Vol. 5 No. 1 (2025): Change
Articles

Between Sanity and Damnation: Unraveling Player Choices and Ethical Dilemmas in Lovecraftian-Inspired Role-Playing Games

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  • Taha AlSarhan
Taha AlSarhan
University of Pécs, Hungary

Published 2025-09-11

Keywords

  • Occult,
  • Role-playing,
  • Ethical,
  • Lovecraft,
  • Video games

Copyright (c) 2025 Taha AlSarhan

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Between Sanity and Damnation: Unraveling Player Choices and Ethical Dilemmas in Lovecraftian-Inspired Role-Playing Games. (2025). Papers in Arts and Humanities, 5(1), 136-157. https://doi.org/10.52885/zj8ar930

Abstract

This study examines player agency and ethical decision-making in Lovecraftian-inspired role-playing games (RPGs) as a means of engaging with H.P. Lovecraft’s themes and introducing players to occultism. While Lovecraft’s works often center on cosmic horror and existential dread rather than explicit ethical dilemmas, these games expand on his ideas by incorporating moral complexities into their narratives. By granting players agency, these games enable users to make challenging decisions and form personal bonds with characters, enriching their appreciation of the mystical and psychological themes drawn from Lovecraft’s mythos. Games like Bloodborne and Sunless Sea not only provide established fans with interactive ways to explore Lovecraftian concepts but also introduce new audiences to these themes, fostering a richer appreciation of the genre. This study examines how Lovecraftian RPGs build upon and reinterpret his ideas, offering players a dynamic medium to engage with cosmic horror, moral ambiguity, and occult motifs.

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