Cultist Simulator

 PC
User Score
7.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 41 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 41
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 41
  3. Negative: 9 out of 41

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  1. BIGTIM69
    Jun 8, 2018
    8
    This is very much a reading simulator as much as it is a cultist. Over all, the world building is superb, the sound design is better than it needs to be, and the writing meshes with the game loop very well. The time sink and grind of the early game can be underwhelming, but sticking through rewards you with a better-than-lovecraft gem.
  2. Mysteryman64
    Jan 17, 2019
    10
    Not a game for the impatient. You must slowly tease out the mechanics and how everything works, but once you do, the game becomes such a fascinating experience. Absolutely worth a play, just make sure you READ EVERYTHING and make sure that you actually pay attention to what you are doing and think about why you are doing it.
  3. Chaotic92
    Jul 6, 2018
    8
    Honestly a great game, the no tutorial encourages trail and error playing, and exploring to find out your messed up much later on, the re-playability is a little low but there is a lot of free dlc's incoming and think it's a real nice tough to indie gaming
  4. FranckyDooky
    Jun 5, 2018
    8
    Really love the game ; Lovecraft,

    (7,5-8) Gameplay (8) for the sounds and soundtrack (7,5-8) for graphics (10) (free DLC for perpetual edition) (10) replayability, many cults foundations to go through. It's a game of patience , you will have to try to complete puzzling crafting cards for restoring your mental health, your physical health and trying to not get cut in your Cult    Really love the game ; Lovecraft,

    (7,5-8) Gameplay
    (8) for the sounds and soundtrack
    (7,5-8) for graphics
    (10) (free DLC for perpetual edition)
    (10) replayability, many cults foundations to go through.

    It's a game of patience ,
    you will have to try to complete puzzling crafting cards for restoring your mental health, your physical health and trying to not get cut in your Cult fanatical research and expeditions.

    Fanatical is the best word to describe this game,
    you will have to go through many attempts to make the game flow.

    This game can be terrifying, when u go through the lore late at night when unlocked some places.

    Like in the Lovercraft universe, u will find despair and horrors. Finishing this game might drive to despair ...... it is really hard.    … Expand
  5. LittleHoliday
    May 16, 2019
    10
    The reviews here inspired me to create an account just to review this gem. Yes it has grind, yes there is no tutorial (which is a good thing for its setting), but Cultist Simulator is, by far, one of my favorite games. This game is niche, but I've never played anything as engaging, enjoyable of addictive. I love games like Darkest Dungeon and X-com for their resource management side andThe reviews here inspired me to create an account just to review this gem. Yes it has grind, yes there is no tutorial (which is a good thing for its setting), but Cultist Simulator is, by far, one of my favorite games. This game is niche, but I've never played anything as engaging, enjoyable of addictive. I love games like Darkest Dungeon and X-com for their resource management side and rich lore but what I love about these kinds of games is that they don't hold you hand and THEY LET YOU FAIL. I love the fact that there are situations where you cannot progress without losing something you've worked for - this is something cultist simulator provides.

    Another amazing part of this game is the lack of a tutorial, which increases the immersion 20 fold, you have to discover what is going on, learn the systems, and find ways to overcome challenges with no hand holding. This is one of the only modern games i've played that has done something like this and it was incredibly refreshing and enjoyable. the systems here are very intuitive as well, there were many times in game when I thought "i should be able to do this" and I was able to do exactly that. There were so many moments where I was simply blown away by the design of this game.

    One of my favorite games ever. Raised the bar for all other resource management games I'll ever play. This game may not be for everyone, but I absolutely love it. (will try to come back and edit this / add more explanation in a bit)    … Expand
  6. Nullick
    May 22, 2019
    10
    There is a lot of reading, but all of the reading is definitely worth it. There is no real tutorial in this game and you have to figure everything out yourself, for the most part. If you play a lot of games and are looking for one which doesn't hold your hand, here it is. The support from the developers is actually really amazing and it's indicative of a passionate team which wants to makeThere is a lot of reading, but all of the reading is definitely worth it. There is no real tutorial in this game and you have to figure everything out yourself, for the most part. If you play a lot of games and are looking for one which doesn't hold your hand, here it is. The support from the developers is actually really amazing and it's indicative of a passionate team which wants to make their game as good as possible. They update the game frequently and, when they do, it's always for the better. The gameplay can be best described as balancing more and more spinning plates as time progresses. You need to keep track of an increasingly different number of things and if you can't keep up you'll lose. There are many different ways to "win" the game, but none of them are easy. You need to read everything you're given carefully, but I think that this game is definitely worth the asking price. It's a unique, polished plate spinning simulator which uses the lovecraftian inspiration brilliantly rather than being weighed down by the cosmic horror. You have to be patient and stick with it but, once the initial learning curve is over, you'll definitely have a lot more fun with this game than many of the reviews calling it a "boring inaccessible grindfest" would have you believe. It's rare for a unique idea to be executed well by a passionate team which continue to support their game in meaningful ways long after it has been released and it would be a shame to let it slip past your radar because of some reviewers got "stuck" or were looking for a more "standard" gaming experience.… Expand
  7. lilboa
    Oct 27, 2022
    8
    It could be 10 if the dev can make the pacer faster. Now it costs too much time to finish a round of game.
  8. Sap1ens
    Nov 27, 2020
    9
    Let me start with the negatives, because there are a couple.
    - There is quite a grind, which never lets go. Work, reducing Notoriety, waiting for things to expire or be available... It gets a bit tiring. - Many things will be repeated over and over in different playthroughs with little variation. Sure, starting as a Dancer or a Priest changes some things, but making a cult and going into    Let me start with the negatives, because there are a couple.
    - There is quite a grind, which never lets go. Work, reducing Notoriety, waiting for things to expire or be available... It gets a bit tiring. - Many things will be repeated over and over in different playthroughs with little variation. Sure, starting as a Dancer or a Priest changes some things, but making a cult and going into expeditions is always a bit samey.
    - On a second playthrough some of the mystery is gone, so it's a bit of a one-play wonder. Now the good:
    - Alexis Kennedy's writing baffles my mind every time. I have no idea how so few words can ever convey so much. He could write the weather forecast and have readers wonder at his wordsmith's prowess. - The atmosphere is top-notch, due to the visuals and the music and the everything. It's a very minimalistic game and yet makes you feel so immerse.
    - You really do learn. You learn of the Hours and the Names, and you will learn of a Thunderous Secret to grasp at the secrets of the unceasing beat of Heart. You immerge yourself in Secret Histories and call forth a Maid-in-the-Mirror to do your bidding. All of it conveyed through the same nebulous language that was of the Hermetic Society.
    - It is addictive. I write this as I have played two days almost straight, following my yearning. And even if the grind I mentioned is real, the progress is slow and steady. I feel a stubborn desire to wrestle this game to its knees, despite all the dread and the visions and the struggle and the rivals.
    - It inspires me. I want to write a gothic short story. I want to create a game with similar ideas. I want to run a horror D&D campaign. Cultist Simulator does so much with so little that it has influenced my thoughts much more than most games with their big budgets and fancy graphics. And it did it all with just simple cards, brilliant words and a haunting soundscape.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

68
#68 Most Shared PC Game of 2018

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
71

Mixed or average reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Dec 31, 2018
    60
    An inaccessible and difficult-to-use card game that hides a genius core underneath the questionable design decisions. It reveals the its unexpected depths and can keep the attention of only the most patient players. [Issue#287]
  2. Riot Pixels
    Dec 2, 2018
    55
    Lovecraft-inspired, one-of-a-kind, original-looking… boring grindfest.
    Read full review
  3. CD-Action
    Aug 2, 2018
    80
    At first glance Cultist Simulator looks like a card game, but in fact it’s a fusion of a puzzle game with a text adventure game. With its extraordinarily atmospheric writing, ability to merge simplicity with depth, and different paths it’s fun for hours. It’s a shame the later stage relies on grinding too much and can become tedious. [07/2018, p.80]
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