Call of the Elder Gods Review

The Lovecraftian Mythos lends itself to all kinds of games, but the real focus is the sense of mystery and the horror that it inflicts. One such avenue for a game to take is that of a puzzle, and that sense of mystery is precisely what developer Out of the Blue’s latest title, Call of the Elder Gods, is aiming to offer. The question is whether this is a journey you should walk or if some things are better left in the dark. 

Call of the Elder Gods follows the story of Evangeline Dalton, a young woman who is haunted by strange dreams of a mystical world, and Professor Harry Everhart, an aged professor beset by grief and hallucinations. It will be up to these two to unravel a disturbing mystery, while also competing with a malicious cult. Of course, this isn’t just a mystery story; it’s also based on grief and coming to terms with it.

One thing I will note is that, unlike the other game, Call of the Sea, this is a lot more supernatural in its horror. Now, I will point out that this isn’t horror in the jump scare sense; it’s more existential than that. So if you’re a fan of more terrestrial threats, then you might want to avoid this in favour of its predecessor. Also, of note, Call of the Elder Gods is listed as a direct sequel, but it has a summary at the start, so you don’t have to play the first to understand what’s going on. 

Gameplay is a mix of a walking sim and a puzzle game, where you’ll need to interact with your environment to find clues, objects, and more to progress. The puzzles can, at times, be a bit hard to figure out, thanks to how difficult it can be to spot the prompts in big rooms. However, the journal you have keeps all the relevant information pretty up to date, and there is a helpful hint option if you happen to get a bit stuck and just want to progress. It’s not so bad in the early stages of the game, but during the later chapters, there are the odd occasions when it can be a bit frustrating, so not being punished for using the hints is a real help. 

The biggest issue is that there's not enough for the player to engage with. For instance, there are the odd points where Call of the Elder Gods will have you talking to people, but it feels more like a basic checklist to run through rather than a puzzle in its own right. It’s not that the game is boring, and there is some decent variety in the puzzles, but it makes it hard to really focus on playing the game for long periods of time. 

Visually, Call of the Elder Gods is a very pretty game that uses a slightly cartoony style. The actual elements look great, as do the character models and the environments in general. The music, alongside the sound design and the voice acting, is stellar. The subtle use of odd whispers is a staple of Lovecraftian titles, and Call of the Elder Gods runs with this as well. It all comes together to help build the world and a sense of tension. 

Overall, Call of the Elder Gods is a fitting sequel to Call of the Sea, but it lacks some of the elements that made the original great. It’s still a stellar title and is worth your time if you like the themes of grief and mystery, while also completing some head-scratching puzzles. However, if you’re not such a fan of supernatural horror, then it might not be for you. Also, if you like a bit more variety in your gameplay, rather than a focus on story, then this isn’t the title for you.