Focus Home Interactive announced today that Call of Cthulhu, the cyanide developed RPG investigation title that launched last year for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC, will be coming over to the Nintendo Switch as well. It will be out in 2019 itself, though a more specific release date for the port was not provided.

Call of Cthulhu isn’t the only Focus Home Interactive game coming to the Switch, of course. Last year, they announced that Dontnod Entertainment’s Vampyr would be releasing on the Switch as well, which they have confirmed will also be coming this year. Both ports are being handled by Saber Interactive (developers of the upcoming World War Z), Focus Home confirmed.

Call of Cthulhu released last year to mixed reception- though strengthened by an interesting aesthetic and choice-based gameplay, the game had issues of its own, such as bland investigations, and shoddy pacing. In our review, we awarded the game a 6/10- read the full review through here.

The original “The Call of Cthulhu” short story is interesting because of how it plays out. Lovecraft’s brand of horror wasn’t about cheap thrills or jump scares. It was about the horrifying unknown; humans dealing with things they can’t possibly understand and their ultimate irrelevance in the grand scheme of things. More than anything else, it laid the groundwork for the Cthulhu Mythos, expanding upon these horrifying entities and the consequences of their actions.

"Whether you’re going into this expecting a suspenseful horror title or a complex detective story, Call of Cthulhu does the bare minimum to captivate your interest and not much more."

In some ways, Cyanide Studio’s Call of Cthulhu seems like its trying to lay the groundwork for its interpretation of Cthulhu’s awakening (while also adapting the 1981 RPG by Chaosium). In other ways, it’s a story with choices that prioritize mystery and “investigating” matters. Oh, and sometimes there are stealth segments, feeling arbitrary at first but slotting decently when the situation calls for it. It’s a mix of numerous elements that don’t seemingly clash together but struggle to muster much interest as a whole. Whether you’re going into this expecting a suspenseful horror title or a complex detective story, Call of Cthulhu does the bare minimum to captivate your interest and not much more.

As Edward Pierce, a surviving World War 1 soldier turned alcoholic private investigator, your job is to investigate the death of Sarah Hawkins. Though her family seemingly died in a house fire on Darkwater Island, just off the coast of Boston (somewhere between Point Lookout and Far Harbor), rumours abound of her being the cause of their death. The only real leads are a few notes and a twisted painting sent from the mysterious Warehouse 36 on Darkwater. Thus does Pierce set out to solve this mystery and maybe wonder why these weird cultists and booming voices trouble him in his nightmares.

Surely it’s nothing serious.

The opening sequence – wherein players become acquainted with Pierce, allotting different skill points to categories like Occultist, Medicine, Strength, Investigation, Psychology, Eloquence and so on – showcases the overall odd writing of the game. The pivotal conversation where Pierce accepts the case plays out much like a typical video game conversation wherein Sarah Hawkins is mentioned several times as is the mission to investigate her death.

"Some discussions provide different choices based on your stats but you’re not going to have the entire town suddenly turning hostile if you say something stupid."

As time goes on, you’ll discover other odd bits like dealing with the threatening Silas while Officer Bradley waits off to the side, waiting for your prompt. Yes, this is all probably nitpicking but it was weird. These instances manifest ever so occasionally and while they aren’t outright bad, they can come across as unnatural. It thankfully doesn’t weigh on the game as a whole.

The voice-acting is good for the most part even if it’s nothing spectacular. Each character, from the hard-boiled Pierce to the enigmatic Cat, makes an impression. Will you necessarily remember them once the experience is done? Probably not but whether it’s Bradley’s innocuous bumbling, Cat’s “sometimes kind, sometimes not” behaviour or even Pierce’s charisma, the writing and voice acting can be fairly on point during conversations. Some discussions provide different choices based on your stats but you’re not going to have the entire town suddenly turning hostile if you say something stupid. Specific choices will “affect your destiny” but they didn’t seem to make a huge difference on the minute-to-minute gameplay.

Where the minute-to-minute differences can be seen are in the semi-free-form sections. Call of Cthulhu divides its time between sections, where you’re free to discover numerous different ways to complete an objective, and investigations, where you piece together clues from a crime scene to gather insight. Want to get into Warehouse 36? Investigate a nearby sewer entry, pilfer some parts together and make sure the Strength stat favours you when lifting the sewer grate. Or you could get tossed out by Cat and attempt to smooth-talk her thugs later based on clues gathered. Or you could just walk right up to Cat and ask to be let in but only if you agree to “owe” her.

"Pacing-wise, it feels like Call of Cthulhu is shuffling from one chapter to the next. If you’re expecting a scare per minute, like Outlast, then this might not be the experience for you."

Similarly, an escape mission later on tasks you with creating a distraction while offering numerous different ways to do so. Gather pills for an inmate so he’ll make a ruckus, overload one of the key machines, whatever it takes. These segments can be pretty good since they challenge you to make the best use of stat allotments, whether it’s garnering information through eloquent speech or forcing things to work through sheer strength and/or lock picking skill. They’re not overtly difficult or mind-bending, much less equivalent to what immersive sims can offer, but serve their purpose well enough.

The investigations and “reconstructions” leave a bit to be desired though. Often intertwining, you’ll enter a crime scene and attempt to piece things together via pseudo-flashbacks. Think along the lines of Batman: Arkham Knight’s crime scene investigations. In Call of Cthulhu though, it’s pretty much just walking around, clicking on certain things and then exiting the reconstruction. I can’t even credit them for having much narrative weight since they can be mostly static. Seeing Thomas Hawkins lashing out at dinner or engaging in a secret meeting would have felt more impactful if they were more dynamic. Perhaps these interactions would have also been weightier rather than simple story bits that exist to plug holes in the mystery.

On some occasions, I encountered issues with these reconstructions. Exiting the very first one caused the game to bug out, preventing the selection of dialogue choices when talking to Bradley. Exiting the reconstruction of the aforementioned secret meeting was also impossible the first time but reloading it and choosing a different sequence of things to click on made it play normally. Being unable to re-enter a reconstruction after exiting it is also kind of weird.

Pacing-wise, it feels like Call of Cthulhu is shuffling from one chapter to the next. If you’re expecting a scare per minute, like Outlast, then this might not be the experience for you. If a mounting atmospheric horror akin to Amnesia or even Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth is what you’re after, then you might also struggle to sustain interest here.

"Though certain aspects can be enjoyable in their own right, I often found myself waiting for something interesting to happen."

The mystery itself is the key appeal, as you learn more about the Hawkins family and immerse yourself in the dingy caves and shady asylums of the island. There’s some kind of noir appeal to it all, as the trench-coat wearing Pierce investigates matters, trusty lighter barely illuminating the environment. Elements of horror can definitely be found but for all intents and purposes, you’ll be doing a lot of investigating and conversing with different NPCs. Mind you, the revelations aren’t exactly crazy and the overall story-telling isn’t helped by the non-in-game cut-scenes, which seem to be of lower quality than the actual gameplay graphics.

Also, while the aesthetics for Call of Cthulhu can be pretty cool, some graphical aspects stick out like so many sore thumbs. Some facial textures feel bland at times. Animations can be stilted and somewhat awkward for NPCs. I didn’t come across any glitches or performance issues, especially when running on Epic settings, so that’s a positive. Call of Cthulhu is just such an odd game. The overall package aren’t offensively bad nor is it overwhelmingly amazing (or even really good). The game just doesn’t seem to really run with the massive potential of its premise and mythos. Instead, it’s a steady jog, one that’s serviceable and workman-like all the way to the finish line but imminently forgettable when the next big video game marathon rolls around.

Though certain aspects can be enjoyable in their own right, I often found myself waiting for something interesting to happen. Your mileage may differ though and I can appreciate developer Cyanide for trying to create a compelling mystery with Lovecraft’s short story as the base. However, in terms of horror, investigating, puzzle solving, decision-making and immersive sim mechanics, Call of Cthulhu is far from the most fitting tribute to The Great Old One.

This game was reviewed on PC.

What is the truth? What is the result of inward dreaming? No matter what the answer may be, Cthulhu is coming. Cyanide’s Call of Cthulhu will be launching next week, and the developer has released a new launch trailer to celebrate the day. Check it out below, especially because it offers a nifty hint at the story.

Private investigator Edward Pierce has seen better days and cases. Usually at the bottom of a bottle, Pierce has been having nightmares following his war-time deployment. One day, a case arrives to investigate the case of the Hawkins family’s death, one that proves to be an intriguing one, especially when a surreal painting by the mother Sarah is all the evidence on hand. The journey to Darkwater Island thus begins.

Pierce will have a number of skills available to aid his investigation, from improved environmental observation to discerning occult items. Stealth and ingenuity will be his friend, especially when reality takes a dip and Cthulhu starts pushing his sanity. Call of Cthulhu is out on October 30th for Xbox One, PS4, and PC.

Cyanide’s Call of Cthulhu: The Official Video Game, based off of H.P. Lovecraft’s legendary short story and Chaosium’s tabletop RPG, arrives later this month. The first person survival horror/mystery title has already gone gold, and seems to be the first compelling Cthulhu title since Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth. A new trailer has been released, which showcases various impressions from those who have tried the game.

The story itself sees private investigator Edward Pierce at his wits’ end, until a mysterious case arrives. It concerns the death of the Hawkins family, which takes him to the ominous Darkwater Island. Along with investigating the deceased (and apparently crazed) mother’s painting, Pierce will have to question the locals and use his skills to unearth various clues throughout the game.

Of course, when Cthulhu himself comes calling, Pierce’s perception on reality will take a dip. As he questions what’s real and what isn’t, can Pierce survive the ordeal? Will he remain sane? We’ll find out when Call of Cthulhu releases on October 30th for Xbox One, PS4, and PC.

Cyanide’s Call of Cthulhu: The Official Video Game is scheduled to release at the tail end of October, just in time for Halloween. Before that, the developer has revealed the official requirements on Steam for PC owners. It’s nothing too hefty, but suffice it to say that the Great Old One demands a decent set-up to showcase his true nightmarish beauty. Check out both the Minimum and Recommended requirements below.

Based on the 1981 role-playing title and H.P. Lovecraft’s The Call of Cthulhu, Cyanide’s title takes us to Darkwater Island. Private investigator Edward Pierce receives a mysterious case, as he looks into the death of the Hawkins family. Upon arriving at the island, Pierce must deal with strange residents, cultists, and ever-increasing hallucinations pointing to the arrival of Cthulhu.

Pierce will have different abilities to rely on in his journey, ranging from investigative talents to conversational skills. Stealth and deduction will serve better than brute strength, but will Pierce’s diminishing sanity affect his judgment? Call of Cthulhu will release on October 30th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC. Ph’nglui mglw’nafh Cthulhu R’lyeh wgah’nagl fhtagn. So prepare your wits accordingly.

MINIMUM:

• Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
• OS: Windows 7/8/10 (64 bits)
• Processor: Intel Core i5-3450 (3.1 GHz)/AMD FX-6300 (3.5 GHz)
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics: 2 GB, GeForce GTX 660/Radeon HD 7870
• Storage: 13 GB available space
• Additional Notes: Internet connection required for game activation.

RECOMMENDED:

• Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
• OS: Windows 7/8/10 (64 bits)
• Processor: Intel Core i7-3820 (3.6 GHz)/AMD FX-8370 (4.0 GHz)
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics: 4 GB, GeForce GTX 970/Radeon R9 390
• Storage: 13 GB available space
• Additional Notes: Internet connection required for game activation.

WWE 2K19

Another year, yet another WWE 2K title from Yuke’s and Visual Concepts. Don’t get us wrong – there’s a lot to look forward to in WWE 2K19. Showcase Mode returns, this time focusing on Daniel Bryan’s journey from humble newcomer to Wrestlemania main eventer. MyPlayer Towers allows for daily, weekly and pay per view challenges with, and MyCareer mode will also return to provide a more linear story for your custom created wrestler. With stars like AJ Styles and pre-order bonuses like Rey Mysterio and Ronda Rousey, will WWE 2K19 regain some semblance of glory when it releases on October 9th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC? Time will tell.

Call of Cthulhu: The Official Video Game

Creating a proper video game experience centred around H.P. Lovecraft’s horrifying creations is tough. Nevertheless, we’re incredibly hyped for Cyanide’s Call of Cthulhu. Players assume the role of investigator Edward Pierce as he heads out to Darkwater Island near Boston to solve the death of a family. Focusing more on investigation and conversations, Call of Cthulhu will also see Pierce struggling to maintain his sanity in the face of hallucinations and cult-like figures. Will he make it out alive? We’ll find out on October 30th when the game launches Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

LEGO DC Super-Villains

Why should good guys have all the fun? Traveller’s Tales’ LEGO DC Super-Villains is turning the tables by allowing us to control a variety of famous villains. Of course, while gameplay is similar to previous LEGO titles, complete with two-player co-op, it’s now possible to have a fully customizable character that’s integrated into the story. If battling heroes as the Joker sounds appealing – that too from the lens of LEGO humour – then LEGO DC Super-Villains might be worth checking out when it launches on October 16th for North America and October 19th worldwide for Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch and PC.

Super Mario Party

Before the latest Smash and much before anything that could potentially keep your friendships together, the first Mario Party for Switch will be releasing on October 5th. Super Mario Party, as the name implies, brings new mini-games, the ability to play on a single Switch and even linking multiple platforms together for certain activities like Toad’s Rec Room. The jury is out on whether the gameplay actually improves on predecessors. Just try to stay friends after extended play sessions.

Mega Man 11

No, this isn’t a new Mega Man X title but Mega Man 11 looks pretty darn good with its sumptuous visuals. The same platformer shooting action that fans know and love is still here with eight Robot Masters to fight across eight stages. However, the new Double Gear system has us more intrigued. Mega Man can now activate the Power Gear system to fire a powerful shot or slow down time with the Speed Gear. At low health, a super powerful blast can be activated using both gears. Time Trials, Missions, leaderboards and more are included with the base story. Fortunately, we won’t have to wait long as Mega Man 11 releases on October 2nd for Xbox One, PS4, PC and Nintendo Switch.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4

Treyarch’s latest Black Ops breaks away from an established Call of Duty tradition by having no single-player campaign. Nevertheless, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 will have multiplayer, three Zombies maps instead of one (each with their own stories) and the Battle Royale mode Blackout. Blackout has already impressed many with its level of polish and well-crafted world design. Zombies will bring mutations and challenges to keep PvE players occupied. Will the entire package hold up over a long period of time? We’ll find out when Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 launches on October 12th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Soulcalibur 6

Yet another long-awaited sequel is Bandai Namco’s Soulcalibur 6. Classic characters like Mitsurugi, Sophitia and Kilik return along with a few new characters including Geralt from The Witcher 3 as the story revisits hidden events from the first game. Soulcalibur 6 won’t just feature the same weapon-based combat we’ve always loved – it will have special moves, special slow-mo sequences and the return of ring-outs. If that weren’t enough, along with the Soul Chronicle story mode, there’s Libra of Soul, a campaign for one’s custom character. Soulcalibur 6 is out on October 19th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

Releasing just a year after Assassin’s Creed Origins, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey veers even further into RPG territory. The story this time around is set in Ancient Greece with two protagonists – Alexios and Kassandra. As a Spartan mercenary that travels away from home, you’re given the option of fighting in the Peloponnesian War for either Sparta or Athens. With more combat possibilities, an impactful dialogue and choice system, beasts like Medusa and an even larger world to explore, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey promises an even more epic adventure when it releases on October 5th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Forza Horizon 4

Perhaps the best open world racing title of this year – and several other years – Forza Horizon 4 heads to jolly old Britain for one’s Horizon shenanigans. Working one’s way up as a rookie to the Horizon roster, there are now four seasons to play through with their own respective events and Showcases that open up. Forza Horizon 4 also packs tons of vehicles, player housing, an improved progression system that constantly rewards the player, Forzathon live events, Seasonal championships and much, much more to race through. It’s out on October 2nd for Xbox One and Windows 10 PC.

Red Dead Redemption 2

We’ve been waiting since 2010 for Rockstar to deliver a sequel to Red Dead Redemption and it’s almost here. Though the story takes place before the events of the first game, Red Dead Redemption 2 is a massive step forward in terms of visuals, world design and missions. Players will control Arthur Morgan, traveling with the Van der Linde gang, fraternizing with your comrades and picking up new activities in the process. You can partake in bank heists, build your relationship with an entire town, go hunting, fish and so much more. That’s not even including the online mode which launches in November. Red Dead Redemption 2 releases on October 26th for Xbox One and PS4.

Honorable Mentions:

• Starlink: Battle for Atlas
• Luigi’s Mansion
• Just Dance 2019
• Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise
• Warriors Orochi 4
• The World Ends with You: Final Remix
• Disgaea 1 Complete

Cyanide Studios’ Call of Cthulhu doesn’t have a release date yet. However, it does have a release window of Fall 2018, as revealed by its recent Steam Page. Information on PC system requirements, pricing and more is yet to be announced. The game is in development for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Call of Cthulhu started development in 2014 but fell into limbo not long after. It was re-confirmed in 2016 with a release date for 2017. The game was delayed to this year and thus far, Cyanide seems confident that 2018 is when Cthulhu will finally rise.

As an adaptation of the classic pen and paper RPG from Chaosium, Call of Cthulhu follows private investigator Pierce as he travels to Darkwater Island in 1924. While investigating a murder in the Hawkins family, Pierce is drawn into the cults and horrors that adorn the island.

Sooner than later, you-know-who starts calling and Pierce’s sanity will be tested in the process. Though primarily a horror game, Call of Cthulhu will also focus on investigations and gathering clues.

Cyanide’s Call of Cthulhu: The Official Video Game received a new trailer during E3 2018, courtesy of publisher Focus Home Interactive. Based on the classic pen and paper RPG, this investigative title ventures into the depths of madness and the worship of Cthulhu. Check it out below.

Set in 1924, the game sees private investigator Edward Pierce heading to Darkwater Island to investigate a death in the Hawkins Family. It’s not long before Pierce runs afoul of strange occurrences, fiendish cults and horrors that lie beyond the cosmos. On top of different approaches to one’s investigation, Call of Cthulhu will also challenge players to manage their sanity. It’s fairly creepy and captures the mood of Lovecraft very well.

Call of Cthulhu: The Official Video Game is set to release in 2018 for Xbox One, PS4 and PC though it still has no set release date. Another Lovecraft-inspired investigative title The Sinking City is also in development and it’s coming from Frogwares (Sherlock Holmes: The Devil’s Daughter). Check it out here.

Focus Home Interactive will be present at E3 2018 in a big way. The publisher has announced its booth will be West-Hall #4512 on June 12th to 14th. Along with hands-on demos, there will be closed door presentations for upcoming games.

Some of the upcoming games will include the following major releases:

• Insurgency: Sandstorm – Dedicated multiplayer session with attendees and journalists
• Farming Simulator 19 – First ever gameplay reveal along with an “exciting surprise” to be announced at E3
• The Surge 2 – “Never-before-seen” gameplay of Deck 13’s Soulslike action RPG follow-up
• A Plague Tale: Innocence – A new gameplay walkthrough that introduces siblings Amicia and Hugo. Rat hordes en masse also expected to appear.
• Call of Cthulhu: The Official Video Game – Behind closed doors presentation with an exclusive walkthrough from Cyanide
• Greedfall – Spiders’ newest RPG, full of diplomacy and choices, will be showcased behind closed doors
• Space Hulk: Tactics – Playable in face-to-face sessions with Cyanide (who also developed Space Hulk: Deathwing) in Focus’s Public Area

A hands-off session for Necromunda: Underhive Wars behind closed doors with developer Rogue Factor and Fear the Wolves developer Vostok Games appearing for interviews have also been confirmed.

If that’s not enough, there will be stations for attendees and journalists with the latest releases including Dontnod Entertainment’s Vampyr, Deck 13’s The Surge – Complete Edition and Saber Interactive’s Spintires: MudRunner. Which game are you looking forward to hearing more about at E3 2018? Let us know in the comments below.

The Division 2

Announced just a few months ago, Ubisoft Massive will finally deliver a sequel to its fledgling but ultimately solid third person looter shooter. Of course, there’s next to no information for what’s coming, whether it’s a new city or several, the continuation of the first game’s story and so on. However, the developer has ensured players that past feedback has been taken into account, unlike some other looter shooter sequels. Speaking of which…