Call of the Elder Gods review – A must-play for puzzle fans

How was Call of the Sea six years ago? Filled with puzzles, a heartfelt story and a beautiful setting on an island in the South Pacific, it was something rather special. And so, knowing that developer Out of the Blue Games was working on a sequel, it was of course high on my list of anticipated games. Now Call of the Elder Gods is here, I can’t say it has disappointed me – but it’s perhaps not quite as good as its predecessor. In terms of story, anyway.

If you’re not a fan of puzzles, you can discount Call of the Elder Gods right away. This adventure game is purely puzzle-powered, and you’re never more than a few minutes away from a conundrum that’s going to have you scratching your head. Thankfully, the majority of puzzles are excellently designed, satisfying to complete and are in keeping with the game’s mysterious, Lovecraftian themes. But there are the odd few that are just a little too obscure to be enjoyable.

A built-in hint system helps, of course, but the solutions it gives are not always very well explained. Besides, relying too heavily on it means that you’re losing some of the satisfaction that you’d otherwise get from completing the game. It’s an improvement over Call of the Sea though: one of my main complaints there was a lack of a hint system altogether.

Unfortunately, what isn’t an improvement is the story. While it does follow on from Call of the Sea, it feels quite different in tone, not least because its environments aren’t quite as interesting. There was something rather magical about exploring an island in the South Pacific. Instead, Call of the Elder Gods has you jumping around, so in one chapter you’ll find yourself in a manor house, the next in an underwater cave, another in a snowy radio tower, and another in an Australian desert. It keeps things varied, sure, but it lacks some of the consistency that made Call of the Sea great.

Norah and Harry are both returning characters in one way or another, but you’ll also meet Evangeline, who is a key character to the story here. It’s an overtly fantastical tale, with its Lovecraftian themes clear from the outset. That makes sense given the ending of Call of the Sea, but for me, it also made it a little more difficult to fully connect with.

It’s a shame that the story doesn’t have quite the same punch, but it doesn’t exactly mean Call of the Elder Gods is not enjoyable. For puzzle fans, this is an utter delight: games laden with such rich, clever puzzles are a rarity these days, and so it scratches an itch that few other games manage to do. Being able to explore a number of environments, gather information and piece together a deeper narrative by reading documents really helps you become more immersed in the world you find yourself in, too. And being able to take everything at your own pace is surely very welcome, too.

Just like the first game, Call of the Elder Gods is a very nice looking title, with rich, beautifully-designed environments. It’s perhaps not quite as pretty as Call of the Sea, just because its environments are slightly different (you can’t beat a tropical beach, after all). But there are still plenty of stunning scenes here that will have you hitting the screenshot button like your life depends on it. I’ve been playing on Nintendo Switch 2 and it really is a treat to play handheld. On PS5 it looks even better. But whatever device you choose to play on, you’re in for a treat. Technically speaking, it’s a step up from its predecessor too: I’ve had no glitches, and it’s always been beautifully smooth to play.

If you’re a puzzle fan, consider Call of the Elder Gods a must-play. You don’t need to have played Call of the Sea to enjoy this, but it’ll certainly help. This is a strong follow-up, and while it might not be quite as impressive in terms of setting and narrative, it’s still a very welcome addition to what I hope becomes a longer series. There’s definitely scope for a third game, so I’ll be waiting with bated breath.