By Joe Puccio

As we enter the apex of the Halloween season, the abundance of horror-themed activities to keep us entertained is seemingly endless. From haunted houses to creepy corn mazes to hair-raising hay rides, there’s plenty to keep our inner psycho sufficiently occupied. But if you’re looking for something a bit more subtle that can be enjoyed in the comfort of your own home while still falling under the ‘scary’ realm, two game companies have your fright sensibilities covered.

Horror Trivia, distributed by New Jersey-based Endless Games, and Trivial Pursuit: Horror Movie Edition, manufactured by the Southern California-rooted USAopoly, while obviously geared primarily towards advanced horror film fanatics, are quite unique in that both offer just as much fun for the casual fan as well. 

The simpler, more no-frills option, is Horror Trivia. The bare bones packaging includes just a pack of cards and an instruction sheet that explains the basic rules, which amount to capturing weapon cards (Machete, Axe, Chainsaw, Crucifix/Cross, and Crossbow) after successfully answering wide-ranging questions such as the novice-friendly ‘In what horror movie did the villain attack high school students through their dreams?’ (A Nightmare On Elm Street) to the more challenging ‘What is the name of the family pet in the movie The Lost Boys? (Nanook).

Trivial Pursuit takes more of a compartmentalized approach, dividing the mayhem into six terrorizing categories (Monster, Gore/Disturbing, Psychological, Paranormal, Slasher, and International). The subject matter covered is considerably extensive, allowing players to test their knowledge of the genre going back 100 years. And with 600 hair-raising questions with varying degrees of difficulty included, the game will surely offer something for everyone and provide hours of pleasure.

Since both games are highly affordable, your best bet would be to avoid picking just one and purchase the pair; doing so will guarantee a delightfully devilish experience.