The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu Reviews
The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu delivers a compelling blend of Lovecraftian horror and extraction gameplay, held back only by technical shortcomings and a rough onboarding experience.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
ACE Team has undoubtedly laid a rock-solid foundation, and with the necessary updates, The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu could become a standout title in the genre. Still, I doubt that my biggest issues can be resolved, since the combat and progression systems are so deeply ingrained.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu delivers some fresh and clever ideas wrapped inside an atmospheric co-op horror adventure, but it doesn't always maintain its momentum, and the repetitive structure stops it from reaching true greatness. .
ACE Team’s debut in the realm of extraction games represents an open challenge to today’s market, clearly demonstrating how a brilliant design concept can effortlessly overcome budget constraints and technical imperfections. The bold choice to transform Lovecraftian horror into an active gameplay engine—one capable of undermining the group’s sensory certainties—elevates the Valdivian adventure to an essential benchmark for fans of co-op horror and psychological tension. Anyone willing to turn a blind eye to the frustrations of a strict economic progression—provided they tackle exploration strictly shoulder-to-shoulder with teammates armed with microphones—will find in this expedition one of the most authentically memorable and auteur-driven experiences of the current generation.
Review in Italian | Read full review
I went in expecting a decent co-op survival game with a Lovecraft skin, but what I found was one of the most effective portrayals of psychological horror I’ve experienced in gaming. Its madness system constantly keeps you questioning your own senses, the world is rich with intriguing lore, and the oppressive atmosphere perfectly captures the fear and uncertainty that define the Cthulhu Mythos.
The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu is a cooperative horror game that surprises with its technical aspects, but ends up going overboard with imbalances and missteps in some of its design choices.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Until any potential fixes are made, the mound can remain buried for a little while longer.
Review in French | Read full review
The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu presents several good ideas, but fails in the execution of almost all of them. The first few hours of exploration manage to deliver moments of tension and an immersive atmosphere, but the experience quickly becomes repetitive.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
An atmospheric setting, great audio and visual design, and some amusing and occasionally unnerving cosmic horror have resulted in a unique spin on the extraction genre. For those that vibe with it, it’ll probably provide many hours of fun, with lots to do as players solve mysteries, and seek out the mysterious ‘mound’ and what lies beyond – even if the gameplay loop starts to become a bit repetitive.
In terms of atmosphere, "The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu" surpasses most other Lovecraft-inspired games. Unfortunately, the game repeatedly undermines its own long-term appeal, whether through its wildly fluctuating difficulty, performance issues, or poorly explained gameplay elements.
Review in German | Read full review
Ultimately, there’s very little positive I can say about *The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu*. The madness mechanic does produce some hilarious and unexpected moments from time to time, particularly in co-op, but that’s not enough to mask the fundamental problems. The combat feels unpolished, essential gameplay features are missing, and the first few hours are marred by frustrating design choices and a lack of explanation. On top of that, there are technical issues, a clunky inventory system and characters who are barely distinguishable from one another. After a series of smaller indie projects, ACE Team has clearly bitten off more than it can chew with this more ambitious production, and as a result, they’ve completely missed the mark. The madness mechanic does provide a few memorable moments, but even that gimmick quickly loses its charm when you’re shot by a hallucinating teammate for the umpteenth time.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Despite some performance and combat issues, The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu is a gripping and captivating co-op horror experience that feels novel and fresh thanks to an impressive environment and Sanity system, allowing it to stand out in a saturated market.
My main issue with The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu is that it isn’t too solo friendly. I have died too many times to the amount of hordes that just appear with no real way to clear them. As I said above the A.I. companion solo players get does little to actually help, with it firing off gunshots. Or just being another enemy you will need to constantly have to watch your back for. For the beginning of the game I wasn’t expecting so much aggression from creatures as they will easily out number the player. The cart has a terrible pacing to the player too, making it more punishing if you wish to explore even a little further from it. Since you will be waiting forever for it to come to you, and of course I don’t wish to run all the way back just to unload two items. After teaming up with fellow TC memeber Stu, it did not make the hoards any easier. There are just too many to deal with, and thanks to the enemy being able to disarm or grab the player at any point. Frame rate and combat When it comes to the combat, striking monsters feels impactful, but there isn’t a lot that helps the player defend. We get a shove but with how close you need to be, can make it risky to do. Maybe adding dodging or at least a block would really aid in the players’ survival. Until something like that is added, I’ve used the bot to goad enemies to attack him, then I would attack. Which does make fights a tad more manageable in The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu. The amount of monsters that spawn can differ a lot, as at time there would be hardly any enemies. I have enjoyed the game to some extent, and I am curious to know just what is causing everything. But most of these issue might be easily resolved when playing with friends. I did suffer with a lot of frame issues and no matter what I did in my settings the frames wouldn’t get better. What I did find strange however, is that when I played with friends there was no stuttering at all. So it could not be my computer. So from a more solo I think The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu is very trial and error based. With just a smidge of a gamble on how many monsters you will get, this makes it a lot more challenging compared to friends. Which might leave you feeling more annoyed and dropping the game entirely. But on the other hand, if you manage to play with a few friends, then a lot of scares and fun is to be had. So I will be giving The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu the Thumb Culture Silver Award.
If you’re looking for a solid cooperative horror experience, The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu has plenty to offer thanks to its inventive sanity system and genuinely tense, sprawling environments. At the same time, it can become repetitive as you’re asked to revisit the same maps and face the same enemies over and over again.
The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu is worth picking up, especially while it's discounted. If you mainly plan to play solo or want a game that is fully refined from day one, then this game might be an interesting title to wishlist and see how it turns out after one or two patches.
With a dedicated team, the madness system and the tense, minimap-free co-op loop still shine, even if the setting wears thin and the tech never rises above average.
Review in German | Read full review
The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu has incredible promise, but its execution seems like the team was punching well above their weight. This feels like something that should have been in early access or development for a few more months, not to mention a proper pass for console optimization. Still, what is here is interesting, and the sanity effects will certainly keep this game in the conversation, but more has to be added to keep those expeditions fresh and engaging. It may have moments of intense fun, especially with friends, but without a solid sense of progression, it’s hard to say if this expedition is worth its reward.
The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu is still a decent horror game for those who prefer atmosphere over spectacle, and mystery over predictable action. There are some interesting psychological theories, a nicely created setting and some unpleasant moments that stick with you long after the voyage is finished. It is not a new idea that separates this ambitious survival-horror trip from actual genre brilliance, but rather a few little modifications.
Areas for improvement must be put in place for The Mound Omen of Cthulhu. Mainly on quality of life and ergonomics. Unexplained mechanics, chaotic inventory. But the idea is good, the atmosphere also despite a rhythm that can be judged too slow. Still, the quality of your games will reside in your playmates, not won without being accompanied by friends. As it is now, the game is not seen causing an addictive wave.
Review in French | Read full review
The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu is a tense, atmosphere-driven co-op roguelite where a shared sanity system turns every expedition into something unpredictable. The early hours are rough without a full squad, but once the group finds its rhythm, it becomes one of the more distinctive Lovecraftian experiences available in co-op.
Review in Spanish | Read full review