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Cthulhu: Age of Madness
2023
Rules assistance for Cthulhu: Age of Madness
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 5–25 min
- 14+
- Complexity 2.0/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Cthulhu: Age of Madness
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Cthulhu: Age of Madness is a board game released in 2023 for 2–4 players, 5–25 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Craig A Tucker and Mike "Demo" Densmore and its main mechanics are Card Play Conflict Resolution.
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About the game
The Cosmic Veil has been pierced. The Elder Gods awaken from their ancient slumber in anticipation of a return to our realm. Cultists around the globe are mobilizing, preparing the Seals to open the Gates, hearkening the Elder Gods return. Their goal, to usher in the Age of Madness! Will you heed the Master’s Call? Cthulhu: Age of Madness (C:AoM) is a competitive strategy card game for 2-4 players, each assuming the role of Cultists of an Elder God. Azathoth, Cthulhu , Nyarlathotep, and Yog-Sothoth are commanding their minions to unlock the four Seals, open the Cosmic Gate, and create the path for your Elder God to cross the Void and reign Madness upon humanity. Will you be the first to usher in the Age of Madness? Each player chooses an Elder God Card, and places it in front of them. A Player is chosen to be the dealer, shuffles, and deals 5 cards to each Player. The Player to the Dealers left plays first, and play continues clockwise. On your turn, you perform 2 Actions, and then draw. Actions include playing a card, Sacrificing a Cultist, or Exchanging Cards. A “Pass” is also a valid Action. Play a Cultist - Play any Cultist to your Pool. Matched Cultists are grouped together. Play an Elder Sign - Elder Sign unlocks a Seal; Place it on your Elder God, activating its Cosmic Primal Power. Play a Power Card - Powers are played to the Discard, with the Target chosen by the Player. Play an Advantage Card - Advantages are played directly to your Pool. Play an Eldritch Power Card - Eldritch Powers are played to the discard pile, with the Target chosen by the Player. Sacrifice a Cultist - Send a Cultist from your Pool to the Discard, gaining an instant Convert Cultist Power. Exchange Cards - A Player can choose to discard their entire hand, or a portion thereof, and redraw to their current Maximum Hand Size (usually 5). This counts as both Actions. After all Actions have been completed, draw until you have five cards in your hand, and play continues to the left. Grouping 4 Cultists of your Elder God, in your Pool, unlocks a Seal. Move these cards to your Elder God Card, activating its Cosmic Primal Power. When all 4 Seals have been unlocked, your Elder God’s Gate opens, and you win the game. Congratulations for ushering in the Age of Madness! —description from the designer
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Strange Aeon Games
Questions and answers
Cthulhu: Age of Madness supports 2–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Cthulhu: Age of Madness is 5–25 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 Cthulhu: Age of Madness for ages 14 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.
Cthulhu: Age of Madness has a complexity rating of 2.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light 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.
Cthulhu: Age of Madness belongs to these categories: Card Game and Horror. Its main mechanics are Card Play Conflict Resolution. 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 Cthulhu: Age of Madness are: Craig A Tucker and Mike "Demo" Densmore. 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 Cthulhu: Age of Madness as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.