The Cards of Cthulhu

Dan Verssen Games (DVG) · Board game · 2014
7.0 Ludopedia 6.8 BGG 1–4 · best 1 Solo 30–90 min Weight 1.8/5
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7.0 rating Ludopedia
6.8 rating BGG
Our Verdict
FOR GENRE FANS

If you're into the Lovecraftian universe and cooperative games that put you against the clock (and cosmic horrors!), 'The Cards of Cthulhu' is an intriguing choice. It's a card and dice game that delivers an immersive thematic experience and a neat cooperative challenge, perfect for those seeking a dose of suspense and strategy. The feeling of constantly being on the brink of the abyss, trying to prevent the end of the world, is the main appeal here.

Highlights
  • Strong Lovecraft theme
  • Cooperative and challenging
  • Card and dice combination
  • Easy to learn
  • Compact components
Keep in mind
  • Can have high randomness
  • Repetitive after a few plays
  • Limited player interaction
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About the game

What you do in a play session

Brace yourself to dive into the cosmic horrors of the Cthulhu Mythos in a cooperative card game that will test your sanity! In 'The Cards of Cthulhu', you take on the role of a fearless Investigator, tasked with preventing the Elder Gods from awakening and bringing about the end of the world. Each round, you'll face a growing horde of minions and horrors, divided into categories like Minor, Major, and Unspeakable, spread across four distinct Cult boards.

To combat these threats, you'll need more than just courage. The game combines card strategy with the unpredictability of dice rolling, where each roll can be the difference between salvation and damnation. Throughout the game, you can recruit followers with special abilities – some with a cost, others without – and acquire powerful items that will help you turn the tide. Event cards, such as The Gate Card or The Cursed Scroll, can add unexpected twists, forcing you to make tough decisions and manage your resources wisely.

The objective is clear: empty the Cult Deck before any of the boards accumulate more than five minions. If that happens, an Elder God is summoned, and humanity is doomed. But if you manage to foil the cultists' plans and keep the horrors at bay, victory will be yours and the world will be safe... for now. Will you and your team be able to resist the impending madness?

Rules videos

Learn by watching before you open the box

5 videos

Best player count

BGG community vote

1–4 players
1 BEST
2 REC
3 OK
4 OK

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Game details

Mechanics, categories, families and credits

Categories

Families

Crowdfunding: Kickstarter Players: Games with Solitaire Rules Theme: Cthulhu Mythos
Publisher Dan Verssen Games (DVG)
Designer Ian Richard
Artist Christian Quinot

Community

Data from BoardGameGeek

1,199owners
192wishlist
34want to play

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers before you buy

6 questions
What is the average playtime for 'The Cards of Cthulhu'?
A game typically lasts between 30 and 90 minutes, depending on the number of players and dice luck. It's a good length for a quick horror session!
How many players can participate?
The game can be played by 1 to 4 players. Yes, it has a pretty interesting solo mode for when you want to face the horrors alone!
Is it a very complex game for beginners?
No, the BGG weight is 1.83/5, which indicates it's a light to medium complexity game. The rules are easy to pick up, but the strategy to win can be challenging.
What are the main components of the game?
The game primarily consists of cards (investigator, minions, horrors, followers, items), dice, and the Cult boards. It's quite portable and doesn't require much table space.
Who is 'The Cards of Cthulhu' best suited for?
It's ideal for fans of the Cthulhu Mythos, players who enjoy cooperative games, and those looking for a thematic horror experience with a dash of luck and strategy. If you don't mind dice randomness, you'll enjoy it!
Is the game very language dependent?
Not heavily! Most of the information on the cards is iconographic or has minimal text, making it accessible even for non-English speakers. The rules are the main part to be translated.

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