Rise of Cthulhu

About this board game

Rise of Cthulhu is a tactical card game of influence and horror for 2 players, with games lasting about 30 minutes. As rival cult leaders, you race to control four Lovecraftian locations and awaken the Old Ones before your opponent.

Play numbered and colored Cultist Cards on your side of Arkham, Dunwich, Innsmouth, and Kingsport. The player with the most total points at a location controls it, but influence can shift as new cards enter play. Whoever controls a location when an Old One attaches to it gains that entity’s favor.

Each turn gives you two actions. You can draw two cards, play two cards, or draw one card and play one card. Cards come either from the face-down Cultist deck or the face-up discard pile known as the Valley, giving you meaningful choices as you build your influence.

• Use three cards of the same color, three cards of the same number, or a three-card run in one color to gain special cards.
• Draw Monster Cards to strengthen your control or hinder your opponent.
• Unlock eldritch Artifact Cards and manipulate an Unspeakable Guardian to terrorize the opposing faction.

At key points, Old Ones are drawn from the Cultist deck and attach themselves to locations. When all three Old Ones awaken, Rise of Cthulhu ends. The player with the most locations facing them wins; if the result is tied, compare the points in play.