Cthulhu Wars (2015) Board Game

Cthulhu Wars is a board game released in 2015 by Petersen Games. Designed by Sandy Petersen and Lincoln Petersen, the game falls into the fantasy, fighting, horror, and miniatures categories. With stunning artwork by Kev Adams, Peter Bartholdy, Ian Brumby, and Jo Brumby, Cthulhu Wars has gained a loyal following among fans of Lovecraftian themes and strategic gameplay.

Game Components of Cthulhu Wars

Game Board: A map of Earth depicting a world overrun by monstrous entities.

Figurines: 64 miniatures of cultists, monsters, aliens, and Great Old Ones, ranging from 20 mm to 180 mm in height.

Player Boards: Specific instructions for each faction’s unique abilities and play styles.

Spellbooks: Six unique spellbooks for each faction, providing special abilities and passives.

Cultists: Primary source of power for players.

Great Old Ones: Powerful units that can abduct cultists and influence gameplay.

Battle Dice: Used for resolving conflicts.

How To Setup Cthulhu Wars

Setting up Cthulhu Wars involves placing the game board, distributing player boards and starting resources, and deploying initial cultists and units. Each player selects a faction and follows the specific setup instructions provided on their player board. The game is designed to be relatively quick to set up, with the entire process typically taking around 15-30 minutes.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Area Control: Players compete to dominate territories and control gates.

Combat: Resolved through rolling battle dice, with sixes killing units and fours or fives causing “Pain” (rout or forced retreat).

Abduction: Monsters can steal and feed cultists to their Great Old Ones for power.

Spellbooks: Factions earn unique abilities by completing specific goals.

Power Points: Generated from cultists and gates, used for movement, battle, gate construction, and summoning.

Doom Points: Earned from controlling gates and performing Rituals of Annihilation; the first player to reach 30 Doom points wins.

Player Experience

Cthulhu Wars offers a highly immersive and strategic experience. Players must make key decisions each turn, managing resources, expanding their power base, and protecting their cultists from abduction. The game is praised for its simplicity to learn but depth in strategy, making it accessible yet challenging. The asymmetric design ensures that each faction plays differently, adding significant replayability.

Pros

High Replayability: Unique faction abilities and spellbooks offer varied gameplay experiences.

Beautiful Table Presence: Large, intricately detailed miniatures and a visually appealing game board.

Streamlined Gameplay: Easy to learn, with minimal administration and bookkeeping.

Thematic Depth: Deeply rooted in Lovecraftian lore, enhancing the thematic experience.

Strategic Depth: Requires strategic planning and adaptability.

Cons

High Faction Asymmetry: Can be overwhelming for new players due to the significant differences between factions.

Dice Rolling: While less impactful than in some other games, dice rolls can introduce an element of luck.

Learning Curve: Veterans have a distinct advantage over new players due to the game’s complexity.

Personal Thoughts on Cthulhu Wars

Cthulhu Wars is perfect for fans of Lovecraftian lore and strategy enthusiasts. It offers a fast-paced, yet deeply strategic, gaming experience that is both fun and challenging. The game is ideal for groups of 1 to 4 players (with expansions supporting up to 8 players), and its replayability ensures that each game is unique. While it may have a steep learning curve for new players, the effort is well worth it for the rich and engaging gameplay that Cthulhu Wars provides.

We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost for you. Learn more.