Every year around Halloween, people get in the mood to play horror games. The works of horror writer H. P. Lovecraft have served as inspiration for a number of video games over the years, from popular titles like Bloodborne and Call of Cthulhu to lesser-known games like Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones. For anyone looking to get into the Halloween spirit, look no further than these Lovecraft-inspired video games.
H.P. Lovecraft was an American author best known for his supernatural and horror fiction. Some of his more popular works are "Call of Cthulhu," "Rats in the Walls," and At the Mountains of Madness. He's inspired a number of famous horror writers like Stephen King, as well as filmmakers like Guillermo Del Toro. While video games based on Lovecraft's works are hit or miss, there are several good ones that are perfect for Halloween.
The Sinking City is a horror game that incorporates Lovecraft's Great Old Ones, mythological gods, into its open-world detective narrative. Despite mixed reviews and legal troubles that resulting in The Sinking City's delisting on a number of platforms, the game is still great for Lovecraft fans, as it lets players feel like they are exploring a Lovecraftian horror story. Although it's been removed from PC and PSN over legal disputes, The Sinking City can still be found on the eShop of the Nintendo Switch.
Other Great Lovecraft-Inspired Video Games
Fans of Bloodborne will likely not be surprised to learn that the game was partially inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft. Although Bloodborne is an action RPG, the game definitely has elements of horror and takes themes from Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos. Several of Bloodborne's bosses, as well as the overarching lore surrounding the Great Ones and Old Lords, are directly inspired by the cosmic horror of H.P. Lovecraft.
Like Bloodborne, Eldritch is another video game directly inspired by the Cthulhu Mythos. Eldritch is also great for any survival horror fans who want to play through a Lovecraft game with a Minecraft aesthetic. The game released in 2013 on PC, with an expansion called Eldritch: Mountains of Madness that released soon after.
Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones is another PC game with an obvious Lovecraftian influence. The horror RPG got some mixed reviews, but its Lovecraft references are rampant. Arkham, the Great Old Ones, and even Erich Zann are all featured or referenced in Stygian, making it a must-play for anyone who loves reading Lovecraft's horror stories.
Still, arguably the best Lovecraft game to get anyone in the Halloween spirit is 2018's Call of Cthulhu, a role-playing survival game. Call of Cthulhu got some great reviews, and it's also readily available on PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, making it the easiest Lovecraft game on this list to acquire. Based on both Lovecraft's "Call of Cthulhu" short story and the 1981 pen-and-paper RPG of the same title, 2018's Call of Cthulhu has plenty of cosmic horror and general dread to keep players on the edge of their seats.
No matter how people like their H.P. Lovecraft served, these video games offer a wide selection of different playstyles and elements to keep things fresh. Games like Bloodborne and Call of Cthulhu may be well-known, but titles like Stygian, Eldritch, and The Sinking City shouldn't be missed either. All are excellent ways to get into the Halloween spirit.