Cultist Simulator: Initiate Edition

 Switch
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User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 2
  3. Negative: 1 out of 2

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  1. Brnlv
    Nov 16, 2021
    2
    Cultist Simulator is a dense and overwrought video game. It’s also very addictive. This is an unfortunate combo. It’s a card-game based adventure into the occult, set up to tantalise you with glimpses into a splendidly dark game world. But the work required to progress into this Lovercraftian horror story is so bafflingly contrived, it comes at the cost of any initial appeal.

    Let’s    Cultist Simulator is a dense and overwrought video game. It’s also very addictive. This is an unfortunate combo. It’s a card-game based adventure into the occult, set up to tantalise you with glimpses into a splendidly dark game world. But the work required to progress into this Lovercraftian horror story is so bafflingly contrived, it comes at the cost of any initial appeal.

    Let’s begin with the most egregious decision of the bunch - the lack of fathomable guidance. Imagine trying to play poker for the first time with no rulebook. Now imagine being asked to do so whilst spinning plates. And finally, because the Switch version of the game conceals half of the playing area at all times, cover one eye. That’s the general vibe of Cultist Simulator's approach to onboarding.

    Not knowing what to do isn’t fun. But the mechanics themselves are the puzzle, right? That’s certainly the intention – and it could be great, if handled better. Unfortunately, the mechanics are designed according to an internal logic the player is not privy to. The process of deciphering where you can put cards to make things happen is a painful playing experience. If a card doesn’t work? Tough. If it does? Great... but what’s the use, if you’re not sure why? The time it takes to figure this stuff out isn't a reasonable ask. It’s a game that needs a Wikipedia to comprehend. And that’s if you’ve lucked into asking the right question.

    In hindsight, I persisted with Cultist Simulator for way too long. I struggled to the peak of the game’s metaphysical plane, which was a preposterously convoluted process. But after learning so much, and coming so far, the game’s final puzzle is an abject disaster that disregards all you’ve learned the aspects and strengths of the cards, replacing that hard-won knowledge with a cheap: “oh, you just need a hard-to-find object.” The effect was like having the game put out its hand in congratulations, and then pull it away before the shake.

    With such ungenerous design decisions, too many obscure mechanics and subsystems, and a stultifying lack of empathy in getting players into the game, Cultist Simulator collapses under its own weight. My tip? Don’t play it. I’m certain it makes sense to its maker, and to a persistent and saintly-patient hardcore. But it's an egregiously ungenerous game that's just not worth the trouble.    … Expand
  2. Elite_Institute
    Mar 5, 2022
    7
    "I can’t exactly recommend Cultist Simulator to everyone. It does next to nothing to help you play the game, but at the same time therein lies the appeal. The more you play of the game, the more you learn. Gradually things come together piece by piece, and it is immensely satisfying when something clicks and you are able to progress further. The story is charming and you get a real sense"I can’t exactly recommend Cultist Simulator to everyone. It does next to nothing to help you play the game, but at the same time therein lies the appeal. The more you play of the game, the more you learn. Gradually things come together piece by piece, and it is immensely satisfying when something clicks and you are able to progress further. The story is charming and you get a real sense of how the character’s lives are playing out. If you can handle the stress of having to work everything out, and also juggling many different tasks at once, then this game may well be for you. If not, then there’s a good chance it’ll just end up frustrating and confusing. "

    https://theeliteinstitute.net/2021/06/02/cultist-simulator/    … Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
64

Mixed or average reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 11
  3. Negative: 2 out of 11
  1. Gaming Age
    Sep 28, 2021
    50
    The crazy thing is, despite my constant frustration with Cultist Simulator, I still wouldn’t say that I hated it. It’s stylish, it’s got an interesting look and feel, and, even with my ineptitude, it’s pretty apparent that there’s a very deep game to be found here — if you can just unlock it somehow.
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  2. Shindig
    Mar 10, 2021
    70
    Even with the added “help” features that Initiate Edition introduces, Cultist Simulator demands a willingness to fumble around in the dark–not only to see the best of what the game has to offer, but even just to come to grips with its basic fundamentals. If you’ve got the time and patience to meet its demands, Cultist Simulator can be a fascinating game, but an overcommitment to being deliberately obtuse robs the game of impact in what should be its strongest moments.
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  3. GamePro Germany
    Feb 11, 2021
    82
    The frustration factor is a bit too pronounced due to the really stressful survival character.
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