Pocket Madness

About this board game

Pocket Madness is a fast-paced card game for 2–4 players that plays in about 30 minutes. Inspired by the writings of H.P. Lovecraft, it casts players as cultists invoking the powers of the Ancient Ones while trying to drive their rivals mad.

The game uses cards numbered 6–12 and begins with each player receiving two cards. A visible row of cards forms the shared supply, giving everyone the chance to choose how many cards to take and when to make a risky move.

• Take cards: Pick up the first one to three cards in the row and add them to your hand.
• Open a portal: Lay down three or more cards of the same type and claim the portal matching their number.
• Open an investigation: Discard cards numbered 6–12 so every other player gains madness tokens based on the number of investigations this round.

Every portal has a different power, and you may use one portal power on your turn. Portals are not permanently secure: if another player claims a portal you own, you lose it.

A round ends when a player empties their hand or the card row runs out. If the row is exhausted, everyone takes one final turn before gaining madness tokens equal to the number of different card types in their hand. Emptying your hand lets you lose half your madness tokens, while everyone else gains one.

Pocket Madness ends after the round in which a player collects ten or more madness tokens. With its Lovecraftian setting, visible card row, shifting portal powers, and escalating madness, each short game creates a tense race to survive the Ancient Ones.