- BGG rating
- 7.6
Fate of the Elder Gods: Beasts From Beyond
- 2–4 players
- 60–120 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,045
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Fate of the Elder Gods
2017
Rules assistance for Fate of the Elder Gods
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–4 players
- 30–90 min
- 13+
- Complexity 2.8/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for Fate of the Elder Gods
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Fate of the Elder Gods is a board game released in 2017 for 1–4 players, 30–90 minutes per game, and ages 13 and up. It was designed by Darrell Louder, Richard Launius, and Christopher Kirkman and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Take That.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Fate of the Elder Gods: Beasts From Beyond – Ghoul
- 2–4 players
- 60–120 min
- 2017
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Fate of the Elder Gods: Beasts From Beyond – Shan
- 2–4 players
- 60–120 min
- 2017
- BGG rating
- 2.0
Fate of the Elder Gods: Cerulean Tendril
- 1–4 players
- 30–90 min
- 2017
About the game
In Fate of the Elder Gods, players take on the ever-maddening role of cults trying to summon ancient evil and herald the fall of mankind! Each cult is in competition to be first to summon their god, but they all must also repel intrepid investigators working to seal off the gate to beyond with Elder signs. Gather arcane artifacts, cast powerful spells, embrace the Dark Gift of your Elder God, and be first to hasten doom...before it's too late! During the game, players use a variable hand of spell cards to do one of two things to aid their cult in their mission: Use the spell's Astral Symbol to navigate the areas around Arkham on the unique Fate Clock board, or use the symbols in a location's Astral Column to ready a spell. Readied spells can be cast at any time, but while in a cult's Spell Reserve their primary Astral Symbol can aid in readying future spells, creating an engine for pumping out more potential power. As cults travel to the six locations on the Fate Clock, they activate specific powerful abilities, such as gaining useful artifacts at The Museum or enabling their Elder God's Dark Gift at The Ceremony. As cults send more and more cultists to a location, they may gain control there, adding even more powerful abilities. However, cults must be careful how they navigate Arkham as a location with lots of activity will attract pesky investigators. Tempt fate too many times and the investigators may raid your cult's lodge, placing Elder Signs, and generally getting in the way of summoning your Elder God. Gain too many Elder Signs and it's game over! If any cult can manage to raise their Summon Track to 9 before the investigators save humanity, their Elder God awakens and they win! Of course, "win" is a relative term as it will certainly herald the end of the world — but that's a small price to pay for eternal servitude to the Ancient Ones.
Categories
Mechanics
Publishers
- Greater Than Games, LLC
- Fabled Nexus
Questions and answers
Fate of the Elder Gods supports 1–4 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 Fate of the Elder Gods is 30–90 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 Fate of the Elder Gods 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.
Fate of the Elder Gods has a complexity rating of 2.8 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.
Fate of the Elder Gods belongs to these categories: Dice, Horror, and Adventure. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Take That. 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 Fate of the Elder Gods are: Darrell Louder, Richard Launius, and Christopher Kirkman. 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 Fate of the Elder Gods 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.