Cthulhu Realms
- Players
- 2-4
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 2 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 45 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 14+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 2.1 / 5
- Year
- 2015
About the game
Cthulhu Realms is a fast-playing deckbuilding card game for two to four players, adapting the acclaimed Star Realms system into a Lovecraftian setting full of dark humor. Each turn you play cards to build locations, boost your own sanity, drain your opponents', and acquire increasingly powerful cards from a shared row. Lose all your sanity and you're out; when the deck runs dry, whoever has the most sanity remaining wins. It combines tight, escalating deckbuilding combos with a horror-comedy Cthulhu Mythos theme.
Hobbli's Notes
Designer Darwin Kastle brings the same tight, satisfying engine-building from Star Realms into a spookier, funnier package here. It's quick to teach and plays fast, making it an easy pick for a short session between bigger games. Genre veterans may find it plays very similarly to Star Realms under the hood, but the Cthulhu flavor and card art give it its own distinct personality.
What we like
- Fast-playing deckbuilder with a tight, satisfying decision space.
- Humorous Lovecraftian theme balances horror with comedy.
- Quick setup in a compact, portable card-only format.
- Escalating combos reward smart card acquisition.
Keep in mind
- Player elimination in multiplayer can end the game early for some.
- Core loop closely mirrors Star Realms, which may feel derivative to genre veterans.
- Limited thematic depth beyond flavor text and art.
Who it's for
Great for deckbuilding fans and horror-comedy enthusiasts age 14+ looking for a quick two-to-four player game.
