Call of Cthulhu Starter Set 40th Anniversary

Uncover cosmic horrors, ancient secrets, and mind-shattering mysteries with the Call of Cthulhu: Starter Set (40th Anniversary Edition) from Chaosium Inc.! Commemorating four decades of the premier tabletop horror roleplaying game, this specially designed box set provides everything new Keepers and Investigators need to dive headfirst into H.P. Lovecraft’s mythos.

Featuring a dedicated solo adventure to teach the 7th Edition rules on the fly, three ready-to-play multiplayer scenarios, pre-generated character sheets, full-color handouts, and custom polyhedral dice, this edition is the ultimate entry point into investigative horror tabletop gaming.

Four Decades of Tabletop Horror

For over 40 years, Call of Cthulhu has set the gold standard for horror, mystery, and investigative roleplaying. Instead of playing all-powerful superheroes or legendary warriors, players step into the shoes of ordinary people—detectives, scholars, journalists, and doctors—who stumble upon dreadful truths that threaten sanity and humanity itself.

The 40th Anniversary Starter Set refines Chaosium's award-winning percentile (d100) system into a smooth, accessible learning experience that guides you step-by-step through rules, character creation, and mystery running.

What's Inside the 40th Anniversary Box Set

• Book 1 - Alone Against the Flames: A thrilling, choose-your-own-path solo adventure designed to teach you the core rules step-by-step as you play—no Keeper required!
• Book 2 - Call of Cthulhu Starter Rules: The essential 7th Edition rules breakdown, covering skill checks, sanity mechanics, combat, push mechanics, and character creation.
• Book 3 - Adventures: Three classic introductory scenarios (Paper Chase, The Edge of Darkness, and Dead Man Stomp) complete with Keeper advice, maps, and clues.
• Investigator & Keeper Materials: 5 pre-generated investigator sheets, blank character sheets, physical player handouts (letters, newspaper clippings, diary pages), and a full set of roleplaying dice. ---> [Gather Friends & Run Multiplayer Scenarios]

Expert Recommendation

At Boardgamegeneral, the Call of Cthulhu Starter Set is universally considered one of the single best introductory box sets in the entire tabletop RPG hobby. The inclusion of Alone Against the Flames is pure genius—it allows new Keepers to learn the percentile mechanics dynamically before ever sitting down to run a game for friends.

The 7th Edition percentile (d100) system is clean, intuitive, and highly realistic. Players instantly understand that having a 60% in Library Use or 40% in Handgun means rolling under that target number on a d100. The atmosphere, sanity tracking, and beautifully rendered historical handouts make every scenario feel like a live investigation.

If your customers are looking to branch out from fantasy TTRPGs into horror, love narrative-driven storytelling, or want an unforgettable tabletop RPG night, this 40th Anniversary box is an essential cornerstone item.

Verdict: The gold standard for TTRPG starter sets. Incredible presentation, seamless onboarding, and iconic cosmic horror storytelling in one box.

What's Inside