Cthulhu Saves Christmas

75%
Game Brain Score Based on 418 reviews
  • humor
  • gameplay
  • story
Cthulhu Saves Christmas Game Cover
Who knew the holidays with Cthulhu could be so much fun? If you put one game on your Christmas list this year, make it this one.
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In "Cthulhu Saves Christmas," the holiday season is under threat, and only Cthulhu can save the day. As the ancient cosmic entity, players must navigate through festive levels, battling snowmen and reindeer, while also dealing with a Christmas crisis. With a blend of humor and challenging gameplay, Cthulhu Saves Christmas offers a unique twist on the holiday season.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

75%
Audience ScoreBased on 418 reviews
humor214 positive mentions
grinding22 negative mentions
  • The game features a great sense of humor with clever writing and funny dialogue, making it enjoyable for fans of comedy.
  • The combat system is engaging and offers unique mechanics, such as random abilities and a recharge system, which adds a layer of strategy.
  • The game is short and sweet, making it a perfect holiday diversion that doesn't overstay its welcome.
  • The game can feel grindy and repetitive, especially in the second half, with battles dragging on due to enemies having high HP.
  • The linear structure and lack of exploration options can make the gameplay feel restrictive and less immersive.
  • Some players may find the humor hit-or-miss, with certain jokes and puns not resonating well.
  • humor216 mentions

    The humor in "Cthulhu Saves Christmas" is widely praised for its clever writing, fourth-wall breaks, and playful tone, making it a delightful experience for fans of comedic RPGs. Many players appreciate the game's quirky characters and humorous dialogue, although some found certain jokes to be hit or miss. Overall, the game is recommended for those who enjoy lighthearted, referential humor, particularly in the context of classic JRPG elements.

    • “It's funny, easy, and it has Cthulhu in it!”
    • “The story is fun, and the humor is great.”
    • “I had a great time playing this; it made me laugh out loud more than once, with lots of fourth wall breaking, great writing, and fun dialogues.”
    • “It's kind of a flat experience, to be honest, and half the jokes they throw at you are a miss and not funny.”
  • gameplay126 mentions

    The gameplay of "Cthulhu Saves Christmas" is characterized by its blend of traditional JRPG mechanics and unique features, such as the "insanity" status effect and a social link system, which adds depth to the experience. However, many players find the combat to be repetitive and tedious, with some mechanics feeling overly random and detracting from strategic planning. While the humor and art style are praised, the linear progression and lack of player choice contribute to a sense of railroaded gameplay that may not appeal to everyone.

    • “This Christmas adventure has tons of playful humor, lovingly crafted artwork, and customizable RPG mechanics that are simply outstanding.”
    • “The main draw of the game is the humor and the gameplay, and it has plenty of both with good quality too.”
    • “Old school RPG at its finest, full of awesome humor and fun combat mechanics.”
    • “Overall though the battle mechanics that are exclusive to this game were not too great in my opinion; they are fine, but especially the whole random abilities thing was pretty annoying.”
    • “The randomization of available powers makes it hard to plan, and the recharging mechanic only slows things down.”
    • “My one criticism would be that the gameplay loop is a bit too repetitive and predictable, boiling down into a standard experience.”
  • story107 mentions

    The story of "Cthulhu Saves Christmas" is characterized by its lighthearted humor and absurdity, featuring a mix of corny jokes and engaging character interactions that keep players entertained throughout. While the narrative is enjoyable and filled with comedic elements, some players feel it lacks depth and connection to its predecessor, resulting in a more linear experience without side missions or exploration. Overall, the game is praised for its fun storytelling, though opinions vary on its execution and the effectiveness of its humor.

    • “The story is fun, the humor is great.”
    • “What made this game was the story mixed with comedy.”
    • “What I can say though is that I was so interested in this story that I played it all in one long sitting; I just always wanted to see what would happen next, the dialogue was just so enjoyable that I just wanted to see it all.”
    • “This game is a prequel, yet at the same time, it feels very disconnected from the other game as it really does not add anything to that story at all.”
    • “The story also feels like a massive downgrade.”
    • “However there are no side missions, no secrets, just a straight run through of the game.”
  • music89 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread praise for its catchy and festive soundtrack, often likened to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, enhancing the overall cheerful atmosphere. While many tracks are enjoyable, some players noted that the battle music can become repetitive over time, and there are fewer unique tracks compared to previous titles. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a highlight, with several standout pieces that contribute significantly to the game's charm.

    • “The music was awesome in this game; some of the songs were fantastic.”
    • “The spritework is beautiful, the music is spot on (metal Christmas tunes), and the controls are exactly what you'd expect.”
    • “I loved the music, especially the epic cover of 'Carol of the Bells'!”
    • “As for the music and sound design, it has its highlights but is just okay overall.”
    • “The music is solid, but some of the tracks will get repetitive midway through.”
    • “One considerable downside is that all normal fights have the same battle music.”
  • graphics28 mentions

    The graphics in "Cthulhu Saves Christmas" have received widespread praise for their charming pixel art and improved visual quality compared to its predecessor. Reviewers highlight the playful and festive artwork, detailed sprites, and well-crafted character portraits, which contribute to an engaging atmosphere. While some note that the game lacks depth in its dungeon design, the overall aesthetic is considered a significant enhancement that complements the game's humor and RPG mechanics.

    • “Graphically, I have brought up in so many of my reviews that I am a sucker for pixel art, and I think this game looks great.”
    • “The writing is clever and the graphics are a mix of 16-bit pixels and well-done hand-drawn portraits.”
    • “Graphically, the game has improved; it's prettier thanks to more detailed sprites but still conveys that goofy theme of the series very well.”
    • “The game tries to be a visual novel without the visuals.”
    • “This game manages to provide the shallowest dungeons I can recall from a JRPG - despite the neat audio and visuals.”
    • “I don't dislike this game, but Cthulhu Saves the World is better in every aspect except maybe the graphical one.”
  • grinding22 mentions

    Players generally enjoy the game but note that it becomes increasingly grindy after the first half, with combat feeling tedious and drawn out towards the end. While the ability to skip battles and restart failed fights adds some convenience, many reviewers suggest that the grinding detracts from the overall experience, especially on higher difficulty settings. Overall, the game is seen as a fun, albeit somewhat repetitive, JRPG that could benefit from a more streamlined battle system.

    • “Dungeons are mostly straightforward with a few minor dead-ends to hide treasure in, as well as the abilities to both skip battles and instantly start one without waiting... though I will begrudgingly admit that some of the random encounters I went through felt tedious instead of a way to see how well I understood the mechanics.”
    • “Something that I have to mention, don't play on the highest difficulty setting if you lack patience. The game is very forgiving and allows you to restart failed fights indefinitely, but if you are struggling it may become tedious after a while, especially once you figure out how everything works and just want to get to the next story section.”
    • “While the combat mechanics made battle somewhat random and quite tedious towards the end, with battles being needlessly dragged out, it stays somewhat fun through most of the game. It has a nice limit on random battles so you can look for chests, and it does come to an end at right about the time where it starts to feel drawn out.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by cute graphics, charismatic characters, a pleasant soundtrack, and an engaging story, creating a festive and cheerful experience. However, some users feel that certain elements detract from this overall enjoyment, impacting the atmosphere negatively.

    • “If you can enjoy all of that, you should definitely try it for yourself and experience cute graphics, charismatic characters, a nice soundtrack, an engaging story, and an overall festive, cheerful atmosphere.”
    • “It takes away from the atmosphere of the game, and ruins the enjoyment.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    The game offers notable replayability, particularly for players who enjoy exploring different character relationships and obtaining various items and skills through multiple playthroughs of its short campaign. Players can experience alternative story paths and outcomes, enhancing the overall enjoyment and incentive to replay.

    • “If you enjoy the game, the short campaign has replay value by choosing different events, developing character relationships, and obtaining various items and skills.”
    • “The game offers replayability through the ability to choose different events and experience varied character interactions.”
    • “There is some replay value in exploring different options.”
    • “The game lacks significant replayability, as the choices don't lead to vastly different outcomes.”
    • “Once you've experienced the main story, there's little incentive to play again.”
  • stability2 mentions

    Users report that the game exhibits strong stability, with no glitches or tearing noted during gameplay.

  • optimization2 mentions

    The reviews indicate a strong interest in identifying the best and most optimized gear available in the game, suggesting that players are seeking ways to enhance their performance through optimal equipment choices. However, specific details on optimization strategies or gear effectiveness are not provided.

    • “I wonder what the best and most optimized gear you can get from these is.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

85% average critic score

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Play time

9hMedian play time
8hAverage play time
5-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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