Call of Cthulhu

 PC
User Score
6.8

Mixed or average reviews- based on 225 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 95 out of 225
  2. Mixed: 97 out of 225
  3. Negative: 33 out of 225

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  1. Sinefold
    Oct 30, 2018
    10
    Very atmospheric game. For lovers of creativity Lovecraft the most it. The graphics are not at an ideal level, but for me this is not the main thing.
  2. DarthVader2015
    Dec 12, 2018
    9
    Call of Cthullu is a game for lovers of the Lovecraft Universe. This game is faithful to the masterpiece "Call of Cthullu" story. Yes, it's a detective game because that's how the story plays.
  3. watertoad
    Jan 6, 2019
    8
    it is a good game with not bad story, not great though it still has lots of flaws such as the weird cutscene transitions. The gameplay is also kinda short.
  4. Outlander999
    Nov 2, 2018
    8
    PLayed and finished in 13 hours. I'm satisfied: the story is intriguing, able to respect the original writing. I loved the "investigate+explore+stealth" gameplay. The only weak part is the action moment. However, a very good Lovecraftian game. Recommended for "Lovecraft & Chaosium fans".
  5. Untrustedlife
    Nov 4, 2018
    10
    It doesn't hit every point perfectly but its a great lovecraft game and thats what is important to me.
  6. Ikarian123
    Nov 5, 2018
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. !!!VERY MUCH SPOILER!!!
    I played two "Call of Cthulhu" games, one from 2005 and this one. Both are "Lovecraftian" in their own way of sense, both are similar to Lovecraft great works.
    Call of Cthulhu 2018 is really good game and faithful to mix of "Call of Cthulhu" and "The Shadow over Innsmouth" with many new own story elements. Game is also faithful to Lovecraft misogyny, as most females in game are antagonists (Hawkins...) or anti-heroines (Cat), but they have much more strong roles then in original Lovecraft arts.
    Now to the game itself.
    Game graphic is probably weakest point of game. Good for game from 2008 or 2010, but not from 2018. On other hand, game is more "indie-like" and also worse graphic can be helpful to build lovecraftian atmosphere. In games, especially at end, are various beautiful sceneries and scenes.
    About RPG elements. RPG system itself is very good, however in game, it got only very few place to be active and useful. Thats second very weak point of game.
    About endings. Some commenters, especially on Steam Community, comparing CoC with Telltale games. I think its very unfair. As I played Telltale games, I can say that four endings on end of CoC are very more diverse and various then "endings" in Telltale games. But while they are various, they are still lovecraftian, full of suffering and loses. For most time, I was fascinated by game.
    Atmosphere, side-infos and side-story of whole game are very good and interesting. Last negative is price/game quality. Price between 45-65 euros is really hard overshoot!!! 25-35 euros will be adequate for game of this quality and gameplay time.
    Still, I recommend the game, especially if you are Lovecraftian fan and follower of Great Old Ones...    … Expand
  7. StanislavKH
    Oct 30, 2018
    10
    In this game, the graphics are not the strongest side, but a very good quest component, atmospheric history based on gloomy creativity, dialogues, investigations. Silent chapters when you need to hide yourself looks good. Very good chance to get acquainted with the works of Lovecraft
  8. anvamit
    Dec 12, 2018
    10
    Отличная игра с шикарной атмосферой. Жаль что у цианидов не было денег, чтобы воплотить все то, что они задумали. Но все равно, ты словно внутри романа Лавкрафта. Это круто.
  9. OverWind
    Jun 3, 2019
    9
    I found this game really good. If not for the sneaking scenes, which frankly I just wanted to get over and done with, it would be a solid 10 in my book.

    Is it perfect? No, of course not, and if there was a lot more competition in this genre, the ending (where you get the feeling that your actions during the game didn't really make much difference) and the sneaking parts of the game    I found this game really good. If not for the sneaking scenes, which frankly I just wanted to get over and done with, it would be a solid 10 in my book.

    Is it perfect? No, of course not, and if there was a lot more competition in this genre, the ending (where you get the feeling that your actions during the game didn't really make much difference) and the sneaking parts of the game would subtract more. However it manages to tell a great and interesting, unnerving supernatural story, and I really loved that part of the game.    … Expand
  10. luxhibernia
    Apr 5, 2019
    9
    The Cyanide team are obviously experienced enough to know exactly where to spend their limited budget for best results. The game is strong on plot and character, and the story is tailored to work in a limited number of locations on an island.

    I have to admit my heart skipped a beat when I saw the Chaosium Cthulhu logo appear in the introductory sequence and I even recognised some scenes    The Cyanide team are obviously experienced enough to know exactly where to spend their limited budget for best results. The game is strong on plot and character, and the story is tailored to work in a limited number of locations on an island.

    I have to admit my heart skipped a beat when I saw the Chaosium Cthulhu logo appear in the introductory sequence and I even recognised some scenes almost reproduced artwork from the game book. The music and sound support the atmosphere effortlessly.

    Games like this live or die on their art direction and 'Call of Cthulhu' nails this, although the budget didn't stretch to great performance capture and some of the geometry and texturing can be at bit last-generation. Funnily enough this lends a welcome retro-style to some of the scenes, very like playing a remastered version of 'Dark Corners of the Earth'.

    The pace and plot development are excellent and it has obviously been tested to remove obtuse solutions or difficulty spikes. As a result I found it very difficult to put down and ended up completing it in two or three days despite my best efforts to slow down.

    There is a fine line to walk between staying faithful to the source material and adding something new to the proceedings. Cyanide really get this with only fleeting references to the deities and by making wonderful use of a Shambler.

    Any kind of clichés or anachronisms can ruin the atmosphere in these games for me but I'm happy to say that it all stands up, right down to the occult book titles in the antiquarian shop. I would take a point or two off for the odd clichéd location (abandoned asylum, improbably-architected mansion) and the ropey dialogue delivery but otherwise this game delivers in spades.    … Expand
  11. Gaming_Bear
    Oct 24, 2022
    9
    Only Lovecraft game that I have played to date that really gets the cosmic horror and decent into madness right. Atmosphere was perfect. Character development was perfect. I felt like i was going mad playing this.
  12. FrostormNidhegg
    Oct 31, 2019
    8
    Типичная история по Лавкрафту, все ожидаемо, но у Лавкрафта тоже все сюжеты одинаковые, это отдельный поджанр такой. Выглядит хорошо, играется - симулятор ходьбы с решением несложных загадок и небольшими элементами стелса. Если понимать, что это не рпг, а просто история по мирам Ктулху - играть интересноТипичная история по Лавкрафту, все ожидаемо, но у Лавкрафта тоже все сюжеты одинаковые, это отдельный поджанр такой. Выглядит хорошо, играется - симулятор ходьбы с решением несложных загадок и небольшими элементами стелса. Если понимать, что это не рпг, а просто история по мирам Ктулху - играть интересно
  13. EdgarCenturion
    May 6, 2020
    10
    Like everyone says, it´s a very atmospheric game, the music, the dark filter, the conversation, the plot and the characters are a masterpiece for all who read at least the original book.

    We are in a time where they are a lot of trashy games and this one is not for casual players
  14. KIrillooss
    Dec 9, 2021
    9
    Великолепная игра и прекрасное воплощение идей Лавкрафта. Игра полна отчаяния и атмосферы безысходности и того что ты ничего не можешь противопоставить созданиям из других сфер
  15. renyw
    Dec 19, 2022
    9
    great great great great great great great great great great great great great

Awards & Rankings

61
#61 Most Discussed PC Game of 2018
79
#79 Most Shared PC Game of 2018

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
67

Mixed or average reviews - based on 40 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 40
  2. Mixed: 22 out of 40
  3. Negative: 2 out of 40
  1. CD-Action
    Nov 14, 2019
    70
    In regards to the story and atmosphere, Call of Cthulhu stands tall against any other game in the genre. It’s the rest of the features that’s bringing it down to a level of a quite typical mid-budget game. [13/2018, p.52]
  2. PLAY! Zine
    Mar 5, 2019
    80
    Another great lovecraftian game, with intriguing plot and ominous atmosphere, but with somewhat poor overall production quality and a sloppy dialogue system.
    Read full review
  3. Cubed3
    Jan 2, 2019
    60
    Most Lovecraft fans, or those who are just on the lookout for a good occult mystery thriller, will enjoy Call of Cthulhu, but that doesn't mean that they won't be disappointed as well. Cyanide Studio has wrapped an interesting, and engrossing storyline, with a fittingly oppressive feel, but the actual gameplay part tastes like a half-fried, unsalted octopus *wink-wink-nudge-nudge*
    Read full review
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