Before we begin, let me preface this by saying that this first entry is actually an edited version of an article I wrote for another website (which I won’t name) three years ago that has since been removed for unknown reasons, and I can’t find literally any trace of it online anymore.
(NOTE: This article contains affiliate links. Purchasing from these links will directly support me and help keep the website running.)
So without further ado, let’s take a quick look at Minor Key Games’ Eldritch, a first-person roguelite inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft!
Awakening Old Gods
You start in a library with no entrances and exits. Around the starting area, there are books that explain most of the story. Basically, during the 20th century, a group of so-called guardians performed a binding ritual to seal the Old Ones away in a labyrinth prison. You play the role of “The Librarian” a guardian chosen to eternally watch over the Old Ones’ prison.
The catch? You have absolutely no memory of why you’re here. In each world you enter, you will find journal entries (which are supposedly written by the protagonist) that describe the worlds you enter and how there may be a key to your escape at the end.
Unbeknownst to the player, every time you unlock a new level, you’re essentially waking up the Old Ones, putting the Earth at risk. Due to your actions throughout the game, you’re forced to go deeper into the endless library and perform the ancient ritual of binding to, once again, contain the Old Ones.
Welcome to the library!
Gameplay
The game plays like any other stealth-based first-person shooter, except with added roguelite mechanics. If you die at any point in the game, you will lose all of your items and respawn back at the library.
You start off with one world unlocked (not including the optional levels unrelated to the story), with each one represented by a “Strange Book” in the library. Interacting with these books will teleport you to their corresponding worlds. Each level has has three procedurally-generated floors, and at the end, you’ll find the soul of the Old One that resides there.
Each world has its own unique aesthetic and set of enemies. From a mere temple of Dagon full of cultists all the way to the ruined depths of R’lyeh, where creatures reminiscent of Cthulhu reside. The game features a moderately diverse amount of enemies, each with their own weird gimmicks. For example, in the world of Nyarlathotep, there are statues of lizardmen that only attack you if you turn your back to them. As long as these statues are within your line of sight, you have to keep your eyes on them, or else they’ll instantly teleport behind you and deal a significant amount of damage.
There are several types of rooms you can encounter in each world. The most notable room you’ll find is the shop, where you can buy or steal useful artifacts and resources. Stealing will render the shopkeeper hostile, so make sure you have a plan before doing so, because the shopkeepers can absolutely destroy you.
Conclusion
Eldritch is a fun little roguelite FPS with simple controls that you can play in short bursts.
The art style may not appeal to everyone, but if you can look past that, it’s a great game that features Lovecraftian mythos. The sound design also adds to that overall creepy vibe, and if you’re easily scared, you’ll probably get spooked at least once throughout the game.
If you’re a fan of the genre (or anything that has to do with H.P. Lovecraft), I highly recommend picking this game up. With the amount of content and replayability this game has to offer, getting it at its current price (it’s a very cheap game) is a steal!
