Cards of Cthulhu

About

Cards of Cthulhu is a single player role playing game with horror and science fiction themes. It was developed by Awoker Games and was released on October 11, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Cards of Cthulhu" is a fast-paced, Sci-fi RPG where you build your own deck of spells to defeat Cthulhu's henchmen and rescue your kidnapped girlfriend. With each death, enemies reorganize and you'll build a new deck, but permanent rewards help you progress. Quickly improvise card combinations in combat as the AI reacts to your moves, requiring adaptation.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

67%

Audience ScoreBased on 123 reviews

gameplay8 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

Cards of Cthulhu offers a fast-paced and accessible gameplay experience, making it easy for newcomers to dive into the card-battling genre without feeling overwhelmed.
The game's art style is colorful and quirky, providing a unique and entertaining visual experience that contrasts with traditional Lovecraftian horror themes.
The roguelike structure encourages experimentation and learning from failures, rewarding players with a sense of progression and achievement as they unlock new cards and face increasingly challenging enemies.

The gameplay can become repetitive quickly due to a limited card pool and lack of deeper meta-progression, leading to a sense of predictability in encounters.
The connection to the Cthulhu mythos feels superficial, with little engagement in the philosophical horror or storytelling depth that fans of Lovecraft might expect.
The game lacks a tutorial or introduction, which can leave players feeling lost at the start, and the real-time combat can sometimes feel chaotic and overwhelming.

gameplay
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
66%
9%
The gameplay is centered around a straightforward deck-building mechanic that appeals to players seeking quick, strategic action rather than deep complexity. While the real-time card battles provide an engaging experience, many users find the gameplay repetitive and lacking in variety, with limited depth and enemy diversity. Overall, it offers a satisfying loop for short sessions, but may not hold long-term interest for those looking for more intricate mechanics.
- “The gameplay revolves around constructing and wielding a small, focused deck.”
- “The real-time card battles offer a refreshing twist on familiar mechanics, and while its depth is limited, its pacing and energy make it engaging in short sessions.”
- “The core gameplay loop is satisfying, and it does make you think and try to keep track of things in less and less amount of time - particularly the recent heroic mode and the copycat spells.”
- “Players seeking a deep, complex deck-builder in the vein of Slay the Spire or Monster Train may find its mechanics too shallow to hold their attention for long.”
- “The gameplay loop is repetitive ad infinitum, even for a rogue-lite.”
- “Unfortunately there’s not much depth to the game due to the type of gameplay, small card selection, and frequent repeats in enemy encounters.”
graphics
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
49%
10%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a vibrant and unique art style that draws inspiration from heavy metal and horror comics, featuring colorful and well-designed monsters. However, the simplistic 2D visuals lack polish and smoothness, with limited options for resolution adjustments that do not significantly enhance the overall quality. While the artwork is often praised for its originality and appeal, many reviewers note that it cannot fully compensate for the game's repetitive gameplay.
- “The art style and monsters are really colorful and well drawn, with original designs.”
- “The graphics are good; the character designs have a weird heavy metal sensibility, and there are interesting graphical effects when things happen.”
- “The first thing that will catch your eye is the art style, which is really cool and feels taken out of old classic terror comic books.”
- “While there are options to change the resolution for the game, all this does is scale up the simplistic 2D art assets used to make the game, which makes little or no difference to the graphics quality.”
- “Without any other substantial graphics tweaks, it's not possible for gamers to improve the lackluster 2D visuals.”
- “The first way of playing didn't work, so I tried opting for a time-waster-esque game--problem is, I can't use it as a time-waster outside because of one particular artwork.”
story
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
60%
20%
The game's story is largely absent, with minimal engagement in narrative depth or lore, focusing instead on fast-paced gameplay and card battling. While it draws on the Cthulhu mythos for thematic elements, it does not explore the philosophical horror associated with it, opting for a straightforward, action-oriented experience. Players may find a lighthearted premise, such as saving a character from a humorous Cthulhu, but overall, the narrative is not a central aspect of the game.
- “The achievements act as quests and reward you with new cards and larger health pools.”
- “I did enjoy the art; the simple story of saving the girl from a beer-drinking Cthulhu was funny.”
- “Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
- “Rather than dwelling on the slow, cerebral dread typical of the Cthulhu mythos, it channels that dark atmosphere into an action-driven card battler where quick thinking and adaptability matter more than elaborate storytelling.”
- “The connection to the Cthulhu mythos also feels superficial—while the game borrows names and imagery from Lovecraft’s world, it rarely engages with the philosophical horror or storytelling depth that define the source material.”
- “There is no story, lore, or dialogues - only gameplay.”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The music in the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the ambient sounds and the tension-enhancing soundtrack during battles, others find it repetitive and lacking variety, often noting that it consists of a single track on loop. Overall, the music serves its purpose but may not provide enough engagement for extended gameplay.
- “The soundtrack and sound effects enhance the tension with ominous tones and the rhythmic pulse of battle, giving each encounter a frantic energy.”
- “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
- “Enjoyed the music and artwork.”
- “The music is one song on loop.”
- “There is no music, only ambient sounds.”
- “The lack of in-game music, the repetition of enemies, and the nature of the gameplay (just moving forward in the wasteland) will make things a bit dull.”
replayability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
28%
43%
The game's roguelike structure offers some replayability through varied enemy combinations and card unlocks, but many players feel that it lacks long-term engagement. While there are opportunities to unlock new cards and face increased difficulty, the repetitive nature and luck-based mechanics can lead to diminished interest after a short playtime. Overall, opinions on replay value are mixed, with some players rating it as average at best.
- “The roguelike structure gives the game replay value, with each run offering new enemy combinations and random card unlocks that slightly shift your tactical approach.”
- “Replay value: ★★★”
- “It's a fun game but has no replay value.”
- “Not much replayability unless you want to do the same thing over and over again after defeating the game for the first time.”
- “The more you play, the more cards and advantages you unlock, but you also get to harder difficulty modes; so there's a certain amount of replay value...and the luck-based nature of deck assembling means you'll often (very often) get stuck with rather weak hands.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be significant, often requiring substantial time investment for farming and progression. While some appreciate the depth it adds to the gameplay, others feel it can be excessive, making the experience feel tedious. Overall, the grinding is a notable feature that may appeal to dedicated players but could deter those seeking a more streamlined experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Grindy RTS, cast time card game.”
- “Nice but grindy card game.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its quirky take on Cthulhu, featuring a comical final boss and a lighthearted storyline involving a beer-drinking Cthulhu. While the original monsters may not evoke the same humor, the overall art and narrative contribute to a fun and amusing experience.
- “I did enjoy the art; the simple story of saving the girl from a beer-drinking Cthulhu was funny.”
- “But on a positive note, it is a funny take on Cthulhu.”
- “P. Lovecraft designs: the last boss is a funny-looking Cthulhu, but the rest of the monsters are just original.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere diverges from the traditional slow, cerebral dread of the Cthulhu mythos, opting instead for an action-driven experience that emphasizes quick thinking and adaptability. It entertains through its absurdity and chaos, setting it apart from other mythos-inspired titles.
- “Rather than dwelling on the slow, cerebral dread typical of the Cthulhu mythos, it channels that dark atmosphere into an action-driven card battler where quick thinking and adaptability matter more than elaborate storytelling.”
- “The atmosphere is not meant to terrify so much as to entertain through its absurdity and chaos, a quality that distinguishes it from other mythos-inspired games.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, users report that the game exhibits minimal bugs and glitches, with a functional and coherent presentation that, while not sophisticated, contributes to a stable gaming experience.
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews highlight that while the graphics and character designs possess a unique heavy metal aesthetic, they do not specifically address character development, suggesting that this aspect may not be a focal point in the game.