Bloodborne is more than just a game with lots of action. It’s a deep and creepy journey into a world full of horror, mystery, and cosmic fear. It uses a lot of Gothic and Lovecraftian themes to build a complicated story that goes beyond typical horror and touches on forces from the past that we can’t understand. If you like the cosmic horror stories of H.P. Lovecraft, this game is like nothing else. But what’s so special about Bloodborne? Is it really a Lovecraftian game, and what kind of scary things does it do?
This article will look into the mysterious Lovecraftian stories about Bloodborne and solve two important questions: What kind of scary game is Bloodborne? How about Bloodborne? Is it a Lovecrafty game? Get ready for an in-depth look into the twisted world of Yharnam and the unbearable horrors that live there.
What Kind of Horror is Bloodborne?
By its dark city streets, grotesque monsters, and oppressive atmosphere, Bloodborne seems like a Gothic horror game at first look. Over time, though, it becomes clear that there’s a lot more going on below the surface. Bloodborne’s horror is complex, combining psychological scars, body horror, and cosmic horror.
- Gothic Horror Roots: Bloodborne begins by introducing players to a world plagued by a mysterious disease. The city of Yharnam is filled with decaying architecture, foggy streets, and terrifying beasts that resemble werewolves and other creatures pulled from Gothic literature. This setup draws from traditional Gothic horror, where the unknown lurks in the shadows, and the boundaries between the human and monstrous are blurred.
- Body Horror: As you delve deeper into the game, you encounter disturbing imagery of human transformation. The plague in Yharnam causes its citizens to mutate into twisted, horrifying creatures, reflecting the body horror genre, which focuses on the grotesque and unnatural distortion of the human form. Bloodborne doesn’t shy away from showing the hideous consequences of tampering with forces beyond human control.
- Cosmic Horror: The heart of Bloodborne’s terror lies in cosmic horror, a genre pioneered by H.P. Lovecraft. Unlike typical horror, cosmic horror is about the fear of the unknown and the realization that humans are insignificant in the grand scheme of the universe. In Bloodborne, as players gain more “Insight”—a mechanic that reveals the hidden truths of the world—they start to uncover the horrifying reality of cosmic beings known as the Great Ones. These incomprehensible entities exist on a scale far beyond human understanding, and they evoke a sense of dread and insignificance.
This blend of Gothic, body, and cosmic horror creates a unique experience in Bloodborne, making players feel both physically and existentially threatened. But what truly sets it apart from other horror games is how it borrows from Lovecraftian themes.
Is Bloodborne a Lovecraftian Game?
To fully answer this question, it’s important to understand what makes something “Lovecraftian.” Lovecraftian horror is characterized by the following elements:
- Cosmic indifference: The idea that humans are insignificant in the universe and that there are ancient, incomprehensible beings who are indifferent to our existence.
- Forbidden knowledge: The notion that seeking knowledge, especially about the universe or these ancient beings, leads to madness or destruction.
- Madness: Characters who encounter the true nature of reality often succumb to insanity.
- Unseen horrors: Much of Lovecraftian horror comes from the unknown—things that are hinted at but never fully explained.
One of the most incredible things about Bloodborne is its Lovecraftian elements. Fans of H.P. Lovecraft will recognize the author’s influence in this game right away. Judging from how the game played out, it also seems like Hidetaka Miyazaki himself is a fan of H.P. Lovecraft. There are a ton of nods to Lovecraft books and elements borrowed from it present in this game.
– thegamer.com –
Lovecraftian Elements in Bloodborne
As you progress through Bloodborne, it becomes evident that the game’s lore and themes are heavily inspired by Lovecraft’s work. Let’s break down the major Lovecraftian elements in the game:
1. The Great Ones
The most obvious connection to Lovecraft’s mythos is the presence of the Great Ones, god-like cosmic entities that exist beyond human comprehension. They are beings of immense power, but they are neither good nor evil. Their motives are often unclear, and humans are powerless in their presence—much like Lovecraft’s famous Elder Gods such as Cthulhu.
The Great Ones in Bloodborne are central to the game’s lore. Scholars from Byrgenwerth and members of the Healing Church sought to understand and commune with these beings, hoping to harness their power. However, this pursuit of forbidden knowledge inevitably led to disaster, as the line between human and monster became increasingly blurred. This mirrors the classic Lovecraftian theme of humanity’s futile quest for knowledge and the dire consequences that follow.
2. The Insanity of Knowledge: The Insight Mechanic
Bloodborne introduces a mechanic called Insight, which reflects the Lovecraftian idea that the more you know, the more horrifying the world becomes. As you gain Insight, you start to see things that were previously hidden—monsters that were invisible before become visible, and the true nature of the world is revealed. However, this knowledge comes at a cost. Gaining too much Insight can cause your character to become more vulnerable, reflecting the theme that understanding the cosmic truth leads to madness.
In Lovecraft’s stories, characters who learn too much about the Elder Gods or the universe often descend into madness. In Bloodborne, the more you understand the truth of Yharnam and the Great Ones, the more terrifying and dangerous the world becomes.
3. The Nightmare and Dream Realms
Another major Lovecraftian influence in Bloodborne is the use of dreams and nightmares as a means of interacting with otherworldly forces. In Lovecraft’s work, dreams often serve as a gateway to other dimensions or alternate realities. Bloodborne uses a similar concept with the Hunter’s Dream and the various nightmare realms you visit throughout the game.
The Hunter’s Dream, where players rest, upgrade their gear, and interact with the Doll, represents a place between reality and the unknown. However, as players progress, they discover that this dream is connected to the Great Ones, blurring the line between reality and the dream world. The Nightmare of Mensis is another example of this concept, where humans attempt to communicate with the Great Ones through dreams, leading to disturbing and horrific consequences.
Bloodborne’s realms aren’t separate but layered, with insight revealing them. It places the Pthumerian Labyrinth at the bottom, followed by the Moonside Lake, waking world, Hunters Nightmare, Nightmare Frontier, Lecture Hall, and Nightmare of Mensis, with the Hunters Dream possibly higher, beneath the Moon Presence.
– shadowben666 Via fextralife.com –
4. Themes of Transformation and Madness
In both Lovecraft’s work and Bloodborne, humanity’s interaction with cosmic forces often leads to physical and mental transformation. In Bloodborne, the inhabitants of Yharnam are transformed into beasts as a result of their experimentation with blood, which ties into the theme of forbidden knowledge corrupting and mutating those who seek it. Similarly, in Lovecraft’s stories, characters who come into contact with the Elder Gods or forbidden rituals often undergo disturbing transformations.
The theme of madness is also central to both Lovecraft’s work and Bloodborne. Characters who pursue the truth about the Great Ones or seek to transcend humanity are often driven mad by what they uncover. This is echoed in the game’s various NPCs, many of whom lose their sanity as they delve deeper into the dark secrets of the world.
Bloodborne’s Unique Twist on Lovecraftian Lore
While Bloodborne’s Lovecraftian lore is undeniable, the game isn’t just a direct adaptation of Lovecraft’s themes. FromSoftware, the developers of Bloodborne, add their own twist by blending Gothic horror with cosmic horror. The game begins with a focus on werewolves, plagues, and blood rituals, which are staples of Gothic horror, before slowly shifting toward a more Lovecraftian narrative involving cosmic beings and eldritch horrors.
The ‘Souls’ game’s formula, with its brutal difficulty and its vague but concrete lore, does an excellent job at prodding the player’s morbid curiosity. And so does Lovecraftian horror. In both cases, you’re going to end up confused and terrified by what secrets you uncover.
– eurogamer.net –
This gradual shift from Gothic to Lovecraftian horror is one of Bloodborne’s greatest strengths, as it constantly keeps players on edge. Just when you think you understand the nature of the horror, the game reveals a deeper, more terrifying layer that challenges your perception of reality.
Conclusion: Is Bloodborne a Lovecraftian Game?
Bloodborne is definitely a Lovecraftian game, that’s the short answer. It uses the main ideas of cosmic horror, like how small people are, the search for forbidden knowledge, and how crazy is inevitable, to weave them into the story and the way the world is built. Lovecraft’s Elder Gods are similar to the Great Ones in the game, and the idea of going crazy from knowing too much is present in both the game’s mechanics and story.
Bloodborne, on the other hand, stands out by combining Gothic horror with its own unique gameplay features, giving Lovecraftian horror a new look. By mixing these types of games, Bloodborne makes a deep, interesting world that scares players not only with scary monsters but also by making them question what reality is.
Fans of cosmic horror and Lovecraftian themes should definitely play Bloodborne. It’s a scary experience that stays with you long after you put down the mouse. The game is a true masterpiece in the world of horror games because it has a deep story, a scary mood, and it explores the unknown.
In the end, finding out about Bloodborne’s Lovecraftian mythology will be a journey that makes you think about the world and your place in it.