Elder Sign

Fantasy Flight Games, ADC Blackfire Entertainment, Arclight Games · Board game · 2011
Ludopedia 7.0 BGG 1–8 · best 4 Solo 90 min Weight 2.3/5
Buy · from US$ 24.99
rating Ludopedia
7.0 rating BGG

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Our Verdict
FOR GENRE FANS

If you're a fan of cooperative dice-rolling and the Cthulhu mythos, Elder Sign offers a quick and thematic race against cosmic horror. It's perfect for groups looking for a lighter, yet engaging, Lovecraftian experience.

Highlights
  • Fast-paced cooperative dice rolling
  • Strong Cthulhu mythos theme
  • Accessible entry to Lovecraftian games
  • Engaging race against time
Keep in mind
  • Luck can heavily influence outcomes
  • Repetitive dice rolling for some
  • Can feel less strategic than other Arkham games
Learn How to Play Step by Step Check out our complete step-by-step rules guide.
Access Rules Guide

About the game

What you do in a play session

Get ready for a dark and mysterious adventure in Elder Sign! It's 1926, and the Arkham Museum has become the epicenter of a cosmic threat. Strange and occult artifacts in its vast collection are weakening the barriers between our reality and the ancient horrors lurking between dimensions. Portals are beginning to open, unleashing terrifying and increasingly powerful creatures. Animals, the insane, and more susceptible minds are driven to desperation by the supernatural forces these portals unleash. It's a race against time! A group of brave investigators must find arcane symbols, the Elder Signs, to seal these portals once and for all. If they fail, a terrifying Ancient One will come to Earth, and humanity will be reduced to cinders. Elder Sign is a fast-paced, cooperative dice game of supernatural intrigue, designed by Richard Launius and Kevin Wilson, the same masterminds behind Arkham Horror. For one to eight players, you and your friends take on the roles of these desperate investigators. Armed with tools, allies, and occult knowledge, you'll need to test your sanity and stamina as you adventure to locate the Elder Signs, which are the key to sealing away the Ancient Ones and winning the game. To acquire these symbols, investigators must successfully overcome challenges in various Adventures within the museum and its surroundings. Be warned: a countdown mechanism ensures that if you're not quick enough, an Ancient One will appear, and then battle will be inevitable. A clever and thematic dice system pits your exploration against monsters and the sheer difficulty of staying sane and healthy, all within a standard game duration of one to two hours. Can you save humanity?

Expansions

Published additional content

6 items

Rules videos

Learn by watching before you open the box

12 videos

Rules manual

Official PDF file

Rules manual — Elder Sign English · PDF
Download Manual

Best player count

BGG community vote

1–8 players
1 REC
2 REC
3 REC
4 BEST
5 OK
6 OK
7 OK
8 OK

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Game details

Mechanics, categories, families and credits

Categories

Families

Components: Dice with Icons Digital Implementations: Google Play Digital Implementations: Steam Game: Elder Sign Players: Games with Solitaire Rules Series: Arkham Horror Files (Fantasy Flight Games)
Publisher Fantasy Flight Games, ADC Blackfire Entertainment, Arclight Games, Delta Vision Publishing, Edge Entertainment, Galakta
Designer Kevin Wilson, Richard Launius
Artist Dallas Mehlhoff

Community

Data from BoardGameGeek

44,440owners
3,597wishlist
305want to play

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers before you buy

6 questions
How many players can play Elder Sign?
Elder Sign is super flexible! It can be played by 1 to 8 players, making it great for both a solo session and a larger group.
What is the average game duration?
Games of Elder Sign typically last between 90 and 120 minutes. It's a good amount of time for a complete experience without dragging on too long.
Is it a very complex game?
With a BGG weight of 2.3431/5, Elder Sign is considered of medium complexity. It's easy to learn the basic rules, but offers strategic depth for those who like to optimize their dice rolls.
What are Elder Signs and how do they work?
Elder Signs are arcane symbols you need to collect to win the game. You acquire them by successfully completing Adventures in the museum, using your dice to match the required symbols.
Can I play Elder Sign solo?
Absolutely! Elder Sign includes rules for solo play, which is great for testing your skills and diving into the Lovecraftian atmosphere on your own.
What is the main mechanic of the game?
Dice rolling is the heart of Elder Sign! You'll roll custom dice to try and resolve the challenges of the Adventures, with the option to re-roll and lock some results to optimize your chances.

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