Cult of the Lamb

Cult of the Lamb has the potential to be one of the next big indie hits. The cute art style and comparisons to Hades and Animal Crossing: New Horizons will draw potential players in, but the game truly stands alone as its own experience with an intriguing story, a haunting score, and a world that grows more and more alive the longer you stay in it. The blend of gameplay styles also addresses some of the criticisms of both the roguelike genre and the farm management genres – runs are deliberately shorter so players can spend more time at the homestead, but the homestead isn't so much of a resource sink that players will feel they need to spend all their time cleaning up their camp instead of killing enemy cultists. Cult of the Lamb expertly balances a number of different mechanics, themes, and gameplay styles to create a fiendishly good time, making this game a hauntingly fun escape.

I can easily see Cult of the Lamb becoming one of the next indie darlings, and it would be utterly deserving of the epithet. It’s a blend of elements that, by rights, shouldn’t really work, but Massive Monster executed it with aplomb. The game lures you in with a lush and lurid art style and the promise of action-packing combat, and then indoctrinates you with a gameplay loop that keeps you coming back for more. I, for one, would follow the Lamb to the ends of the earth.

Cult of the Lamb stands as a true masterpiece of not one but two genres. I just couldn’t find any issues that got in the way of my enjoyment of its various mechanics, and the love I have for my clan will continue long past the final boss encounter.

Play length is not, and should never be seen as a value indicator in games, but for whatever it’s worth, I made my way to the game’s conclusion in around 16 hours of real-world gameplay time. However, it’s a title I absolutely will return to, because it’s entirely feasible to create a very different cult with different choices, and that’s one I do want to try out for myself. Massive Monster has also made noises – but no concrete promises as yet – around post-game DLC and possibly even multi-player modes, which could lead to some fascinating post-game scenarios, depending on whether they went for competing or cooperative cult activity.

You can keep your Elden Rings and Horizon Forbidden Wests; I’ll be on my cult farm raising crops and occasionally sacrificing my followers for the rest of the year, as Cult of the Lamb is an easy front runner for Game of the Year.

Cult of the Lamb is a unique experience bursting with personality. It looks and sounds gorgeous, and the gameplay loop is engaging, rewarding, and highly enjoyable from start to finish. Sacrifices and rituals to maintain your faith in the game aren’t necessary, given Massive Monster has created such a shining, standout piece of work.

There's something for everyone in Cult of the Lamb, and every mechanic and feature feels well thought out. The game is cute, funny, and fun. Everyone should try it!

Cult of the Lamb is a rare piece of art in gaming. It’s probably the best game ever made in Australia at this point and is so because it’s infinitely rewarding. I couldn’t stop worrying about my Followers, or thinking about what they needed next, but I also couldn’t stop abusing my power and letting myself drift into dark places. And I honestly haven’t covered even close to everything. The game is just so full of character and charm and wit and depth. And I can’t recommend it enough -- trust me, I’m a Cult leader.

Cult of the Lamb is awesome.

Cult of the Lamb looks like a roguelike in The Binding of Isaac way, but in reality, it is also a deep god game. The message behind the title is: you have to be afraid of losing those who the day before you treated as pawns. You feel omnipotent and invincible, but the truth is that you are a slave to others like anyone else.

Cult of the Lamb combines roguelike gameplay with cult management and I simply couldn't put it down.

Cult of the Lamb does an excellent job of combining two distinctly different genres into an absolutely fun experience. It helps that both genres are presented in their simplest form, rather than aiming for more advanced users with a bevy of options, so the mashup isn't so overwhelming. Both genres play well on their own, and the balance is thoughtful while still providing a good challenge.

Cult of the Lamb is a charming but disturbing project that provides an interesting take on the roguelike genre that combines dungeon delving with city managing in a single title, generously flavored with humor.

Cult of the Lamb is a masterpiece of an action roguelike game. It's fun, engaging, has a beautiful but brutal aesthetic, and is absolutely worth a playthrough. It's missing some replayability in my eyes, but it's overall a stellar title.

The depth of the mechanics are to be lauded as I think it’s the best cult management game out there. It refuses to go for simple concepts like “drinking the kool-aid” to build faith and actually makes each character in the cult have their likes and dislikes and forces the player to figure out the best way to deal with the cult as a whole so as to not lose faith in the player. The art and sound design just bring this whole game together into one of the best games I’ve played this year.

Quotation forthcoming.

It’s all those carefully-balanced contradictions that make Cult of the Lamb such a compelling game. The quiet comfort of a life sim and the tension and excitement of a roguelike don’t just coexist, but enhance one another, with some brilliant gallows humour arising in the mashup of cute critters and black magic. A game about brainwashing fluffy little animals into a potentially deadly cult and going to war with demonic false prophets probably shouldn’t be quite so comforting and cozy, but here we are—Cult of the Lamb is simply, morbidly delightful.

Cute but morbid, Cult of the Lamb quickly won us over with its varied gameplay and, many hours later, still has its hooks in us. It’s not very often that a game has you sacrificing new friends to a demon, but then Cult of the Lamb isn’t like anything else we’ve ever played. Its town building gameplay works seamlessly alongside its roguelite combat, both keeping you absorbed in their own ways. This is innovative indie gaming at its finest, and we can’t get enough.

Devolver Digital's blasphemous lamb manages to successfully mix different genres and inspirations, creating a unique cocktail that, we are sure, will delight many.

It is very difficult to imagine a player that wouldn’t enjoy Cult of the Lamb. Its visuals are so beautiful and full of character. Its writing is witty and charming. Its action is simple, but fun and thoroughly engaging. While its weapon selection and combat mechanics may not be as varied or dense as its peers, its unique aspects more than make up for the deficit.

Offering a great balance of battling and managing, Cult of the Lamb offers you the best of both worlds and provides you with enough of each genre to make it an engaging experience. Its colony management elements may not be as intricate as you would hope, but it does offer a good amount of customization and freedom to shape your cult how you want.

A top-tier example of what a roguelike can be when combined with a colony sim, Cult of the Lamb is pure addiction. From managing your minions, to slaughtering the bizarre Eldritch gods that dare defy you, Cult of the Lamb has converted me completely.

It’s tough enough to make a game that targets one genre, let alone two, but rather than a lamb to the slaughter, Cult of the Lamb commands ownership of both with a hellish ambition that sees it become one of the best games of the year.

With a stellar soundtrack a tight story and a fresh take on the farm management sim, this is an enjoyable — if short and sometimes shallow — ride. I rolled credits in just shy of twelve hours on normal difficulty, and that was with a fair chunk of time in the middle devoted to my devotees. While your mileage will undoubtedly vary, Cult of the Lamb is an easy recommendation – now excuse me while I get back to vibing to River Boy’s banging soundtrack.

Cult of the Lamb has the addictive nature of most roguelike titles that will cause you to burn off several hours of the day. You’ll slowly hunt down heretic rivals through roguelike mechanics with the added layer the customization found in the village sim systems. As you keep the cultists satisfied, their loyalty grows, and you’ll fight the urge to become the twisted being who executed our poor lamb that started this adventure.

All of these elements come together to solidify Cult of the Lamb as a standout title in both the rogue-like and simulation genres, as well as a one-of-a-kind entry that exists in the middle of them. Whether you are exploring the dungeons or expanding your cult, the experience is enjoyable, challenging, and more than a bit demented. With how surprisingly dense each of these parts are, the fact that all the pieces come together as smoothly as they do is a triumph.

The level of detail in Cult of the Lamb is surprisingly deep. The combination of RPG-lite style adventuring and the management of your followers ensure that the game is never stale. With each run through a dungeon different from the previous run, gamers will encounter a range of enemies. Players will no doubt spend differing amounts of time with each depending on their personal preference, but I personally found myself managing my followers more than the hack-and slash portion of the game. Either way, the cute visuals, the awesome soundtrack and sound effects, and the fun simple combat means that Cult of the Lamb is a game that any budding cult leader should pick up.

Cult of the Lamb is an excellent genre mix with lots of black humour, a challenging layout and delightful combat. Highly addictive.

Cult of the Lamb offers a great combination of management and roguelite action in a beautiful, charming package that will keep us busy for many hours.

Cult of the Lamb is a real indie title. It has a unique visual style; it combines popular elements from successful games into a new title while adding dark humor to it. It also has a message worth thinking about. All this makes it a title to love and remember.

One of the sleepers of the year.

The Word of Cult of the Lamb is good, providing roguelike action with heaps of that good ol' fashioned ultraviolence. Those that don't mind a lack of depth with its cult management shenanigans - and can also turn a blind third eye to its hit-and-miss weapon selection - have found their calling.

Cult of the Lamb has all the elements it needs to succeed in the modern action and rogue space. All combat mechanics are tight, the premise is weird but easy to grasp, and almost every action the player engages in has a clear payoff. I like the way being a good cult leader makes it easier to deal with combat sequences, powering a cool feedback loop. The biggest issue is that, for all its wealth of ideas, the game emphasizes spectacle over substance. And it’s a good and fun spectacle but many fans of this mix of genres might find it shallow. Cult of the Lamb makes a great first impression but it’s left to the players to discover whether it has staying power.

Cult of the Lamb is yet another pleasant surprise from Devolver Digital: the roguelike and social simulation has made handling a cult not only fun and appealing, but adorable as well.

Cult of the Lamb doesn’t just surprise and delight with its visual prowess and unflinching cultist motifs, it also hooks you with its addictive and adaptive gameplay loop. There’s not a dull second as you move through two equally important and varied genres of game that mesh beautifully together to create a unique and captivating experience. A lack of end-game content may disappoint some colony sim fans, though it ultimately does little to sour what is a genuinely novel game that knows exactly what it wants to be.

Cult of the Lamb is an action-management title that works devilishly well, with a strong concept - as a reminder: taking care of a demonic cult - that it holds from start to finish for ten / twenty hours game offered by the adventure. It's funny, cleverly thought out, deep enough that you never want to stop. The Massive Monster studio and the publisher Devolver Digital sign a new must-have from the independent scene, to be devoured without moderation. Prepare your most beautiful sermons!

I'm a big fan of roguelite action games and city builders, but even if you're on the mild side, Cult of the Lamb is a winning combo.

Reaching that flow-state where the game's many interlocking systems are firing on all cylinders is well worth putting up with any hardships along the way. With proper support moving forward, Cult of the Lamb has all the potential to grow into something truly special from this foundation, much like you can on the journey contained within.

Cult of the Lamb is a surprisingly interesting game, it's not as dark as its name suggests but it's definitely worth delving into its sinister and cute cult.

Excellent visuals, a bold and impressive mix of gameplay styles, a wonderful soundtrack, randomized character interactions, and hilarious dialogue come together to make Cult of the Lamb an intrepid adventure.

A truly unexpected and ultimately successful mix of roguelite combat and city management. Aside from the remarkable gameplay, the excellent aesthetics also provide pure watching entertainment value, from which some balance issues can't be taken away.

Cult of the Lamb is a game with which you will have a great time, well designed and with a polished gameplay. But perhaps it could have gone further with a couple of tweaks and moving away from a somewhat formulaic development: four zones and a final boss. For better or worse, what you see is what you get.

Unlike anything else, and able to meld its two disparate halves into something cohesive and satisfying. You won’t feel fleeced if you buy this.

While it lasted, Cult of the Lamb was a darkly enlightening experience that wholly delivers on the premise of its cutesy horror genre-mash-up. For the many who have been eagerly anticipating its release, that faith has been rewarded.

Cult of the Lamb is memorable for more than just this silliness, though. While the combat falls short after extended play, developers Massive Monster must be commended for a brilliant blend of ludicrous violence and cuteness that stands tall as one of 2022’s best games.

Cult of the Lamb presents one quite unique roguelike experience where base management and action are two distinct aspects of the game that at the same time completely complement each other. What elevates the game even more is the clever implementation of the religious aspect, both humorous and integral to the gameplay.

An enjoyable and entertaining experience that blends two seemingly unrelated genres with very good ideas. The initial impressiveness fades as you play, but still, anyone who likes this type of game should give it a chance.

Apart from some small issues with the difficulty, Cult of the Lamb is a fantastic game and really is one of the more pleasant surprises of 2022.

Cult of the Lamb is a cute yet dark and grotesque experience. The gameplay loop of managing a dark cult and exploring dungeons is quite addictive. However, in the latter half of the game conditions become more favorable for the player, to the extent that much of the game’s tension is lost.

Cult of the Lamb is a very solid, pleasant rougelite game with unforgiving gameplay and some brutal sequences that will leave an impression only once. And it has a fair base price. But it’s NOT for kids.

Cult of the Lamb takes a much more casual approach to the Rogue-Like genre and presents a much smoother and streamlined experience. This however means that the randomness of runs, the variance and challenge all get left on the wayside with the latter being relegated to the higher difficulty settings. No matter the difficulty, Cult of the Lamb seems to struggle in balancing its many progression systems with many players maxing out aspects of cult progression halfway through the dungeon progression. Despite those flaws and a relatively short completion time of roughly 10-15 hours, we thoroughly enjoyed time spent with Cult of the Lamb and may even return to it sometime later for a second playthrough.

Other games would succumb to such a large amount of systems and game mechanics, but Cult of the Lamb brings all its ideas together with verve in a special mix of a roguelite and a management game.

Cult of the Lamb is the most hard-to-put-down game I’ve played all year. It’s so easy to get that “Ok just one more” itch of wanting to head out and get the last few materials you need for that new facility, or deciding you’ll just do a little bit of redecorating and next thing you know the sun is rising. That’s not to say it’s completely perfect. There is a little bit of that indie game jank, it’s not terribly long, and there are a few bugs here and there ranging from minor graphical ones to more major ones that halted my progress temporarily. Thankfully the devs are already hard at work on a patch, and while the main story may be short, I’ve managed to sink 20 hours in so far and I’m nowhere close to stopping.

Overall we liked Cult of the Lamb very much, despite having found some critical issues on the side of representation, in particular that of the management systems of the sect.

Cult of the Lamb is a strangely cute combination of horror and bizarre occult. The Rogue-like action battle part that has built on a basic foundation is refreshing, and the management part is similar to that of Tycoon games. It successfully combined these two elements organically to provide immersive gameplay.

As addictive as it is offbeat, Cult Of the Lamb is a title to be savored without restraint, but its ending will leave you craving for more.

A fabulous combination of the casual farming simulator and the more action heavy roguelike. Cult of the Lamb dishes out everything you could want from both genres, with gameplay mechanics and systems that run deeper than anything you'd expect. Who knew that running your own religious cult could be so much fun?

I really can’t give enough praise to the team at Massive Monster for creating something unique and memorable, and also one of the best indie games I’ve played in a long time. Sure, there's a few rough edges, but this charmingly bloodthirsty lamb that's hell-bent on slaying the unbaalievers has earned a special place in my heart.

Quotation forthcoming.

Cult of the Lamb is a Satanic blend of a few genre greats -- the loop of action and settlement management is fueled perpetually by satisfying combat and rewarding unlocks. And it's all adorned with fantastic art direction and music.

With charm to spare, Cult of Lamb blends various unlikely elements in an exquisite way without ever becoming complicated. The result is a fresh, addictive and tremendously fun 'Roguelike/Life Sim' experience.

Although its accessibility causes the interest does not remain as high at the end as in the first hours of gameplay, Cult of the Lamb is one of the most interesting indie games of 2022. Forming the sect to our liking and taking care of the minions is very satisfying.

Cult of the Lamb is sure to be a homegrown success on the back of its tremendous presentation, which is helped along by captivating notions of cultism and devotion. I just wish there was more of an accord between the game’s working parts, which ultimately feels like a game of two individually brilliant halves.

Cult of the Lamb fails to be the masterpiece that it might have been, even with the surprise addition of a world map that opens up new upgrade options and a Knucklebones minigame, but it still offers a lot of fun over the course of its 15 to 30 hours of gameplay. Massive Monster has promised support and post-release content, which leaves the end of the game somewhat open-ended, but it already feels like a complete experience as it stands. Cult of the Lamb is a spooky-cute experience worth picking up, even if it can't quite make the final ascent to godhood.

Cult of the Lamb is two games in one. Part roguelike, part management sim, neither of the halves feel totally fleshed out on their own, and provide little challenge. Still, the synergy between the two halves is undeniably compelling, and the art style is infectiously adorable, giving you enough reason to play through one more in-game day, and then one more, until you’ve been awake for an entire out-of-game day, feeling totally brainwashed.

Altogether, Cult of the Lamb is an impressive title that leans heavier on the Roguelite genre than anything else, while still pulling everything it needs from the other genres that separate the games from the Indie crowd. Not every feature or mechanic is perfect, and the story is more interesting as lore than it is as a narrative, but that doesn't seem to be the developer's main focus. With that in mind, Cult of the Lamb succeeds where it matters, from the Roguelite dungeons to the dark cartoon aesthetic.

Although I have several issues with this game, my complaints ring somewhat hollow. I wish that my followers were more useful, that combat felt less random, that failure wasn’t so costly. These are all problems you can solve with progression. Pour on enough devotion, and you can overcome any obstacle. Cult of The Lamb looks evil, but it also feels that way. Your people are tools to be used and discarded. Your power over them is absolute. Even in death, they can continue to serve your cause. Though the Bishops might seem overwhelming, your disciples can even the odds. If you want a roguelite with a sinister twist, you’re in luck. Cult of The Lamb is just the game you’re looking for.

Cult of the Lamb combines roguelite and strategic elements, with a dark sense of humor and cartoon characters. The result is a unique game, very fun to play, and full of custom elements and skills to unlock. We found some balancing issues.

Cult of the Lamb is a wolf of a satisfying base-management game in the sheepish clothing of an approachable action-roguelite.

In the post-game cleanup, I’m only now engaging with the aesthetic-serving aspects of Cult of the Lamb. I’m finally making my cult feel like mine and not one I’m sure every other player will at some point make to cultivate as many resources as possible. I only wished I had felt this earlier in my 19-hour journey. Still, everything I did leading up to it, from the fast-paced dungeon combat that never grew stale to the factory-like base building that nailed the stress of resource management, was enough and then some to keep me engaged and indoctrinated.

Cult of the Lamb is a fun and worthwhile experience, just an experience I thought that I’d be able to get over and over again. Though it is cut too short, building a cult full of my favorite animal, crusading through lush environments, and vibing to the art and music is a perfect weekend retreat, even if it doesn't last long enough to convert.

Cult of the Lamb is both wicked and wonderful, with a lovely visual aesthetic to boot. Underneath its adorable veneer lies a game that is full of sinister surprises. As someone who doesn’t particularly prefer roguelikes, Cult of the Lamb’s innovative genre-splicing has made me a convert. I am eager to see what additional post-launch content Massive Monsters has planned.

Cult of the Lamb isn't always perfectly balanced, but it does expertly blend two opposing game genres into a unique, action-packed occult adventure oozing with personality.

Cult of the Lamb is worthy of attention from both roguelike fans and simulation players - even if the gameplay is a bit lacking in both design depth. But the developers know how to use hell jokes to keep players interested.

Cult of the Lamb is a great Roguelite/Building-Sim mix, but it remains a little bit too shallow.

It’s not a great roguelike, it has some technical and design issues and the cool idea behind the whole game carries it only for so long, but at its best Cult of the Lamb guarantees immense fun spiced up with black humor and a phenomenal soundtrack.

Cult of the Lamb is a good little game as we would like to see more often. It is accessible, fun and enjoyable, with simple and effective combat on the one hand. Moreover, the management of the cult offers interesting choices, while confronting us with its horrors hidden behind its cute appearance. It's quickly over, and we have a good time, but we still regret that it wasn't more ambitious, and that its different facets weren't developed more.

Cult of the Lamb is a good game. It’s a lot of fun. But I have this nagging sensation it could have been so, so much more interesting, and it leaves me wanting.

Cult of the Lamb relies on its demented humor and zany ideas that add charm. Sadly, some mechanics are either too streamlined or troublesome. You're bound to enjoy it for several hours until it becomes repetitive to a fault.

Cult of the Lamb excels as a darkly comedic management game, though its roguelite component commits some cardinal sins.

If you have a dark sense of humor, Cult of the Lamb might scratch that itch. But once you get over the shock factor of all the horrific things you can do in the name of growing your flock, there’s not much meat left on the bone.

Stylish, unusual, funny… and incoherent. While the idea of a cute Satanic cult seems alluring, don’t rush to sign the contract in blood.

At times it taps into our lizard brain so successfully that hours pass by, our eyes glazing over as we mindlessly follow instructions. [Issue#376, p.116]

Cult of the Lamb is relaxing, fun and hilarious – some surprises that the game has in store probably will make you laugh out loud. The contrast of cuteness and macabre makes everything even more fun and unique, with quirky characters, scenarios and relaxing electronic soundtrack. Even though it’s not among the best roguelikes, Massive Monster’s title is most certainly a brilliant “cult simulator”.

Cult of the Lamb is so inspired and enticing in the beginning, but it feels crushed under the weight of its own ambition. A bit like a real cult, then? A smart but flawed indie game with a good heart, Massive Monster’s latest is well worth a look if you have played and enjoyed its varied inspirations, but it can’t quite deliver on the promise of controlling an emergent cult of critters, at least in a way that feels free of bugs or repetitive busywork.

Turning a demonic cult into a management simulator is an amusing idea but the cute graphics are the only lasting entertainment to be had from this misjudged muddle of a game.