Lovecraft Tales is a point-and-click adventure game inspired by the works of H. P. Lovecraft. Set in a universe as unsettling as it is fascinating, Lovecraft Tales attempts to take Lovecraft’s extensive lore and weave its stories together into a singular tale of creeping madness and cosmic horror.
Lovecraft Tales recently released a second iteration of its demo, this time featuring an added map feature and an updated character model for the protagonist. You’re introduced to the game with a splash screen tutorial and a monologuing voice describing the protagonist’s hunt for some strange, lost artifact. One of the more interesting aspects of the game is that unlike in other point-and-click games, Lovecraft Tales includes a real-time component in its adventure. If you’re not careful, you may find yourself without a light source at night, leaving you stranded and helpless against the evils that awaken after dark.
If you’re looking for a game with atmosphere, Lovecraft Tales has it in spades. The environments are gorgeously detailed with twisting, gnarled trees and dilapidated wooden shacks dotting the landscape. The game’s soundscape is equally impressive. Before long, the soft chirping of crickets, the creaking of doors, and the eerily quiet wind all begin to gnaw at your sanity. Like a violin string being tightened, the feeling of tension builds and you cannot help but long for the game to snap and finally relieve your mounting anxiety.
To be a bit of a nitpick, the character model and animations for the protagonist are still rather clunky, even after the revision. Moving and interacting with objects can be difficult at times, as the point-and-click movement has yet to be refined. It’s also worth mentioning that the demo’s lack of subtitles for the opening narration make it tough to understand, especially with the narrator’s deep, mumbly voice. But aside from those oversights, Lovecraft Tales is off to a very promising start. If the current build is anything to go by, Lovecraft Tales promises an haunting experience celebrating the Lovecraftian fear of the unknown. After all, what you can’t see can still hurt you.
Download The Lovecraft Tales Demo Here (Win, Mac & Linux)