# Eldritch Horror: Cities in Ruin ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2017 - **BGG Rating**: 8.5 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 1-8 (Best with: 4) - **Duration**: 120-240 min - **Weight**: 3.08 / 5 - **Designers**: Nikki Valens - **Artists**: Cristi Balanescu - **Publishers**: Fantasy Flight Games, Delta Vision Publishing, Edge Entertainment, Galakta, Galápagos Jogos, Giochi Uniti, Heidelberger Spieleverlag, Hobby World - **Categories**: Adventure, Expansion for Base-game, Fantasy, Fighting, Horror, Novel-based - **Mechanics**: Cooperative Game, Dice Rolling, Point to Point Movement, Role Playing, Storytelling, Variable Player Powers ## Verdict If you're an Eldritch Horror fan craving more chaos and challenges, Cities in Ruin is a perfect fit to test your sanity!More investigators to chooseTerrifying new monstersDynamic catastrophic eventsIncreases replayabilityExpanded Lovecraftian themeRequires base gameAdds game complexityGames might take longerHIGHLY RECOMMENDED ## Description Brace yourself for a shiver down your spine, because Eldritch Horror: Cities in Ruin is here to shake up the world as you know it! This expansion delves deep into the feeling that something ancient and terrible is lurking, ready to dismantle modern civilization. Your visions show a desolate future, where cities are swallowed by violent earthquakes, coastlines are swept away by relentless typhoons, and in the depths of the Earth, a primordial entity begins to stir. We're talking about Shudde M’ell, the Cataclysm from Below, who brings with him a wave of destruction and despair. Cities in Ruin is not for the faint of heart. It introduces four new fearless investigators, ready to face the brink of madness as they battle the Great Old Ones. Additionally, the expansion packs the game with a slew of new monster and encounter cards, ensuring that each game is a unique and terrifying experience. The big highlight is the presence of Shudde M’ell, who adds a destructive twist to the game in the form of catastrophic events. If you thought Eldritch Horror was already challenging, prepare for a new level of cosmic chaos and despair! ## How to Play Game Objective The objective of the game is for the investigators to survive the Disasters and solve the Mysteries plaguing the cities. Victory is achieved by completing the objectives of the active Mystery or surviving until the end of the game. If all named City spaces on the main board are devastated, the players automatically lose. Setup To set up the game, follow these steps: Each player draws a random Prelude card before setting up the game. The card's effect is resolved immediately unless otherwise specified. Set up the board with the named City spaces and position the Clue markers, Lead Investigator, and other components according to the base game rules. Distribute the Unique Resource, Disaster, and Devastation Encounter cards according to the manual's instructions. Each investigator receives a starting set of cards, Sanity tokens, and Clue markers, as detailed in the manual. Refer to the manual for details on the specific setup of each component. Game Flow The game progresses in turns, with specific phases for each player and global events. The general structure includes: Encounter Phase: Investigators encounter Monsters and resolve Combat Encounters or Mysteries. Encountering non-Epic Monsters before Epic Monsters is mandatory. Disaster Phase: If Doom advances to a space with a Dread marker, a Disaster is resolved. This may devastate City spaces. Mystery Phase: The active Mystery advances, requiring actions such as placing Markers, defeating Epic Monsters, or spending Clues. Effects vary according to the Mystery card. Devastation Phase: If a space is devastated, all Clue markers and defeated Investigators are discarded. The space is no longer a City space. Refer to the manual for the exact order of phases and the specific rules for each phase. Actions and How to Play Players can perform actions during their turn, such as: Unique Resources: Double-sided cards that offer unique benefits. They can be swapped using the Swap Action and used once per turn (e.g., rerolling 1 die in tests). Discard: Discard cards to resolve effects or gain extra Sanity during Rest. Devastation Encounters: When a space is devastated, investigators must draw and resolve the first card from the Devastation Encounter deck. Mystery: Advancing the active Mystery may require placing Markers, defeating Epic Monsters, or spending Clues. Effects depend on the Mystery card. Refer to the manual for details on each action, restrictions, and possible combinations. End of Game and Scoring The game ends when: All named City spaces on the main board are devastated (automatic loss). The active Mystery is completed (victory, if applicable). The players decide to end the game (if applicable, according to optional rules). The score is calculated based on: Resolution of Mysteries and challenges. Survival of the investigators. Effective use of Unique Resources and Spells. Refer to the manual for the exact scoring and victory/defeat criteria. Tips for Winning 1. Prioritize solving Mysteries that require placing Markers, as this reduces the Resistance of Epic Monsters. 2. Use Unique Resources strategically, especially those that allow rerolling dice in critical tests. 3. Avoid devastating City spaces unnecessarily, as this limits encounter options and can lead to defeat. ## FAQ ### Is Eldritch Horror: Cities in Ruin a standalone game or an expansion? It's an expansion! You'll need the Eldritch Horror base game to enjoy all the content and new features that Cities in Ruin brings to the table. ### How many players can play with this expansion? As an expansion, it maintains the same player count as the base game, from 1 to 8 investigators. Perfect for your solo sessions or for gathering the whole crew! ### What is the average game duration with the expansion? Eldritch Horror games are already known for being epic, and with Cities in Ruin, they can become even longer. Expect something between 120 and 240 minutes, depending on the number of players and the complexity of the Ancient One you're facing. ### Does the expansion add a lot of complexity to the rules? It introduces some new mechanics, such as the Disaster Deck and the Ancient One Shudde M'ell, which bring new layers of challenge. If you've already mastered the base game, the learning curve will be smooth, but prepare for more strategic decisions. ### What are the main highlights of Cities in Ruin? The highlights are undoubtedly the four new investigators with their unique stories and abilities, the fearsome Ancient One Shudde M'ell, and of course, the Disaster Deck, which ensures that the world's cities are always on the brink of collapse, making each game unpredictable and exciting! ### Who is this expansion best suited for? It's ideal for Eldritch Horror fans looking for more depth, new challenges, and an extra dose of cosmic horror. If you love the sense of urgency and want to see the world crumble while trying to save it, this expansion is for you! ## Price Comparison ### Best International Offers - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 22.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=4885892&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 23.09 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6913403&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 24.49 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6024920&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 24.91 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=1661741&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 26.39 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=4811937&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 26.39 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=4800167&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 26.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=739220&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 27.04 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=1659455&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 27.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=5969441&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 28.53 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=2330037&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/20282/eldritch-horror-cities-in-ruin?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com