Call of Cthulhu

Call of Cthulhu's engaging mystery and intriguing utilization of RPG mechanics make it one of the more enjoyable Lovecraftian games in years.

Call of Cthulhu is a mostly competent, occasionally chilling adventure ruined by unspeakable horrors.

A mediocre detective game with predictable stealth and a surreal story that runs out of steam near the end.

A slow and frustrating burn that culminates in a big and satisfying way

The final, pivotal choice in the game wasn’t that difficult for me, because I’d run out of all reasons to care.

Call of Cthulhu's successfully evokes Lovecraft's Mythos by delivering an eerie story that ultimately doesn't stray too far from some well-trodden ground. While anyone expecting a terrifying horror title or an RPG packed will player choice and decisions will need to check those expectations at the door, there's at least a half-decent adventure game lurking under the surface.

Call of Cthulhu manages to deliver a game that's ripe with atmosphere but is built upon tried-and-true tropes of the genre that never really manage to evolve beyond the scope of what's already been seen and heard before. Paired with some technical hiccups, we can say that Call of Cthulhu is only really for truly dedicated fans of Lovecraft; everyone else is advised to look elsewhere for their entertainment.

Creating a "good" H.P Lovecraft game in 2018 is probably an impossible task, but Call of Cthulhu is a valiant effort.

Call of Cthulhu is horror comfort food. The equivalent of a dog-eared horror paperback found on some dusty used bookstore shelf. The game isn't particularly daring or terrifying, but it is a well-written and crafted bit of low-stress spookiness. A handful of ill-conceived sequences drag Call of Cthulhu down a notch, but, thankfully, they aren't enough to fully sink the game.

Simply put, Call of Cthulhu is a game of wasted potential.