What is a Lovecraftian Game?

Can you imagine monsters beyond human comprehension that anyone who tries to understand them goes mad? That is the level of intensity behind H.P. Lovecraft’s brand of cosmic horror.

Many horror fans are familiar with Lovecraftian games, either directly or indirectly. Understandably, the genre is easy to confuse with other horror-themed genres. Here is an overview of the characteristics of a Lovecraftian game and reviews of the best games in the genre.

What is Lovecraftian?

Lovecraftian is a unique brand of horror attributed to H.P. Lovecraft, an American writer who lived in the 20th century. His most notable writing, the Cthulhu Mythos, speaks of alien creatures called The Great Ones. It portrays them as powerful creatures that have been around for eons, before the first apes started using tools, and will be around long after humans are gone. The creatures are impossible to comprehend, and anyone who tries to understand them dies.

Notably, the story focuses more on the relationship between humans and the universe than the alien creatures, making it more relatable. The main feature of the genre is its overwhelming sense of dread and underlying principles of nihilism. Lovecraft’s writings were so popular that they were adapted into books, films, and video games. Notably, Lovecraftian video games are based on the genre’s main concept of overwhelming dread.

Lovecraftian Gameplay

The gameplay style for Lovecraftian games mostly features deep immersive horror-based storytelling, exploration, fighting, and mental fortitude. Storytelling is the central aspect of the gameplay. The stories are always scary, and there is usually a mystery to unravel. Interestingly, some Lovecraftian games’ stories are directly based on the Cthulhu Mythos story, while others are unique but based on the same concept.

Exploration is also another major aspect of Lovecraftian games’ gameplay. The world and setting designs vary from one game to another, ranging from realistic locations to fantasy worlds inspired by the universe of H.P. Lovecraft. However, all worlds and settings usually feature a scary atmosphere to enhance the games’ horror-based theme.

The scary worlds in Lovecraftian games feature monsters that you must fight to survive. Different games feature different types of enemies, weapons, and combat systems. The enemies are usually tiring, and the fights feel grueling as Lovecraftian horror is based on overwhelming dread and a sense of helplessness.

Besides fighting monsters in the physical world, Lovecraftian games also require you to fight demons and negative emotions like fear in your mind. This is based on Lovecraft’s family’s history of mental illness and the way thinking about the monsters in his work cause people to go mad.

Best Lovecraftian Games

The Lovecraftian genre boasts dozens of outstanding titles that rank among the best games in the overall horror genre. Here is an overview of five of the best Lovecraftian games:

5. Dredge

Dredge is a unique Lovecraftian set on the sea and fused with a fishing simulator. You operate a fishing trawl and explore the vast sea for fish, which you can sell to the locals on various islands. However, the sea holds more than fish, and you can catch things like mutated sea creatures, lost treasure, and more. Moreover, you can experience rough conditions, including dense fog that could be hiding untold horrors that could drive you insane with fear. You never know what you could net, and there seems to be a mystery behind it all.

4. Dreams in the Witch House

Dreams in the Witch House is based on the short story “The Dreams in the Witch House” by H.P. Lovecraft. It is based on an intriguing story that simultaneously feels lifelike and supernatural. Set in Arkham, it is about a student living in a house rumored to be haunted. The student gets disturbing dreams that he thinks are related to the rumors.

You play as the student and decide how to cope with your dreams and prepare for what’s coming. You can wait and hope everything goes back to normal, go about your everyday life, or explore the rumors to learn the truth.

3. Forgive Me Father 2

Forgive Me Father II builds up on the story of the priest from the first installment. Madness awaits around every corner, and the challenge is to see how long you can last on the edge of sanity while surviving the world’s horrors. Interestingly, madness can work in your favor in this game by helping you gain extraordinary abilities.

Each enemy in the game evolves into a unique, more terrifying, and more formidable form, making them more difficult to kill. Fortunately, the game offers a variety of effective weapons to fight the monsters off. Notably, the game features hand-drawn graphics and stunning visuals that look like images from a comic book.

2. Darkest Dungeon II

Darkest Dungeon II is a satisfying and polarizing sequel to the original game. It features a ravaged world on the brink of an apocalypse and a band of rogue heroes on a quest to avert the coming destruction. You gather a party, equip your stagecoach, and embark on a quest to find the root of the destruction. The world’s environments look rough and are full of potential dangers, including formidable enemies. Interestingly, each run has its own emerging story, while each quest has a unique challenge.

1. Amnesia: Rebirth

Amnesia is a cult classic thanks to its intriguing storyline and engaging gameplay design. Amnesia: Rebirth features a girl stranded in the Algerian forest after surviving a plane crash. The girl is wounded and can’t remember anything about her life. She must navigate her way through the dangerous forest and make it to safety.

The forest harbors scary monsters and other horrors that inflict paralyzing fear. You must overcome your fear avoiding going mad. Moreover, you must utilize your limited resources wisely and solve puzzles to overcome environmental obstacles and get closer to safety.

Did you find our review of the Lovecraftian genre helpful? Which are your favorite Lovecraftian games? Let us know over on our socials here or down in the comments below.