Campaign Expansion repeats the same scenarios.

The 2026 Core Set is not a Chapter One core. The 2026 Core Set has its own encounter cards. Dunwich, Carcosa and the other Chapter One campaigns need the Revised Core Set, which is no longer reprinted.

Which boxes do you already own?

Put on the table what you already have, and how many of you play.

You usually play with

1 2 3-4

Release timeline

Revised Core Set 2021, The Dunwich Legacy, The Path to Carcosa and Edge of the Earth 2022, The Forgotten Age, The Circle Undone and The Scarlet Keys 2023, The Feast of Hemlock Vale, The Dream-Eaters and The Innsmouth Conspiracy 2024, The Drowned City 2025, 2026 Core Set and Children of Blood 2026 (French release years).

The graph

How the Arkham Horror: The Card Game boxes connect, plus the mechanics. An arrow starts at the expansion and points to the box it needs.

needs another box
contains this box
part of the line
game mechanic

Depending on what you want

You want	Get
Start in 2026 with a box on shelves	2026 Core Set
The classic follow-up to Night of the Zealot	The Dunwich Legacy
The King in Yellow and theatre madness	The Path to Carcosa
A frozen expedition	Edge of the Earth
Deep Ones and a harbour town	The Innsmouth Conspiracy
The hardest Chapter One campaign	The Forgotten Age
A follow-up for the 2026 Core Set	Children of Blood

Tick your boxes at the top and the answer follows.

At the table

Box	What it brings
Arkham Horror: The Card Game Revised Core Set	1-4. Night of the Zealot, 3 scenarios. Core set for Chapter One.
Arkham Horror: The Card Game 2026 Core Set	1-4. Brethren of Ash, 3 scenarios, 5 new investigators.
The Dunwich Legacy Campaign Expansion	8 scenarios. Needs the Revised Core Set.
The Path to Carcosa Campaign Expansion	8 scenarios, the King in Yellow. Needs the Revised Core Set.
The Forgotten Age Campaign Expansion	Jungle expedition, the hardest Chapter One campaign.
The Circle Undone Campaign Expansion	Witches, a lodge and a missing girl.
The Dream-Eaters Campaign Expansion	Two linked 4-scenario campaigns in the Dreamlands.
The Innsmouth Conspiracy Campaign Expansion	Deep Ones and memories in a harbour town.
Edge of the Earth Campaign Expansion	Antarctic expedition, first campaign born in the new format.
The Scarlet Keys Campaign Expansion	Non-linear campaign across the globe.
The Feast of Hemlock Vale Campaign Expansion	A village, its residents and a festival over several days.
The Drowned City Campaign Expansion	The last big Chapter One campaign.
Children of Blood	3 scenarios at night in Arkham, blood token. Needs the 2026 Core Set.

Compatibility

Box	Needs	Players
Arkham Horror: The Card Game Revised Core Set	standalone base	1-4
Arkham Horror: The Card Game 2026 Core Set	standalone base	1-4
The Dunwich Legacy Campaign Expansion	needs base + Revised Core	1-4
The Path to Carcosa Campaign Expansion	needs base + Revised Core	1-4
The Forgotten Age Campaign Expansion	needs base + Revised Core	1-4
The Circle Undone Campaign Expansion	needs base + Revised Core	1-4
The Dream-Eaters Campaign Expansion	needs base + Revised Core	1-4
The Innsmouth Conspiracy Campaign Expansion	needs base + Revised Core	1-4
Edge of the Earth Campaign Expansion	needs base + Revised Core	1-4
The Scarlet Keys Campaign Expansion	needs base + Revised Core	1-4
The Feast of Hemlock Vale Campaign Expansion	needs base + Revised Core	1-4
The Drowned City Campaign Expansion	needs base + Revised Core	1-4
Children of Blood	needs base + 2026 Core Set	1-4

Investigator Expansions (player cards only, optional), old-format deluxe boxes and Mythos Packs, the 2016 core set, Return to boxes, standalone scenarios and investigator starter decks are outside the picker. Check the language before ordering.

FAQ

Which campaign after the core set?

With the Revised Core Set, The Dunwich Legacy or The Path to Carcosa: the first two Chapter One campaigns, 8 scenarios each. With the 2026 Core Set, Children of Blood is the campaign to add.

Do I need the Investigator Expansion too?

No. The Campaign Expansion holds every scenario and encounter card. The Investigator Expansion only adds player cards: it widens your decks, but the campaign plays without it.

Does the 2026 Core Set replace the Revised Core Set?

To get started, yes: it is the new core set, with its own campaign and 5 investigators. But Chapter One campaigns need the Revised Core Set encounter cards.

Can I mix Chapter One and Chapter Two cards?

Investigators move between chapters and the rules are almost the same. Player cards were rebalanced, so keep them out of the same deck.

How many players with one core set?

1-4 with the Revised Core Set or the 2026 Core Set. The original 2016 core set seated only 2 per box.