Call of Cthulhu RPG

This Call of Cthulhu RPG review is part of my “Best Tabletop RPGs of All Time” article. If you want to check out more TTRPGs and see how other top-tier tabletop RPGs are ranked, visit that page.

My Review – 77 / 100

Bar graph showing game scores across several categories, with some bars including black segments.

Call of Cthulhu is a TTRPG based on stories written by one of the most celebrated horror fiction writers of all time: H.P. Lovecraft. Cthulhu is a deity of chaos worshipped by cultists in many of H.P. Lovecraft’s stories. If you aren’t familiar with books like the “Necromonicon,” I highly recommend you add it to your list.


You can still play Call of Cthulhu RPG without a working knowledge of the stories from which they are derived. However, if you are familiar with even some of the short stories written by H.P Lovecraft, you’ll almost certainly enjoy playing Call of Cthulhu substantially more.

Uniqueness of Call of Cthulhu RPG: (6/10)

The most unique part of Call of Cthulhu RPG is the “sanity system.” Basically, the horrors of the mythos are so tremendous that upon experiencing anything to do with the otherworldly pieces of the game, your character might go insane. The sanity system tracks your character’s sanity “hit points,” in a sense.


When your character experiences something ghastly or born of chaos in any sense, you have to make a sanity check. As you fail checks (which will happen from time to time), your character becomes weaker to the psychic/ mental traumas inherent in a universe with which your character fundamentally can’t fully contend. It’s pretty interesting to watch a character slowly go insane as they brush up against the horrors of Cthulhu multiple times.


Another feature I like in Call of Cthulhu RPG is that when your character succeeds at anything , there’s a chance for your character improve at that specific task. This means that characters get better by doing, which is a system that I love.


One huge downside of the game is that when it comes to skill checks, you really need to be good at math. There are scenarios where you need to half values, then fifth them again. Why? Why is that in the game at all? This is such a great game that I was surprised to find such a frustrating mechanic.


Ease of Learning the Game: (7/10)

As with rolling skill checks, determining character stats is easy if you’re good at multiplying numbers in your head, quickly. Many people aren’t, which really bogs down the game. Overall, the numbers aren’t that bad though, as most of the weird math problems are found in character generation and some occasional skill checks.


Primarily, Call of Cthulhu RPG is a mystery/ investigation game. The investigation process is quite cool, and it’s pretty intuitive for new players. Once characters are created, the game gets a little easier, and so long as there aren’t a lot of skill checks being made, the game is fairly simple to play.


Call of Cthulhu Presentation: (7/10)

I really like this game’s presentation in the core rulebook. The book’s font calls back to early 1900’s in the U.S., while the Cthulhu-like tentacles on important parts of the rulebook makes them stand out, and reminds you of the horrors that await you around nearly every corner. The rulebook is easy to follow from a practicality standpoint.


H.P Lovecraft Lore: (10/10)

As I mentioned, Call ofCthulhu is based on the writings of H.P. Lovecraft. So, the lore of Call of Cthulhu RPG is really the lore of stories contained in the “Necronomicon.”


There’s not better lore for a game’s foundation that can be found anywhere in the world.

Green and black graphic with the text,

Combat in Call of Cthulhu RPG: (5/10)

Combat in Call of Cthulhu RPG features relatively simple numbers. I enjoy that when you’re attacked, your character also attacks back in that same action. There are levels of success when it comes to combat checks, and related damage, which is a little weird the way it’s done, but also kind of cool. When you engage in combat, as with normal skill checks, there will be math, so prepare for that.


Combat in Call of Cthulhu is a simple system with not a lot to it. It’s not something I’d enjoy digging into for more than a few minutes at a time, and not for more than once or twice per gaming session.


It is important to note that Call of Cthulhu RPG is not about fighting the horrors of the H.P. Lovecraft mythos, like you might expect from games like Dungeons and Dragons. Instead, the game is one of discovery and investigation. It’s better to run from fights than to ever try and engage in something that’s very likely to end in your character’s death.


Call of Cthulhu comes with the premise that the monsters you’ll face are far superior to your character in almost every way. Their mere presence is sometimes enough to drive your character insane, so there’s often no point whatsoever in fighting them.


Game “Flow”: (7/10)

The tension of Call of Cthulhu comes from the journey of discovery. As you learn more about what’s happening in the game’s world, ideas flow out from your discoveries, and one set of investigations leads to another. With each new step along the journey, drama heightens.


If you loves mystery games and solving riddles/ puzzles, you’ll probably love Call of Cthulhu. For myself, I don’t enjoy uncovering mysteries enough to make it the premise of an entire RPG campaign. Furthermore, I don’t think I’m alone in that sentiment.


So, I scored this game as well as I could for this section of the game’s review, but I don’t believe pure mystery to make for an optimal game flow. Again though, if you love mysteries, go ahead and give this game another 3 points (to make this section 10/10) and you’ll have a better idea of whether or not Call of Cthulhu is the right game for you.


Artwork: (5/10)

Most of the artwork in Call of Cthulhu comes in a comic book style. I like the artwork a lot and feel it fits the dark, mysterious vibe. That being said, you won’t find the high-end art here that you might be used to seeing in other higher-budget RPGs. Overall, there’s not a lot of standout art in this book that will wow you.


There is terrific – and I mean truly terrific – Cthulhu art all over the internet. Search it for yourself and be amazed. It’s just that the quality of artwork you can find literally anywhere online is (astoundingly) not found in the Call of Cthulhu RPG rulebook.


Ease of Purchase: (10/10)

It’s very easy to purchase Call of Cthulhu RPG at either the Chaosium website, or through online retailers like Amazon.


Price & How Many Books Do You Need to Play: (10/10)

You can purchase the game’s starter set for $25. There are also higher tiers of entry according to how much you like the game and want to invest. The options for purchasing the game make it much easier to give it a try if you or the other players in your gaming group are new to Call of Cthulhu.


Fame & Availability of Supplemental Material: (10/10)

Call of Cthulhu has lots of supplemental material to help inspire an ongoing campaign. Plus, all you have to do is pick up the “Necronomicon” for literally endless ideas.


Call of Cthulhu is one of the easier tabletop RPGs to get going with a new group, for this reason.


Call of Cthulhu is Produced By:

Chaosium Inc.


Man in blue shirt and khaki pants smiles, sitting on a green railing. Dark background.

Jacob Tegtman

Dear reader, I hope you enjoyed my article. Tabletop gaming has been a passion of mine since I was 6 years old. I've played just about every game from Dungeons and Dragons to video games like Final Fantasy. These games have inspired me, made me laugh, made me cry, and brought me endless hours of enjoyment.


I started Eternity TTRPG - and the indie tabletop game that goes along with it (Eternity Shop) - to share my love of gaming with others. I believe that in our technology-driven age, tabletop games help bring a sense of magic and community back into our world.


If you love the site, please share it with others! I have lots of gaming-related material for you to peruse and use in your own gaming sessions. If you have any questions about the site or want to contribute, just send me a message using the "Contact" page, which you can find in the site's footer.

Man in blue shirt and khaki pants smiles, sitting on a green railing. Dark background.

Jacob Tegtman

Dear reader, I hope you enjoyed my article. Tabletop gaming has been a passion of mine since I was 6 years old. I've played just about every game from Dungeons and Dragons to video games like Final Fantasy. These games have inspired me, made me laugh, made me cry, and brought me endless hours of enjoyment.


I started Eternity TTRPG - and the indie tabletop game that goes along with it (Eternity Shop) - to share my love of gaming with others. I believe that in our technology-driven age, tabletop games help bring a sense of magic and community back into our world.


If you love the site, please share it with others! I have lots of gaming-related material for you to peruse and use in your own gaming sessions. If you have any questions about the site or want to contribute, just send me a message using the "Contact" page, which you can find in the site's footer.

D&D book cover: adventurers face a huge monster with a snowy-white head. Emerald and blue hues create a forest scene.
By Jacob Tegtman March 1, 2026
Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvU0p3UMOiU Transcription What if I told you there’s a brand-new D&D book…  where your party is supposed to die? Not “might.” Not “if you roll badly.” But guaranteed total party annihilation. And now it’s officially on D&D Beyond . Today we’re diving into Faster, Purple Worm! Everybody Dies, Vol. 1 — the adventure anthology where death isn’t a failure… it’s the feature. Let’s talk about what’s inside, what’s new, and whether this is actually one of the best low-level chaos tools of 2026. It’s been a minute guys, but welcome back to Eternity TTRPG, your go-to source for all things Dungeons & Dragons — from rule shakeups to purple worm-sized chaos. Last summer, third-party RPG publisher Beadle & Grimm’s released something… deeply unhinged. A 138-page anthology. 15 one-shot adventures. All for level 1 characters. All playable in 1–2 hours. And every single one ends in a Total Party Kill. Not “balanced.” Not “scalable.” Not “talk it out with the villain.” Just. Dead. The book ties directly into the actual play series Faster, Purple Worm! Kill! Kill! , which features celebrity players like Deborah Ann Woll , Seth Green , Anjali Bhimani , and co-founder Matthew Lillard . The whole concept? Lean into the absurdity of low-level adventurers making catastrophically bad decisions… and go full cinematic disaster mode. And honestly? That’s kind of genius. Because most tables never actually experience a true TPK. And this book says, “Cool. Let’s make that the entire point.” So what’s new now that it’s on D&D Beyond ? Mechanically? Same 15 adventures. But digitally? It’s juiced up. You get: 11 Quickplay Maps integrated into the Maps VTT 25 monster stat blocks (9 brand-new creatures + 16 variants) 17 new magic items ready to drop into character sheets 8 shareable handouts That’s actually pretty solid integration. And here’s the real surprise… The price. On D&D Beyond? $19.99. Compare that to: $45 for print $25 for PDF $50 for bundle That’s… unusually reasonable. For D&D... to be honest. Which is not something we say often about digital toolsets. Content-wise, it also leans into classic D&D chaos — including trips to Strahd von Zarovich in Barovia , and even tangling with the beholder crime lord Xanathar . Level 1 characters. Against that. You already know how that ends. If you’re newer to the scene, Beadle & Grimm is known for their ultra-premium boxed editions of official 5E books. We’re talking: Physical handouts In-world props Encounter cards Massive maps High-end collector-tier stuff. Founded in 2018 by Matthew Lillard and partners, they built a reputation on premium experiences. But this anthology? This is original content. Not just luxury packaging. And that’s interesting. Because it signals something bigger: Third-party publishers integrating more directly into official digital ecosystems. That’s a big deal. Here’s why this isn’t just a novelty book. It’s low-commitment D&D. Perfect for new players. It reframes failure as entertainment. Which is actually very healthy for the hobby. We can all take a solid step away from min-maxing, and pretending like we all need to be “good” at our favorite hobby, which to me is often besides the point of “having fun.” Three - It gives DMs a safe sandbox for chaos. Ever wanted to: Drop a meteor? Let the villain monologue uninterrupted? Run a trap that is wildly unfair? Now you can. Because the players know. They signed the waiver. And weirdly? That kind of expectation-setting creates some of the most memorable tables. This also feels very aligned with modern D&D culture — faster, punchier, content-friendly sessions. And for $20 digital? This might quietly become one of the best pickup party-night modules out there. We’ve seen serious campaigns. And they’re awesome. We’ve seen grimdark epics. And they’re also awesome. But this? This is D&D saying: “What if we just lean into the madness?” And honestly… I love it. Would you run a guaranteed TPK night at your table? Or is that sacrilege? Let me know in the comments. If you enjoy weekly D&D news, breakdowns, and community chaos — hit like, subscribe, and ring the bell. And tell me: What’s the wildest TPK you’ve ever experienced? That’s it for today! Until next time all, I’ll see you next session.
Mythical winged beast with horns stands amid fire, titled
By Jacob Tegtman February 3, 2026
Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uajygh5mWSM Transcription “I once knew the kiss of the sun… Now, all that remains is annihilation.” This is how Crooked Moon ends. Not with a dungeon crawl. Not with a mystery. But with a reckoning—between a fallen god, a broken man, and the land they’re both about to destroy. Hey everyone, welcome back to Eternity TTRPG. If you’re new here, I break down tabletop RPGs and the great stories they tell—what they’re actually about, why they work at the table, and whether they’re worth your time. Today, we’re looking at one of my favorite campaign books of all time – and jumping right in to one of the best parts, which is the final chapter of Crooked Moon —the climactic conclusion everything in this campaign has been building toward. Jumping right in: the Wytchwood bends beneath the will of Kehlenn, the Crooked Queen —once the Green Queen, an archfey goddess of rebirth. Long ago, she ruled a world without people. A brutal, cyclical wilderness where life was short, terrifying… and natural. Then Phillip Druskenvald arrived. Somehow empowered, somehow victorious, he shattered her, buried her bones beneath a crooked oak, and reshaped the land into something civilized. Cities rose. People multiplied. And Kehlenn, broken, but somehow still alive, or conscious – remembered every second of it. Centuries of hatred twisted her into something new—not a goddess of renewal, but of vengeance. Her plan has been unfolding slowly, patiently, sacrifice by sacrifice… until now. Because Phillip has finally broken. Phillip Druskenvald was once the most powerful being in the land. Now he’s a grieving man who has lost everything. After the massacre at Rowan’s Rise earlier in the campaign book—and the death of Adela, the love of his life—Phillip retreats to the Green Queen Inn. There, surrounded by the stench of burned flesh and desperation, he turns to forbidden magic. The Old Ways. Resurrection. It fails. And in that failure, Kehlenn finally reaches him. She promises what no one else can: Adela’s soul. Redemption. A chance to undo his sins. So Phillip walks into the Wytchwood like a sacrifice that doesn’t yet know he’s already dead. This is where the players come in. They follow. The Wytchwood isn’t just a forest—it’s ancient, hostile, and alive. And it isn’t empty. Stalking the trees is The Horned King : a three-eyed, whispering embodiment of sin. A creature born from Phillip’s own soul, shaped by Kehlenn to be her consort and executioner. He doesn’t attack, but he tempts. He speaks to characters about their desires. Their doubts. Their secrets. He promises comfort. Power. Relief. This chapter isn’t just about fighting evil—it’s about confronting what your characters want most… and whether they’ll pay the price to get that desire. The whole Wytchwood is like this for the players – numerous challenging encounters, interwoven with direct and indirect influence from the shadowy horned king. Through it all, and finally, at the heart of the forest stands the Crooked Tree . Beneath it, in a root-choked barrow, Phillip kneels—bound, broken, and waiting. Kehlenn doesn’t hide anymore. She tells her story plainly. She was robbed. Forgotten. Replaced. And now, she will unmake everything Phillip built. Civilization. Memory. And identity itself. Phillip’s death, for her, will not be just vengeance—but it’s actually the final ingredient. The roots tighten. Phillip’s last word is a whisper. “Please… Adela.” And then he’s torn upward—into the tree. At this point, The true Horned King is born, with Phillip’s body and soul being the final missing piece. No longer a shadow, but a colossal, winged, horned monstrosity—part goat, part dragon, part man. Kehlenn watches from the bark of the Crooked Tree itself as the final battle begins. This is the end of Crooked Moon as a campaign. Players get to experience an amazing multi-phase fight. There’s ritual circle burning beneath a grinning moon. And, of course, a god screaming encouragement as her consort tries to tear the world apart. And when the Horned King finally falls—when his massive body collapses into blood, bone, and a single goat skull—it still isn’t over. Kehlenn still clings to the land. Sensing this, from the remains of the Horned King, a goat’s skull lies in the burning ritual circle, before the tree —cracked, it whispers to the characters, speaking with Phillip Druskenvald’s voice. Phillip, his soul barely intact, understands that killing the Horned King wasn’t enough. In reality, Kehlenn’s bond to the land still remains. Phillip’s soul, which helped fuel both the Horned King and Kehlenn’s ritual, is no longer fully consumed . So, what’s left of Phillip lingers in the goat skull as a final, conscious remnant. And in that moment, Phillip realizes that Kehlenn can only be severed from the land through sacrifice , not violence. So, the skull speaks, guiding the players toward the only remaining solution. The sacrifice to unbind Kehlenn requires that each character give something up—something meaningful. Fail, and the ritual completes. The Horned King returns. And most importantly, the world ends crooked: it continues, but in a more or less permanently corrupted state where the living are doomed to short, terrifying lives, but in an endless cycle. Succeed, however, and the Crooked Tree burns. If this happens, Kehlenn is bound to the moon she worshipped. Phillip and Adela fade together at last, their story finally at rest. Druskenvald survives. It carries the scars of what happened, and it will never be the same. And this is why Crooked Moon lands so powerfully. The finale is built on tragedy, temptation, and consequence, with an ending shaped by sacrifice rather than spectacle. What matters most is what the players are willing to give up to save the world – not just their combat stats. If you’re looking for a campaign that builds steadily toward a meaningful conclusion—one that rewards emotional investment and delivers a true sense of finality—this is the ending waiting for you in Crooked Moon. No matter how much time I spend in the Crooked Moon campaign setting, I continue to be ever more impressed. If you pick it up for yourself, I’d love to hear what experiences you have with your games! Lastly, to wrap up today’s video, I have a host of other Crooked Moon videos you may want to check out, that give greater context to this awesome campaign conclusion: race deep-dives, other adventures in the book, monstrous playable characters, the bestiary of boss monsters – and so much more. So, be sure to check out those videos if they interest you! Otherwise, thanks for watching, and I’ll see you in the next one.
Woman with feathered wings, a dragon behind her
By Jacob Tegtman January 28, 2026
Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eg7cXmFUVU Transcription Hey everyone! Welcome back to Eternity TTRPG. Today we’re firing up our Mark of Finding to uncover something huge for Eberron fans — the beloved sourcebook Exploring Eberron has officially relaunched on D&D Beyond as a fully supported digital release. Originally released back in 2020 on the DMsGuild as a third-party best-selling supplement by Eberron’s creator Keith Baker, Exploring Eberron was one of the most successful community books ever — and now it’s come full-circle. That means it’s now officially available on D&D Beyond, fully updated to use with the current D&D rules and integrated into D&D Beyond’s digital tools like the Character Builder and Maps VTT . So, you’re probably wondering – what’s inside the book? I’d say it’s deep content, not just lore, that the book dives into: First, we have: Setting Races & Cultures Exploring Eberron digs deep into the cultures and mindsets of iconic Eberron peoples like Changelings, Warforged, Kalashtar, Shifters, and Aereni elves. Rather than focusing on mechanics, these sections emphasize identity, societal roles, and story hooks that help these species feel rooted in the setting. Then there’s Planes of Existence & Manifest Zones The book offers a detailed look at Eberron’s unique planar system, where planes wax and wane in influence rather than remaining static. Manifest zones tie those planes directly to the world, creating locations where reality bends in ways that can dramatically shape adventures, cities, and campaigns. Next up is: Character Options Exploring Eberron includes a wide array of character options, from lore-driven subclasses to new species, feats, and spells, all updated for compatibility with the 2024 ruleset on D&D Beyond. These options are tightly woven into the setting, making them feel less like generic power boosts and more like natural extensions of Eberron’s world. One of my favorites is: Magic Items & Monsters The magic items and monsters in the book are designed to reinforce Eberron’s themes of magical industry, ancient empires, and strange planar forces. Many entries come with built-in story hooks, making them also quite useful for DMs looking to spark plot threads. And finally, we have Expanded Eberron Lore At its core, Exploring Eberron expands on the setting’s foundational lore, diving into the aftermath of the Last War, the influence of the dragonmarked houses, and the uneasy relationship between magic and technology. It provides context and nuance that help DMs portray Eberron as a world shaped by innovation, conflict, and moral ambiguity. In total, the digital book includes 6 subclasses, 10 species, 12 feats, 4 spells, over 40 magic items, and 8 monster stat blocks — not bad value. On D&D Beyond the digital book retails at $30 — basically what you’d expect for a mid-sized sourcebook. If you already own the original 2020 PDF or print version on DMsGuild, the rules aren’t exactly the same, as the original used older rulesets obviously, but the lore is still gold. So, is it worth it? If you’re deep into Eberron, love D&D Beyond functionality, or want all your content integrated cleanly into the builder and VTT, then this is a no-brainer. But if you’re happy with the DMsGuild version and don’t use Beyond much? You might stick with what you have — it’s still solid and compatible. Nothing crazy groundbreaking here, to be honest. Exploring Eberron on D&D Beyond is a fantastic evolution of one of the setting’s best third-party books, and it’s great to see it finally fully supported and updated. There is a lot here to love. Well, that is it for today, my friends. Let me know in the comments — are you grabbing this on D&D Beyond? Or sticking with your original edition? Otherwise, hit like, subscribe, and may your dice always roll well!
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