Call of the Elder Gods

I dove into Call of the Elder Gods expecting more of what made Call of the Sea so charming — and Out of the Blue delivers with confidence. The game keeps the escape-room puzzle loop but expands it into a globe-trotting, slightly weirder adventure that actually leans into Lovecraftian themes. Switching between Professor Harry and Evangeline gives the investigation a neat push-and-pull, while the writing and voice cast make the world feel lived-in. If you like smart puzzles wrapped in atmosphere, this sequel is hard to resist.

Switching Minds Between Two Investigators

The heart of Call of the Elder Gods is the investigative back-and-forth between Professor Harry Everhart and Evangeline Drayton. You spend most of your time walking, inspecting, combining clues, and flipping between viewpoints to progress multi-part puzzles that span locations and, occasionally, time. It’s an observational puzzle loop — spot symbols, cross-reference journal entries, rotate curiosities, and click the right elements — but the two-character mechanic keeps it from ever feeling stale. The game nudges you with a generous notebook system and toggleable hints, so you can tailor the difficulty to whether you want a comforting puzzle stroll or a proper head-scratcher. Movement is deliberately measured to encourage exploration, though I’ll admit the slower pace can feel draggy during long dialogue stretches. That said, the way puzzles build on small discoveries — a half-hidden emblem here, a matching star chart there — gives satisfying payoffs.

Puzzles That Reward Curiosity

Puzzles here are the star: handcrafted, logical for the most part, and layered so each solution usually feels earned. There are moments where the game indulges in fiddly item hunts, and a couple of user reports about missing interaction prompts are real — I had one moment that forced me to reload a chapter because an object wouldn’t show a prompt. Still, the majority of puzzles lean toward clever lateral thinking rather than obtuse gatekeeping. The journal is your best friend: it auto-collects important details, and the toggleable icons and hint system prevent you from getting completely lost (handy if, like me, you hate aimless pixel-hunting). The pacing of puzzles varies — some give that delicious five-seconds-of-genius feeling, others are multi-step tests that might take a patient hour to untangle.

A Sound and Sight Feast

Visually, UE5 shines: colourful but uncanny environments take you from firelit New England libraries to red Australian sands and frozen wastelands that feel otherworldly. The art direction refuses hyper-realism and instead opts for a painterly style that complements the narrative. Eduardo De La Iglesia’s soundtrack underlines mystery and longing, and the performances — notably Cissy Jones and Yuri Lowenthal — bring real personality to the leads and narrator. Performance is mostly solid on Windows, and the community praise for Steam Deck support seems deserved; I tested on desktop and found no glaring framerate issues. Accessibility is sensible: hint toggles, icons, and journal entries make the game more approachable for players who prefer story and atmosphere over brutal puzzle gauntlets.

Call of the Elder Gods is a lovingly crafted puzzle-adventure that refines what made the first game special while leaning more boldly into Lovecraftian mystery. It’s ideal for players who enjoy thoughtful puzzles, slow-burn stories, and strong presentation — less so if you demand non-stop action or hate being nudged by narration. Overall: recommend to fans of narrative puzzle games.