Howard Phillips Lovecraft and his Cthulhu Mythos have entered forcefully into the geek and pop culture over the last 20 years. Games haven’t been immune from this overwhelming wave, and countless great titles were developed, written, and created. Speaking about Lovecraftian board games, many critically acclaimed titles have been released that concern the most famous novels written by Lovecraft, ranging from the iconic At The Mountains Of Madness to more niche short stories.
In terms of genres, everything is covered in this list, ranging from sandbox experiences to up-to-date titles that can boast a companion app. In this list, you will find everything that embodies the atmospheres that will charm you and dry up your sanity while attempting to solve mysteries and protect the world from cosmic horrors.
10/10 Mountains Of Madness
At the Mountains of Madness is probably one of the most renowned and acclaimed novels written by Lovecraft, and it has been made into several products, ranging from games to comics. The almost-homonymous board game opens this list.
Mountains of Madness is a great party game based on cooperation where communication between players is crucial to reach the peak of that legendary mountain. The mechanics work well, but Mountains of Madness takes itself too seriously, and the strategic gameplay experience clashes a bit with the party game’s inner soul of this title.
9/10 Elder Sign
Elder Sign is the fascinating youngest brother of the Arkham Files game series published by the world-famous Fantasy Flight Games. Unlike Arkham and Eldritch Horror, its elder brothers, which offer complex gameplay with a big board, lots of tokens, and a strong narrative-driven experience, Elder Sign lowers its aim in order to bring to the table a fast-paced title.
The game, compacted in a more portable package, bases almost every mechanic on dice rolling and will let you live the atmosphere of Lovecraftian mystery and horror in a streamlined way that doesn’t sacrifice the depth too much.
8/10 Pandemic: Reign Of Cthulhu
Pandemic is a high-sounding name in the world of board games and is a long-running series that has been declined in multiple ways and settings. Its legacy version, which offers a unique experience based on seasons, is in many top-ten lists and is widely considered one of the most compelling strategic and cooperative titles ever made.
Pandemic: Reign Of Cthulhu gives a horror twist to the franchise and swaps the usual pandemic threat that has to be stemmed with a series of portals to other dimensions that must be sealed.
7/10 Mythos Tales
The investigation-themed games where deduction and storytelling are involved manage to offer satisfying cooperative experiences. The epitome of such games is Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective, whose system has even received a Lovecraftian spin-off, Bureau of Investigation: Investigations in Arkham & Elsewhere.
That title didn’t make the cut but deserved to be mentioned. Mythos Tales offers a better experience through its eight original cases based on Lovecraft’s operas that can boast a great immersion with its well-crafted materials. Although having a low replay value, it is an experience you shouldn’t miss.
6/10 Mansions Of Madness
Mansions Of Madness, in its second edition that removes the role of the keeper from the game, offers a fascinating story-driven experience that boasts a charming companion app that drives the game. Such an app is not only a core part of the gameplay but also strongly enhances the levels of immersion for the players. In this full cooperative title, you and your friend will take on the role of investigators and delve through beautifully crafted scenarios, solving puzzles and mysteries while fighting or avoiding the iconic monsters that haunt the mansions and the well-known Lovecraft novels.
5/10 Cthulhu: Death May Die
This list needed a dungeon crawler, and Cthulhu: Death May Die is one of the best available on the market, regardless of its Lovecraftian setting that gives an additional layer of allure to the game.
Even though the game subverts the rules of the Lovecraftian novels and it is blasphemous lore-wise — boasting investigators in a frenzy and on the verge of madness that are willing to summon the cosmic horror on purpose to destroy them — Cthulhu: Death May Die is epic, thrilling and features tons of dice to roll and splendid miniatures.
4/10 Unfathomable
Unfathomable is a great title and a Lovecraftian reimplementation of Battlestar Galactica. It is a team-based game that features the mechanic of the traitor differently and charmingly. In a splendid retro atmosphere, you’ll embark on the SS Atlantica on a voyage across the ocean, and you’ll be caught in inexplicable events and attacked by the abyssal creatures worshipped by the exoteric cult of Dagon’s cultists. Paranoia is the host in this game since you don’t know who you can trust, and you’ll dive deep into an unforgettable journey with your friends … or maybe foes?
3/10 Arkham Horror
Arkham Horror is an institution among the American archetype of board games that started its legacy in 1987 and still updates itself with new great iterations. Its last incarnation is a spin-off, Final Hour, that didn’t deserve a spot in this top ten, but it’s a great way to experience the mood of this game in a streamlined way that can take less than an hour to be played.
Arkham Horror’s third edition, instead, is an epic co-op game in which up to six players cooperate in a story-rich adventure to banish Lovecraftian horrors from the streets of the legendary city of Arkham assembled in a splendid modular map.
2/10 Eldritch Horror
Eldritch Horror was born as a reimplementation of the setting and mechanics of the earlier mentioned Arkham Horror and did justice to its reference model. While Arkham Horror, in its second edition, is focused on the city of Arkham, in Eldritch Horror, you’ll be traveling all over the world and visiting the most famous and mysterious locations mentioned in the works of H.P. Lovecraft. With a more sandbox approach and a wider point of view, Eldritch Horror manages to optimize both time and mechanics, making a few compromises. The game feels a bit less charming but, rule-wise works better than its reference.
1/10 Arkham Horror: The Card Game
Arkham Horror: The Card Game deserves the title of Ancient One of this list and, more in general, is a critically acclaimed board game that can be found in the top positions of countless standings. Arkham Horror: The Card Game belongs to the Living Card Game category. It is the best customizable game available and boasts beautiful scenarios and the most balanced, challenging, and fascinating deck-building mechanism ever seen in the genre. It is the perfect solo or 2-players narrative-driven experience you could enjoy if you love Lovecraft’s novels.
