Deep in the jungle, danger isn’t just lurking in the beasts that hide there... The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu, a cooperative horror game from ACE Team and published by NACON, is now available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series since July 15, 2026. Inspired by H. P. Lovecraft’s short story The Mound, this cooperative horror game tasks a team of explorers with tracking down a legendary city while facing phenomena that progressively warp their sense of reality.
The launch trailer follows an expedition from the era of the conquistadors, plunging into a dense, hostile jungle. Players march as a squad through diverse environments, face off against unknown beasts, and scavenge resources while racing to complete the mission objectives.
The screenshots also depict the hallucinatory effects tied to the characters’ deteriorating mental health. The team members no longer share the same reality, complicating their progress and communication. Several sequences finally spotlight clashes with creatures and the use of period-appropriate weapons, such as the bow, the crossbow, or the arquebus.
"Freely inspired by the Lovecraftian cosmic-horror masterwork The Mound, The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu invites solo players or squads of up to four to set off for an unmapped continent in search of a legendary city housing priceless treasures".
The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu is a horror game you can play solo or cooperatively with up to four players, featuring cross-play across all platforms. Before each session, the team selects a contract that defines the expedition’s objectives as they venture into the jungle to collect riches and resources.
Exploration takes center stage. Eighteen hand-crafted maps are available from launch, each offering distinct environments. To progress, players must locate the logbooks left by previous expeditions to unlock new areas.
The game also revolves around a mental health mechanic. As the expedition unfolds, characters suffer visual and auditory hallucinations that distort their view of the world. These effects directly shape gameplay and teamwork, since not every team member witnesses the same events. When an explorer dies, they can even become corrupted and turn into a threat to their companions.
Communication is one of the key elements thanks to a chat vocal spatialisé. With limited resources and fragile weapons, players must move cautiously and stick together to stand a chance of completing their mission.
Eight playable characters are on offer, four of which are available from the outset: Alonso de la Torre, Leonor, Don Rodrigo de Medina and Fray Gaspar. All share the same gameplay mechanics and remain vulnerable to the dangers encountered during expeditions.
NACON has also confirmed the release of a physical edition on PS5 and Xbox Series, scheduled for August 6, 2026. This edition will include the entire game on disc.
With this release, ACE Team presses on with its exploration of fantastical worlds and cooperative play. The big question now is how players will embrace this freer, Lovecraftian-inspired adaptation in the weeks following launch.
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