Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss Review

When I reviewed the footage for Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss, I was very intrigued by the investigative aspect and the Lovecraftian horror vibe. Developed by Big Bad Wolf and published by Nacon, the game is now available on Xbox Series X/S. A visually striking title that dives into the year 2053, where you play as Noah. You’ll be uncovering what has happened at an underwater mining station that has fallen silent, with the crew vanishing from existence. Utilising the power of the Unreal 5 engine, this is a game you may not want to miss if you love playing detective and navigating clues.

Gameplay

The majority of your time in Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss is slow-paced exploration, investigation and puzzle-solving with some survival combat thrown in. Sometimes you’ll be left scratching your head, but with a little patience, you’ll achieve the desired result eventually. Traversing environments is simplistic, such as squeezing through gaps and balancing across beams to reach other areas. Combat isn’t as frequent as I’d have liked, but it feels a little clunky and weighty. Reloading weaponry appears to be intentionally slow, which makes you strategise your movement and when you take your shot.

Investigation was the part of the game I enjoyed most. You’ll examine objects looking for clues, studying notes and using some of these to piece together to crack the puzzles. Sonar scanning will aid you in some of the trickier moments. It’ll emit short pulses throughout the environment, which will illuminate objects and hidden areas. This works particularly well in the darker portions of the game where natural lighting is scarce. I found myself using this tool more often than I thought I would, but you do have to edge on the side of caution; using it too much can attract enemy attention.

Your AI companion will also help you along; she will provide a friendly voice amidst the intensity. Her voice will almost always remain calm and collected, even when scenarios become a little chaotic. Key as she’s known will point out areas of interest, clues, and routes forward to progress. Whilst she doesn’t hold your hand, it is yet another tool that will carry you forward through the adventure.

Visuals & Audio

Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss is a visual treat, and its presentation leans into the dread-soaked tone and atmosphere. The development team has done excellent work on the lighting and shadows. Whilst some of the combat mechanics can feel a little clunky, most of the game has great fluidity, with plenty of investigative exploration encouraged throughout the environments. Creature design is really well done, and whilst I didn’t feel any jump scare moments as such, it still creates moments of unease.

Audio design is equally impressive, which sounds fantastic on a decent headset. Creaks, groans, bangs, and more constantly keep you on edge and just make you feel anxious in the more serious moments of the game. The soundtrack is subtle but sets the tension at the right points throughout and overall complements the beautiful work done with the visual package.

Final Thoughts

Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss was an enjoyable experience that will click with some but won’t be for everyone. The atmosphere of the game and the puzzle-solving really clicked with me. Parts of the game require some brainpower to get around, but that is the most engaging part. From a horror perspective, it’s quite tame, so if you’re looking for jump scare action, this might not be your jam.

If you’re looking for tense, eerie and an uneasy time with great dialogue, clever puzzles and decent storytelling, then it’s worth a buy. You can pick up a copy for Xbox Series X/S HERE.