Skip to main content

About

In "Cthulhu Saves the World," Cthulhu must become a hero to break a curse and destroy the world. This old-school RPG features six to ten hours of gameplay, with bonus modes and increased difficulty levels for replayability. Unique features include inflicting insanity on enemies, as well as remixed content in "Cthulhu's Angels" mode.

Cthulhu Saves the World screenshot
Cthulhu Saves the World screenshot
Cthulhu Saves the World screenshot
Cthulhu Saves the World screenshot
Cthulhu Saves the World screenshot
Cthulhu Saves the World screenshot
Cthulhu Saves the World screenshot
Cthulhu Saves the World screenshot
Cthulhu Saves the World screenshot
Cthulhu Saves the World screenshot
Cthulhu Saves the World screenshot
+5

93%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,438 reviews
humor940 positive mentions
grinding95 negative mentions

  • Hilarious writing and dialogue that keeps players engaged and entertained.
  • Unique combat mechanics, including a combo system and limited random encounters, enhance gameplay.
  • Charming retro graphics and a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic JRPGs.
  • Repetitive combat can become tedious, especially with the increasing enemy strength each turn.
  • Dungeons can be confusing and maze-like, making navigation frustrating.
  • Lack of depth in the story and character development may leave some players wanting more.
  • humor
    944 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in "Cthulhu Saves the World" is a standout feature, characterized by its clever, self-aware writing and a plethora of witty dialogue that often breaks the fourth wall. Players appreciate the game's light-hearted take on classic RPG tropes, filled with absurdity, puns, and Lovecraftian references, making it both entertaining and nostalgic. While the humor is generally well-received, some find it hit-or-miss, but overall, it contributes significantly to the game's charm and appeal.

    • “The humor is very self-aware and the loathing that Cthulhu has for his teammates is oh so delightful!”
    • “Cthulhu Saves the World is a delightful humorous JRPG where the unlikely hero, Cthulhu, leads a party of misfits through a satirical story of heroism and insanity.”
    • “The story is hilarious with Cthulhu trying to redeem himself and become a true hero to raise his city of R’lyeh, but his interaction with characters in the world is really funny.”
    • “I've never been subjected to a more hideous form of unfunny.”
    • “Cthulhu Saves the World plays like a bad copy of a random RPG Maker game; the game is slow, not funny, and badly made overall.”
  • story
    542 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Cthulhu Saves the World" is a humorous and light-hearted parody of classic RPG tropes, featuring the iconic character Cthulhu on a quest to regain his powers by becoming a hero. While the narrative is simple and often relies on comedic elements and fourth-wall breaking, it is filled with witty dialogue and Lovecraftian references that appeal to fans of the genre. The game also offers replay value with an additional story mode that introduces new characters and challenges, enhancing the overall experience despite its straightforward plot.

    • “Cthulhu Saves the World is a delightful humorous JRPG where the unlikely hero, Cthulhu, leads a party of misfits through a satirical story of heroism and insanity.”
    • “The story is witty, funny, and full of heart, making it a charming experience that pays homage to classic RPGs.”
    • “The story is hilarious with Cthulhu trying to redeem himself and become a true hero to raise his city of R’lyeh, but his interaction with characters in the world is really funny.”
    • “The story is mostly a humorous take on the Cthulhu mythos where his powers were stripped and he has to become a hero to get his powers back to destroy the world.”
    • “The problem with this game is that it doesn't do anything particularly well to make it stand out from the crowd: generic monster types, humor that doesn't amuse, and a boring plot prevent this game from becoming what it could have been.”
    • “The story is linear, and took me about 8 hours with in-depth exploration on my first run.”
  • gameplay
    383 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Cthulhu Saves the World" is a blend of classic turn-based RPG mechanics with unique twists, such as an insanity system and a combo mechanic that enhance combat strategy. While it retains some traditional elements like random encounters and leveling up, the game also introduces quality-of-life improvements, making it more accessible and engaging. Overall, players appreciate the humor and charm, though some find the gameplay can become repetitive and simplistic over time.

    • “The game masterfully combines classic RPG mechanics with quirky humor and a unique storyline, making it both fun and engaging.”
    • “Combat is fun, with united attacks between characters, a combo system, finishers, and an insanity mechanic that alters enemy behavior.”
    • “The gameplay is fun and actually requires thinking, unlike newer RPG games made these days, so it was really refreshing.”
    • “Unfortunately, the pacing is dragged down by its gameplay.”
    • “Unfortunately, despite the familiar gameplay and humor and a number of things this game does better than its predecessor, several serious bugs resulted in me giving up on this title before I could finish it.”
    • “The gameplay is typical RPG Maker style bland turn-based combat, and there isn't enough story or character to really carry you through the repetitive dungeons and encounters.”
  • music
    181 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread praise for its catchy and nostalgic quality, often evoking the charm of classic 8-bit and 16-bit RPG soundtracks. Many players found the soundtrack to be surprisingly good, enhancing the overall experience with memorable and epic tracks, although some noted issues with repetitive battle music and occasional sound design flaws. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's humor and atmosphere.

    • “The biggest surprise about the game was the absolutely fantastic music in the game.”
    • “The soundtrack is amazing - power metal riffs with trumpets for extra epicness are the best thing that can happen to a boss battle.”
    • “This game has a well written yet light-hearted story, solid RPG level up and combat mechanics, and great old school art and music to accompany them.”
    • “The music is nothing worth remembering; not even the final boss theme was that catchy.”
    • “The game looks decent, but sadly me and many others are having issues with the sound; there is no music playing and only a few sound effects are working.”
    • “Also, with the graphics, I was hoping for some chiptune music, but the game has quite disturbing music that comes over and over and sometimes at inappropriate times.”
  • graphics
    172 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "Cthulhu Saves the World" are predominantly retro, featuring 8-bit to 16-bit pixel art that evokes nostalgia for classic RPGs from the SNES era. While some players appreciate the charming and humorous art style, others criticize it as outdated and lacking detail, with minimal options for customization. Overall, the visuals are seen as a deliberate homage to old-school games, which may appeal to fans of the genre despite their simplicity.

    • “The graphics are beautifully done for a 16-bit game and it reminds me of many RPGs from the SNES!”
    • “The modernized old-school graphics are as delightful as the quirky personalities given to each of the characters as the colors strike the perfect balance between vibrancy and gothic horror derived from this comical tribute's namesake.”
    • “The graphics, especially in-battle, have been upped from feeling like a late NES game to an early SNES game, the music is a touch higher in quality, the gameplay is made slightly more interesting with the insanity system, more characters to choose from, a more robust unite system and many other improvements.”
    • “A choice was made to use obsolete, decades-old retro pixel art as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
    • “It’s a case where minimal visuals may have worked against the game, because there’s no interesting eye candy to watch.”
    • “Of course, the graphics are also nothing noteworthy; they go for a 'retro' pixel style, but this is just an excuse for being lazy with the graphics since they are nowhere near actually good-looking detailed pixel art.”
  • grinding
    97 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The reviews highlight a mixed reception regarding grinding in the game, with some players appreciating the nostalgic old-school grind while others find it tedious and repetitive. Many noted that while grinding is a significant aspect, the game offers mechanics to mitigate excessive grinding, such as limiting random encounters and providing ample experience through exploration. Overall, players who enjoy traditional JRPG elements may find the grinding enjoyable, while those seeking a more streamlined experience might find it frustrating.

    • “Turn-based RPG, not too grindy.”
    • “At some point in this story, there are monstrous amounts of grinding to progress.”
    • “The combat is boring, tedious, and repetitive.”
    • “Most JRPG-styled games require countless hours of grinding unless you're incredibly skilled and knowledgeable about upcoming bosses.”
  • replayability
    56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers significant replayability through various bonus modes, alternate storylines, and challenge options that encourage players to revisit the experience. Many reviewers highlight the engaging combat system and humor, which enhance the desire to replay, although some note that the replay value may vary depending on personal enjoyment and gameplay preferences. Overall, it is regarded as having strong replay potential, especially for fans of classic RPGs.

    • “The sheer amount of replayability offered through the bonus modes via completing the game once is staggering, and the entire adventure has left me galvanized to play more titles from this developer.”
    • “There's also plenty of replay value, if you get into the game enough, including a mode that incentivizes defeating bosses while as underleveled as possible, and an alternate story campaign!”
    • “Cthulhu Saves the World does this within each of its campaigns but provides plenty of enjoyable replayability in its multiple game modes, unlockable content, simple on the surface but deep under the skin combat systems, and absolutely awesome wit and charm.”
    • “I don't think there is a lot of replay value in this.”
    • “The replay value is low, as the story is a bit bland for a linear game.”
    • “While it makes a stab for being replayable with different game modes, I can't say it really stands as a replayable game.”
  • atmosphere
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising the effective use of music and sound design that enhances the mood, particularly in quieter moments and dungeons. However, others note issues with loudness and inconsistent dialogue that can detract from the overall experience. The blend of nostalgic elements and unique mechanics contributes to a humorous yet immersive atmosphere, though some feel the narrative loses its atmospheric depth as the game progresses.

    • “Fantastic level design with great music and atmosphere.”
    • “It has the right atmosphere for each and every part they take in.”
    • “I especially liked the male choir chanting inside the dungeons, adding a mysterious atmosphere to them.”
    • “Some dialogue can be awkward, since it doesn't fit the atmosphere.”
    • “The story kind of stops caring about a quarter of the way through the game and there's no sense of atmosphere at all.”
    • “Very tongue-in-cheek and the retro graphics add to the whole atmosphere.”
  • emotional
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is polarizing; while some players find it heart-wrenching and deeply engaging, evoking laughter and tears, others criticize it for a boring story and lackluster characters that detract from the experience. Overall, the emotional impact varies significantly among players, with some feeling profoundly connected and others left disappointed.

    • “+heart-wrenching story leaves you wanting more to the very end.”
    • “Great game, much fun, I laughed, I cried 10/10.”
    • “10/10 made me feel deeply emotional, would experience it all again.”
    • “Boring story, characters, and gameplay. Just stay away and don't spend 20 hours like I did.”
  • optimization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Cthulhu is praised for its excellent optimization, ensuring smooth performance without straining system resources. Players also appreciate the ability to select new abilities upon leveling up, enhancing combat performance.

    • “Cthulhu is very well optimized and won’t strain your system at all.”
    • “Every time you level up, you get a choice of abilities to select and hopefully improve your combat performance.”
  • character development
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is noted for its engaging design and the ability to customize characters to fit desired roles, enhancing combat dynamics. While the storyline is straightforward, it effectively maintains player interest, and early impressions suggest there is significant depth to explore in character progression.

    • “The character development in terms of combat is interesting because it genuinely does feel like it's possible to have your characters fill the role you wish them to, at least to a certain point.”
    • “The character development is decent, and the storyline is simple, but keeps your attention.”
    • “The character development is decent, but the storyline is simple and lacks depth.”
    • “I've barely gotten into the game, and I see it has some depth in character development.”
  • stability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game is praised for its stability, running smoothly on the Steam Deck, though some users have noted minor glitches. Despite these issues, players find the experience enjoyable and entertaining.

    • “Short, funny, and runs great on the Steam Deck.”
  • monetization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game is generally viewed positively, with users expressing enthusiasm for the game and its ads, suggesting that they enhance the overall experience rather than detract from it.

Buy Cthulhu Saves the World

10h Median play time
10h Average play time
6-10h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 12 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Games Like Cthulhu Saves the World

Epic Battle Fantasy 4 Image
Unepic Image
SanctuaryRPG Image
Skyborn Image
Penny Arcade's On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness 3 ImagePenny Arcade's On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness 3 ImagePenny Arcade's On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness 3 Image
This game contains adult content
Cosmic Star Heroine Image
Sins Of The Demon RPG Image
One Way Heroics Image
EvilQuest Image
Dungeons of Dredmor ImageDungeons of Dredmor ImageDungeons of Dredmor Image