A hidden gem of a strategy game. While a little rough and inconsistent in its presentation, Shadows of Forbidden Gods more than makes up for it with depth of mechanics, flavor and emergent storytelling.

You take on the role of a slumbering lovecraftian god slowly awakening to bring about the end of days. Instead of overtly taking over the world with military might or economic power (though there are strategies that do utilize these things) your tools of the trade are subtlety, manipulation and chaos. Prey upon the follies of men with your dark agents. See a baron who dislikes their greedy lord? Why not instigate a feud between the two houses that will escalate into a civil war? How about fostering a cult of fish hybrids to curse a bloodline with madness? Or spreading a plague only to "solve" the crisis with an aristocrat under your employ, sowing discord amongst the nobles affected? Every god has its own strategy and mechanics but can universally utilize tactics like these to accomplish their goals.

Shadows of Forbidden Gods feels unique in its ideas and implementation and more than justifies its price tag for fans of lovecraftian horror and the strategy game genre.

This is an amazing game. I love it. Highly recommend!