Introduction

Gry Ulstein proposes an interpretation of Cthulhu—as well as other Lovecraftian creatures, or those of more recent vintage, but definitely inspired by them—as an “Anthropocene monster”. H. P. Lovecraft’s general impact on video games is so strong that it hardly needs commentary. But it is worth noting that there is something uniquely appealing about Lovecraft and video games that we need to mention. Every aspect of Lovecraft’s life and career is being reevaluated, especially since access to his stories, his letters, and aspects of his life is so widely available. One of the ways Lovecraft is being reevaluated in the last twenty years comes from thinking through his legacy while pushing against the biases he sometimes brought to his themes, tropes, and ideas. Lovecraft had a strong interest in the visual arts and frequently commented on art and artists in his letters. The chapter also presents an overview on the key concepts discussed in this book.