
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,148
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Catacombs (Third Edition)
- 2–5 players
- 60–90 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 2015

Rules assistance for Four Elements: Forces of Darkness
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.
Four Elements: Forces of Darkness is an expansion for Four Elements released in 2018 for 3–6 players, 1–60 minutes per game, and ages 6 and up. It was designed by Robert Murelli and its main mechanics are Player Elimination, Area Movement, and Flicking.
May Darkness rule where Light fades... After the Gods of Light entered the battlefield chaos ruled over Fire, Water, Air and Earth. Attracted by the Light a new force starts creeping over the Elements. The Forces of Darkness will attempt to slowly take over the as the other Elements are battling. This expansion is best played as a 6th player to the core game+ Gods of Light expansion. It can also be used as an addition to a 2,3 or 4 player game. —description from the designer
Four Elements: Forces of Darkness supports 3–6 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 Four Elements: Forces of Darkness is 1–60 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 Four Elements: Forces of Darkness for ages 6 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.
Four Elements: Forces of Darkness belongs to these categories: Action / Dexterity and Expansion for Base-game. Its main mechanics are Player Elimination, Area Movement, and Flicking. 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 Four Elements: Forces of Darkness are: Robert Murelli. 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 Four Elements: Forces of Darkness as an expansion for Four Elements. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Four Elements to use it. Check that your edition of Four Elements is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.