
- BGG rank
- BGG #818
- BGG rating
- 7.5
A Game of Thrones: The Card Game (Second Edition)
- 2–4 players
- 60–120 min
- Complexity 3.5/5
- 2015

Expansion for Call of Cthulhu: The Card Game
2013
Rules assistance for Call of Cthulhu: The Card Game – The Key and the Gate
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Call of Cthulhu: The Card Game – The Key and the Gate is an expansion for Call of Cthulhu: The Card Game released in 2013 for 2 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 13 and up. It was designed by Eric M. Lang and Damon Stone and its main mechanics are Hand Management and Open Drafting.
Game description from the publisher: The Key and the Gate, the fourth deluxe expansion for Call of Cthulhu: The Card Game and introduces 165 cards (three copies each of fifty-five individual cards) that explore the mysteries of Yog-Sothoth and the eerie, fictional word of H.P. Lovecraft. With nearly two-thirds of its cards serving to develop the identity of Yog-Sothoth and its mysteries and minions, The Key and the Gate is an excellent expansion for fans of the Ancient One and players who like the faction's strengths in discard, recursion, and control rooted in arcane knowledge. Meanwhile, it also introduces Yithians to the Living Card Game format, bolsters Sorcerers with new Spells, and bestows powerful support cards upon each of the other factions, as well as characters with the new Fated keyword.
Call of Cthulhu: The Card Game – The Key and the Gate supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Call of Cthulhu: The Card Game – The Key and the Gate is 30 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Call of Cthulhu: The Card Game – The Key and the Gate for ages 13 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Call of Cthulhu: The Card Game – The Key and the Gate has a complexity rating of 3.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Call of Cthulhu: The Card Game – The Key and the Gate belongs to these categories: Card Game and Expansion for Base-game. Its main mechanics are Hand Management and Open Drafting. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Call of Cthulhu: The Card Game – The Key and the Gate are: Eric M. Lang and Damon Stone. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Call of Cthulhu: The Card Game – The Key and the Gate as an expansion for Call of Cthulhu: The Card Game. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Call of Cthulhu: The Card Game to use it. Check that your edition of Call of Cthulhu: The Card Game is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.