Cultist Simulator review

Mental note! Picking a game without knowing the mechanics, complexities, or the basic lore is a bad idea. However, here I am looking at the most challenging game I’ve played in a while, Cultist Simulator. This card game-inspired video game crossover has an extremely tough learning curve. Furthermore, trial and error and never-ending permutations haunt you throughout. Klabatar have published this brutally tough experience. Moreover, the developers, Weather Factory, have not helped things as no tutorial is provided.

Instead, gamers must work through many confusing elements as they try and fail to run a successful cult. Though I sound negative, I really enjoyed my time with this challenging game. The twists and turns were fascinating, and just when you think you have things nailed down, the game throws a curveball, and you must rethink your tactics.

The sheer scale will put you off Cultist Simulator.

If you have played the card game, you will be more enlightened than I could ever be. Yet, I suspect that many people will come into this completely blind. This will cause frustration, confusion, and a sense of regret. However, I urge you to push through the pain barrier and seek help from many helpful YouTube guides.

Once you get to grips with the basics, you will enjoy the almost never-ending lore. Every event, activity, and failed task is loaded with interesting information. Additionally, the evolution of your cards, job, aspirations, and beliefs makes this a truly fascinating encounter.

Tough to explain.

I’m trying to find a way to explain Cultist Simulator without boring or confusing you. The game is best described as a narrative roguelike card game that plays out in real time. The board highlights your path, whereas the cards represent your health, wealth, aspirations, and reasoning. As you develop and combine these core resources with different goals, your world moves and shifts accordingly.

Each path is a catalyst for a whole crazy story where different jobs can inspire people or make them despise you. What’s more, a lack of money or health can have devastating consequences and can be tough to manage. It feels as if you are spinning a million plates while juggling balls of fire. I was never comfortable, and this prevented me from truly enjoying any playthrough.

Cultist Simulator is a simple affair.

Visually, you don’t get much bang for your buck. The action flows around simple cards and a whole host of dialogue. Moreover, you must learn to pause the action if you wish to take everything on board. The graphics are refined, but suitable for the card genre. The animations are simple, and I like the helpful UI that helps alleviate some of the confusion and pain. The music does a great job of setting the scene. I’ve rarely been this inspired to keep pushing through the pain barrier. I found the atmospheric soundtrack distracted me from the main pitfalls I encountered. As such, the developer did a great job.

Undoubtedly, Cultist Simulator would be better with a mouse and keyboard. Though the controller system works, it is a little time-consuming working through each card and deciding where you wish to place them. I can imagine a mouse would be quicker, easier, and make the whole learning curve much more pleasurable. I’m no quitter, but I wanted to uninstall this many times. Death came far too often, and the sense of unfairness ripped through my loins. Yet, I can see many gamers enjoying this. Consequently, if you fall into that camp, you will get endless replay value and lose yourself in this all-consuming affair.

Tough and hideous, but Cultist Simulator is a special game.

A massive part of me wishes to scream about my hatred of this game! I hate it because it beat me so many times. However, it is a special game with so many amazing ideas. Moreover, no playthrough is the same, and the hellish learning curve makes it extremely rewarding. I may have been terrible at it, but my lack of basic foundations was to blame. Accordingly, if you love the card game, you will adore this video game adaptation, and you should buy a copy from the Xbox store!