Featured Image Credit: Nacon
It was in 2017 that Uncharted: The Lost Legacy arrived, marking the end of the franchise’s successful run.
That is for now, at least. It’s rumoured that Naughty Dog could be working on a reboot of the series with development quietly having been ongoing for upwards of three years.
That rumour should be taken with a pinch of salt for now. However, I do have just the recommendation if you’re after something that delivers that same treasure-hunting thrill.
Developed by ACE Team and set to be published by Nacon, The Mound: Omen of Cthulu is an upcoming four-player co-op title that sees a group of explorers set out in search of treasure.
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The catch, if you hadn’t gathered from the Lovecraftian mention of Cthulu, is that the jungle you’ve found yourself in is home to reality-altering monstrous creatures.
“In the cursed and hostile jungle, danger lurks around every corner,” begins the synopsis.
“Lovecraftian horrors warp reality as madness closes in, while you explore ever deeper in search of infinite riches buried within The Mound.”
Much like horror hit Phasmophobia, The Mound: Omen of Cthulu features a madness system and the worse off your “madness” level is, the more the jungle will play with your perception.
READ MORE: PS5's Latest Free Taster Has Major Uncharted Vibes, 5/5 Ratings Flood In
“Unpredictable threats distort your senses, blur the line between reality and illusion, and sow paranoia within your group,” devs tease.
Yes, that means that you might grow distrustful of your fellow players.
After a run in The Mound: Omen of Cthulu, you’ll be able to exchange your collected gold for improved weapons and equipment, allowing for deeper and further exploration of The Mound.
There are treasures dotted all around the map, although the deeper you venture into this cursed jungle, the greater the threat you’ll face.
The game launches incredibly soon on 15 July across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Ahead of that date, though, a free demo is available to enjoy on Steam. In fact, the demo was one of the most-played offerings during the recent Steam Next Fest.
It sees you make your preparations at the Galleon Hub, where you and your squad can purchase vital gear and select your destination “before rowboating into the unknown”.
You’ll then “explore thick, overgrown environments in search of cursed treasures”.
“Tread carefully - the jungle reacts to your actions. The more noise and destruction you cause, the more the environment wakes up to hunt you.”
Finally, you must monitor your mental health so you don’t fall into madness.
Hallucinations will appear, attempting to break your trust with your team or lure you into deadly traps. Your teammates can even appear as horrifying monsters.
If a teammate dies and isn’t revived in time, they’ll be forced to return as a hostile and hunt you down for the rest of the round.
There’s no set runtime for the demo but online playthroughs seem to go on for at least 40 minutes.
The Mound: Omen of Cthulu has all of the right ingredients to be the next multiplayer hit.
