Introducing the new contender in the roguelite game genre. Well, not really new, we’re just late to the scene. Cult of the Lamb is the new hottest roguelite that got people talking. It combines roguelite elements and wait….base management? What?
Roguelite (rogue-lite), the chiller cousin of roguelike, which contains roguelike elements but is a much simpler form. And we’ve seen in recent times that the roguelite elements are getting cheekier with the humor and tone they employ while maintaining a dark theme throughout the game.
Take a look at this collection of roguelite games on Steam and you get the general vibe of roguelite games using dark themes in a more palatable way. Roguelite is a perfect genre for those who’re looking for something that does not take up their entire cognitive functions to figure out how to play the game and advance further in. All you need to do is raid dungeons, collect loot, upgrade and repeat. For those who’re looking to take even smaller baby steps, start off with roguelite mobile games. We have our own recommendation on mobile roguelites on both iOS and Android. Moving on!
Plot: The Chosen One
The word lamb is synonymous to a blind follower. It’s often used to describe blind followers of a cult. Followers of a cult usually blindly follow charismatic leaders into what they think is a safe haven, but that eventually turns out to be not true. The game gives the name a twist where you literally play a lamb that turns into a powerful shepherd, leading its very own cult to worship a long forgotten god. One of the reasons that this game became popular is to the fact that it capitalized on the cult theme that was made popular by games such Enter the Gungeon, Cultist Simulator, Honey, I Joined a Cult and The Shrouded Isle.
You play a cute, nameless lamb, sent to be slaughtered to appease the Bishops of the Old Faith. But right at the cusp of death, you’re sent to a ethereal plane, where you meet a chained god known as The One Who Waits. As the chained god makes you his new shepherd, it is up to you to build up a cult that worships him and kill the bishops that imprisoned him in the first place.
The whole premise of the game is about exacting revenge on the Bishops, who’ve tried to take your life away in the most meaningless way. Throughout the game, the game developers sprinkled compelling lore and backstory of the world you’re traversing in. You’ll start to uncover the gods of these lands and how the dynamic between the gods were.
Gameplay: The Awakening
Cult of The Lamb features a unique gameplay experience where it works in-sync to two main game mechanics simultaneously. First we have the roguelite dungeon crawler gameplay. You enter a dungeon, you equip weapons and magic spells, and you go crazy. Secondly, you have the base management gameplay where you build up your cult home base and accommodate more followers.
Base Management: The Inner Sanctum
The base management portion of the game is quite interesting. You build a cult compound, building temples and produce basic necessities to keep your cultists alive and devoted. Things like hunger, cleanliness and shelter is important to keep your cult from imploding. You collect faith and unlock new buildings, new skills and basically improve your dungeon run overall. While the art work and unique structures available to you are quite interesting and hits the dot with the whole cult theme, it felt lacking.
You’ll quickly reach the ceiling with the building upgrades and all you’re left with is with landscaping structures to build and collect. It felt like the base management aspect of the game is entertaining until you reach the mid point of the game. After that, it’s more of an afterthought.
Is Cult of the Lamb a short game? Well, depending on your skill level, it could take 15 hours to complete the game.
Cult of the Lamb is a short game relative to other titles in the same genre, but the game offers way more gaming experience outside of the main storyline. Besides action-packed dungeon adventures, you will find yourself shoveling poop around your base from time to time, just to keep your cult members healthy.
Combat: Purging Non-Believers
The dungeon gameplay is exciting and familiar. Attack, roll, parry and special skills. Combine these mechanics and you’re in for one awesome fighting experience. It’s a pretty straightforward experience to those who’s familiar with the genre. And it’s pretty easy to pickup for those new. Paired with the cute and unique art style, we can see this game to be a strong contender as the game to play if you’re new to the roguelite dungeon crawling game genre.
You can also use magic spells that can picked up along the way. Some spells are attacks; shooting projectiles and poisoning enemies, while the rest act as defensive spells; shields and health. You can construct the Demonic Summoning Circle in your base and use one of your cultist reincarnated into a demon that helps you in battle. If you’re in need of a guide to get you started in the right direction, check out this article on tips and tricks to play Cult of the Lamb.
Immersion: Baptism Through Fire
It’s hard to stay cute while your theme surrounds sensitive and dark topics. Mainly cults and sacrifice. Oh, and using your cults as power ups rather than seeing them as living, breathing creatures. Sacrificing followers while a cute theme song plays in the background. Cult of the Lamb uses hardcore demonic cult themes while balancing the adorable nature of the characters.
Combining two contrasting themes has been done before in video games but not many have achieved a good balance like this game. It would definitely fit the bill as a horror game, but the cuteness factor overpowers any scary elements and makes it more palatable to a wider audience. That being said, Cult of the Lamb probably isn’t suitable for kids as it still revolves around sensitive topics.
Another detail that we found to be interesting in the Cult of the Lamb is the language used in both the conversations between characters in the game and the soundtrack. It is reminiscent to the made-up language used in Animal Crossing. Bunch of gibberish, but vocals emphasized with emotions. You’ll immediately understand the vibes conveyed by the NPCs.
Throughout the different main dungeons, you’ll find yourself with the option to talk to various NPCs that expands on the lore of the world. The game holds your attention with mystique and shamanistic storytelling, painting a time before the new gods took over. Options to learn more about the world is available in almost all of your dungeon crawling expedition.
Final Thoughts: The One True God
Is the Cult of the Lamb worth it? Short answer, yes.
Is the Cult of the Lamb worth playing in 2023? Yes!
Cult of the Lamb is a great game if you’re dipping your toes into the roguelite genre, and if you’re looking to explore the hardcore realm of roguelike games. It contains all the elements that constitutes a typical game in that genre, and it contains its own unique twist.
Its straightforward gameplay makes it a perfect introductory title to new players, and a fun, lighthearted alternative for the more veteran gamers out there. It is a well made game, and a lot of thought and care has gone into making it. From the characters, music, lore and even the lighthearted references to cults, demons and cruel gods, all perfectly balance. This game is short and it delivers a fun time for anyone giving it a go. Cult of the Lamb is available on Steam and on almost all platforms. It also comes with DLC packs available now (Relics of the Old Faith) with another one coming early 2024 (Sins of the Flesh) Check it out today!
The Future of Cult of the Lamb
During the whole Unity fiasco, developers of the game took to Twitter that they’ll be deleting game by Jan 1 2024. This statement has been proven to be untrue, as the developers clarified that it was a joke as Unity’s announcement have enraged many developers and gamers around the world. Nevertheless, new expansions are already in development for Cult of the Lamb and will be available for purchase early 2024.