2nd edition for me. I find it way more entertaining. I'm one of those kinda gamers who don't want a quick game. If I sit down at a table, I want the game to last awhile and enjoy the company.
For a game like Arkham, I'm a big fan of a single game board, rather than a modular board. Just makes it 1 less thing that needs to be fussed over while playing, setting up, packing away, etc.
2ed it just draws me more into the game. It feels epic and as I play I can see stories form. While 3rd tries to tell me what the story is. It also gives off a far more feel of a build up towards evil doom.
Second edition for sure. While it has its flaws, and can be a bit chaotic, nothing gives a better boots on the ground feeling than that game. I have had some of the best cinematic/thematic gaming moments in my life with that game. But I also have the luxury of being able to leave it on the table and play it over two or three nights. Something that I think is key to really enjoying the experience of it. Trying to cram a whole game in, especially with expansions, in one session can get a little exhausting. Third edition is really just an amalgamation of multiple other mechanisms used in multiple other FFG games. It really should’ve been its own game and not classed as third edition. The new descent is not third edition. It’s just a different descent game. That’s really the case with AH3E. It’s not a third edition. It’s a different game. It’s not a bad game if you enjoy it but it shouldn’t have the label of being the next edition of AH.
Exactly what I was going to post if no one else had. Theres nothing inherently “wrong” with AH3e. But it is not a true upgrade/update to AH2e. If it had been christened with any other name, there would be no controversy.
I managed to track down 2nd edition and all of the expansions, a couple of promos and some third party stuff late last year. You really don’t want to know what it cost me.
Think the worst part of 3rd is the token system. Pulling 2 tokens per player takes up so much time and is so tedious. If you just flipped one card with everything on it, it would be so much faster. With 4 players half your entire playtime will be spent dealing with those tokens.
@@seahawk8601 well the problem is that there aren’t a lot of tough decisions in third. Usually the best action is very clear. Move and attack or move and clear doom tokens. Which means the player turns take like 5seconds each and then with 4 players your drawing 8 tokens. That’s 8 different things you have to resolve 1 at a time in order. Every round!
Running 2nd Edition too here. I got in kind of late short before it went out of print I found out later. I am still looking for some good Character Boards where you can put it your items and Spells and stuff so that it does not take up so much space on the Table next to the big Game Board. Any Suggestions? :)
Definitely 2nd addition for me. I've got three of the smaller expansions for it including the first print of Curse of the Dark Pharaoh. That 3rd edition board just doesn't do it for me. I imagine though they're both good games in their own right. Just no need to dive into another edition of the same basic game. If you're looking for lovecraft in a decent amount of time, I'd highly recommend Pandemic Cthulhu. Another great game. Good video.
2nd for me as well. I couldn't help but feel in the 3rd edition that I didn't really have any choice what to do next, and it was always to put out the fire closest to you.
2nd edition for me due to all of the things it adds. To me these game are all about atmosphere, and the more stuff going on, the greater the suspense. I know people say it's'fiddly, but I love the fact that so much randomness is going on. A Cthulhu game should be unpredictable and you are supposed to feel that dread and that overwhelming odds are against you. The 2nd game has so many elements that feed into that paranoia. It's my favorite board game ever. I just rebought it, because I lost my other copy. I hate that I never bought the expansions, but I didn't know they would stop printing them.
Second edition for me. I've tried the third a few times and could not get past the fact of how much of a roller coaster ride it is with very limited choices.
3rd is super easy. You just run around powering up and then you can just let the clock run out and summon the boss and just kill it. Don’t even have to do any of the “quests”.
@@28mmRPG I actually just landed a used copy for about $50 that includes the shipping! I did get it off ebay. Where you are talking the big bucks is the expansions! O.O
I have realized that new version of games usually become over-streamlined nowadays. I like the fiddlyness of older games. When i play something like Arkham Horror, i really want the huge, grand and chaotic mechanics. The problem i have with 3rd edition is that a story is told, and you as a player are along for the ride. Kind of in the passenger seat though because it is a scripted story. In 2nd edition on the other hand YOU and the mechanics of the game tells the whole story. You just set up a starting position and off you go.
Never played Arkham Horror but have played & own Eldritch Horror. I love the aesthetic of the 2E board. The first time I saw the 3E board, I remember thinking, “What the hell?” I definitely prefer the look of 2E (as someone who has never played it).
I have a complete Arkham 2nd edition collection & recently gave away my complete Eldritch as both games were competing with each other for table time. I don't see the sense in owning a wide range of games that basically do the same thing as I want to be a board game player rather than a collector. Otherwise these boxes are just expensive dust collectors. 3rd edition looks much more streamlined and less clunky than 2nd edition but I have no plans to buy it. I am sure FFG will continue to pump out expansions and eventually reboot the game for a new edition, or spawn other offshoot titles as they tend to do with all their IPs.
Back in the day, when I had and played with everything for 2nd edition, I played on a pool table that I had built extensions onto. And still, it barely contained it. At the time, it was my favorite board game. But, I don't have that kind of space or appreciation for bloat any more. In pretty much all ways, I prefer 3rd. It does narrative better, mostly thanks to the codex. It allows things to change up more, branch out, and just have more story text overall. It does all the important mechanical stuff with a fraction of the components. 3rd edition and the card game assuage all my Arkham needs these days. 2nd edition was huge in my burgeoning collection, and an all time favorite, but I don't play the same way anymore and 3rd just fits my collection and space better.
I love both equally, though I prefer 3ed because of setup with all available expansions! That being said I only played 2ed for about a year or two before 3ed came out, I am more into Eldritch Horror and have all the expansions for it as well as third!
Have only played Arkham 3rd, and I really liked it. I will not forget the epic end to the last scenario in the core box, it was awesome - not so much because of the game itself but because of the narrative I had built while playing the scenario. Great fun, need to get it back on the table.
I have all the expansions except the miniatures for 2nd edition. Love the game but solo is difficult. If you did a playthrough of 3rd edition I would watch it and probably decide if I was interested. I know my wife wouldn't approve, but maybe I could trade some of my older games. Interesting video.
2nd edition all the way. It's just more theatrical/feels like a movie every time I play with a group. The only downside is the setup time with all the expansions which may be mitigated by creating or buying an organizer which can also accelerate game economy. I tried other editions of arkham from fantasy flight and I just didn't feel immersed as much.
I own all games in the AH Files series including tons of add-ons, except Final Hour. So... 3rd edition... is VERY solid. It has: 1) Best investigators ever. Almost all of them has cool and strong skills. 2) Best combat and monster design. 2nd edition combat system was overcomplicated. 3) Best balance for 2 players only (or solo with 2 investigators ). In the second edition, it was almost impossible to win playing with two investigators. EH was a little better, but still unbalanced with 2. 4) Much better compatibility with multiple expansions. You don't wanna play AH2 with dunwich and kingsport at the same time. And you can't keep all event cards in 1 deck forever like in 3rd ed and EH. 2nd ED is better in terms of theme and significance for the board games history. This game has a soul. Very atmospheric text on event cards. This game was a pioneer in many aspects. But by today standards the 2nd ED is very archaic . I'm sorry that AH3 got mixed reviews at launch just because it didn't look like the AH 2,5 .
2nd by a mile. Without the board as-is, the game just is not anywhere near the level of greatness. There's something so magical about seeing all the locations laid out right there; you feel like the master of the world, looking down on all the possible awesomeness that awaits you. You add in the big board expansions... man, there's nothing like it!
Second edition for me. It feels epic. I get that the third edition is more streamlined but the meatiness and the messiness of second edition just does it for me.
Well my heart is with 2nd ed. I still hunting for some expansion :D But for more than few years it lies in the wardrobe....cause not enough time. My wife is also afraid of "horror" motive xD
I own 2nd edition. It's my second favourite game after Eldritch Horror. I haven't played 3rd and I am not realy eager to do so. 1) I don't need a 3rd edition of a very well made game. 2) 2nd edition Arkham map-board makes me feel I travel through the city fighting evil. 3rd edition modular board tiles feels like a space station. Great art but not any feeling of Arkham TOWN. 3) 2nd edition monsters running around the city-board with those gates all around while investigators trying to avoid or fight is just great. 3rd edition...... 4) 3rd edition "Mythos Tokens".......enough said. 5) having just the core 2nd and about 2 minor expansions is just OK. Not interested spending more money with 3rd and its new expansions....no no. Happily staying with my great 2nd edition.
I’m a 3rd edition dude ha! I feel that Eldritch horror- is my ‘Arkham horror 2nd’ edition - but better in my opinion. I like the more tight narrative in 3rd edition :)
Arkham Horror 2nd edition was amazing. It's still my favorite board game to solo hands down. Only Eldritch Horror comes close for me(and in my opinion Eldritch Horror feels more like an Arkham Horror 3rd edition than 3rd edition does). I like Arkham Horror 3rd edition, i like it enough to have fully expanded it even... but it does not replace 2nd edition for me at all. I loved how 2nd edition just kinda immersed you into the day to day life of an Arkham citizen and had that slow build-up of tension with the stirring ancient one. You had so much freedom with your turns and each game felt like it was writing a cool story. 3rd edition is more like you drop into a day in the life of an Arkham citizen but then by day 2 the whole playgroup is being dictated to and railroaded from point to point so as to not lose the game. The flavor addition the codex brought is amazing but it came at the cost of too much player freedom for me to not be very bothered by the fact that 3rd edition's existence put 2nd edition out of print as I was only able to get Black Goat of the Woods, The Kingsport Horror and the Innsmouth Horror before it went out of print and 2nd edition is the most deserving of full expansion of all the board games I own. TL:DR: I love both, but 3rd Edition does not replace 2nd edition to me. It'd be like them saying the Harry Potter movies have been taken out of print and replaced with Fantastic Beasts. 3rd Edition is great, but it should have been called... honestly it should have been called Arkham Horror: Final Hour instead of what Final Hour turned out to be. 3rd Edition feels like a magnified look at the last ten turns of a 2nd edition playthrough before the ancient one wakes up. 3rd Edition is actually slightly less cool to me because of what its existence did to 2nd edition. I love both, I wouldn't pick between them but if I had to it would be 2nd edition for sure.
I have played both 2nd Edition & 3rd Edition; both games are in itself great. However, 2nd Edition packs a punch. More fluff, story telling, atmosphere, mechanics, etc. Although, it is a monstrosity of a game with all of its expansions, it really captures each player into their roles,and individualizes each characters playthrough. I have never seen a cooperative game do that unless it was a Campaign driven board game like Gloomhaven, Mice & Mystics, Sleeping Gods, etc. 3rd Edition, even with expansions, still cannot compare with the vastness that is 2nd Edition. Although, gameplay mechanics are more streamlined, easier to learn, quicker to setup/take down; somehow 2nd Edition makes its length and complexity completely worth it due to how epic the game is. When the game 1st came out, many of my friends were on the fence with it. They either loved it or hated it. Now, after returning to this beast... everyone I know has grown to love it. It is a classis and without a doubt a gem from fantasy flight.
2nd edition feels more epic and lovecraftian BUT it never gets to table because of set up time so 3rd edition is what I play more often and feels like more of a cohesive story
It depends on what you want out of your Arkham Horror experience. 2nd is more straightforward. It’s essentially a pulp monsterfest where you fight bizarre creatures, explore and seal off other worlds, and by doing so stave off the looming threat of a gigantic reality-eating alien god. By contrast, 3rd is much more narrative-driven. There’s so much focus on playing out a story that at the beginning of the game you literally don’t even know how to win. It branches off in several different directions at once, allowing for more choices and more ways to progress the story. Personally I prefer 2nd. I think that’s partially because I’m the kind of person who likes to know where I’m at, and I don’t care for surprises. The other main reason is that I simply have more fun going around killing monsters and slamming those gates shut. I do however enjoy the LCG. I feel like it’s a more scaled-down version of 3rd so it sort of trims away the fat. I find it much more satisfying to have a story playing out without having too many things to keep track of.
To me, 3rd edition is more of a board game version of the card game, without needing to invest in another LCG model (already spent way too much on LoTR LCG). Both 3rd and 2md edition sitting happily on my shelf.
As someone who has played 3rd edition ALOT and with the expansions. 3rd edition is an incredible game. I think it comes down to which one people played first. 2nd edition has had so much time with people and had all those expansions to fix and build upon the game, so jumping to a new version was always going to rub some people the wrong way, the same way a reboot in movies does. 3rd edition for me has a super solid narrative and everyone I have shown this game to has loved it. The potential for this game has such a high ceiling with its modular board etc so I can’t wait to see what they do with it. The new expansions have already shown this too
Could you add Eldritch Horror into this as well Rob? Third edition seems to be quite a different type of game and I would be interested in your opinion if EH is more of the 'new 2nd Edition'.
2nd Edition without a doubt! I have played the third edition a few times and it just felt bland in comparison. It doesn't manage to convey the excitement of the first game. The sense of exploration and getting to know the characters in Arkham. You know something bad is going to happen when Deputy Dingby turns up. There's so much stuff going on in the second edition, so many variables that changes the game completely without destroying the experience. And it feels well balanced, it's not like EH where you draw a card that basically says you've lost. Oh how I love the second edition.
I never tried third edition. I have played 2nd solo a few times, and with friends. I have always thought it was a solid game. I never understood the reasoning behind reinventing it. It seems to me like this is happening a lot since Asmodee took over.
2nd edition with all but Miskatonic Expansion, why would I want to buy the same game again, not a chance FFG. Also Eldritch Horror was a worthy successor to 2nd edition, 3rd edition was not even needed.
The Miskatonic Expansion is the best! It balances the game a lot when you play with all the expansions. It really makes things happen a lot more often on the other boards. I never liked Kingsport, but I would never play the game again without Miskatonic. (I own all the expansions.)
2nd edition all the way. My loathing of the 3rd edition board knows no bounds. The 3rd edition box art is just plain silly-looking (Cthulhu Mythos meets Mr. Toad's Wild Ride).
Oddly enough, both games are very interesting for me mechanically but the theme and scale puts me off - not really a Cthulhu fan. The only Cthulhu game I own (with a bunch of expansions) is Eldritch Horror - global map really.pulls me in.
2nd edition. It is chaotic with lots of luck (dice), but you have the adventure. FFG why dont you print anymore?? And why dont you find another name for the 3rd edition? Sad.
I got into board games through Eldritch Horror, and I'd been looking forward to AH3 as a smaller-scale companion to it. But it's just too gamey and pandemic-like for me. I started collecting AH2 instead even if some of the expansions have been expensive and hard to find. I agree that it's two games for two different kind of players. AH3 is more polished and story-driven, while AH2 in an experience with an emergent story that's different every time.
3rd for me, Eldritch is my favorite of the bunch though. I love how the third feels like a mix of Eldritch and Arkham Horror LCG... BUT I like each of those more than 3rd edition
I am not interested in 3rd edition. I was not a fan of what looked like a major redesign of the game. I have most of 2nd edition and we'll just stick with that.
3rd edition wasn’t a bad game, and I had a good time playing it. Playing 2nd edition edition though, has a bit of “magic” to it. It “feels” like it’s slowing trying to rob of your sanity. It has a life of its own. Every time I play it there is always at least one instance where I draw just the wrong card just at the wrong time…😉
2nd edition is better by infinite measures. My two biggest problems: feel and board. That board is terrible. The design would make sense for a science-fiction game where you are building out a space station, terraforming colony, or similar futuristic construct. It does not fit for a city map into the early 20th-century. I like the idea of modular, but the execution was terrible. Also, there is no point in the game being modular at this point. Seems like a useless “perk”. The biggest issue is feel. Second edition felt organic, like it was a living creature. It was chaotic, random, fiddly, but it felt like anything could happen and you had some control of that. 3rd edition feels like a Disney ride where you have a steering wheel in front of you but it does nothing. You are just along for the ride. Someone else is controlling the ride and it’s going to end up pretty much the same every time. That works for mansions of madness, which is basically a mystery game, but it does not work for Arkham horror which is supposed to be an adventure game. Eldritch horror does a better job of being a Arkham horror third edition
Sadly neither. 2nd edition does the biggest No-no in gaming. Give miles of options, but makes you fight within millimeters of space, and makes you feel like you feel like you are missing out on all these things you could be enjoying but are not. The AH:LCG gives the AH feeling, but with more options and lets you weigh the risk and reward of your options. And with the card setup it allows for more thematic setups, perhaps like 3rd edition. And I like the leveling up feel of growing to more powerful cards and that you are more "building and growing" your character deck.
For me 2nd edition is more of a RPG board game. The replay value for the core set is outclassing the 3rd edition. While the 3rd edition is much more streamlined and has clever mechanics it doesn’t have a soul.. I think Fantasy Flight Games should’ve made Arkham Horror Legacy instead of the 3rd edition!
So many people played Arkham 2E as one of their first "big" games. So they didn't understand the rules, they counted punching as part of setup, they just threw stuff back in the box ensuring another long setup. So then by the time Eldritch Horror came along, WHICH IS THE EXACT SAME GAME with a different scope, it became "easier to learn, easier to setup, and more streamlined" which is nonsense. It doesnt surprise me in the least that AH3E's setup was longer even though we're all told is shorter. 3E seems to fit into the same thing I just heard you say about Descent - it shouldnt have been called Arkham Horror. the new version is ugly as sin on the table, and the reviews Ive read about it being Pandemic-like are not what I want in an Arkham game. I own all of Arkham2e, Eldritch and Mansions1e&2e. I skipped Arkham3e and probably will continue to do so unless i can find a copy dirt cheap.
Honestly, it was really awful of fantasy flight to even release 3rd edition as an “edition.” It’s just a completely different game with the same setting.
2nd Edition all the way. They removed some of the best elements and made it feel less like a thematic Lovecraft adventure and more like a sterile, generic prototype. No thank you.
I think 3e is dramatically better than 2e, but it's really difficult to tell past our bias for 2e because it's so drastically different. It took me a dozen games over almost 2 years to really be able to tell how clever and entertaining 3e is on a consistent basis. I still love 2nd e but it was at best in my top 15 games. 3E is in my top 5 right now. I have complaints but I really enjoy it.
2nd edition for me. I find it way more entertaining. I'm one of those kinda gamers who don't want a quick game. If I sit down at a table, I want the game to last awhile and enjoy the company.
I can see that well done
Absolutely agree with this.
For a game like Arkham, I'm a big fan of a single game board, rather than a modular board. Just makes it 1 less thing that needs to be fussed over while playing, setting up, packing away, etc.
good point
If I have to choose: Eldritch Horror. XD But, seriously, 3rd edition is on rails, 2nd edition is a sandbox. Sandbox games will always be better.
well done!!!
Haha, yes, EH is king.
2ed it just draws me more into the game. It feels epic and as I play I can see stories form. While 3rd tries to tell me what the story is. It also gives off a far more feel of a build up towards evil doom.
good one!
After Arkham Horror the Card game both just ended up collecting dust on the shelf.
hmmmm i didnt think of that
Second edition for sure. While it has its flaws, and can be a bit chaotic, nothing gives a better boots on the ground feeling than that game. I have had some of the best cinematic/thematic gaming moments in my life with that game. But I also have the luxury of being able to leave it on the table and play it over two or three nights. Something that I think is key to really enjoying the experience of it. Trying to cram a whole game in, especially with expansions, in one session can get a little exhausting.
Third edition is really just an amalgamation of multiple other mechanisms used in multiple other FFG games. It really should’ve been its own game and not classed as third edition. The new descent is not third edition. It’s just a different descent game. That’s really the case with AH3E. It’s not a third edition. It’s a different game. It’s not a bad game if you enjoy it but it shouldn’t have the label of being the next edition of AH.
Very true points
Wow you’re spot on !!!!!
Arkham Horror 2ed was the game that introduced me to the hobby and we played it almost every weekend for months!
Exactly what I was going to post if no one else had. Theres nothing inherently “wrong” with AH3e. But it is not a true upgrade/update to AH2e. If it had been christened with any other name, there would be no controversy.
Many are "stuck" with the 3rd edition because the 2nd is hard to come by nowday.
very true
I managed to track down 2nd edition and all of the expansions, a couple of promos and some third party stuff late last year. You really don’t want to know what it cost me.
2nd edition all the way.
good call
Think the worst part of 3rd is the token system. Pulling 2 tokens per player takes up so much time and is so tedious. If you just flipped one card with everything on it, it would be so much faster. With 4 players half your entire playtime will be spent dealing with those tokens.
wow i did not know that well done
@@seahawk8601 well the problem is that there aren’t a lot of tough decisions in third. Usually the best action is very clear. Move and attack or move and clear doom tokens. Which means the player turns take like 5seconds each and then with 4 players your drawing 8 tokens. That’s 8 different things you have to resolve 1 at a time in order. Every round!
Running 2nd Edition too here. I got in kind of late short before it went out of print I found out later. I am still looking for some good Character Boards where you can put it your items and Spells and stuff so that it does not take up so much space on the Table next to the big Game Board. Any Suggestions? :)
I really don’t
Did you find any yet?
@@ajc6373 Hello! Yes I found some I am using Uberstax as of late.
@@htksly I was after the e-raptor ones but can't find them in stock for a reasonable price.
2nd edition for me. I've tried 3rd and it seems more board gamey where as 2nd feels more RPG-ish.
hmmmm good call
Definitely 2nd addition for me. I've got three of the smaller expansions for it including the first print of Curse of the Dark Pharaoh. That 3rd edition board just doesn't do it for me. I imagine though they're both good games in their own right. Just no need to dive into another edition of the same basic game. If you're looking for lovecraft in a decent amount of time, I'd highly recommend Pandemic Cthulhu. Another great game. Good video.
I’m with you
Arkham Horror 2nd Edition was a big beast. I sold it before I really got into soloing these big games. I still haven't got 3rd edition to the table.
it is glorious
And when were these going to be played live…?
when i feel like it
I’m sad, can’t find 2nd Ed anywhere. Loved the game, regret not buying it all those years back
It still pops up at conventions
2nd for me as well. I couldn't help but feel in the 3rd edition that I didn't really have any choice what to do next, and it was always to put out the fire closest to you.
Agree
2nd edition for me due to all of the things it adds. To me these game are all about atmosphere, and the more stuff going on, the greater the suspense. I know people say it's'fiddly, but I love the fact that so much randomness is going on. A Cthulhu game should be unpredictable and you are supposed to feel that dread and that overwhelming odds are against you. The 2nd game has so many elements that feed into that paranoia. It's my favorite board game ever. I just rebought it, because I lost my other copy. I hate that I never bought the expansions, but I didn't know they would stop printing them.
well done!
Second edition for me. I've tried the third a few times and could not get past the fact of how much of a roller coaster ride it is with very limited choices.
Nice
I Love 2nd edition because its was 1st board game i buy and from this my little collection started.
Nice
3rd is super easy. You just run around powering up and then you can just let the clock run out and summon the boss and just kill it. Don’t even have to do any of the “quests”.
i need to get this on the channel
Now it the price difference, $160 for 2nd edition new, $-50 for used, $60 for 3rd edition.
True
I prefer the rules and stuff from the 3rd, might improved. But the 2nd actually feels like a boardgame
Cool
You cant get 2nd ed anymore... unless anyone has a source?? I am lacking only 1 expansion to complete my 2nd ed set... the pain is real, lol
errrr...no i dont
Ebay, but it will cost you an arm and leg for the expansions
Been debating on where my first Arkham purchase will be. Looking forward to the great debate. Looking forward to your play through on both.
2nd is hard to find and will cost a lot for an ebay version
@@28mmRPG I actually just landed a used copy for about $50 that includes the shipping! I did get it off ebay. Where you are talking the big bucks is the expansions! O.O
I should do them soon
I have realized that new version of games usually become over-streamlined nowadays. I like the fiddlyness of older games. When i play something like Arkham Horror, i really want the huge, grand and chaotic mechanics.
The problem i have with 3rd edition is that a story is told, and you as a player are along for the ride. Kind of in the passenger seat though because it is a scripted story. In 2nd edition on the other hand YOU and the mechanics of the game tells the whole story. You just set up a starting position and off you go.
I agree
Second edition all the way.
You know it!
Never played Arkham Horror but have played & own Eldritch Horror. I love the aesthetic of the 2E board. The first time I saw the 3E board, I remember thinking, “What the hell?” I definitely prefer the look of 2E (as someone who has never played it).
Cool
I have a complete Arkham 2nd edition collection & recently gave away my complete Eldritch as both games were competing with each other for table time. I don't see the sense in owning a wide range of games that basically do the same thing as I want to be a board game player rather than a collector. Otherwise these boxes are just expensive dust collectors. 3rd edition looks much more streamlined and less clunky than 2nd edition but I have no plans to buy it. I am sure FFG will continue to pump out expansions and eventually reboot the game for a new edition, or spawn other offshoot titles as they tend to do with all their IPs.
good point!
I just picked up 3rd edition and love it ... probably because I also love Eldritch Horror and 3rd edition has the same vibe.
very cool
Back in the day, when I had and played with everything for 2nd edition, I played on a pool table that I had built extensions onto. And still, it barely contained it. At the time, it was my favorite board game. But, I don't have that kind of space or appreciation for bloat any more. In pretty much all ways, I prefer 3rd. It does narrative better, mostly thanks to the codex. It allows things to change up more, branch out, and just have more story text overall. It does all the important mechanical stuff with a fraction of the components. 3rd edition and the card game assuage all my Arkham needs these days. 2nd edition was huge in my burgeoning collection, and an all time favorite, but I don't play the same way anymore and 3rd just fits my collection and space better.
cool
I love both equally, though I prefer 3ed because of setup with all available expansions! That being said I only played 2ed for about a year or two before 3ed came out, I am more into Eldritch Horror and have all the expansions for it as well as third!
Well said!
2nd Edition for me too... for one, I own everything (except one expansion) for 2E. lol
i have it all...hahah (evil laugh)
@@seahawk8601 LOL! I never doubted that! ;-)
I prefer 2nd. I like games where the story is made by what happens in a game over playing though a scenario.
I agree
Have only played Arkham 3rd, and I really liked it. I will not forget the epic end to the last scenario in the core box, it was awesome - not so much because of the game itself but because of the narrative I had built while playing the scenario. Great fun, need to get it back on the table.
I need to do this live
I have all the expansions except the miniatures for 2nd edition. Love the game but solo is difficult. If you did a playthrough of 3rd edition I would watch it and probably decide if I was interested. I know my wife wouldn't approve, but maybe I could trade some of my older games. Interesting video.
lol
2nd edition all the way. It's just more theatrical/feels like a movie every time I play with a group. The only downside is the setup time with all the expansions which may be mitigated by creating or buying an organizer which can also accelerate game economy. I tried other editions of arkham from fantasy flight and I just didn't feel immersed as much.
Cool!!
I own all games in the AH Files series including tons of add-ons, except Final Hour. So... 3rd edition... is VERY solid. It has:
1) Best investigators ever. Almost all of them has cool and strong skills.
2) Best combat and monster design. 2nd edition combat system was overcomplicated.
3) Best balance for 2 players only (or solo with 2 investigators ). In the second edition, it was almost impossible to win playing with two investigators. EH was a little better, but still unbalanced with 2.
4) Much better compatibility with multiple expansions. You don't wanna play AH2 with dunwich and kingsport at the same time. And you can't keep all event cards in 1 deck forever like in 3rd ed and EH.
2nd ED is better in terms of theme and significance for the board games history. This game has a soul. Very atmospheric text on event cards. This game was a pioneer in many aspects. But by today standards the 2nd ED is very archaic . I'm sorry that AH3 got mixed reviews at launch just because it didn't look like the AH 2,5 .
Well done my friend
2nd by a mile. Without the board as-is, the game just is not anywhere near the level of greatness. There's something so magical about seeing all the locations laid out right there; you feel like the master of the world, looking down on all the possible awesomeness that awaits you. You add in the big board expansions... man, there's nothing like it!
Well said
Second edition for me. It feels epic. I get that the third edition is more streamlined but the meatiness and the messiness of second edition just does it for me.
I agree
Well my heart is with 2nd ed. I still hunting for some expansion :D But for more than few years it lies in the wardrobe....cause not enough time. My wife is also afraid of "horror" motive xD
I love that game
I own 2nd edition. It's my second favourite game after Eldritch Horror.
I haven't played 3rd and I am not realy eager to do so.
1) I don't need a 3rd edition of a very well made game.
2) 2nd edition Arkham map-board makes me feel I travel through the city fighting evil. 3rd edition modular board tiles feels like a space station. Great art but not any feeling of Arkham TOWN.
3) 2nd edition monsters running around the city-board with those gates all around while investigators trying to avoid or fight is just great. 3rd edition......
4) 3rd edition "Mythos Tokens".......enough said.
5) having just the core 2nd and about 2 minor expansions is just OK. Not interested spending more money with 3rd and its new expansions....no no.
Happily staying with my great 2nd edition.
Well said!!
I am willing to try 3rd edition, but I already own all of 2nd edition and all of Eldritch Horror.
same here
I’m a 3rd edition dude ha! I feel that Eldritch horror- is my ‘Arkham horror 2nd’ edition - but better in my opinion. I like the more tight narrative in 3rd edition :)
cool
Arkham Horror 2nd edition was amazing. It's still my favorite board game to solo hands down. Only Eldritch Horror comes close for me(and in my opinion Eldritch Horror feels more like an Arkham Horror 3rd edition than 3rd edition does). I like Arkham Horror 3rd edition, i like it enough to have fully expanded it even... but it does not replace 2nd edition for me at all. I loved how 2nd edition just kinda immersed you into the day to day life of an Arkham citizen and had that slow build-up of tension with the stirring ancient one. You had so much freedom with your turns and each game felt like it was writing a cool story. 3rd edition is more like you drop into a day in the life of an Arkham citizen but then by day 2 the whole playgroup is being dictated to and railroaded from point to point so as to not lose the game. The flavor addition the codex brought is amazing but it came at the cost of too much player freedom for me to not be very bothered by the fact that 3rd edition's existence put 2nd edition out of print as I was only able to get Black Goat of the Woods, The Kingsport Horror and the Innsmouth Horror before it went out of print and 2nd edition is the most deserving of full expansion of all the board games I own.
TL:DR: I love both, but 3rd Edition does not replace 2nd edition to me. It'd be like them saying the Harry Potter movies have been taken out of print and replaced with Fantastic Beasts. 3rd Edition is great, but it should have been called... honestly it should have been called Arkham Horror: Final Hour instead of what Final Hour turned out to be. 3rd Edition feels like a magnified look at the last ten turns of a 2nd edition playthrough before the ancient one wakes up. 3rd Edition is actually slightly less cool to me because of what its existence did to 2nd edition. I love both, I wouldn't pick between them but if I had to it would be 2nd edition for sure.
i agree
I have played both games. I sold my 3E version. It is 2E for me.
A fantastic version my friend!
I have played both 2nd Edition & 3rd Edition; both games are in itself great. However, 2nd Edition packs a punch. More fluff, story telling, atmosphere, mechanics, etc. Although, it is a monstrosity of a game with all of its expansions, it really captures each player into their roles,and individualizes each characters playthrough. I have never seen a cooperative game do that unless it was a Campaign driven board game like Gloomhaven, Mice & Mystics, Sleeping Gods, etc. 3rd Edition, even with expansions, still cannot compare with the vastness that is 2nd Edition. Although, gameplay mechanics are more streamlined, easier to learn, quicker to setup/take down; somehow 2nd Edition makes its length and complexity completely worth it due to how epic the game is. When the game 1st came out, many of my friends were on the fence with it. They either loved it or hated it. Now, after returning to this beast... everyone I know has grown to love it. It is a classis and without a doubt a gem from fantasy flight.
How I miss the old FFG
2nd edition feels more epic and lovecraftian BUT it never gets to table because of set up time so 3rd edition is what I play more often and feels like more of a cohesive story
Your dead on
It depends on what you want out of your Arkham Horror experience.
2nd is more straightforward. It’s essentially a pulp monsterfest where you fight bizarre creatures, explore and seal off other worlds, and by doing so stave off the looming threat of a gigantic reality-eating alien god.
By contrast, 3rd is much more narrative-driven. There’s so much focus on playing out a story that at the beginning of the game you literally don’t even know how to win. It branches off in several different directions at once, allowing for more choices and more ways to progress the story.
Personally I prefer 2nd. I think that’s partially because I’m the kind of person who likes to know where I’m at, and I don’t care for surprises. The other main reason is that I simply have more fun going around killing monsters and slamming those gates shut. I do however enjoy the LCG. I feel like it’s a more scaled-down version of 3rd so it sort of trims away the fat. I find it much more satisfying to have a story playing out without having too many things to keep track of.
well said
To me, 3rd edition is more of a board game version of the card game, without needing to invest in another LCG model (already spent way too much on LoTR LCG). Both 3rd and 2md edition sitting happily on my shelf.
cool
I actually love both versions, depending on how long I want the game to go for...but Eldritch Horror will always be my go to game in the franchise.
good one
As someone who has played 3rd edition ALOT and with the expansions. 3rd edition is an incredible game. I think it comes down to which one people played first. 2nd edition has had so much time with people and had all those expansions to fix and build upon the game, so jumping to a new version was always going to rub some people the wrong way, the same way a reboot in movies does. 3rd edition for me has a super solid narrative and everyone I have shown this game to has loved it. The potential for this game has such a high ceiling with its modular board etc so I can’t wait to see what they do with it. The new expansions have already shown this too
I have everything for 3rd and 2nd I look forward to giving 3rd a go
@@seahawk8601 Hope you have a blast with it! and thanks for the great content
Could you add Eldritch Horror into this as well Rob? Third edition seems to be quite a different type of game and I would be interested in your opinion if EH is more of the 'new 2nd Edition'.
no i think this is between the two
@@seahawk8601 Fair enough. Perhaps a future video topic then. :)
2nd Edition without a doubt!
I have played the third edition a few times and it just felt bland in comparison. It doesn't manage to convey the excitement of the first game. The sense of exploration and getting to know the characters in Arkham. You know something bad is going to happen when Deputy Dingby turns up.
There's so much stuff going on in the second edition, so many variables that changes the game completely without destroying the experience. And it feels well balanced, it's not like EH where you draw a card that basically says you've lost. Oh how I love the second edition.
lol great view
I never tried third edition. I have played 2nd solo a few times, and with friends. I have always thought it was a solid game. I never understood the reasoning behind reinventing it. It seems to me like this is happening a lot since Asmodee took over.
You are right my friend
2nd edition with all but Miskatonic Expansion, why would I want to buy the same game again, not a chance FFG. Also Eldritch Horror was a worthy successor to 2nd edition, 3rd edition was not even needed.
Hmmmm excellent point
The Miskatonic Expansion is the best! It balances the game a lot when you play with all the expansions. It really makes things happen a lot more often on the other boards. I never liked Kingsport, but I would never play the game again without Miskatonic. (I own all the expansions.)
Gonna have to say 2nd Edition. The puzzle cut board has no appeal whatsoever.
I can see that
2nd Edition for me all the way. We still do play 3rd Edition on occasion, but that is because the setup is faster and we just need an Arkham fix.
Nice
Sadly I havent played 2nd edition, but I like 3rd edition. I think it will be even better with more expansions comming out :-)
i think you would like both
2nd is king. My all time favorite.
Sure is
2nd edition all the way. My loathing of the 3rd edition board knows no bounds. The 3rd edition box art is just plain silly-looking (Cthulhu Mythos meets Mr. Toad's Wild Ride).
lol very true
Oddly enough, both games are very interesting for me mechanically but the theme and scale puts me off - not really a Cthulhu fan. The only Cthulhu game I own (with a bunch of expansions) is Eldritch Horror - global map really.pulls me in.
i agree
Truthfully I prefer Eldritch Horror. The question with Arkham 3rd Edition is will Fantasy Flight continue to support it with new expansion.
Good question
Good question
2nd edition. It is chaotic with lots of luck (dice), but you have the adventure. FFG why dont you print anymore?? And why dont you find another name for the 3rd edition? Sad.
Very true
I got into board games through Eldritch Horror, and I'd been looking forward to AH3 as a smaller-scale companion to it. But it's just too gamey and pandemic-like for me. I started collecting AH2 instead even if some of the expansions have been expensive and hard to find.
I agree that it's two games for two different kind of players. AH3 is more polished and story-driven, while AH2 in an experience with an emergent story that's different every time.
Love ah2
3rd for me, Eldritch is my favorite of the bunch though. I love how the third feels like a mix of Eldritch and Arkham Horror LCG... BUT I like each of those more than 3rd edition
Cool
2nd !
Yes
2nd Ed!! It’s the gamers game.
Nice
2nd Edition without a doubt.
Amen
I am not interested in 3rd edition. I was not a fan of what looked like a major redesign of the game. I have most of 2nd edition and we'll just stick with that.
nice
3rd edition wasn’t a bad game, and I had a good time playing it. Playing 2nd edition edition though, has a bit of “magic” to it. It “feels” like it’s slowing trying to rob of your sanity. It has a life of its own. Every time I play it there is always at least one instance where I draw just the wrong card just at the wrong time…😉
i am looking forward to playing this
2nd edition is better by infinite measures. My two biggest problems: feel and board. That board is terrible. The design would make sense for a science-fiction game where you are building out a space station, terraforming colony, or similar futuristic construct. It does not fit for a city map into the early 20th-century. I like the idea of modular, but the execution was terrible. Also, there is no point in the game being modular at this point. Seems like a useless “perk”.
The biggest issue is feel. Second edition felt organic, like it was a living creature. It was chaotic, random, fiddly, but it felt like anything could happen and you had some control of that. 3rd edition feels like a Disney ride where you have a steering wheel in front of you but it does nothing. You are just along for the ride. Someone else is controlling the ride and it’s going to end up pretty much the same every time. That works for mansions of madness, which is basically a mystery game, but it does not work for Arkham horror which is supposed to be an adventure game. Eldritch horror does a better job of being a Arkham horror third edition
Great points
Sadly neither. 2nd edition does the biggest No-no in gaming. Give miles of options, but makes you fight within millimeters of space, and makes you feel like you feel like you are missing out on all these things you could be enjoying but are not.
The AH:LCG gives the AH feeling, but with more options and lets you weigh the risk and reward of your options. And with the card setup it allows for more thematic setups, perhaps like 3rd edition. And I like the leveling up feel of growing to more powerful cards and that you are more "building and growing" your character deck.
to each their own..
For me 2nd edition is more of a RPG board game. The replay value for the core set is outclassing the 3rd edition. While the 3rd edition is much more streamlined and has clever mechanics it doesn’t have a soul..
I think Fantasy Flight Games should’ve made Arkham Horror Legacy instead of the 3rd edition!
well done!
Mansions of Madness.....
Errr guess you did not read the title
@@seahawk8601 I did, just like the other game better 😉
So many people played Arkham 2E as one of their first "big" games. So they didn't understand the rules, they counted punching as part of setup, they just threw stuff back in the box ensuring another long setup. So then by the time Eldritch Horror came along, WHICH IS THE EXACT SAME GAME with a different scope, it became "easier to learn, easier to setup, and more streamlined" which is nonsense.
It doesnt surprise me in the least that AH3E's setup was longer even though we're all told is shorter. 3E seems to fit into the same thing I just heard you say about Descent - it shouldnt have been called Arkham Horror.
the new version is ugly as sin on the table, and the reviews Ive read about it being Pandemic-like are not what I want in an Arkham game.
I own all of Arkham2e, Eldritch and Mansions1e&2e. I skipped Arkham3e and probably will continue to do so unless i can find a copy dirt cheap.
Nice job!
Honestly, it was really awful of fantasy flight to even release 3rd edition as an “edition.” It’s just a completely different game with the same setting.
Sure was
2nd Edition. 3rd is a blatant cash grab
very true
2nd Edition all the way. They removed some of the best elements and made it feel less like a thematic Lovecraft adventure and more like a sterile, generic prototype. No thank you.
i agree from what i seen
3d ed? Just disaster
Okay
I think 3e is dramatically better than 2e, but it's really difficult to tell past our bias for 2e because it's so drastically different. It took me a dozen games over almost 2 years to really be able to tell how clever and entertaining 3e is on a consistent basis. I still love 2nd e but it was at best in my top 15 games. 3E is in my top 5 right now. I have complaints but I really enjoy it.
Well done my friend!
3rd Edition is sterile and bland.
Second Edition is a bloated mess.
I don't play either much anymore.
To each their own