
- BGG rank
- BGG #80
- BGG rating
- 7.9
Mansions of Madness: Second Edition
- 1–5 players
- 120–180 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 2016

Rules assistance for Eldritch Horror: Cities in Ruin
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Eldritch Horror: Cities in Ruin is an expansion for Eldritch Horror released in 2017 for 1–8 players, 120–240 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Nikki Valens and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Dice Rolling, and Point to Point Movement.
Description from the publisher: You feel it just below the surface. Something gnawing at the edges of society, an ancient being that could so easily erase the steady march of machines and concrete that have come to be recognized as progress in the modern world. Your visions show you a desolate future, where all that remains is dust, ash, and those who have long-slumbered. Violent earthquakes contort cities to unrecognizable ruin, torrential typhoons eradicate coastlines, and deep below the the Earth, something ancient stirs. Shudde M’ell, The Cataclysm from Below, approaches with destruction and ruin as his heralds. Cities in Ruin brings four new investigators, and a slew of new monster and encounter cards to the world of Eldritch Horror. New Ancient One Shudde M’ell’s presence brings a destructive twist to the game in the form of deadly disasters.
Eldritch Horror: Cities in Ruin supports 1–8 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 Eldritch Horror: Cities in Ruin is 120–240 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 Eldritch Horror: Cities in Ruin 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.
Eldritch Horror: Cities in Ruin has a complexity rating of 3.1 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.
Eldritch Horror: Cities in Ruin belongs to these categories: Fantasy, Fighting, and Horror. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Dice Rolling, and Point to Point Movement. 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 Eldritch Horror: Cities in Ruin are: Nikki Valens. 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 Eldritch Horror: Cities in Ruin as an expansion for Eldritch Horror. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Eldritch Horror to use it. Check that your edition of Eldritch Horror is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.