Call of Cthulhu
Developed by seasoned studio Cyanide, Call of Cthulhu is an RPG-Investigation game with psychological horror and stealth mechanics, set in a deeply immersive world. On a mission to find the truth behind the death of an acclaimed artist and her family on a backwater island, the player will soon uncover a more disturbing truth as the Great Dreamer, Cthulhu, prepares its awakening...
What it feels like
Slow-building anticipatory fear of Cthulhu's awakening and the mounting revelation of cosmic horror structures the emotional journey. Shadowy figures, cryptic clues, and the wrongness of the island's inhabitants and truth create a creeping sense of subtle disturbance. Unraveling a central hidden truth—the real nature of the Hawkins family's death and Cthulhu's awakening—structures the entire experience.
What it's about
Cthulhu and cosmic horror are the literal subject and driving force—the game is named after H.P. Lovecraft's Great Dreamer and explicitly framed around the unknowable dread of an otherworldly awakening. The core loop is playing a private investigator piecing together clues about a family's death and uncovering a larger conspiracy. Sanity mechanics and creeping madness are central—the player must fight to retain sanity while exploring the horror, making psychological deterioration a core experience.
How it plays
Stealth mechanics are explicitly listed as core to avoiding detection and navigating the dangerous island. Investigation and NPC interaction through dialogue is a primary means of uncovering clues and story. As an RPG-investigation hybrid, character stats and checks likely gate dialogue options and investigative actions.
How it looks and sounds
First-person perspective immerses the player directly in Pierce's investigation and descent into madness. Backwater island, decaying estates, and macabre atmosphere evoke gothic dread and architectural gloom.
How it's structured
Explicitly single-player experience focused on individual investigation and story progression.
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