Call of the Sea Reveal Trailer Spotlights Lovecraftian Themes

Microsoft has unveiled a new adventure game from Swedish publisher Raw Fury with a reveal trailer. The story follows a woman trying to find out what happened with her husband’s expedition. However, in true Lovecraftian fashion, not everything is as it seems, with terrors from the deep and a lost civilization that seemed to worship them. In fact, the trailer reveals way too much, in my opinion.

So, what exactly is Call of the Sea? Well, the video description calls it an “otherworldly adventure game set in the 1930s South Pacific.” In it, you’ll “explore a lush island paradise and puzzle out the secrets of a lost civilization in the hunt for your husband’s missing expedition.” So far, so good, right? Well, if you watch the trailer, you’ll notice that there’s a lot more happening below the surface, pardon the pun.

Yes, the trailer really tips its hand way too much, in my opinion. Because, as our heroine explores the island, it becomes clear that the island civilization might not be as lost as it seems, and unspeakable horrors lie beneath the surface. And our protagonist is oddly drawn to the island and feels peaceful there, which is a surefire sign that she’s actually half fish-monster. In fact, the trailer really spells it out, which is a shame; it would have been a cool twist to have, like in Lovecraft’s “A Shadow Over Innsmouth.” Oh, well.

Call of the Sea is coming out in late 2020, and it will be playable on Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and, luckily for me, PC, including via Steam. On launch, it will immediately be available with Xbox Game Pass. In the meantime, you can check out the reveal trailer below. Honestly, it’s the only Xbox-exclusive game that has ever caught my eye in a good way, with its blocky, chunky art style and clear inspiration from Lovecraft’s work. I’m so glad it’ll be available on PC, too.