How to Play Mansions of Madness 2nd Edition: App, Actions & Mythos
Mansions of Madness Second Edition is a fully cooperative app-driven investigation game for 1–5 players. The app controls scenario setup, map discovery, monsters, Mythos events, puzzles and objective progression.
Choose a scenario and investigators in the app
Tell the app which content you own, select a scenario and investigators, then build only the starting map and components the app requests. More rooms are revealed during play.
Each round has Investigator and Mythos phases
Investigators act first in any legal order, then the app resolves the Mythos phase with global events, monster activations and Horror checks.
Each investigator gets two actions
Common actions include Move, Explore, Search, Interact, Attack and component-specific actions. A Move action can cover up to two spaces and can be interrupted by another action where legal.
Explore and Search through the app
Tap Explore or Search icons in the app, spend the action, then follow the generated text. The app may reveal new tiles, spawn monsters, award items, start puzzles or require skill tests.
Skill tests use custom dice
Roll dice equal to the named investigator skill plus modifiers. Count successes after applying rerolls/conversions from cards, then feed the result into the app or resolve the printed effect.
Mythos phase pressures time and health
The app resolves a Mythos event, activates monsters and then prompts Horror checks for investigators near eligible monsters. Damage and Horror cards can create face-up lasting effects or flip/resolve according to their text.
Scenario objective determines victory
Continue until the app reveals the scenario’s decisive objective and the investigators either satisfy it or reach the scenario’s loss state.
Publisher reference: Fantasy Flight Games Second Edition Rules Reference. Checked September 21, 2026.