Ranking All Games Published By Bethesda Softworks From Worst To Best
18. Call Of The Cthulhu: Dark Corners Of The Earth (2005)
An early effort from Bethesda as a publisher is this rough-edged but underrated adaptation of H.P Lovecraft.
The early part of the game plays as a deliciously dread-filled and faithful adaptation of the writer's Shadows Over Innsmouth - even cleverly replicating a white-knuckle chase sequence straight out of Lovecraft’s typewriter. It's slow-burn and immersive and has a great pulse on pushing you forward as events lumber on and its mystery unfolds.
Over the 3/4 point though, the story turns its priorities to FPS action... and it never feels as strong as the game that came before it. This, along with a handful of bugs, mars an otherwise recommended experience.
It is a fascinating if forgotten title and its failure stings more when you discover it was a proposed franchise starter - with each entry to focus on a different Lovecraft book.
Regardless of the rough edges, it still stands as one of the most deeply immersive and successful game adaptations of the writings of H.P. Lovecraft to date... and is worth digging up in a Steam sale for fans of the author and Survival Horror.