Cthulhu Realms

About

Cthulhu Realms is a single player and multiplayer casual role playing game. It was developed by Wise Wizard Games, LLC and was released on July 1, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

In Cthulhu Realms, a deck-building game with horror theme, players attempt to drive their opponent insane or have more sanity when the deck runs out. With a small starting deck of initiates, goons, and followers, players acquire victory cards and abilities to reach the goal. The game offers original mechanics, humor, and high-quality production, making it a delightful and challenging gem for deck-building fans.

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71%

Audience ScoreBased on 166 reviews

gameplay20 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

Cthulhu Realms offers a unique and humorous take on deck-building games, combining Lovecraftian themes with engaging gameplay mechanics.
The game features a clean UI, smooth gameplay, and a fun art style that captures the essence of the Cthulhu mythos while remaining lighthearted.
It provides a strategic experience that rewards players for thinking ahead and adapting their strategies, making it enjoyable for both casual and seasoned gamers.

The game can be confusing for newcomers due to its reliance on symbols and a steep learning curve, which may deter some players.
Limited multiplayer options and issues with online matchmaking can hinder the overall experience, making it less appealing for those looking for a social gaming experience.
Some players have reported technical issues, such as crashes and a clunky interface, which detract from the enjoyment of the game.

gameplay
55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
59%
5%
Cthulhu Realms offers a unique deck-building experience where players construct their decks during gameplay, featuring strategic mechanics like abjuration that allow for card removal. While the core gameplay is engaging and provides a fun challenge, some players find the interface and learning curve frustrating, and the game lacks variety and depth compared to similar titles like Star Realms. Overall, it combines interesting mechanics with a humorous art style, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre despite some shortcomings.
- “Cthulhu Realms on Steam is a smart, stylish deck-builder with satisfying mechanics and a challenging AI campaign.”
- “The gameplay is fast and fun, straightforward, although I have been able to pull off some crazy combos within those limitations.”
- “The mechanics are pretty interesting with an emphasis on interaction between cards of the same color, and effects that trigger if you discarded or banished a card during the turn.”
- “Very shallow, not a lot of different cards or mechanics, and basically just a reskin of Star Realms.”
- “Not my cup of tea - gameplay is unnecessarily convoluted for a card game, thus a bit slow-paced.”
- “The tutorials are quick, blasting you with every piece of information they can without giving you time to absorb how that information can inform your gameplay choices or much in the way of examples thereof, and no mention is made of how to perform actions like zooming in on your hand to review card information or ways to effectively combo cards.”
story
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
58%
8%
The game's story is a mixed bag, featuring a quirky campaign mode that some players found enjoyable and well-written, particularly in the first half, while others criticized its abrupt ending and lack of depth in the latter chapters. Voice acting received varied feedback, with some appreciating the humor and charm, while others found it overly dramatic and slow. Overall, while the story adds a fun element to the gameplay, its execution leaves room for improvement, particularly in terms of narrative cohesion and challenge balance.
- “I even enjoy sitting and listening to the story, something I rarely do in any game.”
- “Great voice acting, and a fun game and story.”
- “Plays well, the campaign's story is funny and the matches challenging.”
- “I was a bit disappointed that the story mode just seems to end after 2 chapters.”
- “The second half was just decent, though my biggest complaint would be that upon finishing the second half, the story has no ending or even a cliffhanger.”
- “There's no 'story', because again, it's generally just two monstrous egos battling to 'best' each other, without an actual mission or quest to justify why they're duking it out in the first place.”
graphics
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
37%
8%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their charming, cartoony art style and high-quality artwork, which effectively captures the Lovecraftian theme with a humorous twist. However, some players feel that the graphics could benefit from a darker aesthetic to better align with the game's themes, and there are complaints about basic UI and optimization issues, including screen tearing and stuttering. Overall, while the visuals are appealing, there are mixed feelings about their execution and the game's overall graphical fidelity.
- “The artwork and look of this game is superb; for a card game, it's incredible graphically.”
- “The artwork is fantastic; sure, it may be a bit comical for some, but as someone who generally takes Lovecraft fairly seriously, I have no objections to what they've done here.”
- “The game has a nice art style and is overall an enjoyable experience.”
- “The graphics are what you expect for this price range and type.”
- “3D graphics seem badly optimized, with a lot of screen tearing and stutter.”
- “The game lacks many features, has a basic UI and simple graphics, even with the simple graphic settings turned up to max. The premise of the game is thin, and though it has a lot of potential to be interesting, the game does not do a good job making it so.”
humor
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its fast-paced, chaotic, and quirky nature, with many players enjoying the clever timing of the narrator and the self-referential jokes. The combination of a humorous story, cartoony art style, and engaging gameplay creates memorable moments, although some players feel that the layout can detract from the humor's visibility. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with its Cthulhu theme, making it a fun experience for fans of deck-builders and horror.
- “It’s chaotic and hilarious once you figure out how to combo right.”
- “The narrator is amazing in his timing and humor.”
- “A quirky sense of humor pervades this Cthulhu theme.”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The music in the game is generally praised for being catchy and atmospheric, enhancing the overall experience with a moody soundtrack. However, players express frustration over the lack of adjustable sound options during matches, wishing for more control over music, sound effects, and voice levels. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the game's aesthetic, it can become repetitive over time.
- “The soundtrack and background sounds are moody and well made.”
- “Presentation is absolutely gorgeous - a lovely cartoony style, a greatly improved UI (compared to the crude one in 'Star Realms'), music that fits the theme - all of it combined makes this game a great digital card game experience.”
- “Catchy music, decent graphics.”
- “I think it's very frustrating that you can't adjust the sound (like turning down sound effects and turning up music) while you're in a match.”
- “I wish I had three options on the soundboard (voice, music, sound effects) and that this soundboard was accessible during a match.”
- “The music kind of puts you to sleep after a while, but it does enhance the atmosphere of the game.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a well-crafted, Lovecraftian aesthetic, featuring a 3D-rendered playing table that evokes a sense of ancient ritual. While some players appreciate the creepy ambiance, others find it less engaging, with the music contributing to a somewhat monotonous experience. Overall, the atmosphere is immersive but may not appeal to everyone.
- “The interface is intuitive, and a 3D-rendered playing table resembling a ritual site lost to time adds great atmosphere.”
- “A solid card game dripping with Lovecraftian atmosphere.”
- “Music enhances the atmosphere of the game, even if it can be a bit soothing after a while.”
- “It's fine and fits with the illustrations, but don't go in expecting anything with a particularly scary or mysterious atmosphere.”
- “This game has a heavily creepy atmosphere, which I personally didn't like, but it was well done nonetheless.”
- “Music kinda puts you to sleep after a while but enhances the atmosphere of the game.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's 3D graphics are reported to be poorly optimized, leading to noticeable screen tearing and stuttering during gameplay.
- “The 3D graphics seem badly optimized, with a lot of screen tearing and stutter.”
- “Performance issues are rampant, making the game unplayable at times.”
- “The frame rate drops significantly in busy areas, indicating poor optimization.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers criticize the monetization strategy as exploitative, labeling it a low-effort cash grab that disrespects the Lovecraft intellectual property.
- “The monetization strategy feels exploitative, as it prioritizes profit over player experience.”
- “It seems like every feature is locked behind a paywall, making it frustrating for free-to-play users.”
- “The constant push for in-game purchases detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Players note that grinding is essential for progression, as there are no purchasable card packs or preassembled decks, making it necessary to invest time to build a competitive deck through challenges.
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is satisfying and offers a real sense of progression.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “There are no card packs to buy, no preassembled deck to bring into competition, and no rare or legendary cards to acquire through cash or grinding of challenges.”