Mansions of Madness Second Edition
Mansions of Madness Second Edition explained: app-driven cooperative exploration, investigators, puzzles, skill tests, combat, horror and scenario objectives.
Investigate a haunted location cooperatively while a companion app controls the scenario, reveals map tiles, presents encounters and manages hidden information.
Investigators search rooms, solve puzzles, fight monsters and manage damage and horror while trying to complete a scenario-specific objective before the situation collapses.
Why We Love It
The app handles much of the scenario bookkeeping, letting the table focus on investigation and cooperation. Each room reveal can change the group’s plan without requiring a player to act as game master.
About Mansions of Madness Second Edition
Each scenario begins with investigators entering a location assembled from map tiles. The app reveals points of interest, monsters and events as players explore.
Actions are spent moving, interacting, attacking, trading and resolving scenario elements, while tests use investigator attributes and dice.
Game at a Glance
Explore
Reveal rooms and points of interest through the companion app.
Investigate
Search for clues and resolve narrative encounters.
Survive Threats
Fight monsters and endure damage, horror and conditions.
Solve the Scenario
Work out the objective before escalating events overwhelm the team.
Who Mansions of Madness Second Edition suits
Groups or solo players who want a story-heavy cooperative investigation with digital assistance, exploration and tactical decisions.
Rules overview
The app sets up a scenario and tells players which initial map tiles to place. Each investigator normally receives two actions per turn, used for movement and interactions such as searching, attacking or resolving app prompts. After investigators act, the app runs the Mythos phase, generating events and monster activations. Tests roll dice based on an investigator attribute, and damage or horror can produce lasting conditions. The scenario ends when the group completes its objective or reaches a loss state.
Key decisions
Editorial analysis: Action economy matters more than clearing every point of interest. Split only when the map and investigator abilities justify it, and prioritize information that advances the objective rather than spending turns on low-value exploration while the Mythos clock continues.
Common questions
Is the app required?
Yes. Second Edition uses a free companion app to run scenarios and hidden information.
Can it be played solo?
Yes. Fantasy Flight lists the game for 1–5 players.
Is a game master needed?
No. The app performs the scenario-management role, so all players can control investigators.
Related games
Learn Mansions of Madness 2nd Edition in depth
Sources and edition notes
Facts checked September 17, 2026. This guide covers Second Edition and its required companion-app system.