The Dark Rites of Arkham

This is literally one of the best HPL based games to date. It has some artistic deviations compared to what is HPL novel canon but they are minor and not problematic in the big picture of things as they seem to have been done due to the game's artistic direction. What is absolutely ridiculous is that some people are very suspiciously trying to negative review this hidden gem of a game claiming completely FALSE things and locking their reviews against comments so they can't be called out. One is a user named "psychotron" with 0.4 hours claiming the game "constantly breaks the 4th wall", which is something VERY COMMON to the point and click adventure genre, since the inception of the genre, and this game barely does if at all. The second, the most ridiculous of all is by a person called "Nighthawk" with 4.1 hours played, claiming the game has "very little to do with the Lovecraftian verse" which is 20000% false and that, quoting word for word, "Its mostly long-winded sections that try to create moral lessons in racism or that make sport of Jesus while all the while spewing "modern audience" talking points, slang and marxist dialectic. Its one of those games where you are just pointing and clicking through someone's bias and hate. The amount of Lovecraftian things in this game are about 5 minutes total combined. The rest is slop." This, dear readers, is 10000000% BS. The game is Lovecraftian to the core, inspired by and referencing a LOT of different novels and characters. It is, like I already said, one of the best HPL based games to date. Apparently what that person doesn't like, is the very sparse anti-racist and anti-KKK commentary, which is present in like 2-3 object examine descriptions and a couple of references to the Mayor who is rumored to be a KKK leader. So this person decided to review bomb this great game claiming complete nonsense, because apparently they're a hardcore racist as that's what they focused on. Their reviews locked from comments too so that no one can call them out, is why I felt the need to call them out on my review instead, as the game is simply very good. A lot of love for the source material and the genre is evident. Trying to lure people away from the game with absolute lies, is horrible. Ignore these people, the overwelmingly positive rating is well deserved.

Anorher awesome dark adventure by these devs, can't wait for the next one!

this trailer is deceptive. if you want the 4th wall to be broken constantly then maybe this game is for you, but i did not appreciate it.

[h1]A must for all point-and-clicks and Cthulhu fans [/h1] [b]This review contains no story spoilers[/b] Dark Rites of Arkham is a point-and-click detective adventure set in the titular, fictional city of Arkham in the year 1933. Set on the eve of the repeal of the Volstead Act in America, it sees you in the gumshoes of Detective Jack Foster, fresh back on duty following a mental breakdown after the death of his partner. While in the process of arresting a drug addict turned blackmailer, Jack happens across an occult murder scene. Paired with the department's nerdy occult expert, Harvey Whitman, Jack is tasked with investigating a string of increasingly bizarre cases and uncovering a conspiracy that threatens not only his own life but that of the entire world. One of the first things that strikes you about Dark Rites of Arkham is the moody atmosphere and the dark, oppressive nature of the city. At times, the city itself feels like an antagonist, filled with inhabitants who are going through their own ♥♥♥♥, just like you, and many only talk to you due to the fact you're an armed police officer. Jack himself has his own demons to deal with, as your first task is to visit a psychiatrist to get her official stamp that you're fit for duty. This leads to a hypnotherapy session that reveals much about why Jack is as messed up as he is and also delves further into the Lovecraftian core of the game. And make no mistake, the Cthulhu mythos is the beating heart of Dark Rites of Arkham. So much so that this feels less like a detective game with Cthulhu trimmings, than a Cthulhu game with some detective elements. There are references everywhere. If you are an avid Lovecraft fan, then you'll have almost as much fun pointing out the references to various stories as you'll have playing the game. The simple point-and-click interface and even simpler pixel art allow you to fully hop into the story as fast as you want without getting bogged down. And that's a key element here: in point-and-clicks and other games of this nature, the absolute worst thing is for the game to drag on. Thankfully, Postmodern Adventures has perfectly nailed the pacing of the game at every step. The dialogue sections convey enough information so we know what to do and enough colour to be convincing conversations, but not too much to slow the game down. The superb, subtle soundtrack sets up each scene and doesn't impose itself despite often being the only sound you'll hear in a lot of places. The sound design is effective, and the graphics are detailed enough to make each area distinct and unique, conveying the decay that's set into the town and helping to build up the dark atmosphere the story needs. And a fantastic story it is too. From the initial ritual murder, Jack and Harvey will need to investigate the appearance of a number of 17th-century witches who escaped the Salem trials, a bizarre cult obsessed with punishment, a series of kidnappings and a secret occult society acting behind the scenes of it all. It's wonderful stuff. The cases unfold nicely and lead into one another seamlessly, making them one whole experience rather than a series of obstacles that need to be overcome before the next one shows up. Thanks to the superbly written dialogue, each character feels real and seems like they have agency rather than simply being a prop for you to click on so you can spout lines at them. If I have to be critical and highlight some issues with Dark Rites of Arkham, the main one would be a lack of voice acting to really give the dialogue some pop; it would also fill in some parts of the game where it can get very quiet when the soundtrack drops low, and it's just two characters silently mouthing lines of text at each other. But other than some minor quirks in the dialogue and gameplay, there's really nothing wrong with how Dark Rites of Arkham is put together, and it plays wonderfully, reeling in the player with some brilliant characters, story and an excellent soundtrack. All fans of HP Lovecraft or Point-and-clicks should get this game immediately.

Good Lovecraftian point-and-click. Nice puzzles, great references to the mythos, and an overall nice story. I actually wish there was more of it to play, since I liked the dynamic of the two main characters and the worlds/places they explored. Got stuck a couple of time, but eventually figure out what I was supposed to do. Liked the variety in locations and how puzzle unfolded and led to new areas or unlocked the next puzzle. Yeah, very well done I have to say.

A great point and click adventure game with a Lovecraftian story. The art and animation in the game is excellent. I wish the game was voice acted and I would say most of the puzzles are fairly straightforward but everything else makes up for those short comings. The story is one of the better Lovecraftian stories in video games and the presentation is spot on. Definitely worth a play if you like point and click games or are a fan of H.P. Lovecraft.

What a great game!! The story was so fun and I loved the 1930's feel, my only wish is that there was voice acting. Totally would recommend.

好玩 解谜难度不算大，点点戳戳就行了 特别有意思的克苏鲁小品，喜欢缺德条子与没那么沉重的小品式克系故事一定要入

If you are a lover of 90's style point & click adventure games like me, then you'll enjoy this game. The pixel art is gorgeous. The story is fun and the puzzles all make sense. I absolutely recommend this game.

I absolutely loved it! Pure nostalgia looks, puzzles are not too hard or easy and a cool lovecraftian story! After playing the Drifter last year I was hoping to get something somewhat similar and here we are! Hope this game is successful and there will be a sequel!