Unnatural Selections #98 - what reviewers are saying about Cthulhu by Gaslight

The 'Unnatural Selections' series is our regular round up of notable Chaosium reviews worth a look.

Cthulhu by Gaslight takes the Call of Cthulhu roleplaying game to the fog-shrouded streets of Great Britain and beyond. Here's what reviewers are saying about the first two releases for the line, the Gaslight Investigator's Guide and the Gaslight Keeper's Guide.

Note, Cthulhu by Gaslight is a stand-alone game, you do not need to own the Call of Cthulhu Keeper Rulebook to play.

Gaslight Investigator's Guide

• “The new Gaslight supplement is a beautiful book, filled with exhaustive research that's fully applicable to playing Call of Cthulhu in this setting… I love how they've expanded the game to involve characters from all classes of society; games can be like Dickens novels! Good show, Chaosium, good show!” — Sean Branney, H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society.

• “Masterful… a must have.” — Susurros desde la Oscuridad, Cthulhu by Gaslight Investigator's Guide.

• “One of my favorite settings is the Gaslight era (late 1800’s), which puts the Cthulhu Mythos in the same time as Jack the Ripper. Cthulhu by Gaslight Investigator’s Guide is basically the 7E based rules for running the game including character creation, skill use, setting background, combat and more… an absolutely fantastic book.” — EuroCultAV, EuroCultAV Holiday Gift Guide 2024.

• “Cthulhu by Gaslight is a robust product, and players will be spoiled with new material if they want to take on the 19th-century Lovecraftian horrors.” — The British Fantasy Society, Cthulhu by Gaslight: Investigators’ Guide by Barton, Hardy, Mason, McDonald, Ross and Wade.

• “In turns interesting and informative, packed with details and interesting facts, many of which will both intrigue the most ardent devotee of the history of the period and help bring the setting to life when brought into play.” — Reviews from R’lyeh, https://rlyehreviews.blogspot.com/2025/02/mauve-madness.html.

• “Lots of games have touched on the period, but few have managed it to the level of detail and clarity offered here.” — Refereeing and Reflection, A Victorian Antique Restored: Cthulhu By Gaslight Investigators’ Guide.

• “An absolutely fantastic supplement, possibly one of the best setting books released for the seventh edition of Call of Cthulhu… a fluid and easy read, with excellent graphics that include brilliant art and cartography.” — Mundo Tentacular, RPG of the Month: Cthulhu by Gaslight Review - Lovecraft's Horror in the Victorian Era.

• “Offers players a fantastic resource on the historical details of the era… The rules allow investigators of every social class and how to bring them together for a game of supernatural mystery.” — Forbes, Four New Ways To Battle The Cthulhu Mythos Across Time And Space.

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Gaslight Keeper's Guide

• “A terrific sourcebook, brimming with useful information about the Victorian era, plus it has two great scenarios.” — Sean Branney, H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society, Gaslight Keeper's Guide Review.

• “Seth and Jon agree, this is a "must have" book for any group looking to play Call of Cthulhu in London's fog-shrouded Victorian period.” — Modern Mythos Podcast, Cthulhu by Gaslight: Keeper's Guide.

• “I'm going to begin this review with my conclusions: you want this book… If you are a Keeper with an interest in running games in Victorian England you will want this, and even if you aren't it's something you should absolutely get.” — Christian Jensen Romer., Review of Cthulhu by Gaslight: Keeper’s Guide.

• “For more information on the darker side of the era, Cthulhu by Gaslight: Keepers’ Guide deals with secret societies and the fascination with the occult many people had at the time. There are also Mythos cults and creatures that can be used in any game.” — Forbes, Four New Ways To Battle The Cthulhu Mythos Across Time And Space.

• “Without doubt a beautifully-crafted expansion to the Call of Cthulhu roleplaying game… The guide succeeds in transporting Keepers and players to a fog-shrouded era of gas lamps, occult intrigue, and creeping dread. The historical detail is impressively immersive without becoming overbearing, and the setting feels both authentic and ripe for cosmic horror.” — 5d Blog, Some brief thoughts on Cthulhu by Gaslight: Keeper’s Guide.

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Get your own copy of Cthulhu by Gaslight today!

Note, Cthulhu by Gaslight is a stand-alone game, you do not need to own the Call of Cthulhu Keeper Rulebook to play.

Investigator's Guide
– Full color hardcover (price inc PDF): $49.99
– Special leatherette version (price inc PDF): $99.99
– PDF: $24.99
– DriveThruRPG: $24.99
– Roll20: $24.99
Keeper's Guide
– Full color hardcover: $49.99
– Special leatherette version: $99.99
– PDF: $24.99
– DriveThruRPG: $24.99
– Roll20: $24.99
Syrinscape Sound Set: $15.99