{"id":10086,"date":"2026-06-04T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/imdbnews.ir\/?p=10086"},"modified":"2026-06-04T12:49:14","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T09:19:14","slug":"the-mound-omen-of-cthulhu-makes-awesome-use-of-eternal-darkness-style-insanity-effects-ign-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/imdbnews.ir\/index.php\/2026\/06\/04\/the-mound-omen-of-cthulhu-makes-awesome-use-of-eternal-darkness-style-insanity-effects-ign-preview\/","title":{"rendered":"The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu Makes Awesome Use of Eternal Darkness-Style Insanity Effects | IGN Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">More and more folks seem to enjoy pitting themselves against the elder gods and other eldritch horrors these days, with releases like Saros and The Sinking City series all bringing some Lovecraftian mythos to your TV. Even the tabletop isn\u2019t safe with the likes of the Arkham Horror card game bringing the cultists into your dining room. Recently, IGN had the chance to check out the latest of these adaptations, The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu &#8211; a cooperative trek where keeping a hold of your sanity is only the start of your struggle. After traipsing through the jungle and second-guessing reality a couple of times, I\u2019m eager to get back in and discover what secrets there are to discover, even if it may cost me my mind.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Developed by ACE Team, the same studio behind cheerier titles like Rock of Ages and The EternaL Cylinder, The Mound is a reimaging of sorts of H.P. Lovecraft\u2019s 1940 novella of the same name. Instead of being set in 1928 Binger, Oklahoma, this new rendition has been shifted about 5,600 miles (9,000 km) south, according to Google Maps, and 276 years earlier, to the Valvadian Forests of Chile, circa 1652. Up to four players take on the roles of expeditioners on board the galleon, the Tempestad, sent to try to secure both treasures and a pathway to the titular Mound. A special place that serves as a gateway to the otherworldly underground city of K\u2019n-yan. The home of the K\u2019n-yani, worshippers of elder gods such as the tentacle mouth itself, Cthulhu. <\/p>\n<p><span data-cy=\"slideshow-view-trigger\"><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-preview\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 slideshow-preview\">\n<h3 class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-1085005187\" data-cy=\"slideshow-preview-title\">The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu &#8211; June 2026 Screenshots<\/h3>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-container\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 images-container\"><button type=\"button\" data-cy=\"hero-image\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 hero-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/imdbnews.ir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/the-mound-omen-of-cthulhu-makes-awesome-use-of-eternal-darkness-style-insanity-effects-ign-preview.gif\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><span class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button button--primary jsx-3381835873 jsx-4266531355 row-pagination-button next contained centered round large\" data-cy=\"paginate next\" title=\"Open Slideshow\"><span class=\"ign-icon right-chevron jsx-2750866048 jsx-2919720488\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"right-chevron\"><\/span><\/span><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">After picking the character you will play as, including the soldier Alonso de la Torre, the hidalgo Don Rodrigo de Medina, a woman named Leonor, or the priest Fray Gaspar \u2013 and before setting foot on the island itself \u2013 you and your compatriots will accept a contract dictating your mission for the upcoming expedition (such as securing a certain amount of loot or rescuing a survivor). Much like the characters from the Left 4 Dead games, while the characters each have unique voice lines and personalities, they all play the exact same. No unique abilities or powers here.<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-title jsx-684634384 jsx-2659527929 quote-container\" data-cy=\"quoteBox\">Much like the characters from the Left 4 Dead games, while the characters each have unique voice lines and personalities, they all play the exact same.<span class=\"stack jsx-2959124702 jsx-326843967\"><span>\u201c<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Picking from a pool of possible contracts, which the team decides on, will determine many things. This includes where on the island you will be setting out from, what sort of equipment you will be able to outfit yourselves with, and, of course, what your objective will be. In our demo, we were taken through a few of the earlier contract offerings to get our boots wet &#8211; finding some treasure, locating a log book, nothing you would expect to be too overwhelming. At least, that was the expectation. We were wrong. Very, very wrong. It quickly became apparent that even with our fancy rifles and modern (for the time, anyway) equipment, the four of us weren\u2019t the hunters; we were the prey, and the forest didn\u2019t take to our being there too kindly.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">One thing quickly became clear after failing one of our contracts: planning and strategizing about what gear everyone will take will be incredibly important. Each player\u2019s inventory space is extremely limited, and each piece of gear, consumable item, treasure, or other resource found on the island will take up your space. We found far more success when we designated responsibilities amongst ourselves, though even the best-laid plans could be foiled. I had opted to be the damage dealer for one run, snagging myself a flintlock pistol, a musket, and a bunch of ammo, only to have the weather change with a storm brewing up, and (surprise surprise) the rain stopped any hope of my guns from firing. I didn\u2019t do so hot that go-round.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Scattered everywhere around the island were traces of past expeditions &#8211; rotting wooden beams from old ships, tattered camps lying in ruin, and skeletons of previous victims of the island. The imposing atmosphere is a stark contrast to the natural beauty of the island. Seeing the vibrant green trees of the jungle, hearing the splashing of waves on the beach, and the croaks and calls of the native wildlife, it would be the perfect vacation spot. You know, if it didn\u2019t have so many things trying to kill you. It is clear from the moment you arrive that it isn\u2019t the kind of place you want to stick around in, but at the same time, it could be a paradise. A paradise that the team at ACE has crafted from the ground up \u2013 there are no procedurally generated maps here.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Hacking through the branches and vines, I would come across locked chests with supplies, idols, and other trinkets that I could deposit in the wagon that was faithfully following us. Each bit gets us closer to fulfilling our quota and to leaving the forsaken place. As the minutes ticked by, a menacing \u201cThe forest will awake in X hours\u201d message would occasionally display on the screen, reminding us not to stay too long. Even when the sun is shining high in the sky, there is always this underlying sense of foreboding and danger lurking, enhanced even further by some great sound design that makes the jungle feel alive.<\/p>\n<p><span data-cy=\"poll-view-trigger\"><\/p>\n<section class=\"box-wrapper jsx-2673806401\"><\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">While the foes of the jungle are dangerous enough on their own, perhaps the larger threat you will face is losing your sanity. Going insane and suffering from insanity is a common theme in works based around Lovecraft, since the mythos is that our puny human minds can\u2019t comprehend the old gods&#8217; ways, thus driving folks to madness. In the Mound, the insanity system will cause the world around you to become skewed, where you can\u2019t trust what you are seeing and hearing. And all of this will happen on a per-player basis, so not everyone will experience the same symptoms, if they do at all.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Sticking together as it was recommended we do, I recall a moment where I saw one of my teammates walk assuredly into a viscous pit filled with pikes and decomposing bodies. As they got progressively closer, the rest of us stood curiously asking what they were doing, with increasing amounts of confusion, until they dropped in and were promptly killed. For the rest of us, we clearly saw the dangerous pit, but for that other player, they saw nothing but solid ground with a small shrine. <\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Other examples are less deadly but no less unsettling. Lost in the trees, at one point, the world around me turned a dark blood red, making it hard to see or disguising one of the island\u2019s undead Y&#8217;m-bhi inhabitants wandering the jungle into one of my teammates who had gone off on their own. The latter of which resulted in a surprise attack that left me bleeding and a bit closer to death than I would prefer. The developer that was serving as our guide promised that these examples were only the tip of the insanity iceberg, and I am both terrified and eager to see what else is in store in the final game.<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-title jsx-684634384 jsx-2659527929 quote-container\" data-cy=\"quoteBox\">In one insanity effect example, one teammate saw nothing but solid ground with a small shrine. For the rest of us, we clearly saw the dangerous pit he walked right into.<span class=\"stack jsx-2959124702 jsx-326843967\"><span>\u201c<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">The dangers in your mind aren\u2019t the only threats to keep an eye out for as you explore the jungles of The Mound, however. In addition to the previously Y\u2019m-Bhi mentioned zombies, I ran into an unkillable ghost-bat thing, a creature made of undulating vines that would bind you and leave you for dead (think of the Pokemon Tangela if it was made by From Software), and there was also a giant centipede that one of our party vomited onto the ground and proceeded to chase us. Oh, and if a player happened to die and not be revived in time, they would be swallowed up by the forest and rebirthed as a corrupted version of themselves, uncontrollable by the player, but would seek out and try to kill the survivors. Ah, good memories.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">On the more technical side of things, The Mound will utilize a peer-to-peer system with one player acting as the session&#8217;s host, and the others connecting to them (not having servers may save The Mound from suffering an unfortunate shutdown fate that other multiplayer-focused server-based games are suffering these days). Progress made by each player, including their ranks, unlocked areas, and logbooks, carries over to their individual saves, which helps incentivize teaming up.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">ACE Team does recommend players enjoy the Mound with others, though you are able to play through it solo if that is more your style. Both with computer-controlled teammates or purely solo, if you are really looking for a challenge. The contract requirements do reflect this, but even so, the devs warn that playing this way will be a considerable undertaking! For those who plan to explore with their friends, be warned that you will want to pick your platform of choice before setting out, as The Mound won\u2019t allow you to transfer your save from one platform to another. If you change your mind and want to play on your PC instead of the console down the road, expect to restart from the very beginning (and vice versa).<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">My time may have been brief with The Mound, but my time in the jungles off the coast of Chile still managed to leave me impressed. I\u2019m both excited and terrified of what other sorts of wild insanity effects lie ahead in the later parts of the Mound. To say nothing of what terrors ACE Team has in store for those that reach the cursed land and beyond. Thankfully, for anyone who is looking for treasure and to investigate the jungle, you won\u2019t have to wait too long. The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu arrives on July 15 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X\/S, and PC, supporting full crossplay.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><em> Scott White is a freelance contributor to IGN, assisting with tabletop games and guide coverage. Follow him on <\/em>X\/Twitter<em> or <\/em>Bluesky<em>.<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"media_block\"><a href=\"https:\/\/imdbnews.ir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/the-mound-omen-of-cthulhu-makes-awesome-use-of-eternal-darkness-style-insanity-effects-ign-preview.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/imdbnews.ir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/the-mound-omen-of-cthulhu-makes-awesome-use-of-eternal-darkness-style-insanity-effects-ign-preview.jpg\" class=\"media_thumbnail\"><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"media_block\"><a href=\"https:\/\/imdbnews.ir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/the-mound-omen-of-cthulhu-makes-awesome-use-of-eternal-darkness-style-insanity-effects-ign-preview.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/imdbnews.ir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/the-mound-omen-of-cthulhu-makes-awesome-use-of-eternal-darkness-style-insanity-effects-ign-preview.jpg\" class=\"media_thumbnail\"><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10087,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[50],"class_list":["post-10086","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-49","tag-50"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/imdbnews.ir\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10086","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/imdbnews.ir\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/imdbnews.ir\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/imdbnews.ir\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/imdbnews.ir\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10086"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/imdbnews.ir\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10086\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10088,"href":"https:\/\/imdbnews.ir\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10086\/revisions\/10088"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/imdbnews.ir\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10087"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/imdbnews.ir\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10086"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/imdbnews.ir\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10086"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/imdbnews.ir\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10086"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}