What Makes a Game Truly Lovecraftian?

This is where things get interesting.

A game doesn't necessarily need Cthulhu to be Lovecraftian.

In fact, some of the best examples don't mention Lovecraft's creations at all.

The key ingredients are usually:

1. Cosmic insignificance

Humanity isn't the center of the universe.

We're not chosen heroes.

We're not necessarily important.

We're tiny creatures trying to understand an enormous universe.

And the universe doesn't care.

2. The unknown

The less you understand, the scarier things become.

A monster you completely understand is eventually just a boss fight.

Something you can't comprehend?

That's much worse.

3. Forbidden knowledge

You discover something.

You investigate.

You read another document.

You uncover another secret.

And eventually you realize that every answer has made things considerably worse.

Classic Lovecraft.

4. Madness

The human mind isn't necessarily capable of handling the truth.

Sometimes learning more doesn't make you smarter.

It makes you less sane.

5. Ancient entities

Whether they're gods, aliens, interdimensional beings or creatures that have existed since before humanity evolved, Lovecraftian horror loves the idea that something ancient is lurking beyond our understanding.

6. Humanity isn't guaranteed to win

This is perhaps the biggest difference between traditional horror and cosmic horror.

In a normal horror story, you might kill the monster.

In Lovecraftian horror, killing the monster may be completely irrelevant.

There could be another one.

There could be a thousand.

There could be something behind the monster.

And there could be something behind that.

At some point you have to stop asking:

"How do I defeat it?"

and start asking:

"Why did I investigate this?"