What is Lovecraftian horror? While the label can be applied to any work inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft, true cosmic horror doesn’t need to reference the Elder Deities or Miskatonic University. It’s about a sense of cosmic dread, about the madness that can strike when you try to comprehend the compressible. These cosmic themes can be found in all kinds of games, even titles that aren’t particularly scary.
If you’re ready to stare into the face of the unknown, and you’re looking for games you can play in the dark, you’ll want to take a look at ten of the best Lovecraftian games on Steam. From RPGs to management sims to dungeon crawlers, you can find Lovecraft-inspired games in almost any genre.
Note that while every one of these games is on Steam, almost all of them are available on other platforms as well.
Call of Cthulhu
This is one of the most obvious picks for Lovecraft fans, but it’s also one of the best. Based on the classic pen-and-paper RPG, Call of Cthulhu casts you in the role of a private detective sent to investigate a mysterious island. This is a cosmic horror game through and through, which means your sanity is always at risk. While the main story can be completed in about 15 hours, dialogue paths can change based on how you spec your character, making this a title worth playing more than once.
Call of Cthulhu is also available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
Black Skylands
There’s a lot going on in Black Skylands. This is a game that features sky pirates, airship combat, top-down action, light town-building/management, and even farming. Even with all that, developer Hungry Couch Games still managed to cram in some Lovecraftian monstrosities. While much of the game’s conflict takes place between the protagonist Eva and the authoritarian Mauraders faction, a colony of monsters called the Swarm looms as an ever-present existential threat to mankind.
Oh, and the pixel art is incredible.
Black Skylands is currently in Early Access, but it sounds like PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch releases are planned for later. If you want to test it out before you buy, there’s also a standalone demo called Black Skylands: Origins.
The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker
I’m a sucker for a good FMV game, and the premise of The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker is hard to resist. You play as a psychiatrist treating the patients of the titular Doctor Dekker, who recently died under mysterious circumstances. You progress the game by playing through therapy sessions, during which you can type out questions for your patients to answer. Like most FMV titles, it can be campy at times, but it’s also compelling, and it has at least one genuinely effective jump scare. The game has multiple endings, and the culprit can change each time you play.
The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker is also available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
Sunless Sea
Set in a fantasy version of Victorian London, Sunless Sea is a strange hybrid between a management sim and a text-based RPG. You’ll travel from port to port, trading supplies, gathering loot, and spending your money on the fuel and food you need to visit new locations. Not only does Sunless Sea have permadeath, but it can be incredibly punishing. Whether your crew starves, crashes, or is devoured alive by one of the creatures lurking in the water, there are countless ways for your journey to come into an end. If you’re a fan of worldbuilding, however, the game’s incredible lore will keep you playing even when progress feels impossible.
Sunless Sea is also available on iOS, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch.
The Last Door
One of my favorite things about Lovecraft’s stories is that every terrible thing that happens feels unavoidable. There are no right choices when you’re facing cosmic horrors; there are only different ways to meet your fate. That’s something that The Last Door manages to capture from its opening scene. In this pixelated point-and-click adventure game, you’ll explore, solve puzzles, and uncover ancient secrets. By the time things are over, however, you might find yourself wishing that you’d left those secrets buried.
The Last Door is also available on Android, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch.
Amnesia: The Dark Descent
Even though it was released more than a decade ago, Amnesia: The Dark Descent is still one of the most immersive horror experiences available. While the visuals might not blow you away, the sound design is second to none. Something as small as a splash can set your heart racing, and if you hear the whirring of the terror meter, you might just yelp out loud. Amnesia doesn’t give you any weapons to fight back against the monsters that pursue you, which means you’re virtually helpless. All you can do is hide, hold your breath, and try to keep your sanity in check.
Amnesia: The Dark Descent is also available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
The Shrouded Isle
Many Lovecraftian games ask you to face off against unspeakable horrors. In The Shrouded Isle, you’re on the same side as the old gods. You play as the high priest of a cult, and it’s your job to manage the cult until your god can be awakened. You’ll need to purge your cult of heretics, keep the people in mind, and choose human sacrifices that will please your god. The game is surprisingly moody, and it’s far more strategic than you might expect.
The Shrouded Isle is also available on Nintendo Switch.
Conarium
Many of the titles listed here are loosely inspired by the works of Lovecraft, but Conarium is based on a specific work: the novella At the Mountains of Madness. Conarium doesn’t have much in the way of gameplay — it’s mostly a walking simulator with some light puzzles — but it’s filled to the brim with mythos and atmospheric horror. Set at a research facility in Antarctica, you awaken to find the place deserted. While your memories are hazy, you feel certain that something is terribly wrong. You’ll need to explore the base — and your own dreams — to uncover the game’s seven endings.
Conarium is also available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
Darkest Dungeon
Darkest Dungeon is a punishing dungeon crawler in which fear is your biggest enemy. As you venture deeper into dungeons, your party members will become increasingly stressed, which will cause them to develop afflictions. A party member could become too frightened to fight, or could even suffer a sudden heart attack. If one of your heroes dies in battle, they’re gone for good. While the horrors of Darkest Dungeon can scare your party to death, the actual game is more stressful than frightening. If you want a game with a Lovecraftian vibe, but you’re not in the mood to be creeped out, this is a great option.
Darkest Dungeon is available on iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
World of Horror
If you hold Lovecraft and Junji Ito in equal regard, World of Horror is a must-play. This 1-bit adventure game has an incredible aesthetic that feels like a mix of a horror manga and a long-lost 80s PC game. It also has a fantastic spooky soundtrack and some pretty solid writing. It can be hard to resist taking a closer look at the game’s many horrors, despite knowing that certain doom awaits you. Even if you take a sensible approach, fighting back threats and managing your stamina can lead to a very challenging experience.
Although World of Horror is an amazing experience, it’s still in Early Access and hasn’t been updated in a long time. If you’d prefer not to buy the game under these circumstances, there’s a free demo available on itch.io.
