We talked earlier this month about how it would be nice if game makers would give Lovecraft a rest and explore some different horror settings instead. (In case I haven't mentioned it previously, I would pay real money for a good game based on Garth Marenghi's Darkplace.) Maybe it'll happen someday, but not today: Today we have word of a new game in development called Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones, "a role-playing game of horror, loss, and madness set in the strange worlds of HP Lovecraft."
Stygian players will create characters based on one of eight archetypes (or choose one that's premade) and embark on a journey from the town of Arkham to the depths of the Abyss. Sanity will suffer under the strain, but can be maintained and restored through a "Belief System" mechanic that will also impact dialog options and outcomes. The action will unfold on a hand-drawn 2D map, with turn-based tactical combat featuring powerful black magic that comes at a very high price.
The teaser sets the mood but it doesn't say anything about the game itself. Fortunately, a closer look at how it all works is available on Steam, where you can also lay your hands on a demo. Publisher 1C described it as "early," and it did seem pretty bare-bones in the little bit of time I spent with it. It's also very old-school—old-fashioned, even. But I think that suits the setting, and if developers aren't going to give us a horror-adventure in a new realm, then doing something genuinely interesting with the classic Cthulhu—and, hopefully, doing it well—is a solid choice.
Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones is currently expected to be out next year. For now, there's a website you can burrow into at stygianthegame.com, and a few screens down below.
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