Approx length: From 2-5 hours per game depending on # of players; it can get a lot longer with inexperienced players
Where to find it: The game itself is available at all my local (Canadian) board game stores, so you might have luck with that! If not, it's always available through the website. If you don't want to shell out money for the game, you can find all the rules, character sheets and old god sheets, and plenty of the cards that make up the game on the Eldritch Horror wiki and Board Game Geek
What is it, in summary?: A cooperative boardgame set in a vaguely-1920s setting focusing on characters and concepts from Lovecraftian Horror (and more broadly, cosmic horror in general). Each player (1-8) takes on the role of one of the 55 Investigators, each of which have their own backstories, skillsets, and roles within the team--anything from magic-users to fighters to item collecters. The goal is to stop the awakening of one of the Great Old Ones or Elder Gods (e.g., Cthulhu, Azathoth, Nyarlathotep) through solving mysteries, fighting monsters and closing gates in reality, and desperately trying to keep order. It's a notoriously punishing game, with health- and sanity-related death mechanics and consistent onslaughts of events designed to make your lives hell.
What do you love about it?: Ohhhh, man. Is it cheating to say everything? To give a proper answer, I love all the elements of cosmic horror, from the awakening ancient gods to the little mysteries scattered across the globe. I love the characters (especially the ones I've nominated!) and how despite all their varied backgrounds, they've all come together for this one goal. I love the excitement of making a risky play and succeeding with it, and the satisfaction of watching the chaos clear up as you put your characters to work.
What sort of things are you likely to request for it?: Something set in the canon setting. I've played this game hundreds of times and I'll never get tired of the canon.
Are there sections of canon (rather than the whole canon) that can be consumed by themselves to fulfil your requests, or that showcase particular characters and relationships?: You can read through the stats, blurbs, and skills of every investigator on the wiki. To get a better sense of just how punishing the game can be, there are quite a few playthroughs on Youtube (caveat: I haven't watched any, so I don't know which to recommend!)
Content warnings (ie, rape, incest, racism, gore/violence): Violence, body horror, allusions to 1920s-typical "isms" but nothing too explicit. Almost everything is text-based but some of the horror can be quite...evocative lol
Eldritch Horror (Board Game)
Media: Board Game
Approx length: From 2-5 hours per game depending on # of players; it can get a lot longer with inexperienced players
Where to find it: The game itself is available at all my local (Canadian) board game stores, so you might have luck with that! If not, it's always available through the website.
If you don't want to shell out money for the game, you can find all the rules, character sheets and old god sheets, and plenty of the cards that make up the game on the Eldritch Horror wiki and Board Game Geek
What is it, in summary?: A cooperative boardgame set in a vaguely-1920s setting focusing on characters and concepts from Lovecraftian Horror (and more broadly, cosmic horror in general). Each player (1-8) takes on the role of one of the 55 Investigators, each of which have their own backstories, skillsets, and roles within the team--anything from magic-users to fighters to item collecters. The goal is to stop the awakening of one of the Great Old Ones or Elder Gods (e.g., Cthulhu, Azathoth, Nyarlathotep) through solving mysteries, fighting monsters and closing gates in reality, and desperately trying to keep order. It's a notoriously punishing game, with health- and sanity-related death mechanics and consistent onslaughts of events designed to make your lives hell.
What do you love about it?: Ohhhh, man. Is it cheating to say everything? To give a proper answer, I love all the elements of cosmic horror, from the awakening ancient gods to the little mysteries scattered across the globe. I love the characters (especially the ones I've nominated!) and how despite all their varied backgrounds, they've all come together for this one goal. I love the excitement of making a risky play and succeeding with it, and the satisfaction of watching the chaos clear up as you put your characters to work.
What sort of things are you likely to request for it?: Something set in the canon setting. I've played this game hundreds of times and I'll never get tired of the canon.
Are there sections of canon (rather than the whole canon) that can be consumed by themselves to fulfil your requests, or that showcase particular characters and relationships?: You can read through the stats, blurbs, and skills of every investigator on the wiki. To get a better sense of just how punishing the game can be, there are quite a few playthroughs on Youtube (caveat: I haven't watched any, so I don't know which to recommend!)
Content warnings (ie, rape, incest, racism, gore/violence): Violence, body horror, allusions to 1920s-typical "isms" but nothing too explicit. Almost everything is text-based but some of the horror can be quite...evocative lol