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Cthulhu Realms

70%Game Brain Score
gameplay, graphics
music, atmosphere
70% User Score Based on 163 reviews

Platforms

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About

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.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Cthulhu Realms screenshot
Cthulhu Realms screenshot
Cthulhu Realms screenshot
Cthulhu Realms screenshot
Cthulhu Realms screenshot

70%
Audience ScoreBased on 163 reviews
gameplay19 positive mentions
atmosphere3 negative mentions
  • Cthulhu Realms offers a fun and engaging deck-building experience with a unique Lovecraftian theme, featuring charming artwork and humorous elements.
  • The game mechanics encourage strategic thinking and allow for interesting card synergies, making each match feel fresh and dynamic.
  • The free version provides ample content to enjoy, and the transition to the full version is affordable, making it accessible for players.
  • The user interface can be clunky and unintuitive, requiring excessive zooming and clicking to view card details, which detracts from the overall gameplay experience.
  • The game lacks sufficient content and variety, leading to repetitive gameplay after a few hours, with limited card options and strategies.
  • Multiplayer functionality is problematic, with issues in connecting with friends and a lack of real-time play options, making it less enjoyable for those seeking competitive matches.
  • gameplay
    50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of Cthulhu Realms is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its solid mechanics and the fun, interactive elements that encourage strategic deck-building. While some find the game intuitive and enjoyable, others criticize its convoluted interface and lack of depth compared to similar titles like Star Realms. Overall, it offers a unique blend of humor and cosmic horror, making it a fun experience, especially when played with friends, despite some concerns about its pacing and content variety.

    • “Very fun and relaxing entertaining game! I enjoyed the gameplay even more when playing with a friend or family member. :)”
    • “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.”
  • graphics
    38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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 graphical performance.

    • “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.”
  • story
    37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players enjoying its humor and engaging narrative, particularly in the first half, while others found the second half lacking and without a proper conclusion. Voice acting and presentation were noted as either overly dramatic or enjoyable, depending on personal preference. Overall, while the story mode adds depth to the gameplay, some players felt it could benefit from more content and clearer objectives.

    • “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.”
  • humor
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever timing and quirky charm, with many reviewers highlighting the narrator's comedic delivery and the amusing art style. While some found the gameplay layout obstructive, the overall comedic elements, including self-referential jokes and a humorous campaign story, contribute to a fun and engaging experience. Despite preferences for different art styles, the humor remains a standout feature that enhances the game's personality.

    • “The narrator is amazing in his timing and humor.”
    • “A quirky sense of humor pervades this Cthulhu theme.”
    • “The campaign's story is funny and the matches challenging.”
  • music
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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 and sound effects. Overall, the presentation, including the music, contributes positively to the game's appeal, despite some players finding the music 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 stupid 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 kinda puts you to sleep after a while, but it enhances the atmosphere of the game.”
  • atmosphere
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is heavily influenced by Lovecraftian themes, creating a creepy ambiance that aligns well with its illustrations. While some players find it effective, others feel it lacks a truly scary or mysterious quality, and the music, while atmospheric, can become monotonous. Overall, the atmosphere is well-executed but may not appeal to everyone.

    • “A solid card game dripping with Lovecraftian atmosphere.”
    • “Music enhances the atmosphere of the game, even if it can be a bit sleep-inducing 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.”
  • grinding
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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.

    • “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.”
  • optimization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews indicate that the monetization strategy is viewed negatively, with critics labeling it as a low-effort cash grab that disrespects the Lovecraft IP.

    • “The monetization strategy feels exploitative, as it prioritizes profit over player experience.”
    • “It's frustrating to see so many paywalls in a game that could have been enjoyable without constant prompts to spend more money.”
    • “The in-game purchases are overpriced and often feel necessary to progress, which ruins the overall enjoyment.”

Buy Cthulhu Realms

5h Median play time
5h Average play time
5-5h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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