Cultist Simulator

About

Cultist Simulator is a narrative-driven card game that immerses you in a world of mystery and intrigue. Play as a seeker of eldritch knowledge, managing cards to learn spells, summon beings, and evade investigators. With its rich storytelling and strategic gameplay, Cultist Simulator explores the thrill and peril of pursuing the unknown.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

+15

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 9,169 reviews

gameplay639 positive mentions

grinding959 negative mentions

Cultist Simulator offers a unique blend of narrative and strategy, immersing players in a mysterious world of occult rituals and dark lore.
The game features excellent writing and a deep, engaging lore that keeps players invested and eager to discover more.
The card-based mechanics provide a compelling and complex experience, rewarding experimentation and critical thinking.

The steep learning curve and lack of a tutorial can be frustrating for new players, making it difficult to understand the mechanics and objectives.
The gameplay can become repetitive and grindy, especially in the mid to late game, leading to a sense of tedium.
Random number generation (RNG) can lead to sudden game overs, causing players to lose hours of progress due to unforeseen circumstances.

gameplay
3,257 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
73%
8%
The gameplay of *Cultist Simulator* is characterized by its unique card-based mechanics that require players to manage resources and time while navigating a complex web of interactions. While many players find the initial discovery of these mechanics engaging and rewarding, the steep learning curve, lack of tutorials, and repetitive nature of the gameplay can lead to frustration and a sense of grind as players progress. Overall, the game appeals to those who enjoy deep lore and the challenge of figuring out mechanics through trial and error, but it may not resonate with players seeking more straightforward or dynamic gameplay experiences.
- “The card-based mechanics provide a compelling and complex experience, though the steep learning curve may be challenging.”
- “Hard to explain why such simple mechanics feel so engaging.”
- “The gameplay loop is fun for the first four hours, when you don't know what exactly is going on.”
- “The game does not contain a proper tutorial, which leads to a gameplay experience that is barely manageable.”
- “With such grindy and esoteric gameplay that wears down after a couple of your runs, it feels like this doesn’t respect your time; it just makes me wish it was another kind of game altogether because the world seems so interesting.”
- “The gameplay loop boils down to RNG grinding for cards you need off of random events, while also fending off constant, non-changing attention checks.”
story
1,516 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
66%
3%
The story in "Cultist Simulator" is rich and deeply woven into its gameplay, offering players a unique narrative experience that unfolds through card interactions and flavor text. While many players appreciate the intricate lore and the emergent storytelling that allows for personal interpretation, others find the gameplay tedious and the narrative difficult to follow due to its fragmented presentation and the grindy mechanics. Overall, the game appeals to those who enjoy complex, story-driven experiences, particularly within a Lovecraftian context, but may frustrate players seeking a more straightforward narrative progression.
- “The game tells an amazing story based on which path you choose, and the brutal aspect of permanent consequences make for lots of ups and downs.”
- “An absolute masterwork of storytelling, esotericism, and trial-and-error gameplay.”
- “The story is incredibly rich but it isn't told to you in any conventional way.”
- “You are expected to make every decision within one minute, leaving you with no time to carefully read the story context provided by each card.”
- “The gameplay is tedious and the story the cards tell is not fleshed out enough or detailed enough for me to really care.”
- “The writing and worldbuilding are great, but everything about the game itself undercuts them: you have to keep zooming and scrolling around to read tiny text; most of the gameplay is just dragging cards from one location to another (no helpful shortcuts like 'repeat action', almost no mechanical reason to pay attention to the story); you're either constantly mashing the pause button on double speed or sitting around bored on regular speed; the timer and the sheer repetitive grindiness encourages you to ignore the flavour text anyway.”
grinding
967 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
99%
The grinding aspect of "Cultist Simulator" is widely criticized, with players noting that it becomes excessively tedious and repetitive, particularly in the mid to late game. Many reviews highlight the need for extensive grinding to progress, often leading to frustration due to the game's reliance on RNG and the lack of clear direction, which can result in hours of effort being wasted. While some players appreciate the game's atmosphere and writing, the overwhelming consensus is that the grind detracts significantly from the overall experience, making it feel like a chore rather than an engaging gameplay loop.
- “Not tedious like grinding in RPGs.”
- “It wasn't the card-based gameplay, it wasn't the grinding.”
- “The game is tedious.”
- “I wanted to like this game, and I did for the first few hours, but after it becomes a slog that requires incredibly boring grinding, or praying to the RNG gods, all the while having to micromanage monotonous systems to make sure your game doesn't end out of seemingly nowhere.”
- “The gameplay loop boils down to RNG grinding for cards you need off of random events, while also fending off constant, non-changing attention checks.”
atmosphere
593 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
39%
1%
The atmosphere of "Cultist Simulator" is widely praised for its immersive and haunting qualities, effectively evoking themes of mystery, occult lore, and Lovecraftian dread. Players appreciate the game's rich writing, atmospheric music, and minimalist art style, which together create a compelling sense of exploration and discovery, despite some frustrations with gameplay mechanics. Overall, the game's ability to envelop players in its eerie ambiance and intricate storytelling is considered its strongest feature, making it a unique experience in the card game genre.
- “The writing and atmosphere are top notch and will be appreciated by anyone even vaguely interested in cosmic horror.”
- “This game is infused to the brim with atmospheric lore, maddening puzzles, and an unparalleled sense of discovery.”
- “The game does not attempt to teach you anything and honestly seems to actively make it harder to understand by using complex language and words that you do not understand, coupled with strange poetic sentences, which make for great writing and a Lovecraftian or mythical atmosphere, but makes it tough to understand the mechanics.”
- “The atmosphere slowly and gently surrounds you - like a silent fog - until you are completely immersed in the creepy and addicting world of Cultist Simulator.”
- “The concept and atmosphere are well done, but mechanically this game is a mess.”
music
552 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
42%
1%
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and haunting qualities, effectively enhancing the overall experience and immersing players in its lore and aesthetic. Many reviewers noted that the soundtrack complements the gameplay, creating a sense of tension and intrigue, although some mentioned it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the combination of evocative music and sound design contributes significantly to the game's unique atmosphere, making it a standout feature for many players.
- “The music is eerie, and really sets the tone.”
- “The soundtrack is amazing as well with an excellent mix of subtlety and atmosphere.”
- “The writing is phenomenal and the music sets the mood really well.”
- “Additionally, the default background music is noisy.”
- “As far as I can tell, music is a bit repetitive, but the art is 'cute'.”
- “The music will begin to feel grating and the RNG frustrating.”
graphics
491 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
52%
3%
The graphics of "Cultist Simulator" are characterized by a minimalist art style that, while simple, effectively contributes to the game's atmospheric and thematic depth. Many players appreciate the unique and beautiful artwork, which enhances the storytelling experience, though some find the lack of detailed visuals and animations limiting. Overall, the aesthetic is praised for its ability to evoke a sense of intrigue and immersion, despite the game's reliance on text and card-based mechanics.
- “Absolutely incredible game, amazing artwork and design.”
- “Cultist simulator offers a captivating story and visually stunning artwork that immerses you in a mythical world of discovery.”
- “The aesthetic of the game is fantastic, with watercolor art fading into the background on certain actions, card art being detailed and interesting for the space it works with, and the music is thematic and responsive to what's going on.”
- “I honestly do not see the allure of this game since all the visuals and audio are lackluster at best.”
- “You spend almost the entire game staring at cards on a static table and the cards themselves have no real artwork or animations.”
- “Incredibly disappointing, I really liked the art style and world-building in this seemingly simple game, but it felt way too complicated, and artificially padded out through absence of any form of tutorial.”
replayability
218 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
55%
6%
The game's replayability is generally praised, with many players highlighting the abundance of endings, diverse starting conditions, and engaging community content that enhance the experience. While some reviews note a steep learning curve and potential repetitiveness in gameplay, the inclusion of DLCs and various character legacies contribute to a high replay value for completionists and those who enjoy exploring different narrative paths. However, a few players express concerns about diminishing replayability after mastering the mechanics or completing the main content.
- “Completionists will find tons of replayability from the numerous secret endings and new game+/alternate starts, but a full playthrough will likely net you tens of hours of fun in just experimentation and exploration.”
- “The replayability is incredible, since there are so many different ways to win, even more coming with the new DLC.”
- “With its haunting soundtrack, brilliant writing, and endless replayability, Cultist Simulator is simply amazing.”
- “If you are okay with spending money for a game that is not very replayable, but has a great first play-through experience that is focused on learning through experimentation, then I would recommend this game.”
- “After getting one ending, however, the rest can be reached in the same manner, easing the difficulty, but also reducing replayability.”
- “Once you progress far enough in the game that you aren't discovering new things (which is a few hours in), there is also essentially zero replayability.”
stability
68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
91%
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and a generally unreliable user interface, particularly on Linux. Many players find the experience frustrating due to frequent crashes and game-breaking issues, although some acknowledge that certain bugs have been addressed in updates. Overall, while the gameplay can be engaging, the persistent technical problems significantly detract from the overall experience.
- “Runs great on Linux Mint, though.”
- “The UI is clean and functional; I had one issue where a save was corrupted, but apart from that, it was a bug-free experience.”
- “Perhaps someday Weather Factory and Alexis Kennedy will make a game that either respects the player's time or is bug-free enough to be dependable; having either one would be a major boon.”
- “Absolutely plagued by bugs and glitches.”
- “Unplayable and contradictive to its goal as a broken, buggy game.”
- “Too buggy to play right now; most of the time when I try to pick up a card, I can't, and when I can, the card freezes and is then unusable until I click on another card, which then suffers from the same problem.”
humor
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its clever and often dark humor, with players enjoying the witty writing and amusing scenarios that arise from its unique mechanics. Many found the lack of a tutorial to be a source of hilarity, leading to unexpected and funny discoveries during gameplay. Overall, the humor enhances the rich narrative and engaging experience, making it a standout feature that keeps players entertained for hours.
- “The writing is consistently top notch and frequently pretty funny; music and sound design are top notch, and even after you've mostly mastered it, the main loop remains rewarding and fun.”
- “The story is rich and hilarious.”
- “Very funny at times, made me literally laugh out loud.”
emotional
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is described as a complex and overwhelming experience that evokes a range of feelings, from confusion and frustration to exhilaration and a sense of discovery. Players report a deep engagement with the narrative, likening it to the unsettling allure of Lovecraftian themes, while also noting that the repetitive gameplay can lead to emotional fatigue. Overall, the game is praised for its beautifully written prose and the intense emotional journey it offers, making it a unique and memorable experience.
- “It seems really overwhelming at the beginning, but once it gets rolling, it is really an emotional rollercoaster.”
- “All of the action really takes place in your own head as the results of your combinations are revealed in gripping and emotionally charged snippets of prose.”
- “Like I said at the beginning of this review, I haven't played a game that made me feel like this in at least a decade.”
optimization
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
73%
12%
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with players reporting frequent crashes, poor performance, and interruptions caused by autosave features that hinder gameplay. Despite the game's simple graphics and exceeding system specifications, many users experience stuttering and lag, indicating a significant need for optimization improvements. Overall, the lack of effective sorting functions and play mechanics further detracts from the gaming experience.
- “Can't wait to play more and watch YouTube videos on how others solved the desk space optimization challenge (didn't want to look until I finished at least one of the lines).”
- “It usually runs smoothly and it's fine.”
- “I played this game on a laptop in which disabling internet connectivity enhanced graphical performance.”
- “The performance is often surprisingly bad, especially after playing for a few hours (and my desktop profoundly exceeds the specifications for the game).”
- “Even when it isn't stuttering or slowing down, the autosave (by default every 5 minutes) frequently prevents all other actions: you'll be going to drag a card into a slot, and it simply won't go in, and then you'll notice the tiny autosave icon in the corner, and have to grab the card again.”
- “For some reason the game is crashing every 10 minutes or so and I've tried everything on the dev's support page but none of that helped me, so the game is clearly in need of some optimization for Windows 10.”
monetization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as predatory and reminiscent of manipulative free-to-play models, often likened to cash grabs and scams associated with Kickstarter or early access. Players report a frustrating experience filled with intrusive ads and a design that encourages incremental spending, akin to a "skinner box" approach commonly found in mobile games.
- “They are, in other terms, predatory cash grabs and Kickstarter/early access scams.”
- “And I don’t begrudge him that, but his design sensibilities since then have continued to evolve in a manipulative, incremental skinner box vein that you usually find in free-to-play mobile games with microtransactions.”
- “It feels like playing a game of scrolling and trying to remember wiki pages while ads pop up that you have to move.”
character development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Reviews indicate a significant disappointment in character development, with players feeling that it is minimal and poorly integrated into the gameplay. The initial promise of a deep narrative is overshadowed by a mismanaged progression system, where the brief moments of character growth are quickly lost in a chaotic endgame. Overall, the lack of substantial character development detracts from the overall experience.
- “However, it's possible that those snippets are simply a thin veneer of occult verbiage on top of the gameplay, especially since I didn't encounter any character development.”
- “The progression of the game feels mismanaged by the devs - a slow start (nice) gives way to a very short mid-game (what I would term the discovery and character development phase that is very short-lived) which in turn gives way to a cluttered mess of an end game that can seemingly linger on indefinitely until you find the correct combination of cards.”
- “I originally got this cool Navidson Report feel and desperately wanted some deep character development.”