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Though I’ve watched numerous items of media or performed dozens of video video games and board video games that draw on the Cthulhu mythos and the works of HP Lovecraft, I used to be out of the blue struck by one query I don’t assume I’ve ever correctly thought of whereas scripting this overview of Huge Dangerous Wolf’s strong investigation puzzler, Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss. What does Cthulhu need?
Assessment information
Platform reviewed: PS5
Out there on: PS5, Xbox Collection X|S, PC
Launch date: April 16, 2026
As I’m trawling via audio logs, video diaries, and messages left by a analysis crew and its billionaire funder in an deserted underwater facility and an otherworldly metropolis, I witness how all of them succumb to the decision of the Nice Outdated One and grow to be fixated on bringing about his/its/their return.
And whereas by the tip I’d solved some mysteries and smugly puzzled out find out how to maintain Cthulhu slumbering, I nonetheless didn’t know what the large tentacle-faced beast obtained out of all of it aside from just a few senseless, raving followers.
Can I be your primary fan?
(Picture credit score: Huge Dangerous Wolf / Nacon)
I assume you can argue that’s the entire level. Cthulhu is meant to be a being past our comprehension, from a spot with unattainable geography, so I ought to simply take the win and be joyful I used to be in a position to cease him from awakening earlier than being subsumed into the fandom.
However whereas some issues might by no means be understood, Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss is all about fixing what you may. As an occult investigator, Noah, you employ tech and your wits to discover the grotesque and engaging environments of a flooded bayou to the sunken metropolis of R’lyeh. It’s a sport of scanning for clues, absorbing the related data, making connections, and determining the way it will assist you to cease Cthulhu.
What that in the end means is that it is a sport with plenty of studying, plenty of listening, and plenty of work exterior the sport, shuffling the details round inside your mind as you piece all of it collectively. Happily, it’s by no means interrupted by the specter of a monster assault or an enemy stalking you all through the realm like a Soma or Amnesia. Some unsuitable strikes or wayward exploration will lead to loss of life, nevertheless it’s simple to keep away from this in case you’re paying consideration.
(Picture credit score: Huge Dangerous Wolf / Nacon)
To assist visualise your whole clues, you do get given a thoughts map of types that permits you to transfer clues round and draw connections the place you assume they’re related, however more often than not, the sport will immediate you on the necessary questions that want answering to progress.
Added to that’s an vitality system that permits you to analyze clues and objects, to raised perceive what they’re and the way they are often helpful to your investigation. And whereas that is supposedly a restricted useful resource, every space is stuffed with the fungus that you need to use to recharge it (yep, Noah principally powers up like Mario), so I simply ended up scanning all the things after I had the prospect. Due to that, the entire system feels superfluous.
The identical goes for the upgrades and augments you will discover or earn from particular tablets or shrines dotted round every space. You possibly can solely equip a restricted quantity based mostly in your most capability, however when all they provide are small bonuses, similar to a rise in your scanner vary or an opportunity to revive vitality when analyzing clues, the choice of what to equip doesn’t matter all that a lot.
Happily, you may nonetheless examine and puzzle clear up totally whereas each the vitality and increase programs simply exist within the background with out requiring you to interact with them. I can solely assume they should have been added to make Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss really feel extra gamey, however I don’t assume they add something of worth.
Jarvis, activate ‘see all the things’ mode
One facet you’ll be partaking with loads is the sonar constructed into your AI companion, Key. Utilizing the frequencies you acquire from analyzing clues, you may set and seek for close by objects that match the frequency. This turns into a loop for a part of the sport’s puzzle-solving.
(Picture credit score: Huge Dangerous Wolf / Nacon)
For instance, a part product of a particular alloy could be lacking from a chunk of apparatus, so you may scan the encircling space for alloys that match that frequency to search out it. Comparatively simple, then, however the sport does increase on this concept a handful of instances by ensuring key frequencies tougher to search out or requiring you to mix frequencies to search out extra particular objects and secrets and techniques.
Finest bit
(Picture credit score: Huge Dangerous Wolf / Nacon)
There’s little else fairly so satisfying as connecting the dots between varied items of seemingly unrelated data and understanding precisely what you have to do to progress. Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss has a number of moments like this, and if you get deep right into a puzzle that comes collectively in a single intricate and chic answer, you’re feeling like a genius.
I preferred it sufficient as an concept, however as with all of those particular imaginative and prescient varieties in video games (I am you, Arkham detective mode), I ended up merely biking via what I believed was a related frequency and spamming it in every new location to make certain I wasn’t lacking any clues.
That’s to not say the sport’s puzzles are dangerous. I did take pleasure in investigating loads, with many options requiring you to absorb all the data given to you. There are moments the place you’re feeling like you’re uncovering the secrets and techniques of an historical civilization, studying find out how to use their weird know-how, or piecing collectively the lives and relationships of the unique analysis staff as they descended into insanity.
What’s additionally fascinating is that chapters provide you with two potential options to the primary puzzle: one which pushes you extra in direction of the corrupting affect of Cthulhu, and one other (usually barely extra elaborate) that lessens the Nice Outdated One’s management over you and the world. It’s a neat concept that rewards you for following a unique path than the apparent one and encourages you to totally take into account all of the clues offered to you.
A sacrifice I’m keen to make
(Picture credit score: Huge Dangerous Wolf / Nacon)
The alternatives you make can have an effect on the state of the world, characters, and your last ending, so I actually recognize a normally very linear puzzle sport providing up some extra freeform parts that provide you with extra affect over the story — and an opportunity to attempt alternate paths in case you really feel caught on one route or are eager for a second playthrough.
I doubt I’ll be diving in once more, although, as I really feel pleased with all the things I obtained out of Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss on the primary go. It has some tough edges, specifically an inconsistent autosave, which meant I needed to repeat some steps when loading my sport on just a few events. There are additionally fussy merchandise manipulation mechanics and a few concepts that aren’t totally realised.
Nevertheless, its core investigation gameplay is robust, and the environment is suitably sinister, so I’m certain anybody who enjoys a puzzle sport with a touch of cosmic horror will come away glad sufficient — particularly for a finances launch.
Do you have to play Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss?
(Picture credit score: Huge Dangerous Wolf / Nacon)
Play it if…
Don’t play it if…
Accessibility
Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss has two issue modes: Investigation and Exploration. The primary is the usual expertise, whereas the second permits you to ask your AI companion for hints and reveals the clues obtainable in every location. It’s also possible to set a customized choice to tweak how a lot corruption impacts you and the way vitality is used.
Elsewhere, there are three coloration blind modes for inexperienced, pink, and blue coloration blindness, the choice to make subtitles clearer, disable head motion to ease movement illness, and totally rebind all controls.
How I reviewed Cronos: The New Daybreak
I performed Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss for round 8 hours on a PlayStation 5 Professional on a Samsung S90C OLED TV and Samsung HW-Q930C soundbar whereas utilizing a DualSense Wi-fi Controller.
I performed the entire sport in Efficiency mode and nonetheless skilled just a few technical hitches and moments of slowdown, so I wouldn’t danger High quality mode with out a main patch.
In my time taking part in, I accomplished the sport as soon as and noticed one of many potential endings, though I did need to replay an early chapter thrice attributable to an autosave challenge, which ought to now be fastened within the full launch. Nevertheless, I did nonetheless discover the autosave unreliable, and that in all probability bumped up my whole playtime by not less than an hour.
First reviewed April 2026.
