Game review: Elder Sign

Elder Sign is a card-based cooperative game for 1 to 8 players. The game "board" is created by drawing cards at random and is constantly changing.

Setting

Elder Sign is set in the universe of the stories of H. P. Lovecraft. One of several supernatural beings (chosen at random or after agreement of all players; among them the iconical Cthulu) is awakening and threatening to destroy the world. The players have to search the local museum for elder signs to ban this enemy while being hindered by its creatures and worshippers. These obstacles have to be overcome by fulfilling tasks based on dice rolls. The players can (and should) support each other.
Fulfilling tasks is based on getting a task-specific number of dice rolls together. Certain events increase (items) or decrease (monsters/ events) the number of dice available, and players can support each other by 'holding' a desired result. Up to three tasks make up an adventure, and passing an adventure gives access to rewards like elder signs required to stop the awakening elder horror.

Timing

Unlike its big brother Arkham Horror, Elder Signs can be finished in less than 2 hours. Also, each player's turn is shorter in Elder Sign, making it easier to keep all participants engaged in the game.

Space Requirement

Elder Sign is based on cards, but the cards representing the different rooms of the museum take up quite a bit of space. All in all the space of a standard board game is required; more Settlers of Catan than Talisman.

Conclusion

Elder Sign is a fun "horror" game that scales well with varying numbers of players, so it is easy to accommodate even larger groups (up to 8 players). Its cooperativeness keeps all players involved even if it is not their turn since all decisions affect themselves.