Call of Cthulhu

72%
Game Brain Score Based on 8,448 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • atmosphere
Call of Cthulhu Game Cover
Call of Cthulhu's engaging mystery and intriguing utilization of RPG mechanics make it one of the more enjoyable Lovecraftian games in years.
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In Call of Cthulhu, you play as a private detective investigating a mysterious death in 1920s Arkham. The game combines elements of detective work and Lovecraftian horror, with a focus on exploration, puzzle-solving, and dialogue. Your choices and investigations will shape the course of the story and your character's sanity.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

72%
Audience ScoreBased on 8,448 reviews
story2,183 positive mentions
grinding111 negative mentions
  • Engaging story that captures the essence of Lovecraft's universe.
  • Atmospheric visuals and sound design that enhance the horror experience.
  • Multiple endings and choices that encourage replayability.
  • Frequent crashes and technical issues that hinder gameplay.
  • Linear gameplay with limited impact from character choices and skills.
  • Frustrating stealth mechanics and poorly executed action sequences.
  • story5,671 mentions

    The story of "Call of Cthulhu" is generally well-received, with many players praising its atmospheric and immersive qualities that align with Lovecraftian themes. While the narrative is engaging and features multiple endings, some critiques highlight its linearity and predictability, suggesting that player choices often have minimal impact on the overall plot. Overall, the game is recommended for fans of Lovecraft's work who appreciate a strong story-driven experience, despite some gameplay shortcomings.

    • “Great gameplay, visualization, and depiction of the slow but sure fall into madness. Playing as a private investigator supposed to solve a murder mystery also adds a nice spin to the story.”
    • “The storytelling is rich and immersive, drawing you into a world where every choice can lead to salvation or doom.”
    • “The story is well-written, the environment is hauntingly beautiful, and the sound design is great.”
    • “🔲 this game has no story”
    • “The narrative is absolutely underwhelming, the story unfolds in a very confusing fashion and makes little to no sense the majority of the time.”
    • “The story is a rambling mess that indulges itself too early and far too frequently.”
  • gameplay2,450 mentions

    The gameplay of "Call of Cthulhu" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its focus on narrative and investigation over traditional action mechanics. While the atmosphere and story are praised for their depth and engagement, the gameplay is often described as simplistic, linear, and at times tedious, resembling a walking simulator with minimal interaction. Stealth mechanics and RPG elements are criticized for being poorly executed and lacking meaningful impact, leading to a general sentiment that the game is more about the experience of the story than the gameplay itself.

    • “Great gameplay, visualization and depiction of the slow but sure fall into madness. Playing as a private investigator supposed to solve a murder mystery also adds a nice spin to the story.”
    • “Really enjoyed this; plenty of gameplay variety, wonderful atmosphere and a compelling story.”
    • “The mechanics of Call of Cthulhu emphasize investigation and narrative over combat, making each session feel like a suspenseful horror film.”
    • “The gameplay mechanics feel outdated and janky; exploration through what should be the eerie and mysterious is instead a tedious chore of repetitive gameplay and boring investigations.”
    • “The gameplay is annoying a lot of the time and feels more like a point-and-click adventure rather than an actual mystery game.”
    • “The gameplay quickly becomes boring and the mystery is the only thing left, but if you pay any attention during the clue collecting it won't pose much of a challenge.”
  • atmosphere1,788 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and eerie qualities, effectively capturing the essence of Lovecraftian horror through detailed environments, sound design, and a compelling narrative. Many players noted that the game excels in creating a sense of dread and curiosity, drawing them into its world, although some felt that the tension could wane in later sections. Overall, the atmosphere is considered the game's strongest aspect, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of atmospheric storytelling and cosmic horror.

    • “The attention to detail immerses you in the atmosphere, making you feel the weight of dread and curiosity in every corner of the world.”
    • “The game's atmosphere is suffused with an eerie sense of foreboding, as if unseen forces lurk just beyond the edge of perception, waiting to ensnare the unwary.”
    • “Seeped in an immersive eldritch atmosphere, and supported by a complex narrative, Call of Cthulhu is a unique horror experience that will leave you dumbstruck and make your hairs stand on end.”
    • “Although the atmosphere feels dark and mysterious, it's devoid of any real tension and lacks Lovecraftian essence.”
    • “It failed to capture the atmosphere fans are looking for, which is really a weird feeling considering all the visuals and story.”
    • “The atmosphere was bland and uninspired and failed to ever create any kind of sense of looming dread or suspense.”
  • graphics1,566 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while the environments can be visually appealing and atmospheric, character models and animations often feel dated and lack polish. Some players appreciate the unique art style and atmospheric design, which aligns well with the Lovecraftian themes, but others criticize the overall graphical quality as subpar for a 2018 release, likening it to older console games. Overall, while the graphics may not be cutting-edge, they contribute to the game's eerie ambiance and storytelling, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.

    • “Visually, the game shines with beautifully illustrated books and haunting artwork that evoke Lovecraft's nightmarish visions.”
    • “The graphics are amazing, and the horror aspect is way better than anticipated.”
    • “The atmosphere and art style are superb, and the voice acting is great as well.”
    • “The graphics are not good, looking like an Xbox 360 game from 2008.”
    • “Graphically and mechanically this game should be embarrassed to come out in 2018 with the likes of God of War and Red Dead Redemption 2.”
    • “The graphics are terrible for its age, looks like it's from 2010 - but it can look alright in a stylised kind of way.”
  • music306 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, effectively enhancing the eerie visuals and overall ambiance. Many reviewers highlight the haunting soundtrack and sound effects as key elements that contribute to the game's tension and emotional impact, although some note issues with volume inconsistencies and repetitive tracks. Overall, the sound design is considered a strong point, with a mix of beautiful and unsettling compositions that align well with the Lovecraftian themes.

    • “The artfully crafted visuals, coupled with a haunting soundtrack, create an ambiance that keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout.”
    • “The atmosphere and the music were so on point.”
    • “The music, cultist chants, and hearing the Cthulhu 'theme song' was genuinely creepy, fascinating, and oddly beautiful.”
    • “The main menu music reminds me of Amnesia: Dark Descent and that should be a good thing, but after this it more or less fell flat.”
    • “The soundtrack is repetitive; for example, the music that plays in the title screen is used many times in the game (and it's not even good).”
    • “The music (while seeming to be structured) constantly repeats the same clichĂ© sound effects, giving the game a cringy feel to it.”
  • replayability272 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the multiple endings and RPG elements that encourage different playthroughs, while others criticize the limited impact of choices and linear gameplay. Many reviews note that while there are alternate endings and some engaging mechanics, the overall replay value is hampered by the game's short length and the feeling that most choices are cosmetic rather than significantly altering the experience. Overall, it offers some replay potential, particularly for achievement hunters and fans of the genre, but may not entice players to return for multiple runs.

    • “The mechanic of choices affecting your destiny gives the game great replay value.”
    • “The story leaves you craving for more, and the multiple endings and alternate decisions give the game so much replayability.”
    • “With how many different choices you can make, the RPG skill tree, and the multiple endings, I'd say there is definite replay value as well.”
    • “While the game offers multiple endings, I wouldn't say it has significant replay value.”
    • “Sadly, I will be giving it a thumbs down due to the lack of replayability in my eyes.”
    • “Despite having multiple endings, the gameplay itself doesn't offer much in the way of replayability, and the choices that affect the ending aren't huge moments in the game, for the most part.”
  • grinding131 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, particularly in the later stages where backtracking and trial-and-error puzzles dominate gameplay. While some enjoyed the investigative elements and atmosphere, the overall sentiment suggests that the game often feels like a chore, requiring excessive effort for minimal reward, especially for those aiming for 100% completion. Players frequently noted that the mechanics and level design contribute to a slow and frustrating experience, detracting from the enjoyment of the narrative.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “Not too tedious, not too easy.”
    • “The gameplay mechanics feel outdated and janky; exploration through what should be eerie and mysterious is instead a tedious chore of repetitive gameplay and boring investigations.”
    • “The game's progress is both slow and tedious.”
    • “The mechanics and lack of a level-based save system make farming other endings tedious to the point of just being boring.”
  • stability122 mentions

    The game's stability has been widely criticized, with many players reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly detract from the experience. While some users noted smooth gameplay and good performance overall, the prevalence of issues such as non-responsive dialogue options, janky animations, and freezing during cutscenes has led to a consensus that the game feels rushed and poorly optimized. Overall, players who are sensitive to technical problems may find the game frustrating, despite its engaging story and visuals.

    • “Overall, the gameplay is smooth without any serious issues; the sound is good with no glitches.”
    • “You want a bug-free game (encountered 0 bugs the entire run).”
    • “Pros: it's polished and bug-free.”
    • “After a few minutes of opening the game, it just freezes and crashes.”
    • “I really wanted to like this game, but it is extremely buggy to the point of my not wanting to even bother anymore.”
    • “The last Cthulhu game was terrific in concept and atmosphere, but exceptionally buggy to the point of being unplayable without third-party patches.”
  • optimization86 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting solid performance and smooth frame rates, while others experienced significant issues such as crashes, stuttering, and inconsistent frame rates, particularly in open areas. Despite the underlying Unreal Engine providing a decent foundation, many users noted a lack of technical polish and optimization, leading to frustration, especially on higher-end PCs. Overall, while some players found the performance acceptable, many others felt it was poorly optimized and in need of further updates.

    • “That said, this is a great game for any horror fan to play and enjoy, with a very optimized Unreal 4 engine underneath it.”
    • “Performance-wise, the game runs on Unreal tech, so it's as nicely efficient as we've come to expect from Unreal Engine 4 games.”
    • “The performance was overall fairly solid, if a bit inconsistent.”
    • “Two final notes: first, the game suffers from poor performance in a number of open areas during the campaign, and I believe the in-game graphical settings menu doesn't always correctly apply your choices.”
    • “What really gets me is how terrible the stability and framerate is. In 20 minutes I've had a crash, a level load improperly letting me walk out of bounds accidentally, and just absolute garbage performance (M.2 drive, GTX 1070, 64GB RAM... 30-40 FPS on high, not even epic).”
    • “It crashed constantly; I had so many issues with the game relating to performance.”
  • character development74 mentions

    Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its depth and the impact of player choices on the narrative, while others criticize it for being inconsistent and lacking meaningful progression. Many players appreciate the immersive storytelling and character interactions, but feel that the character design and execution are subpar, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, while there are moments of effective character development, many reviewers believe it could have been significantly improved.

    • “I quickly realized that this game has more focus on character development and story exploration.”
    • “It has a deep story with good character development, and the main protagonist has an interesting background, which serves to develop the story.”
    • “Meaningful character development, with the ability to upgrade your character with both spendable experience points and objects found in the world.”
    • “Character development system makes no sense.”
    • “None of the characters are fleshed out in the slightest; character development is near-zero, so where would the twists and turns even originate from?”
    • “Having options for your character development felt meaningless.”
  • emotional52 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game elicits mixed responses, with some players finding the protagonist's descent into madness both disturbing and evocative, while others criticize the lack of character depth and emotional engagement. The voice acting is generally praised, though the dialogue often falls flat, failing to create a strong emotional impact. Overall, while the game captures dark themes effectively, its rushed pacing and clichéd elements detract from the emotional experience for many players.

    • “The ending I got made me genuinely emotional.”
    • “So deep, dark, yet captures a theme not many gamers would come by in a game and is really touching.”
    • “Seriously though, the environments are creepy, the ambiance is eerie, and the tortured soul that is our protagonist is a sympathetic guy all told, so his descent into madness is both disturbing and emotionally evocative.”
    • “The story was incredibly boring and failed to evoke any emotional response.”
    • “I found the narrative to be dull and lacking in emotional depth.”
    • “The emotional aspects of the game were overshadowed by a tedious storyline.”
  • humor46 mentions

    The humor in the game is frequently highlighted as a standout feature, with players enjoying the funny protagonist, charming characters, and absurd situations, such as comical stealth mechanics and exaggerated animations. Many found themselves laughing at the game's unintentional humor, including awkward voice acting and bizarre character movements, which added to the overall comedic experience. While some aspects of the gameplay were criticized, the humor consistently provided entertainment, making the game memorable for its lighthearted moments amidst its darker themes.

    • “I found myself laughing out loud every time I got caught by a guard because they just grab you and motion for you to sort of like, hold on until someone else comes or something.”
    • “This is not an action game, and as such, the stealth is hilariously simple, and you can usually outrun whatever is after you.”
    • “Tabletop CoC is a frequently hilarious game about overly-curious fools who find themselves hopelessly out of their element, sort of like a Coen Brothers film.”
    • “Chapter 6 is so obtuse it is not funny - instructions are given to hide in a closet and then it would appear that, no matter what you do, you end up getting shredded by the entity.”
  • monetization5 mentions

    The game features no microtransactions, emphasizing a single-player experience without the need for an internet connection. Reviewers appreciate this approach, viewing it as a passion project rather than a cash grab.

    • “No bots or griefers, single player only, no internet connection required, and no microtransactions!”
    • “Now I still like the game, I can tell that it was a passion project and I don't think it was a cash grab to promote the board game.”
    • “Microtransactions: none.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

67% average critic score

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Play time

9hMedian play time
10hAverage play time
7-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 112 analyzed playthroughs

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