Game Pass Gets Weird: Diving Into Call of the Elder Gods and Its Lovecraftian Puzzles
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Call of the Elder Gods, a Lovecraft-meets-Indiana Jones narrative puzzle sequel, just hit Game Pass and it's a curiously chaotic brain-teaser. Despite some wonky puzzle pacing, Out of the Blue Games shows genuine innovation, hinting at brilliant things to come. (Based on Giovanni Colantonio's review on Polygon.com)
Alright, mates, buckle up. Reckon Xbox Game Pass is doing its best impression of a digital wizard throwing everything but the kitchen sink into its subscription cauldron this May. We're talking Forza Horizon 6, Subnautica 2 – the big guns, right? Trying to 'revitalize' the whole shebang, they say. Fair dinkum, it's a solid line-up. But while everyone's chasing the shiny new blockbuster, there's a quieter, more... *eldritch* contender that's just dropped: **Call of the Elder Gods**. And honestly, it's got me thinking.
Now, full disclosure, this isn't some groundbreaking Web3 metaverse experience (yet!). This is a good old-fashioned narrative puzzle game, a direct sequel to the cult hit *Call of the Sea* – remember that one, from way back when the Xbox Series X was a wee bairn? *[Credit: Based on impressions from Giovanni Colantonio's piece on Polygon.com]* This new one, developed by Out of the Blue Games, is bringing its brainy, pulpy adventure to Switch 2, PS5, PC, and Xbox, and yeah, it’s a day-one Game Pass drop again. Always good to see those indie darlings get a spotlight, eh?
What's the go, then? Imagine Indiana Jones got lost in a dark alley and bumped into H.P. Lovecraft on a bad day. You've got Professor Harry Everheart and student Evangeline Drayton from Miskatonic University (classic!) getting pulled into a global mystery. We're talking ancient artifacts, weird shadows, maybe even some alien shenanigans. It's pure, unadulterated pulp, embracing that glorious WWII-era corniness with open arms. And honestly, I reckon the hammy voice acting just *adds* to the charm. Sometimes you don't need a grimdark epic; you just want a cheesy mystery novel in game form.
The puzzles, though, that's where the magic (or the occasional misfire) happens. Our academic duo, naturally, spends their time solving intricate brain-teasers by hunting for clues and jotting notes. The early chapters, bless 'em, feel like perfectly crafted escape rooms – you know, rotating statues to open a gate, figuring out ancient wall carvings. It's that satisfying 'aha!' moment, like finally deciphering a forgotten spell.
But then, Out of the Blue Games decides to get a bit ambitious. A massive deduction puzzle pops up, demanding you untangle identities from scattered notes and hieroglyphs. It's a proper brain-bender, giving off serious *Return of the Obra Dinn* vibes – high praise indeed! You'll want a physical notebook for this one, mate, trust me. The only catch? The pace shifts dramatically. It’s like switching from a brisk walk through a magical forest to trying to solve a quantum physics problem with a quill and parchment. And later chapters, with their language puzzles? Yeah, I might have whispered for a hint or two myself. Good thing there's a built-in hint system, effectively a digital guidebook for those moments when your brain feels like it's tied itself in knots.
So, while **Call of the Elder Gods** doesn't quite weave every spell perfectly – the puzzle pacing can feel a bit like a confused apprentice sometimes – you can absolutely feel the studio finding its footing. They're learning, experimenting, pushing the boundaries of what these narrative puzzlers can do. It's a game on the cusp of something truly brilliant, a eureka moment just around the corner. And in a gaming landscape often dominated by the familiar, that spirit of curious, slightly chaotic innovation is something I can bloody well get behind, whether it's on the blockchain or a trusty old Xbox.
Tags: Puzzle Game, Game Pass, Narrative Adventure, Lovecraftian, Indie Game
Original article: Polygon