Lovecraftian Horror Is A Heavily Underrated Genre In Gaming

The works of H.P. Lovecraft are famous throughout the world, and they manage to inspire some of the best horror games out there.

When it comes to horror, games inspired by H.P. Lovecraft have a class of their own. Lovecraftian horror is the stuff of nightmares and madness, makes you feel small and powerless, and might even make you question your sanity. But you’ll love every second of it if you’re a horror genre fan.

Some Lovecraftian-themed games are able to convey horror and mythos more effectively than others, while some games are only lightly inspired by it.

Despite belonging to the horror genre, the Lovecraftian-themed games aren’t as popular as they should be.

The only game inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft most people have heard about is Bloodborne. While it is a brilliant game from start to end and a personal favorite, there are just as many good games out there belonging to the same genre.

Ludwig, the Accursed from Bloodborne.
Ludwig, the Accursed from Bloodborne.

It is true that Bloodborne isn’t a fully Lovecraftian-themed game, but it is somewhat inspired by it. The game is able to fully convey the feeling of dealing with monsters that are truly the stuff of nightmares.

However, there are many games, such as Stygian: Reign Of The Old Ones, Gray Dawn, and Call Of Cthulhu, that are Lovecraftian-themed games but are highly underrated.

It is also true that not all Lovecraftian-themed games are scary. There aren’t that many, to begin with.

While Remnant: From the Ashes is a reasonably popular co-op game, it does have its lows. The game features a pretty mediocre story, and the combat is clunky as well. However, the game features creatively designed bosses that are both terrifying to look at.

A Lovecraftian-themed boss in Remnant: From The Ashes.
A Lovecraftian-themed boss in Remnant: From The Ashes.

There’s also Gibbous – A Cthulhu Adventure, a Lovecraftian-themed game that is a bit comical. The game’s story revolves around you trying to turn your cat back into a normal cat.

After you’ve accidentally turned it into an abomination that can talk, it isn’t a bad game per se, but it isn’t as scary as you might expect some other games to belong to the same genre.

Another excellent game that came out in recent years was The Sinking City. The game has a solid story where you play as a private investigator named Charles W. Reed.

The private investigator is trying to solve the issues in the fictional town of Oakmont, where everything is a bit weird. During all this, you’re also plagued by terrifying visions as you try to uncover the city’s secrets.

An Innsmouther from The Sinking City.
An Innsmouther from The Sinking City.

Several other games are a treat for lovers of the horror genre. Amnesia: The Dark Descent is another Lovecraftian-themed game that is almost as good as it can get when it comes to horror.

A Lovecraftian-themed being in Amnesia: The Dark Descent.
A Lovecraftian-themed being in Amnesia: The Dark Descent.

Some Lovecraftian-themed games are also quite popular, such as the Darkest Dungeons, Darkwood, and Don’t Starve. These games are still doing well, despite being released a couple of years ago.

The point is that if you’re a horror genre fan and haven’t played any of these games, then you’ve been doing it wrong. Lovecraftian-themed horror games are some of the best ones in the genre.

A lot is lacking in terms of a solid story and accurately conveying the myths in some games belonging to the genre. Some games are outright strategy or RPG games, but with Cthulhu-styled bosses and a lot of tentacles. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give other Lovecraft games a chance.

People just getting into the genre might find the games confusing since everything seems so absurd, and it’s pretty easy to feel overwhelmed. But, absurdity is where it’s at when it comes to these eldritch horror games. The point of not knowing what you’re dealing with in a creepy environment has all the charm there is to it.

How could I forget the Dead Space trilogy when talking about Lovecraftian-themed horror games? It is a great trilogy overall that is heavily influenced by the Lovecraftian mythos. A Dead Space Remake is also set to come out in the near future. If they haven’t already, fans of the horror genre should give it a chance.

These games will likely make you question how insignificant you are in the face of a higher power. Indeed, you might not like all the games, but it is worth giving them a try. Do let us know your thoughts and opinions about Lovecraftian games in the comments below.

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Matt Hunter is our New Releases Editor with one of the coolest Aliases ever. He loves chasing after the latest scoop in the gaming and tech industries and covers it with the utmost urgency. You’ll find him breaking some of the best news stories for his audience. He also likes to dive into interesting leaks and rumors. You can also follow Matt's gaming activity on his Steam Profile. Experience: 3+ years || Education: Bachelor's in Journalism || Ghostwritten for Several Publications || Broken 300+ Articles || Mainly Covers New Game stories on eXputer

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