Call of the Elder Gods Reviews: Is It Worth Playing?

This article first appeared on Game Empress, where you can find reviews and other gaming news at gameempress.com.

Call of the Elder Gods is a well-made and immersive puzzle-adventure game that stands on its own merits. Reviewers particularly praise its improved puzzle design. While opinions on the story vary, the game’s visuals are consistently lauded. It’s a good fit for players who enjoy slow-paced, dialogue-focused mysteries experienced from a first-person perspective, and don’t expect action or intense horror. However, those hoping for a more dramatic story or faster pace compared to Call of the Sea might find it lacking.

I was so excited when Call of the Elder Gods finally came out on May 12, 2026! It launched on all the newest consoles – PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and even the Switch 2 – plus PC. And the best part? It was available on Game Pass right from day one, which meant I could jump in and play immediately!

What the critic consensus shows

I looked at what critics generally thought of the game on OpenCritic, as well as detailed reviews from sources like GameSpew, DualShockers, Creative Bloq, But Why Tho, Gamer Social Club, and InGameNews. Fifteen critics had posted scores on OpenCritic at the time I checked. Scores ranged from 75% (Xbox Achievements) to a perfect 10/10 (DualShockers). Overall, critics largely agreed that the puzzles were excellent, but opinions were divided on whether the game’s story and world were as good as those in the developer’s previous title, Call of the Sea.

Story and setting: globe-trotting is a double-edged sword

Call of the Elder Gods takes place after the story of Call of the Sea. You play as Evangeline Drayton, the daughter of one of the original explorers, alongside Professor Harry Everhart, who returns as a changed man still mourning his wife. Many reviewers have pointed out that the game continues a specific storyline from the first game, so those who played Call of the Sea will have a richer experience. While the game offers some help for new players, TheSixthAxis suggests playing the original game first to fully understand the story.

While the first game, Call of the Sea, took place on a single island, Call of the Elder Gods takes Harry and Evie on a global adventure, sending them to places like Boston, Svalbard, Australia, and even a deserted Nazi facility where unsettling experiments were conducted – and to locations even stranger than those. DualShockers noted that the game’s depiction of ancient stone cities and its expedition-based gameplay strongly resemble the style of H.P. Lovecraft’s At the Mountains of Madness and The Call of Cthulhu.

Reviews for the game are quite split. Some, like GameSpew and Creative Bloq, feel that constantly changing locations make the world feel larger, but less engaging than the previous installment. Others, including PSX Brasil and IGN Italy, disagree, with IGN Italy specifically calling it a beautifully crafted and moving take on Lovecraftian themes, especially in how it explores grief and the afterlife. DualShockers was particularly enthusiastic, awarding the game a perfect 10/10 and describing the story as both spooky, intriguing, and delightful.

Players and critics consistently praise the game’s two main characters. The contrast between Harry’s sadness and Evangeline’s hopeful attitude is particularly compelling, and their connection feels truly moving. According to Why Tho, the emotional heart of the game lies in how much these characters rely on each other.

Puzzles: the strongest element by consensus

Most reviewers agree that the game’s standout feature is its puzzle design. These puzzles are more complex and rewarding than those in Call of the Sea, and they strongly connect to the game’s Lovecraftian horror themes. Creative Bloq, in fact, called the puzzles the game’s biggest success, praising them in a review titled “brilliant puzzles buried inside an oddly cosy cosmic horror.”

GameSpew highlighted the improved hint system as a major step up from the first game, which didn’t have one. However, they also pointed out that the hints aren’t always clear. Both TheSixthAxis and GameMAG mentioned that some puzzles were overly obscure and frustrating, rather than challenging in a good way. While the game’s overall design is solid, these puzzles stand out as negative experiences. IGN Italy also noted that the game’s dual-protagonist feature, while an interesting idea, wasn’t used to its full potential during gameplay.

Presentation: widely praised, with a few caveats

The game is almost universally praised for its stunning visuals and sound. Reviewers at Why Tho loved the beautiful, cartoon-like art style and the impressive orchestral music. DualShockers called the environments breathtaking, highlighting how the game creates a sense of unease while still feeling warm and inviting, much like the original Call of the Sea. Built using Unreal Engine 5, the game’s bold and colorful visuals were also a key strength, according to Creative Bloq’s review of the Xbox Series X|S version.

One common criticism is the game’s 2D cutscenes, which some, like DualShockers, felt were a little dated, though not a major issue. DayOne thought they didn’t quite fit with the rest of the game. However, beyond these cutscenes, the game’s overall presentation has been consistently praised.

The full critic breakdown

DualShockers gave this game a perfect 10/10 score, calling it the first truly great game inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft in 2026. Reviewers specifically highlighted the compelling story, immersive atmosphere, and overall presentation, with a small note that the 2D cutscenes weren’t quite as strong.

PSX Brasil gave this game a score of 84/100, highlighting its well-developed characters, atmospheric Lovecraftian setting, clever puzzle design that evolves over time, strong art style, and excellent music. They also mentioned some minor visual issues and that the puzzles can be quite challenging.

IGN Italy gave the game an 8/10, praising it as a mature and satisfying experience. They noted that the game’s dual-protagonist system wasn’t fully utilized and that some puzzles were a bit frustrating.

COGconnected gave the game a score of 80 out of 100, highlighting its smart puzzles and helpful hint system. They noted, however, that the game’s pace could be problematic, and some puzzles were too obscure, leading to frustration.

Okay, so this game really nails the puzzles and looks absolutely gorgeous. I also loved the main characters. My only gripe? The world itself felt a little shallow compared to how cool the core concepts were. It had great ideas, but didn’t quite build a fully realized world around them.

GameSpew recommends this as a must-play for anyone who enjoys puzzle games. While the story isn’t as strong as Call of the Sea, the game ran flawlessly on the Nintendo Switch 2, with no reported bugs or glitches.

GameMAG gave this sequel a 7/10, praising its captivating story but noting some underdeveloped ideas. The review is available in Russian.

TheSixthAxis gave this puzzle adventure a 7/10, calling it very good overall. While the best puzzles are outstanding, some weaker ones slightly detract from the experience. They suggest starting with ‘Call of the Sea’ if you’re new to this type of game.

Xbox Achievements received a generally positive, but somewhat cautious, response. It received the lowest numerical score of the reviews mentioned.

DayOne is a puzzle game with clever, well-made brain teasers and a story that eventually becomes engaging. Some players found the 2D cutscenes and slow pace frustrating.

The Call of the Sea comparison

GameSpew noted the story isn’t quite as strong as the first game, mainly because the original’s focus on a single island created a more immersive experience. Similar opinions were shared by TheSixthAxis and Creative Bloq. However, DualShockers and IGN Italy disagreed, believing the sequel is just as good, or even better, with IGN Italy praising its surprisingly heartfelt portrayal of grief and loss. Ultimately, whether you prefer the sequel likely depends on what you enjoyed most about the original game.

Switch 2 performance: disputed

Okay, so I’ve been following the Switch 2 news, and it’s kinda confusing. At first, some reports said the frame rate dropped and the graphics weren’t great. But then GameSpew, who actually played the Switch 2 version, said it ran super smoothly with no problems, and handheld mode was awesome! It’s weird – two reviewers on the same system saying totally different things. Honestly, we just don’t know for sure how it performs yet. It seems like the biggest question marks right now are around the Switch 2, not the Xbox or PlayStation 5.

Who should play this

If you’re a fan of puzzle adventures, especially those played from a first-person perspective, and you enjoyed Call of the Sea, this game might be for you. It’s also a great pick if you have Xbox Game Pass, or if you’re intrigued by Lovecraftian mysteries but prefer a game without intense combat or scary elements.

If you prefer a compelling story, get annoyed by difficult puzzles, or are playing on the new Switch and notice performance issues, it’s best to hold off until we have more information about how the game runs on that system.

Game Pass offers a low-risk way to try out puzzle adventure games. This particular one is fairly average, lasting around 5 to 10 hours to complete, and it’s available to subscribers at no additional cost.

2026-05-12 17:00