Review: Cult of the Lamb
At a Glance
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How to Save and Pause:At the start of the game, you'll choose which of the three save slots you want to use. From there, your progress is regularly autosaved (or you can manually save) while you're in your cult headquarters. However, there is no way to save while in a dungeon, nor is there a way to safely leave a dungeon for a large part of the game. But, you can pause at any time by bringing up a menu, such as your inventory or the game menu. ESC brings up the later, as one might expect. Time needed per session:Plan for sessions lasting thirty minutes or longer, depending on how deep into a dungeon you plan on going.
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Does this game pose issues for Christian players?
 | Yes There's a laundry list of objectionable concepts in this game, most of which revolve around the fact that the player is running a cult. At the same time, it's worth pointing out that many of these things are optional. |
Screenshots
Game Overview
Cult of the Lamb has been an indie gaming sensation since it came out in 2022, and it doesn't take new players long to see why. This game blends two very different genres - city management and dungeon crawling - into a single, unified adventure.
In this game, the player takes on the role of the last living Lamb in a world where an old pagan faith still holds sway. This Old Faith is presided over by four powerful bishops, and unluckily for you, you're going to meet them at the beginning of the game.
There's a prophecy that a lamb will bring about the downfall of the Old Faith. Since the bishops would prefer to remain alive, they've decided to have every last lamb rounded up and killed. It's a bit extreme, but the logic makes sense - if there are no more lambs, then none of them can rise up and cause trouble. it's simply your turn to die, and it's over pretty quickly.
And just like that, things go very off the rails.
As it turns out, there's a fifth bishop of the Old Faith, and the others basically forgot about him after they locked him away in an ageless limbo. He calls himself "the One Who Waits", and since he rules over death, his siblings just delivered you to his doorstep!
He's been planning this for some time now, so when you show up, he has a deal all ready and waiting for you. If the player agrees to build up a new cult in his name and take revenge on his four siblings, then he will give the Lamb immortality and the source of his power - the Red Crown.
Obviously the player agrees. There wouldn't be a game otherwise.
Now, the Red Crown's powers are tied to the faith and devotion of your cult. Before you can run around in the dungeons, you'll need to make sure that everything at home is going to be okay for a while. Cultists are fickle - if something happens, they expect their god (you) to fix it. If you don't, they'll start questioning just how much of a god you are.
Providing for their physical needs is easy: everybody needs a place to sleep, food to eat, something to do, and a clean environment. This can be handled by building beds and other buildings, cooking enough food for everyone before you leave, and sweeping up any poop, vomit, or dead bodies that are laying about.
Handling their spiritual needs is a little trickier. You can only give your flock one sermon per day, and rituals have several requirements that limit how often you can use them. It's a good idea to give sermons as often as possible, as this increases the devotion of every cult member as well as directly increases the powers of the Red Crown.
And this is as good a place as any to point out something important about this game: it's heavily based around grinding. Most of the player's time is going to be spent trying to collect more of something, be it ingredients for food or something needed by your religious duties.
Fortunately, exploring the dungeons for goodies is a fun and satisfying experience. Each dungeon has its own theme, complete with its own traps, treasure, enemies, and bosses. The main catch is that time doesn't stop while you're busy fighting the followers of the Old Faith - take too long and you may leave your own followers without food, leadership, and someone to clean up their poop.
Unfortunately, as enjoyable as this game is, it's also extremely controversial thanks to its dark subject matter and many religious references. The developers were quite clearly inspired by Lovecraftian horror, but they also definitely did their research on how cults function.
So on one hand, Cult of the Lamb is a lot of fun and it's very obvious how it achieved such a large fandom. On the other, I'm not very comfortable recommending it, as there's just so much that doesn't sit right - especially if you've ever been around a real life cult.
In this game, the player takes on the role of the last living Lamb in a world where an old pagan faith still holds sway. This Old Faith is presided over by four powerful bishops, and unluckily for you, you're going to meet them at the beginning of the game.
There's a prophecy that a lamb will bring about the downfall of the Old Faith. Since the bishops would prefer to remain alive, they've decided to have every last lamb rounded up and killed. It's a bit extreme, but the logic makes sense - if there are no more lambs, then none of them can rise up and cause trouble. it's simply your turn to die, and it's over pretty quickly.
And just like that, things go very off the rails.
As it turns out, there's a fifth bishop of the Old Faith, and the others basically forgot about him after they locked him away in an ageless limbo. He calls himself "the One Who Waits", and since he rules over death, his siblings just delivered you to his doorstep!
He's been planning this for some time now, so when you show up, he has a deal all ready and waiting for you. If the player agrees to build up a new cult in his name and take revenge on his four siblings, then he will give the Lamb immortality and the source of his power - the Red Crown.
Obviously the player agrees. There wouldn't be a game otherwise.
Now, the Red Crown's powers are tied to the faith and devotion of your cult. Before you can run around in the dungeons, you'll need to make sure that everything at home is going to be okay for a while. Cultists are fickle - if something happens, they expect their god (you) to fix it. If you don't, they'll start questioning just how much of a god you are.
Providing for their physical needs is easy: everybody needs a place to sleep, food to eat, something to do, and a clean environment. This can be handled by building beds and other buildings, cooking enough food for everyone before you leave, and sweeping up any poop, vomit, or dead bodies that are laying about.
Handling their spiritual needs is a little trickier. You can only give your flock one sermon per day, and rituals have several requirements that limit how often you can use them. It's a good idea to give sermons as often as possible, as this increases the devotion of every cult member as well as directly increases the powers of the Red Crown.
And this is as good a place as any to point out something important about this game: it's heavily based around grinding. Most of the player's time is going to be spent trying to collect more of something, be it ingredients for food or something needed by your religious duties.
Fortunately, exploring the dungeons for goodies is a fun and satisfying experience. Each dungeon has its own theme, complete with its own traps, treasure, enemies, and bosses. The main catch is that time doesn't stop while you're busy fighting the followers of the Old Faith - take too long and you may leave your own followers without food, leadership, and someone to clean up their poop.
Unfortunately, as enjoyable as this game is, it's also extremely controversial thanks to its dark subject matter and many religious references. The developers were quite clearly inspired by Lovecraftian horror, but they also definitely did their research on how cults function.
So on one hand, Cult of the Lamb is a lot of fun and it's very obvious how it achieved such a large fandom. On the other, I'm not very comfortable recommending it, as there's just so much that doesn't sit right - especially if you've ever been around a real life cult.
Points of Interest
Hard to actually lose
There's really only one way to lose this game: you need to be so bad at leading your flock that it disbands, dissolving your cult forever. Getting defeated in a dungeon is merely a setback, and one that can be easily mitigated through a ritual or two.
Additional game modes
If you want a challenge, there are two additional modes that you can choose from. The first of these is the permadeath mode, which as the name implies, gives you one chance to complete the game: if the lamb falls in battle, the game is over and your save slot is erased.
The Penitence mode offers a more realistic challenge, as the Lamb will need to sleep and eat like anybody else - failing to get sleep or enough to eat will end your game and erase your save slot, just like the permadeath mode. You'll also start with the ability to leave a dungeon, which is a nice perk.
The Penitence mode offers a more realistic challenge, as the Lamb will need to sleep and eat like anybody else - failing to get sleep or enough to eat will end your game and erase your save slot, just like the permadeath mode. You'll also start with the ability to leave a dungeon, which is a nice perk.
No two followers are the same
Thanks to an elaborate trait system, everyone you can indoctrinate into your cult is unique. Unfortunately, this also means that many players grow attached to their favorite cultists - which makes their eventual death from old age feel more tragic.
Assuming you didn't choose to practice necromancy anyway...
Assuming you didn't choose to practice necromancy anyway...
Side quests
From time to time, one of your followers may approach you and ask for a special favor. These usually have you search for special items in the dungeons, but occasionally you'll be asked to do something more sinister, such as "correct" someone who's starting to deviate from your teachings.
One of the more infamous requests is for you to fix someone a meal out of excrement and command them to eat it. You'll gain their loyalty, but they'll also gain some bad indigestion. Whether the trade off is worth it is up to you.
One of the more infamous requests is for you to fix someone a meal out of excrement and command them to eat it. You'll gain their loyalty, but they'll also gain some bad indigestion. Whether the trade off is worth it is up to you.
Additional Minigames
If you need a break from wandering about the dungeons or listening to your followers make demands, you can always wander off to other parts of the world to spend some time relaxing with a few games of knucklebones. You can also do some fishing, or just explore some of the other parts of the world. Wherever you go, you'll find something new to interact with - and maybe some goals to achieve once the main story has been completed.
Your cult, your way
Players have a surprisingly large amount of freedom over how to run their cult - you're basically allowed to be as benevolent or as ruthless as you want. The main way this is implemented is via a "doctrine" system: once you have a Commandment Stone, you can declare a new doctrine that governs what your followers believe and how they behave.
Local multiplayer
Once players have completed the tutorial, a second player can join the game. When this happens, one player takes on the role of the Lamb, while the other plays as the Goat. Both characters have the same abilities, though the Goat is much scarier looking in my opinion.
Post-story adventures
This game doesn't end once the main story is completed. Instead, the player can do it all over again with more dangerous dungeons and improved bosses. This time around, you'll be able to turn the bishops of the old faith into followers of your cult, which will also lead to special quests and interactions.
Additionally, a new dungeon - purgatory - becomes available. This endless dungeon is different than the others in one key respect: time doesn't pass while you're inside. This allows you to stay in the dungeon as long as you want, without worry that your cult will run out of food or develop new problems with you're away.
Even better: this is the only place where you can collect something called "god's tears". These are a very rare late game currency that allows you to buy especially powerful items and perks - including a very rare necklace that makes the follower wearing it immortal.
Additionally, a new dungeon - purgatory - becomes available. This endless dungeon is different than the others in one key respect: time doesn't pass while you're inside. This allows you to stay in the dungeon as long as you want, without worry that your cult will run out of food or develop new problems with you're away.
Even better: this is the only place where you can collect something called "god's tears". These are a very rare late game currency that allows you to buy especially powerful items and perks - including a very rare necklace that makes the follower wearing it immortal.
Unlockables of all shapes and sizes
If there's anything Cult of the Lamb's developers clearly enjoyed, it was making all sorts of random things for you to collect or unlock. Some examples include relics that will help you in the dungeons, special necklaces for your favorite followers to wear, and a plethora of decorations for your cult headquarters.
If you enjoy earning 100% completion in games, you've definitely got your work cut out for you this time.
If you enjoy earning 100% completion in games, you've definitely got your work cut out for you this time.
Steam community features
As per usual, there's a set of Steam trading cards available for players to collect, and a total of 48 achievements for them to earn. Most of them require you to unlock everything in one category (which is going to be quite the task in this game), but there are a few that can be worth some bragging rights, such as the achievements awarded for defeating specific bosses without taking damage.
Concerns and Issues
Moderate violence
With the exception of the opening and anything the player chooses to do to their followers, the violence content you'll find in this game is fairly typical for a dungeon crawler. In other words, you'll slash, smash, or shoot your way through lots of enemies. You also have the option of magical attacks, called curses, which are shown with a spooky black or fiery animation.
Gambling
One of the minigames, knucklebones, is a game of dice where the players bet money. The only time you're expected to play this game is at the very beginning, where you're given a tutorial on how to explore the world and play knucklebones. As your adventure continues, new opponents can be unlocked.
Drugs and Alcohol
During your adventures in the dungeons, you'll come across psychadelic mushrooms that can be collected for use in the "brainwashing" ritual. This literally drugs your entire cult into a state of euphoria, making it impossible for them to lose faith in you while the high lasts. Afterwards, however, there's a good chance that most of them will become violently sick - although this can be mitigated by declaring a doctrine that encourages substance usage.
As for alcohol, one of the ways the player can encourage their followers to build up sin reserves is to have them enjoy various alcohol beverages at the drinkhouse. This has a chance to make them inebriated and possibly destructive, but what were you expecting from sinful behavior?
As for alcohol, one of the ways the player can encourage their followers to build up sin reserves is to have them enjoy various alcohol beverages at the drinkhouse. This has a chance to make them inebriated and possibly destructive, but what were you expecting from sinful behavior?
Mild nudity
Certain rituals and situations will require your followers to strip to their birthday suits. However, this is another example of the game being cheeky rather than adult, as naked characters will always have a leaf covering their private bits. Even when they perform the "mating ritual", nothing beyond some hearts and bouncing is shown.
Gross stuff
Everybody poops. And sometimes they vomit. And dead bodies will rot if left to themselves. Players have the luxury of taking care of these issues, and if they neglect them for too long, their followers could get sick and die, repeating the cycle.
Later in the game you'll unlock outhouses and other buildings that can simplify things a little. Meanwhile, you can use that manure as fertilizer.
Later in the game you'll unlock outhouses and other buildings that can simplify things a little. Meanwhile, you can use that manure as fertilizer.
Blood and gore
Most of the blood you'll encounter in this game is either part of a decoration, a detail on some item, or part of the bandages worn by the bishops of the old faith. The evil actions you can perform, such as murdering a follower, butchering their body, or sacrificing them to some unholy deity, are all handled with a bloodless animation.
That said, the amount of decorations that are made out of bodies, bones, assorted flesh, and other questionable things more than makes up for the difference.
That said, the amount of decorations that are made out of bodies, bones, assorted flesh, and other questionable things more than makes up for the difference.
Horror
This game takes a lot of inspiration from Lovecraftian horror, so there's plenty of spooky things hanging around. This includes demons, cults, human sacrifice, body horror, eyes where they don't belong, and tentacles. Many enemies and decorations are grotesque or frightening. All of this actually gets worse after the main storyline is completed, as the Lamb's victory upsets the natural balance of the world.
Additionally, there are items you can find call relics that help you in the dungeons. The character who makes them uses leftover parts of other creatures, so they're all pretty gross and disturbing despite their utility.
Additionally, there are items you can find call relics that help you in the dungeons. The character who makes them uses leftover parts of other creatures, so they're all pretty gross and disturbing despite their utility.
Tarot readings
One of the characters you can meet in the dungeons is a fortune teller. They don't actually read your fortune; instead, the player is shown several "tarot cards" and may take the one they want. These tarot cards are effectively powerups that last for the entire dungeon trip. There's also a special cloak (called a fleece) that the player can equip to gain four tarot cards at the start of a dungeon run.
Note that despite the name, these are not actual tarot cards and are never really used for divination; making them "tarot cards" in name only.
Note that despite the name, these are not actual tarot cards and are never really used for divination; making them "tarot cards" in name only.
Evil is always an option
Throughout the game, various characters will remind the player that their followers exist to be exploited, not coddled. This isn't empty rhetoric either, as there are a large number of ways that players can mistreat their underlings. For example, you can use threats to force them to work harder, appoint an enforcer who will ensure nobody is thinking for themselves, and then there's the option to put someone in stocks (called "jail") just because you felt like it.
On top of this, players can explicitly choose to murder a follower. The main problem with killing your own cultists is that your actions might be witnessed by someone else, so you'll need to do it in secret (ie, when everyone else is asleep) or you'll do some real damage to morale.
Again, doing stuff like this is almost completely optional - there will be a few cases where you'll need to sacrifice someone in order to unlock more of the game's story, but these are the exception rather than the rule.
On top of this, players can explicitly choose to murder a follower. The main problem with killing your own cultists is that your actions might be witnessed by someone else, so you'll need to do it in secret (ie, when everyone else is asleep) or you'll do some real damage to morale.
Again, doing stuff like this is almost completely optional - there will be a few cases where you'll need to sacrifice someone in order to unlock more of the game's story, but these are the exception rather than the rule.
Cannibalism
One of the more controversial doctrines you can choose is a belief in cannibalism. It's definitely one way to ensure that nobody cares about how you dispose of a body.
Even if you don't enact this specific doctrine, you'll always have the option of turning someone into a meal - it's a gruesome way to "encourage" someone to stop causing trouble.
Even if you don't enact this specific doctrine, you'll always have the option of turning someone into a meal - it's a gruesome way to "encourage" someone to stop causing trouble.
Cult Activity
AND HOW. Pretty much every known technique that real cults use is available to players. You've got peer pressure, enforcement through intimidation, missionary trips, shunning, "disappearing" people, propaganda, and your followers even police each other's opinions.
If you've ever been close to a cult in real life - which is unfortunately something a lot of people, including myself, have experience with - then this is going to become very uncomfortable very quickly.
On the plus side, learning how high control groups operate might make you aware of any high control groups you're currently around.
If you've ever been close to a cult in real life - which is unfortunately something a lot of people, including myself, have experience with - then this is going to become very uncomfortable very quickly.
On the plus side, learning how high control groups operate might make you aware of any high control groups you're currently around.
Sin as currency
In a recent update, the player was given the ability to absolve their followers of sin. Doing this creates a resource (sin) that they can then use to purchase various perks and upgrades. It's also used to "fuel" the mating ritual, which allows you to "breed" followers to grow your flock the old fashioned way.
Sex
Speaking of which, once the player builds the mating tent, they can have two of their followers do the mattress mamba. There are some restrictions on exactly who will go to bed with whom, but it's possible to have close relatives and followers of the same gender pair up. Somehow this works without issues, though having the former bishops of the old faith make a baby tends to result in very ugly children.
Additional Thoughts
Does this game mock Christianity?
It's no secret that Cult of the Lamb borrows most of its terminology and religious concepts from Christianity. With statements about sermons, giving your flock their daily bread, hearing confession, the main character being a lamb, and so on, it definitely has a twisted Christian vibe to it. However, I don't get the impression that the developers are trying to insult anybody or mock anyone's religious beliefs. Instead, I get the feeling that there are much simpler reasons for this.
To be blunt, Christianity is the only religion most Americans have been exposed to, and it's the only real world religion that's safe to reference. If this game had themed itself around a Native American religion or even a large established religion like Judaism or Hinduism, there would've been a major uproar about cultural appropriation and the developers would've found themselves "cancelled" by the internet.
There's more evidence to this as well. The developers have openly stated that the reason the player characters are a lamb and a goat is because these animals are typically associated with sacrifice and obedience, which makes the fact that they are in charge humorous and ironic. Lastly, if this was supposed to be a mock Christianity, then the story is missing several important things. There's no Christ analogue, nor is there a Satan figure. The Lamb can't even walk on water.
Ultimately, it's a fictional religion that uses some of the same vocabulary as Christianity, and nothing more. That certainly beats the numerous real world cults that hide what they really believe behind the same Bible the rest of us use.
To be blunt, Christianity is the only religion most Americans have been exposed to, and it's the only real world religion that's safe to reference. If this game had themed itself around a Native American religion or even a large established religion like Judaism or Hinduism, there would've been a major uproar about cultural appropriation and the developers would've found themselves "cancelled" by the internet.
There's more evidence to this as well. The developers have openly stated that the reason the player characters are a lamb and a goat is because these animals are typically associated with sacrifice and obedience, which makes the fact that they are in charge humorous and ironic. Lastly, if this was supposed to be a mock Christianity, then the story is missing several important things. There's no Christ analogue, nor is there a Satan figure. The Lamb can't even walk on water.
Ultimately, it's a fictional religion that uses some of the same vocabulary as Christianity, and nothing more. That certainly beats the numerous real world cults that hide what they really believe behind the same Bible the rest of us use.
An observation on the fandom
I don't often include information on a game's fandom in these reviews because it's rarely ever relevant. In this case, though, I think it might be worth mentioning that, from what I've seen, a sizable portion of Cult of the Lamb's fandom takes the benevolent route.
Thus, while players do have the option to be extremely evil, it's not a popular way to play this game.
Thus, while players do have the option to be extremely evil, it's not a popular way to play this game.