Worshippers of Cthulhu

About

Worshippers of Cthulhu is a single player strategy game. It was developed by Crazy Goat Games and was released on May 22, 2025. It received positive reviews from players.

"Worshippers of Cthulhu" is a city-building game where you lead the Cult of Cthulhu, performing eldritch rituals and deciding the fate of your followers. Your ultimate goal is to awaken Cthulhu, transcending human existence and reshaping the cosmos, while facing numerous challenges along the way. The game blurs the line between sanity and madness, testing your endurance against the horrors you unleash.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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83%

Audience ScoreBased on 705 reviews

gameplay59 positive mentions

grinding26 negative mentions

The game successfully blends city-building mechanics with Lovecraftian horror, creating a unique and engaging experience.
The atmosphere and art style are well-executed, immersing players in a dark and eerie world that captures the essence of the Cthulhu mythos.
The game features interesting mechanics, such as carving symbols into followers' backs to change their specializations, which adds a fun and thematic twist to the gameplay.

The game suffers from tedious micromanagement, especially when it comes to managing followers and their specializations, which can become overwhelming in the late game.
There are issues with pacing and downtime, as players often find themselves waiting for resources and cooldowns, leading to a lack of engaging gameplay.
Some mechanics, such as the summoning of horrors and the patience meter for Cthulhu, feel underdeveloped and could benefit from more depth and balance.

gameplay
200 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
62%
8%
The gameplay of "Worshippers of Cthulhu" has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its unique mechanics and atmospheric integration of Lovecraftian themes, while others criticize it for being overly simplistic and repetitive, resembling a reskinned version of existing city builders like Anno. Many reviewers noted that while the game introduces interesting mechanics, such as rituals and cult management, they often feel underdeveloped or tedious, leading to a lack of engagement over time. Overall, the game shows potential for growth with further updates, but currently struggles with balancing complexity and enjoyment in its gameplay loop.
- “Each act introduced a new mechanic that kept things fresh.”
- “The game is packed with well-thought-out mechanics.”
- “The gameplay, stylization, and world-building is amazing in this one.”
- “I'm not easily disappointed by city builders, but this is just a reskinned Anno game with an extremely simplified economy, fewer mechanics, and some 'Cthulhu' theming.”
- “The mechanics are outdated, there isn't a lot of content, and the campaign is rather boring.”
- “The gameplay is painfully simple and repetitive.”
story
95 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
77%
3%
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its intriguing Lovecraftian themes and atmospheric setting, while others find it slow-paced and lacking in depth. Many reviews highlight the need for more main missions and variability to keep players engaged, as well as frustrations with quest progression and pacing. Overall, while the narrative has potential and offers enjoyable elements, it currently feels underdeveloped and could benefit from further refinement and additional content.
- “If you're looking for a game that masterfully blends atmospheric storytelling, strategic city-building, and the chilling allure of cosmic horror, Worshippers of Cthulhu is an unmissable experience.”
- “The eldritch theme is very well made, the atmosphere is eerie, the story is very intriguing, the 'minigames' between the building phases are very entertaining and unique, and the islands' design is absolutely gorgeous.”
- “The game takes you through a campaign that teaches you the basics in increasingly challenging missions with the overall goal of rousing Cthulhu from the depths of R'lyeh.”
- “The premise was interesting, but I found it taking all my willpower to play any more to see the 'story'.”
- “The tone of the writing is all over the place, leaving the player unsure if the story wants them to take it seriously or laugh at it.”
- “For Lovecraftian enthusiasts, the first few maps are enjoyable, but don't get this game for the story or feel - it feels rushed and forced.”
graphics
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
38%
4%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the atmospheric and stylized visuals that effectively capture the Lovecraftian aesthetic. While some players find the graphics beautiful and immersive, others note that they can feel dated or average compared to modern standards, with occasional glitches and performance issues. Overall, the art direction is generally well-received, contributing positively to the game's eerie atmosphere and thematic depth.
- “The graphics are beautiful, quite dark and based on the Lovecraft universe with great attention to detail.”
- “The visuals are stunning, with dark, mysterious landscapes that pull you into its world, while the haunting soundtrack perfectly complements the ominous tone of the game.”
- “Fantastic atmosphere and pleasant graphics finally do justice to this universe, combined with really great gameplay, similar to Anno but more simplified.”
- “It constantly freezes at any graphic resolution; I couldn't complete the tutorial part.”
- “Whilst the graphics look like something from a remastered game, so not really good.”
- “They captured the darkness and the spirit of the Cthulhu legacy, but I feel the horrors you spawn need a lot more graphics and attention to capture the 'real' Cthulhu vibe.”
atmosphere
69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
34%
4%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and eerie qualities, effectively capturing the essence of Lovecraftian horror through haunting visuals, sound design, and thematic elements. Players appreciate the blend of dark rituals and unsettling details that enhance the overall experience, although some critique the balance between atmosphere and gameplay mechanics. Overall, the game's rich, atmospheric presentation is a standout feature that resonates well with fans of the genre.
- “Imagine something like Anno—but infused with cosmic horror, dark rituals, and a Lovecraftian atmosphere.”
- “Worshippers of Cthulhu really nails the eerie atmosphere of Lovecraft’s mythos, with haunting visuals, deep mechanics, and a sense of growing dread that keeps pulling you in.”
- “From the very first moments, the game immerses you in an atmosphere so rich, dark, and unsettling that it genuinely feels like stepping into one of Lovecraft’s own tales.”
- “However, the developers don't seem to know where the line is between atmosphere and gratuitous gore and sadism.”
- “While atmosphere and core gameplay seem solid, it looks like a UI/UX expert was not present in the development team.”
- “I don't know which game devs got up in the morning and said 'let's make a city builder, but with the same creeping atmosphere of dread as Dredge', or why that would even occur to anyone...”
grinding
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be overly tedious and frustrating, particularly in the mid to late game where micromanagement of followers and resources becomes cumbersome. The need for constant management of tasks and locations, combined with a lack of quality-of-life features, transforms what could be strategic gameplay into a monotonous slog. While the game has promising elements, the excessive busywork detracts significantly from the overall experience.
- “Feels too grindy and basic.”
- “The game is really promising; however, it quickly becomes frustrating in the later game with worshiper management becoming tedious and annoying. There needs to be a better system for moving them around and changing their skills.”
- “The management of settlers is incredibly tedious; the player has no way to control who enters the city or view a report about what specializations are present, and can only change the destination of one house at a time, for hundreds of houses… no, it’s not a good mechanic.”
humor
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its dark and quirky elements, blending macabre themes with absurdity, which many players find both immersive and entertaining. While the humor can be hit-or-miss, with some moments leaning towards the silly side, it generally resonates well with those who appreciate a lighthearted take on darker subject matter. Overall, the interactions with cultists and the bizarre gameplay mechanics contribute to a unique comedic experience that enhances the game's charm.
- “Not only is it humorous, the game is philosophically interesting.”
- “It’s immersive, bizarre, and ridiculously funny.”
- “The mechanics are simple, the devs are very nice and do pay attention to what the players point out, and the interactions with the cultists are hilarious.”
optimization
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
Overall, the game's optimization is a significant concern among users, with many experiencing lag, stuttering, and the need to lower settings for acceptable performance. While some improvements have been noted since the demo, players feel that further optimization is essential, particularly regarding menu navigation and controller support. Despite these issues, there is a sense of potential for the game, especially as it continues to develop in early access.
- “To my mind, city builders are all about careful planning and then enjoying the system you've built run smoothly, and ideally it looks great too.”
- “Overall, it's got a lot of potential and there is plenty there already to keep you playing for a while, but it does need some optimization and polishing as well.”
- “Optimization is much improved from the demo.”
- “A shame, since I believe I would have really enjoyed the game, had it had an acceptable performance.”
- “I do also want to mention that there were times when the lag and stuttering got so bad that I had to drop some of the settings down all the way before it would start being playable again.”
- “It's still in early access, but the game has extremely poor optimization.”
music
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
11%
33%
The music in the game is generally praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, with a haunting soundtrack that complements the visuals and gameplay effectively. While some players desire more background music options to immerse themselves further, the existing audio elements, including ambient sounds and chants, contribute positively to the overall experience. Overall, the music is considered solid and fitting for the game's themes, though it may not stand out as particularly memorable on its own.
- “The music and visuals perfectly capture the atmosphere of this world.”
- “The atmosphere is fantastic, the music is fantastic, the subtle grumbling chants of the guttural cultists as I make a sacrifice, wonderful!”
- “The visuals are stunning, with dark, mysterious landscapes that pull you into its world, while the haunting soundtrack perfectly complements the ominous tone of the game.”
- “I didn't find the audio experience to be particularly noteworthy though, and you could easily play this game while listening to your own music or what have you.”
- “Sound 4.5/5: all the noises and all the sounds that come with the click of a villager are great, this is not a perfect score just because I want more background music that puts me in the mood for this game.”
- “+++ soundtrack (really sinks you into the proper mood for sacrificial management)”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent freezes and various bugs, particularly with the user interface. While the graphics and environments are praised, players report that the game becomes increasingly unstable after extended play sessions, often requiring a hard restart to resolve issues. Overall, the early release state contributes to a frustrating experience despite its enjoyable elements.
- “It constantly freezes at any graphic resolution; I couldn't complete the tutorial part.”
- “The most aggravating issue so far is that the game really does not like to be running for more than an hour, with some weird buggy behavior all around that only goes away with a hard restart.”
- “Obviously very buggy because of early release, but a lot of fun!”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
Players note that while the game has potential for high replayability, particularly with the newly introduced sandbox mode featuring various mutators and challenges, improvements in UI/UX and more dynamic enemy AI could enhance the experience further. Overall, the game shows promise for replay value, especially for fans of similar titles like the Anno series.
- “The sandbox mode just came out and I have not yet tried it, but I can say that the replay value will be very high due to the number of mutators and challenges available.”
- “I generally find the game elements quite similar to Anno Cthulhu; the UI/UX needs some improvement though. Some quality of life changes, as everyone else mentions, would give the replayability that games like the Anno series offer.”
- “I wish the enemy AI did more than just attack at intervals. A fully developed, player-like enemy would greatly enhance the replay value.”
- “The sandbox mode just came out, and while I haven't tried it yet, I can say that the replay value will be very high due to the number of mutators and challenges available.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization in this game is praised for being unobtrusive, avoiding the common pitfalls of annoying systems and excessive waiting times often found in similar titles. Players appreciate that it focuses on delivering a quality experience rather than relying on aggressive monetization strategies.