Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones

Stygian is an excellent game to both kick back and enjoy the story but to also test out your strategic thinking abilities.

Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones is a fantastic RPG. The story is interesting, the characters are unique, the quests are varied, and the systems run deep. There are a variety of different ways to play this game and I can’t wait to jump back in and explore some new paths. This is one nightmare I highly recommend.

I honestly don’t think this game is getting the attention it deserves. The bad things (bugs, balance, optimization) in this game can be patched while the core of this game is phenomenal. If you are a fan of Lovecraft’s work, you are doing yourself a huge disservice by not checking this one out.

Stygian isn’t that long as it takes some 15-20 hours to see its horrors through, depending on your willingness to search every nook and cranny of its warped world, and the story paves the way for more adventures in the doomed Arkham. However, the replay value is strong due to different character archetypes and what gameplay options they will bring along, adding to the multiple ways to approach quests. In many ways, the game was an eye-opening experience. It sets the bar high what comes to meaningful content and depicting an atmospheric game world and also reminds of what is still possible to achieve in its well-worn genre when given enough effort, heart and thought.

I enjoyed every moment of playing Stygian: Reign of Old Ones. There may be questionable decisions in including such a wide variety of mythos creatures in a single release, but the decision to set the game basically after the end of the world (as far as Arkham is concerned) is a fresh take. Stygian oozes atmosphere, craft, and effort. I love it, it’s great, and you should play it.

An incredibly immersive RPG/adventure based on the works of H.P. Lovercraft that misses on true greatness due to its unpolished release and abrupt ending.

Even though it lacks the presentation of a high-budget game, Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones is one enjoyable nightmare that I can't recommend enough to cRPG fans. Bristling with mythos creatures, beautifully-drawn environments, and great Lovecraftian inspiration, Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones is a fantastic RPG that no fan of the cosmic horror should skip.

Faithfully adapted, bristling with depth, beautifully written and gorgeous to look at, Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones is a fantastic role-playing game that’s hampered by a frustrating and tedious combat system that is sure to turn many players away in the early goings.

The number of references to H.P. Lovecraft’s works and the fact that they are subtly woven into the main narrative and side-quests makes Stygian the most faithful lovecraftian game of recent years. [Issue#241, p.60]

Notwithstanding little issues here and there, this is an RPG sure to be loved by every fan of HP Lovecraft. For everyone else, it’s a serious challenge comparable to reading the master’s work for the first time.

Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones is a treat for die-hard Cthulhu fans. The thick, heavy atmosphere of Lovecraft's stories drips out of every pixel. It's a pity that I couldn't ignore tons of bigger and smaller bugs (abysmal game stability included) that halted all the fun.

In its best moments Stygian really reminded me of the two original Fallout games but heavily spiced up with Lovecraftian horror. [12/2019, p.53]

Although multiple issues persist throughout the title, such as the aforementioned tedious combat and sub-par pathfinding, the quality of the game's writing (when all the words are spelled correctly) and interwoven Lovecraft stories are enough to keep any fan of CRPGs interested throughout two or three separate playthroughs.

Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones is a classic point and click with strategic elements. A great game for all those who love Lovecraftian literature and an interesting discovery for neophytes.

Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones has an interesting art direction and a good Lovecraftian inspiration, but seems to be split in half between its nice all-around RPG mechanics and a slow and not very engaging turn-based strategic combat.