The Call of Cthulhu role-playing game has been officially inducted into the ENNIE Awards Hall of Fame, recognizing its lasting impact on tabletop gaming and horror storytelling. This announcement, made on October 26, marks the second entry in the Hall of Fame as part of the ENNIE Awards’ 25th anniversary celebration, with one game honored each month leading up to the 25th awards ceremony in August 2025.
The ENNIE Awards shared, “It is with great pride that the ENNIE Awards inducts Call of Cthulhu into the Hall of Fame. Its influence has spread far beyond the tabletop, leaving an indelible mark on role-playing games, popular culture, and the way we tell stories of fear and madness.”
Originally released in 1981 by Chaosium Inc. and created by Sandy Petersen, Call of Cthulhu was among the first role-playing games to shift from traditional fantasy themes to horror. The game, based on H.P. Lovecraft’s stories, uses Chaosium’s Basic Role-Playing system to focus on character vulnerability and psychological tension, rather than combat. This distinctive approach introduced a new genre of storytelling and mechanics, which has inspired many other games in the years since.
Call of Cthulhu has gone on to achieve global recognition, translated into over 15 languages, and has won more than 100 industry awards, including 44 ENNIEs. The game has influenced a range of other titles, from Trail of Cthulhu to Delta Green, and has inspired numerous Lovecraft-themed video games.
The ENNIE Awards ceremony will continue to add to its Hall of Fame inductees monthly until the August 2025 event. For more on the Hall of Fame announcement, visit the ENNIE Awards website.
Source: Tabletop Gaming News
