5 Lovecraft Inspired Games to Fill Your October

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If you are a fan of horror you’ve heard of HP Lovecraft at some point. His works of fiction from “Shadow out of Time” to “The Call of Cthulhu” have influenced many science fiction and horror writers alike. Videogames are no exception. If you’re a die-hard Lovecraft fan or just looking for some thrills this Halloween season, here are 5 Lovecraft inspired horror games to fill your Halloween stash.

Call of Cthulhu (2018)

Call of Cthulhu | PC Steam Game | Fanatical

First on the list is a game inspired by the most famous of Lovecraft’s short stories. “Call of Cthulhu” takes you on a journey to Darkwater Island. Here, private eye Edward Pierce must solve the mystery behind a missing woman, a mysterious painting, and a horrible cult that threaten to unleash untold horrors upon the world. Will he keep his sanity or succumb to the madness that awaits him?

“Call of Cthulhu” takes gameplay elements from its tabletop counterpart, with players being able to choose from multiple attributes to improve upon. Each attribute determines Detective Pierce’s skills in performing tasks or gathering information. “Call of Cthulhu” is one of the more story-driven games on this list. Gameplay focuses on gathering evidence and talking to characters to progress. Based on the evidence you’ve collected you’ll be given different choices of dialogue. There might be more than one way to complete a task if you investigate everything.

When you’re not out there looking for clues, you’ll have to hide from enemies during different segments of the game. Many of these chase sequences will have you juggling staying out of sight and completing a task to progress. So keep a close eye out on whoever or whatever is looking for you. Keep to the shadows and work quickly if you wish to survive. 

“Call of Cthulhu” is available on PC, Xbox One, PS4, and Nintendo Switch.

The Sinking City (2019)

The Sinking City | Nintendo Switch download software | Games | Nintendo

Not a fan of playing something too linear? Our second game on the list “The Sinking City” is another Lovecraft inspired game which takes a more open-world approach to its gameplay. You’ll play as Charles Reed, a private investigator as he explores the flooded town of Oakmont to uncover the source of his disturbing dreams. There are plenty of mysteries around Oakmont for you to solve so take your time and explore. You’ll meet suspicious characters and fight horrible abominations as you try to keep your sanity. 

“The Sinking City” offers more combat than the previously mentioned game on this list. However, don’t expect to come in guns blazing. You’ll be armed with a pistol and your trusty shovel to start off your journey. Don’t forget to count your bullets. You’ll need these to defend yourself, but you’ll also need to use them as currency. 

“The Sinking City” stays true to its name. Oakmont is flooded from an unnatural rainfall and many locations have become inaccessible. You will need a boat to maneuver from place to place. Objectives are not always as straightforward though. While other games might have an objective icon to guide you, “The Sinking City” does not. Instead, you will need to look up the address from the case on your map and manually place the objective icon yourself. This small detail makes you feel like an actual detective.

“The Sinking City” is currently delisted on most digital stores. You can, however, buy it physically for Xbox One and PS4. It is still available on the Nintendo Switch E-Shop.

Conarium (2017) 

Steam의 Conarium

“Conarium” is inspired by Lovecraft’s “At the Mountains of Madness“. You wake up in an Antarctic base with no memory of where your crew is. “Conarium” offers a very creepy and desolate ambiance with most of the scares being atmospheric. Nevertheless, you will still need to watch out for strange occurrences around the base. The line between madness and reality is fleeting.

Conarium on Steam

The gameplay revolves around solving puzzles and finding items to complete tasks. The story unravels in the many notes you find scattered around the base. There are even collectibles for you to find. While most of the gameplay involves puzzles, you will be chased down from time to time. If you’re a fan of games like “Amnesia” then you will love this.

Conarium

“Conarium” is available on PC, Xbox One, and PS4.

Moons of Madness (2019)

Moons of Madness | PC Steam Game | Fanatical

Lovecraft inspired games often take us back to the past. “Moons of Madness” takes Lovecraft into space. The game’s vibrant colors and futuristic setting only help boost the Sci-Fi aesthetic. Cosmic horror has never looked better as we set our sights on Mars.

You play as Shane Newehart a technician on a Mars expedition. The true purpose of the expedition is unknown to you at first. Slowly, though, all hell breaks loose as the station becomes infested with tentacles and you alone must survive until help arrives.

Moons of Madness Review – Lovecraftian Roller Coaster

The gameplay is very similar to “Conarium” in which you will need to solve puzzles to progress. The main difference is the setting. Being set on Mars paves the way for new challenges and new threats. Some portions of the game will require you to manage your oxygen while others will have you interacting with space technology to solve puzzles.

What's On Steam - Moons of Madness

“Moons of Madness” is available on PC, Xbox One, and PS4.

Darkest Dungeon ( 2015)

Darkest Dungeon for Nintendo Switch - Nintendo Game Details

Finally, we reach the end of our list. “Darkest Dungeon” is a Roguelike, turn-based, RPG where monsters lurk and heroes fall. When an ancient evil is unearthed beneath a mansion, all seems lost as horrible abominations infest the area. Luckily the heir to the manor is summoned and seeks to reclaim what is theirs. 

“Darkest Dungeon” does not have any singular playable character. Instead, the player must recruit different heroes with a variety of skill sets. These heroes are divided into classes and can be upgraded if they survive long enough. The player can mix and match heroes to their liking in order to explore dungeons and get the most out of the expeditions. Be warned, heroes who are killed in battle will remain dead. So tread carefully. 

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The town at the base of the hill acts as a main hub. If you enjoy collecting resources and upgrading facilities then this might be the game for you. Once the town is fixed up enough you’ll be able to recruit even more powerful heroes, change their skills, and remove any ailments they may have procured.

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“Darkest Dungeon” is available on PC, Xbox One, PS4, and Nintendo Switch.

Alexander Pinera
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