One of his favorites might have been 'The King in Yellow' by Robert W. Chambers. It has a sense of creeping dread and otherworldly elements that would appeal to Lovecraft. The stories within it deal with a cursed play that drives people mad.
It captures the essence through the use of his signature creatures. The eldritch horrors are a big part of Lovecraft's work, and the game brings them to life.
Lovecraft's detailed descriptions also play a big role. For example, in 'At the Mountains of Madness', he describes the grotesque and strange creatures in great detail. The way they look, move, and interact with the environment is both fascinating and horrifying. Also, his use of dark and isolated settings, such as the Antarctic in that story or the strange town in 'The Shadow over Innsmouth', adds to the sense of horror. There's a feeling of being cut off from the normal world and being at the mercy of these unknown terrors.
One of the common main characters is the investigator or the scholar type. They are often the ones who stumble upon the dark secrets. For instance, in some stories, an archaeologist might dig too deep and find something he shouldn't have.
The scariest elements often include the unknown and the cosmic horror. Lovecraft's stories often deal with entities that are beyond human comprehension, like the Great Old Ones. Their mere existence challenges our understanding of the universe and our place in it, which is truly terrifying.
It brings Lovecraft's horror concepts into a more modern and inclusive setting. For example, it shows how the horror affects different races and genders, not just the typical white male protagonists of Lovecraft's original works.
Lovecraft's body horror stories often involve a sense of the unknown and the cosmic. It's not just about the physical horror of the body but also about the implications of this horror in the grand scheme of the universe. Other horror stories might focus more on immediate threats like serial killers or ghosts.
The character of Herbert West is well - known. He is a mad scientist who tries to reanimate the dead, which of course leads to all kinds of horror. And there's also Abdul Alhazred, the so - called 'Mad Arab' who wrote the Necronomicon, an important and feared book in the Lovecraftian lore.
Well, there's the theme of the otherworldly. The creatures and forces in these stories are not of this world, and they bring a sense of unease. There's also a strong theme of decay, both physical and moral. Towns and people are often in a state of decay as a result of the presence of the Lovecraftian horrors. And there's a theme of the unholy or the profane, things that violate the natural order.