- BGG rank
- BGG #452
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Abyss
- 2–4 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2014
- BGG rank
- BGG #27,242
- BGG rating
- 5.4
Lil' Cthulhu
2016
Rules assistance for Lil' Cthulhu
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–5 players
- 15–60 min
- 6+
- Complexity 1.5/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Lil' Cthulhu
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Lil' Cthulhu is a board game released in 2016 for 2–5 players, 15–60 minutes per game, and ages 6 and up. It was designed by Richard Laufenburger and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Set Collection, and Push Your Luck.
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About the game
You are cultist of Cthulhu and have been summoned before the elder god himself. He has commanded you to perform a task that will siphon off your very sanity... in fact it has already driven your dark master insane. You will take on a task as horrifying as the human mind can endure... you must babysit Lil' Cthulhu. Lil' Cthulhu is a quick and quirky card game in which 2-5 players take on the roll of Cultists trying to keep Lil' Cthulhu happy, by giving him the toys he is demanding. Sounds simple right? Wrong! Your problem is, he is a spoiled brat with the temperament and tantrums of an elder god who has ripped all of his toys in half. Your job is reassemble his broken toys by reaching into the infernal abyss that is the Dark Toybox for parts. Act fast, because each time you reach into the Dark Toybox you will lose sanity. In this fast paced game, to pacify Lil' Cthulhu you will collect and assemble all of Lil' Cthulhu's demands before the other Cultists by backstabbing other players, suffering through his raging tantrums AND before going completely insane. You will not win. You can only hope to survive.
Designers
Publishers
- De-Evolution Studios
Questions and answers
Lil' Cthulhu supports 2–5 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 Lil' Cthulhu is 15–60 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 Lil' Cthulhu 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.
Lil' Cthulhu has a complexity rating of 1.5 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a 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.
Lil' Cthulhu belongs to these categories: Card Game, Humor, and Horror. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Set Collection, and Push Your Luck. 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 Lil' Cthulhu are: Richard Laufenburger. 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 Lil' Cthulhu 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.