The best games set in the H.P. Lovecraft universe "Cthulhu 2021
Looking for a really good game set in H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu universe? Then we have just the thing: The best Cthulhu Mythos games.
Who was H. P. Lovecraft?
Howard Phillips Lovecraft (August 20, 1890 - March 15, 1937) was an American writer of gothic novels and horror stories, known for his creation of what later became the "Cthulhu Mythos" - he himself always called it the "Arkham Cycle". This myth, or rather the whole universe, can be found nowadays in movies, literature, music, computer games and even board games.
Even Batman refers to the works of Lovecraft
Batman and some other works from DC Comics universe have been inspired by the "Arkham Cycle". For example, the prison "Arkham Asylum" is located on the outskirts of Gotham City and is the place where those of Batman's enemies are imprisoned who are considered legally and mentally insane.
Lovecraft was never able to make a living from his works
Throughout his adult life, Lovecraft was never able to support himself on his income as an author and publisher. He was virtually unknown during his lifetime and was published almost exclusively in pulp magazines before dying in poverty at the age of 46, but is now considered one of the most important authors of supernatural horror literature of the 20th century.
Cthulhu Mythos...what is it?
The Cthulhu Mythos is a fictional universe that originated in the short stories and tales of American horror author H. P. Lovecraft. The term was first coined in 1927 by August Derleth, a contemporary correspondent and protégé of Lovecraft. The Cthulhu Mythos revolves around the settings (Arkham), characters (Henry Armitage), objects (Necronimicon), beings/entities (Cthulhu), and stories used by Lovecraft and his literary successors.
The name Cthulhu derives from the central creature in Lovecraft's seminal short story "The Call of Cthulhu," first published in 1928.
Games based on works by other authors
A lot of games are based on works of book authors. Just see our list of games based on authors below.
List of the best board games from the H.P. Lovecraft universe that you can buy 2021
Mansions of Madness: Second Edition
Nominated for 9 awards.
More details for Mansions of Madness: Second Edition
1 - 5 Players
120 - 180 Minutes
14+ years old
Complexity: medium
😕 Questionable price90€ at
.deCthulhu: Death May Die
Nominated for 4 awards.
More details for Cthulhu: Death May Die- 1 - 5 Players
- 90 - 120 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Complexity: easy
💸 Too expensive!139€ at.deLovecraft Letter
- 2 - 6 Players
- 5 - 15 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Complexity: very easy
Video reviews for Lovecraft Letter
Arkham Horror: The Card Game
Nominated for 13 awards and won 4.
More details for Arkham Horror: The Card Game- 1 - 2 Players
- 60 - 120 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Complexity: medium
👍 Good price!35€ at.deVideo reviews for Arkham Horror: The Card Game
Pandemic: Reign of Cthulhu
Nominated for 2 awards.
More details for Pandemic: Reign of Cthulhu- 2 - 4 Players
- 40 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Complexity: easy
Don't Mess with Cthulhu Deluxe
- 4 - 8 Players
- 1 - 30 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Complexity: very easy
Video reviews for Don't Mess with Cthulhu Deluxe
Cthulhu Wars
Nominated for 4 awards and won 1.
More details for Cthulhu Wars- 2 - 4 Players
- 90 - 120 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Complexity: medium
Video reviews for Cthulhu Wars
Eldritch Horror
Nominated for 5 awards.
More details for Eldritch Horror- 1 - 8 Players
- 120 - 240 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Complexity: medium
Video reviews for Eldritch Horror
Mythos Tales
- 1 - 10 Players
- 60 - 120 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Complexity: easy
👍 Good price!33€ at.deVideo reviews for Mythos Tales
Tides of Madness
Nominated for 3 awards.
More details for Tides of Madness- 2 Players
- 20 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Complexity: easy
🔥 Great price!12€ at.deVideo reviews for Tides of Madness
Arkham Horror (Third Edition)
Nominated for 2 awards.
More details for Arkham Horror (Third Edition)- 1 - 6 Players
- 120 - 180 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Complexity: medium
😕 Questionable price60€ at.deVideo reviews for Arkham Horror (Third Edition)
Elder Sign
Nominated for 1 award.
More details for Elder Sign- 1 - 8 Players
- 90 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Complexity: easy
👍 Good price!32€ at.deUnspeakable Words: Deluxe Edition
- 2 - 8 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Complexity: very easy
AuZtralia
Nominated for 1 award.
More details for AuZtralia- 1 - 4 Players
- 30 - 120 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Complexity: medium
Ancient Terrible Things
- 2 - 4 Players
- 60 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Complexity: easy
😕 Questionable price31€ at.deThe Cards of Cthulhu
- 1 - 4 Players
- 30 - 90 Minutes
- Complexity: easy
Smash Up: The Obligatory Cthulhu Set
- 2 Players
- 30 - 45 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Complexity: easy
Cthulhu Realms
- 2 - 4 Players
- 25 - 45 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Complexity: easy
Cthulhu in the House
- 3 - 6 Players
- 10 - 20 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Complexity: very easy
Stay Away!
- 4 - 12 Players
- 15 - 60 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Complexity: very easy
👍 Good price!18€ at.deCthulhu Tales
- 2 - 5 Players
- 20 - 60 Minutes
- 15+ years old
- Complexity: very easy
Cthulhu Gloom
Nominated for 1 award.
More details for Cthulhu Gloom- 2 - 5 Players
- 60 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Complexity: easy
Gates of Delirium
- 2 - 4 Players
- 45 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Complexity: easy
Video reviews for Gates of Delirium
Mountains of Madness
Nominated for 1 award.
More details for Mountains of Madness- 3 - 5 Players
- 60 - 90 Minutes
- 12+ years old
- Complexity: easy
Video reviews for Mountains of Madness
Arkham Horror
Nominated for 2 awards.
More details for Arkham Horror- 1 - 8 Players
- 120 - 240 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Complexity: hard
Cthulhu Fluxx
- 2 - 6 Players
- 5 - 30 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Complexity: very easy
🔥 Great price!58€ at.deEvil High Priest
- 2 - 5 Players
- 40 - 90 Minutes
- 14+ years old
- Complexity: medium
Video reviews for Evil High Priest
Lost in R'lyeh
- 2 - 6 Players
- 45 Minutes
- 13+ years old
- Complexity: very easy
Munchkin Cthulhu
- 3 - 6 Players
- 90 Minutes
- 10+ years old
- Complexity: easy
👍 Good price!17€ at.dePocket Madness
- 2 - 4 Players
- 30 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Complexity: very easy
Video reviews for Pocket Madness
Didn't find the game you were looking for?
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