Summary
H. P. Lovecraft and his Cthulhu Mythos have made a permanent mark on horror, weird fiction, and storytelling. His style, often called ‘cosmic horror,’ focuses on the universe’s indifference to humanity’s plight. His worlds of dark gods, strange magics, and evil cults have fascinated readers since their publication, and the tentacles of his terrors have made their way into other literature, movies, and video games in countless references
Some of thesehidden Lovecraft referencesmay only be found by those fans who know where to look, or might be overlooked by those who aren’t familiar with the mass of lore that Lovecraft created. Here are thebest Lovecraftian secrets that can be found in video games.
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivionis a game that is full of secrets and mysteries for players to sink their teeth into. Oblivion, as a setting, is huge, and while it can appear dated today, many fans of the series would claimOblivionas the best game in the series.One of fans' favorite quests, “Shadow Over Hackdirt”, is a subtle reference to Lovecraft’s short storyThe Shadow Over Innsmouth.
All subtlety goes out the window very quickly, though, when players find out that an NPC has been kidnapped and the perpetrators are pale humanoids with big eyes who worship some kind of ocean deity. The whole area is a spooky send-up of Lovecraft’s fish village and will be a charming find for any Cthulhu fan.
AnotherBethesdagame featuring plenty of small nods to the Mythos isFallout 4.While everyFallouttitle has been stuffed full of references and roleplay possibilities,Fallout 4features a murderer with the same name as a mysterious painter in Lovecraft’sPickman’s Model. The whole quest, in which the player visits the serial killer artist, is eerie and sees the man potentially being saved by the Sole Survivor.
Pickman is a sadistic killer who uses his murders to both provide the materials and the inspiration for his art, mirroring the reveal in Lovecraft’s story that his Pickman might have seen the horrible sights in his work up close. Pickman, being an eccentric and evil NPC who can be allied with, and who can give a very effective melee weapon, will make those who recognize the reference even more creeped out by the killer.
One of Lovecraft’s most enduring human characters is Randolph Carter. The primary character inThe Statement Of Randolph Carter, this student of Miskatonic University went on to feature in a few other tales, particularly in those featuring the Dreamlands. Carter became well acquainted with the Mythos, which is reflected beautifully inCode Name: S.T.E.A.M.
When an alternate reality Steampunk London is attacked by otherworldly forces, different famous literary figures must come together to fight back against the menace. While the reference to Lovecraft’s work may go under the radar when confronted with more obvious appearances like the Scarecrow and the Lion fromThe Wizard Of Oz, Carter’s appearance as a playable eldritch expert will be a great moment for any Lovecraft fans who recognize him.
A harder reference to spot is a reoccuring themewhen players encounter the Reapers, some of the main enemies and largest threats throughout theMass Effectseries. Players can learn that the Reapers were also called The Old Machines, which will set off alarm bells for any fans of Lovecraft’s Great Old Ones. The species are completely alien, and so technologically advanced that they appear to be completely lacking in empathy and compassion.
The Reapers hibernate for tens of thousands of years and then appear to destroy a civilization. Their motives are unclear and defy comprehension for the lesser beings that players can inhabit. With references to the Reapers as “dead gods” who dream, the hidden meaning is clear: theMass EffectReapers are the Old Gods of their universe and command as much power as Cthulhu and the Great Old Ones do in Lovecraft’s creations.
While being a comedy game that pokes fun at the trope-y clichés of the roleplaying game genre,South Park: The Fractured But Wholebecomes a surprisingly difficult andtactical gametowards the end of its story. Players become superpowered vigilantes who roam around South Park, meeting iconic characters, stopping crime, and engaging in hijinks.
As the game nears its end, though, more serious bosses appear and have to be dealt with by the player characters. When their party finds themselves in the police station, they will have to make their way beneath it to face off against Shub-Niggurath, one of Lovecraft’s Old Ones and perhaps the most extensively used of his creatures in other Mythos literature. This boss is really challenging and must be killed by feeding it characters that taste bad.
The first entry inThe Witcherseries is a huge game, with countlesshidden optional bosses and secret quests. One of the main storyline missions, however, will see Geralt fighting the god of the Deep Ones. In Chapter 4, toward the end of the game’s story, Geralt will be tasked with saving a small town called Murky Waters. Here, he will uncover evidence of a cult that worships a sea monster named Dagon.
When fighting the creature, Dagon itself is invulnerable and can only be sent back underwater by defeating a horde of his cultists. The Witcher must also summon Dagon himself using blood sacrifice. For any gamers who didn’t recognize the name of the Deep One, they are missing out on a huge Lovecraft reference.
