Cards of Cthulhu
- October 11, 2016
- Awoker Games
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam"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.
Mac OS
PC
Phone
Windows
Linux
Tablet
Reviews
- The game offers a fun and addictive gameplay experience, especially for its low price, providing several hours of entertainment.
- The art style is colorful and well-drawn, reminiscent of classic horror comics, which adds to the overall appeal of the game.
- The fast-paced card battles require strategic thinking and quick decision-making, making each encounter engaging and challenging.
- The game lacks depth and variety, leading to repetitive gameplay that can become boring after a short time.
- There is minimal connection to Lovecraftian themes, with many players feeling disappointed by the absence of traditional Cthulhu lore.
- The user interface and overall mechanics are simplistic, making it feel more like a mobile game than a polished PC title.
- gameplay30 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a mix of strategic card mechanics and Lovecraftian horror elements, offering a challenging yet rewarding experience with good depth and replayability. However, some players find it simplistic and repetitive, citing a lack of enemy variety and depth in mechanics, which can lead to a dull experience over time. Overall, while the core gameplay loop is engaging, it may not sustain long-term interest for all players.
“The gameplay is challenging but rewarding, with a lot of depth and replayability.”
“The game's mechanics are well-designed, and the card system is intuitive and easy to understand.”
“Its unique combination of horror elements and strategic gameplay make it a must-play for anyone interested in the genre.”
“For gameplay purposes, because the user interface for this game is mostly just 2D static images, it might as well be a browser game.”
“Unfortunately, there’s not much depth to the game due to the type of gameplay, small card selection, and frequent repeats in enemy encounters.”
“The gameplay loop is repetitive ad infinitum, even for a rogue-lite.”
- graphics27 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the colorful and original art style, which features unique character designs and a heavy metal aesthetic. However, the simplistic 2D visuals and lack of substantial graphical options lead to a perception of lackluster quality, despite the appealing artwork. Overall, while the art style is eye-catching and reminiscent of classic horror comics, it does not 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.”
“Modest about the graphics and music.”
- story12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely absent, with many users noting a complete lack of narrative, lore, or dialogue. While some find humor in the simplistic premise of saving a girl from a beer-drinking Cthulhu, overall, the consensus is that the gameplay takes precedence over any storytelling elements, which are minimal to nonexistent.
“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.”
“I did enjoy the art; the simple story of saving the girl from a beer-drinking Cthulhu was funny.”
“The achievements act as quests and reward you with new cards and larger health pools.”
“There is no story, lore, or dialogues - only gameplay.”
“The story is, well, basically nonexistent, but it doesn't really have to provide much.”
“No objectives, no story, no lore, nothing.”
- music10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the eerie ambient soundtrack that enhances the Lovecraftian atmosphere, while others criticize the repetitive nature of having only one song on loop and a lack of variety. Overall, the music serves its purpose but may contribute to a sense of monotony during gameplay.
“I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
“The game features beautifully illustrated cards and an eerie soundtrack that perfectly captures the Lovecraftian atmosphere.”
“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) make things a bit dull.”
- replayability7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the depth and challenge that encourages multiple playthroughs, others find it limited and repetitive after the initial experience. Unlocking new cards and facing harder difficulty modes can enhance replay value, but many users report a quick loss of interest, suggesting a short lifespan for engagement.
“The gameplay is challenging but rewarding, with a lot of depth and replayability.”
“Nice, fun and addictive, the art is amazing and the replayability is at a max.”
“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.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be significant, often requiring substantial time investment, likening it to needing a "second life" for effective farming. While some appreciate the grind in the context of a real-time strategy and card game, it is consistently noted as a prominent feature that may deter those seeking a more casual experience.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Grindy RTS, cast time card game.”
“Nice but grindy card game.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its quirky take on Cthulhu, featuring a comically designed final boss and a lighthearted storyline involving a beer-drinking Cthulhu. Players appreciate the blend of original monster designs with amusing elements, contributing to an overall entertaining 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 monsters.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by beautifully illustrated cards and an eerie soundtrack that effectively evokes a Lovecraftian feel, contributing to an immersive experience. Reviewers have rated it positively, highlighting the engaging gameplay alongside its atmospheric qualities.
“The game features beautifully illustrated cards and an eerie soundtrack that perfectly captures the Lovecraftian atmosphere.”
“I would rate Cards of Cthulhu a 4 out of 5 for its engaging gameplay and immersive atmosphere.”
- character development1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The character development is noted for its unique heavy metal-inspired designs, complemented by engaging graphical effects that enhance the overall visual experience.
