Asmodee Digital Expands The Arkham Horror Universe
Sometimes I’m just excited about games. I love board games. I love video games. When those two worlds collide, I’m over-the-moon. Or over-the-madness. Whichever one is more appropriate when we’re talking about Lovecraftian horror…
On March 23rd, Asmodee Digital and Fantasy Flight Games will be launching Arkham Horror: Mother’s Embrace, a roleplaying game full of adventure, tactical combat, and narrative revelations to make players question their sanity. As with any exploration of H.P. Lovecraft’s horrific fantasy universe, it will be a dark and dangerous experience.
The digital game is based on the award-winning board game Arkham Horror and it features a chilling mystery. A professor of astronomy is found dead in her mansion, the apparent victim of a heinous murder. Some must find the answers.
I’ve played through quite a few games like this. I own Elder Sign and Mansions of Madness 2nd Edition. I’ve played Arkham Horror: The Card Game. I’ve played through the campaign of Call of Cthulhu and I’ve read through At the Mountains of Madness. Cthulhu is nothing new to me, but there is always a sweet spot in the Lovecraft universe. Visuals are important, which is why the board games don’t always translate as well for me. The mechanical experience reflects the dangerous world of darkness and terror, but it doesn’t always immerse me. The video games, though, are narrative-driven and sometimes the graphical strength of the experience falters. That was the case for Call of Cthulhu for me. And that’s why I’m excited about Mother’s Embrace. The visuals aren’t trying to be next-gen. They’re a little cartoony. But the quality and resolution of that design are great. So I think it will immerse me in the story thoroughly.
In an age of variability and player choice, Mother’s Embrace appears to offer a remarkable amount of depth and opportunity to players. There are twelve different protagonists to choose from, each providing a unique skill set to use throughout the game. It will be up to players to form their investigative team and discover what’s going on beyond the veil. As with any Arkham Horror game, though, sanity is slipping and you must hold it tight with an iron grip. I imagine the story and events that push on the protagonist will be brutal. But they should also be exciting!
The game was developed by Artefacts Studio, with an original story from Fantasy Flight Games writers. So, expect a lot of narrative tension, character conflict, and unknown horrors in this new tale from the Cthulhu Mythos.
If this looks like something you’ll be interested in, then you should jump on board early. You can still pre-order Arkham Horror: Mother’s Embrace at a 20% discount on Steam, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch for $15.99 until the game’s release; at launch, the game will be available for $19.99.
What do you think?!
Are there other digital games that you’re excited about?
Let us know in the comments!