The term "Cthulhu Mythos" is used to describe the vast, mysterious world of gruesome creatures, sinister locations, and terrifying ancient civilizations in which numerous pieces of horror fiction are based. Encompassing science fiction, fantasy, and all things macabre, the Cthulhu Mythos is a constantly evolving collection of tales delving into every aspect of fear.

It originates from the works of H. P. Lovecraft, although many stories have expanded on his concepts greatly to create incredibly diverse scenarios.

This development is mainly due to there being no central authority which controls the rights to Lovecraft's work, and so nothing exists to maintain continuity or restrict the exploration of his ideas.

Many authors object to using the term "Cthulhu Mythos" since Cthulhu himself isn't the most important creature in the Mythos universe. In fact, the term was created by August Derleth, the founder of the publishing house that first printed Lovecraft's works. However, it is a commonly used phrase and still manages to convey a sense of foreboding to any piece of work associated with it.

While you do not need to be familiar with Lovecraft's work or the Cthulhu Mythos in order to play and enjoy Dark Corners of the Earth, the game does include quite a bit of information about the Mythos. Some of it is revealed as part of the story, while other information is hidden away in parts of the game.