With the popularity of “Lovecraft Country,” the world of H.P. Lovecraft has come alive on your screen like never before. Now the horrors of the elder gods and the evil machinations of the secret lodges to bring about the end of all things have leaped from the pages of books to the images on screen. In addition to books, this world has also been the domain of rich board gaming for quite a while. I thought for those who want to try it on their own hand in this playground of the bizarre, In that spirit, here are 5 great board games taken from the rich story tapestry of the world of Lovecraft. Sound inviting? then prepare yourselves, grab your elder signs and spellbooks, because mystery awaits!
There are several games created in this genre, from simple dice games like Cthulhu Dice and Munchkin Cthulhu to the more intense in-depth experiences of Mansions of Madness. However, the granddaddy of all the games is the original Arkham Horror. There are currently three versions of this one to choose from. Taking place in the fictional city of Arkham, players are investigators trying to stem the tide of the elder god’s awakening. Players explore locations in the city gathering spells, equipment, and allies to assist in their quest while the forces of evil continue to take form in hideous creatures that bring the investigators to the edge of insanity. It’s a 90-120 minute journey into the face of madness to save the world!
Moving beyond Arkham and expanding the hunt to the entire world, is where Eldritch Horror takes over. Here, several of the same faces from the previous game, have come with new investigators as the hunt goes global. Like Arkham, players are investigating the mystery of one of the ancient elder gods and attempt to prevent their awakening and destruction of all things. Hideous monsters and gates to the other worlds continue to spawn and wreak havoc but with the right preparations, you and your team can triumph! This game will weave a unique story experience that will be shared way past the last dice roll. Truly an amazing game. 8 players can enjoy this one, so it is great for a moderate size game group.
Returning to just Arkham and it’s neighboring towns, we have the clever and brilliant Pandemic Reign of Cthulhu. Using the Pandemic engine, but with changes direct from the Lovecraft mythos, players are racing around trying to seal four gates in the four towns while cultists continue to gather in their attempts to unravel the world. This is a fully cooperative game and will demand participation from all players to win. As more and more elder gods awaken, the challenges become more difficult until if the great elder god Cthulhu himself awakens, all is lost. Pandemic Reign of Cthulhu is for 2-6 players and takes about an average of 90 minutes to play.
Next is a Kickstarter exclusive, but it is so good that if you happen to find it on eBay, BUY IT! This is the modern Lovecraft horror game Deep Madness. In this one, an undersea mining complex has gone dark, and players are sent to investigate. What they find is evil, ancient, and threatens the world! Horrors beyond comprehension and the stuff of nightmares haunt and torment the investigators to the brink of insanity. If you have the courage and the will, you may discover the dark secrets that are hidden inside Kadath station and make it back alive with your sanity and providing you don’t drown in the process because the whole place is coming apart in areas and you may drown, so keep that in mind as well. With brilliant graphics, firm mechanics, and a rich story, Deep Madness wins in all counts.
Finally, we come to what can be described as Yahtzee from Hell, and that is Elder Sign. Like the others in the Arkham files series of games, players are investigators, but this time, in one place, the museum on the campus of Miskatonic University in the city of Arkham. Evil has stirred and the stars are right for the coming of the elder god, you need to stop it. By exploring the rooms of the museum, you encounter gates to other worlds, monsters, and other challenges to overcome. Like Yahtzee, Elder sign uses custom dice as players roll to make combinations in order to pass the tests because failure results in loss of stamina and sanity. Collect enough elder signs with successful tests, and you seal the gates and the world continues, fail and its all over!
So there you have it, five great games to get you in the hunt like the characters in Lovecraft Country. Some others that are worth mentioning, Cthulhu death may die from CMON and Sandy Petersen’s Cthulhu wars, both unique in their gameplay and style but still rich in the theme. Good hunting!
Written by Ed Carter
