Lovecraft's Untold Stories is an action roguelite with RPG elements set in the universe of H.P. Lovecraft. Players control one of five investigators who navigate procedurally generated levels drawn from the author's stories, battling cultists and Mythos creatures while collecting knowledge and managing sanity to confront the Great Old Ones.
Gameplay
The core loop centers on exploration and combat in twin-stick shooter format. Movement uses one control stick while aiming and firing occupy the other, with weapons that require reloading but have no ammunition limits. Each run takes place in randomly generated levels that change based on the chosen character and include locations such as Victorian mansions, abandoned hospitals, jungles, and port cities. Players clear rooms of enemies, interact with objects, solve environmental challenges, and hunt for clues and special items that reveal information about the Great Old Ones.
Combat mixes ranged attacks, melee strikes, and character-specific abilities. The detective maintains balanced health and stamina for steady performance. The professor focuses on ranged options and deploys a protective shield. The witch emphasizes high damage output with teleportation and elemental fire or ice defenses, though her low health demands careful positioning. The thief relies on stealth to amplify melee damage. The ghoul delivers strong close-range attacks, possesses high health, and regenerates over time but cannot use medical kits. Upgrades to weapons, gear, and artifacts occur through collected items, altering run progression and combat effectiveness.
Sanity serves as a key resource. Certain events and decisions during investigation lower this meter, and reaching zero triggers madness that ends the run. Knowledge items scattered throughout levels counteract this effect by strengthening mental resilience for later encounters with the Great Old Ones. Thorough exploration unlocks additional secrets and alternate paths, while incomplete knowledge can leave a character unprepared for final confrontations.
Game Modes
The game operates as a single-player roguelite experience where each attempt constitutes a full run through character-specific storylines. Levels regenerate on every playthrough, ensuring varied layouts and enemy placements even when revisiting the same investigator. Character selection creates distinct playthroughs because both combat options and level generation adjust to the chosen hero's strengths and weaknesses. Runs emphasize resource management, exploration, and decision-making rather than pure twitch reflexes, with death resetting progress and requiring a new attempt.
Progression ties into repeated runs across all five characters. Collecting knowledge fragments requires multiple playthroughs to piece together complete information on each Great Old One, which in turn affects the ability to face them in dedicated encounters. This structure encourages cycling through the detective, professor, witch, thief, and ghoul to maximize discovery and prepare for the cosmic horror elements.
Characters and Combat Styles
Five playable investigators provide the main variety. The detective serves as an accessible entry point with average stats across health and stamina. The professor excels at distance fighting and gains a unique shield from the Tillinghast weapon. The witch trades durability for burst damage, mobility via teleports, and temporary elemental barriers. The thief leverages stealth for amplified melee output. The ghoul trades medical item access for superior melee power, elevated health, and passive regeneration. Each investigator follows a dedicated investigation arc that intersects with the Mythos threats.
Is It Worth Playing?
Lovecraft's Untold Stories suits players who enjoy roguelite runs combined with atmospheric exploration and light RPG progression. The procedural levels and character differences deliver replay value, while the sanity and knowledge systems add tension and purpose to each attempt. Steam user reviews stand at Mostly Positive, reflecting appreciation for the Lovecraftian tone and varied combat approaches alongside some criticism of the death penalty and occasional repetition. The game remains available as a complete title with no ongoing seasons or major post-launch content updates. Those drawn to single-player cosmic horror experiences with methodical investigation and multiple distinct heroes will find the most consistent engagement here.
