I Am the Fourth Wall

About this board game

I Am the Fourth Wall is an asymmetrical card game for 1–7 players, with games lasting about 45 minutes. Set in a jiving 1950s suburbia filled with Lovecraftian Cthulhu horror, it pits one player—or an AI deck—against a team of Investigators.

The Wall is an ancient being intent on driving the world into perpetual madness. Its goal is to open five gates to the nightmare world beyond. Acting between each Investigator’s turn, the Wall spends action points to hinder its opponents, summon monsters, and use unique abilities while reality begins to tear apart.

The remaining 1–6 players take on the roles of everyday people, including waitresses, detectives, and street magicians. Their only hope is to work together, close all five gates, and banish the Wall from their world—for a time.

• Asymmetrical play: The Wall and the Investigators pursue different objectives and use different abilities.
• Team coordination: Investigators must cooperate closely and manage their hands carefully.
• Symbol matching: A streamlined matching mechanic helps Investigators destroy the nightmares plaguing the streets.
• Risk and reward: Drawing upon the essence of madness can give Investigators a powerful edge, while also granting the Wall an advantage.

With four ways to play, I Am the Fourth Wall offers flexibility alongside its tight teamwork and high-stakes decisions. Every turn asks the Investigators to balance immediate survival against the larger mission of closing the gates, while the Wall searches for opportunities to accelerate the world’s descent into madness.