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The Lovecraftian tag refers to a particular genre or theme in storytelling that is heavily influenced by the works of H.P. Lovecraft, an American writer known for his horror fiction in the early 20th century.

H.P. Lovecraft's stories often revolve around cosmic horror, ancient beings, and a sense of existential dread and insignificance in the face of vast and malignant cosmic entities. The Lovecraftian tag is used to describe games that capture the unique atmosphere, themes, and elements present in Lovecraft's writings.

Games with a Lovecraftian theme typically incorporate one or more of the following elements:

• Eldritch Horrors These are otherworldly beings or entities often beyond human comprehension. They are ancient, immensely powerful, and hostile towards humanity. Examples include Cthulhu, Nyarlathotep, Yog-Sothoth.
• Madness In many Lovecraftian stories, exposure to forbidden knowledge or confronting these eldritch horrors can drive characters insane. In games with a Lovecraftian theme, players may have to cope with their character's sanity deteriorating as they encounter supernatural phenomena.
• Cosmic Themes Games may explore themes related to humanity's insignificance in a vast universe ruled by ancient gods or entities. They often touch on themes like nihilism, existential dread, forbidden knowledge and secret cults devoted to summoning these dark forces.
• Gothic Atmosphere Games with a Lovecraftian theme frequently feature dark gothic settings such as haunted mansions, forsaken catacombs or other ominous locations that evoke a sense of dread and mystery.

Examples of games that fall into the Lovecraftian genre include:

• Bloodborne This action RPG developed by FromSoftware is set in a dark, gothic world filled with eldritch horrors and cosmic themes. It marries intense combat with deep lore inspired by Lovecraft's works.
• Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth An atmospheric first-person horror game based on Lovecraft's novella "The Shadow over Innsmouth," in which players investigate a mysterious cult in a fishing town.
• Sunless Sea A survival/exploration game set in an underground ocean where players navigate treacherous waters, encounter strange creatures, and face madness-inducing encounters inspired by Lovecraftian themes.

In summary, games with the Lovecraftian tag embrace the dark, immersive, and unsettling atmosphere found in H.P. Lovecraft's works. They often explore cosmic horror, ancient entities beyond human comprehension, mental anguish, and humanity's insignificance. Playing these games offers a unique opportunity to delve into enigmatic stories rooted in this particular brand of Gothic horror.

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