The creatures of the Cthulhu Mythos are timeless foes. They were around when humanity first stood upright and they will be around when the last of our most important discoveries crumble into dust. Yet there are those who fight a hopless battle hoping to scrtach out one more day before their darkness consumed the world.
Games like Call of Cthulhu, Arkham Horror Card Game and Delta Green give tabetop fans a chance to battle these horrible forces in thrilling ways. Here’s a look at their latest offerings along with a new version of a classic party game tainted by the Mythos. These games are available online and through Friendly Local Game Stores.
Cthulhu By Gaslight
One of the most exciting parts of investigating the Cthulhu Mythos are cases that span different moments in time. Cthulhu By Gaslight is one of the most popular settings for Call of Cthulhu which opens up London in the late Victorian era as a new front for players and Keepers. The 7th Edition version features two new books, one geared for each side of the table.
Cthulhu by Gaslight: Investigators’ Guide offers players a fantastic resource on the historical details of the era. The rules allow investigators of every social class and how to bring them together for a game of supernatural mystery. It also includes extensive details on the rigid social classes of the era, who was breaking them and why.
For more information on the darker side of the era, Cthulhu by Gaslight: Keepers’ Guide deals with secret societies and the fascination with the occult many people had at the time. There are also Mythos cults and creatures that can be used in any game. The book rounds out with example scenarios ready to kick off a campaign.
Arkham Horror Card Game: The Drowned City
Cthulhu’s first appearance came in H.P. Lovecraft’s short story “The Call of Cthulhu” pubkished in 1928. One of the segments of the story dealt with a sailor’s encounter with The Great Old One on an island city called R’lyeh. The nightmare corpse city sank beneath the waves at the end of the story but it rises once again.
The Drowned City Campaign Expansion sends Arkham Horror Card Game players to this horrible place. The storyline changes based on the decks they use and feature a final confrontation with Cthulhu. It’s a climactic campaign option that long time fans will love.
Players looking for the most up to date additions to their decks should check out The Drowned City Investigator Expansion. There are six new investigators to choose from including two that are entirely new to the Arkham Horror line. This set also introduces specialist cards that key off of specific traits for powerful game effects.
Arkham Horror: Lovecraft Letter
Love Letter is a modern classic card game that tests players’ powers of deduction in a fast, simple game that’s easy to learn. It’s a great choice for board game parties or as a game that can be brought to a pub. Arkham Horror: Lovecraft Letter puts a spooky spin on the game play making it a great choice for a Halloween party or fans of scary board games
The major change is an extra layer of sanity versus insanity that’s a core of many Mythos games. Players have to be careful in playing Mythos cards because while they offer more powerful abilities, they can eliminate a player from a round much more quickly. It’s a great choice for fans of the original looking for a new dimension of game play.
Delta Green: God’s Hunt
The agents of Delta Green form a conspiracy within the US Government to keep the world safe from Cthulhu Mythos incursions. This game mixes classic Cthulhu mysteries with modern conspiracies. It also shows the horrible effects a double life has on these brave, doomed humans.
The most recent cases have been collected into a volume called God’s Hunt. They can be used to expand the game’s most recent campaign called God’s Teeth or as stand alone investigations. In addition to hunting monsters, the scenarios also deal with real world issues like police corruption and mass shooting.