
- BGG rank
- BGG #21,995
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Cthulhu Crusades
- 2–4 players
- 15–30 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2017

2020
Rules assistance for Necronomicon
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.
Necronomicon is a board game released in 2020 for 2–4 players and 20–60 minutes per game. It was designed by Alberto Cano and its main mechanics are Hand Management and Set Collection.
The Necronomicon is undoubtedly the most emblematic book in the mythology of H.P. Lovecraft. In this game you will assume the role of Abdul Alhazred with the aim of completing all sections of the aberrant book. It is a game for 2 to 4 players with game modes for 20 or 60 minutes. Necronomicon is presented in a limited edition that continues The Writer, and comes with the amazing art of François Launet (Goominet), with exclusive Cthulhu pawns for the sanity count (collector’s edition) and an impressive Necronomicon book case made by hand, in wood, in antique book format (Deluxe edition). How to play: The objective of the game is to complete the Necronomicon. Each player is dealt five cards at the beginning of the game. Each card represents part of a section of the book. Each section of the book is completed by collecting at least 5 cards from that specific section, identified by a symbol. The game is divided into several rounds, each of which ends when a player manages to complete a certain number of sections of the book (each round will be more complicated than the previous one). The complete sections of the book are marked with tokens until the Necronomicon is completed and the game is won. During a turn there are only two moves: draw card (to choose from the deck or the discard pile) and perform an action by placing a card on the table, which will serve to bring new cards into the hand or to get rid of others mainly. You'll have to decide whether to sacrifice an important card to take advantage of the card's action or to play more conservatively. The card that is played on the table is available for the next player, who in turn will decide whether to draw it or take a new one from the deck. Once a round is finished (managing to complete the sections of the book and discarding the remaining cards) the tokens are placed on the completed sections of the book and the players who have been left with cards in hand will lose sanity points. The rounds follow each other until all the sections of the Necronomicon are completed and the game is won.
Necronomicon 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 Necronomicon is 20–60 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.
Necronomicon has a complexity rating of 1.3 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.
Necronomicon belongs to these categories: Card Game and Horror. Its main mechanics are Hand Management and Set Collection. 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 Necronomicon are: Alberto Cano. 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 Necronomicon 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.