Nightmare

About this board game

Nightmare is a video-controlled board game for 3–6 players, designed for a 60-minute race against time and the sinister Gatekeeper. First released in 1991, it combines board game play with a video tape that guides the experience.

Each player aims to collect six keys belonging to their character. Once all six are gathered, the goal is to race to the center of the board, known as the Nightmare Square. The Gatekeeper keeps the game moving, and if the tape reaches 60 minutes, the Gatekeeper wins.

• Players: 3–6
• Playing time: 60 minutes
• Core objective: collect six character keys and reach the Nightmare Square
• Game format: a board game controlled by video

Nightmare is also known as Atmosfear and was expanded by Nightmare II, Nightmare III, and Nightmare IV. Its video-meets-board-game format makes the host an active part of the challenge, while the limited running time creates a clear race to the finish.

In 2022, a 30th Anniversary Edition brought back the original experience with streaming or downloadable video replacing the VCR cassette. This edition was presented as a faithful reproduction of the 1991 product, while also adding deluxe gameplay extras, new custom pieces, extra cards, and the crazy Baron Samedi expansion.

The anniversary edition also introduced The Lore of the Other Side, a new backstory about the Gatekeeper and his mission on and under the earth, planned as a graphic novel. Whether encountered as the original release or its anniversary edition, Nightmare remains a distinctive timed board game built around collecting keys, following the video, and outracing the Gatekeeper.