Cultist Simulator (PC) Indie One Shot
Weather Factory's first game out of the gate, Cultist Simulator is beyond a roaring success. It might not be a game for everyone, but those who do find themselves enjoying similar titles will absolutely love what they get from this game.
Cultist Simulator is a card based time-management game where you'll be living your life day to day while trying to form and run your own cult. There are a few different character types you can end up playing as. At first, you'll just be working their job, staying healthy and earning some money. But, before long you'll come across something that intrigues you into looking further, and some arcane things will turn up.
The way the game works is through the use of verb tiles and cards. The verb tiles are (naturally like verbs) your actions. With these you can Work, Explore, Talk, Sleep, Study, and some other things later on in the mix of things. When you end up completing one of these verbs, you'll always be rewarded with cards, which can be either good or bad things depending on how you're managing yourself.
One main goal your faced with is keeping yourself healthy, and well funded. The funds will (for the most part early in the game) will come from work, and depending on which job you have this can come with some bad news. There's a few specific card types you'll want to keep track over others. These are your health, funds, passion, and reason. If your health slips low for too long, you can develop diseases that can lead to your death. Misusing your passion and reason can sap them drastically.
Outside of managing yourself, you'll be building and running your cult. It starts simple, with a scrap of paper that leads to a book store, which nets you a book that can be studied. You'll catch whispers of those who are interested in the occult things, while you'll simultaneously be hunted by those who want to squash what you're doing before your voice becomes too loud. Determining who to trust, and who to lead astray can be a thin line that you'll need to tread.
Cultist Simulator is time based, so all the verbs work on counters that start ticking down as soon as you activate them. So, the most difficult part of this game can be managing these things all at once. Some timers only last for about thirty seconds, while others can last for a few minutes. In my early playthroughs of the game, I definitely found myself overwhelmed when things were ending at the same time, trying to balance getting my rewards, starting my next actions, while my funds and health dwindled. But, there is one key detail that is worth noting and making heavy use of. The game includes a pause function. Obviously, your timers won't continue to run but this gives you more than enough time to read all the details on your cards and really decide what you'd like to do with them.
As I said earlier, this game won't be for everyone, but that still doesn't stop it from being as amazing as it is. I don't normally find myself playing time management games, and when I do it isn't for long. Weather Factory sucked me in with this title though. At first I didn't really understand the game and it's mechancics, but I can't even count the hours I spent not only playing but reading up on the game to learn everything I could and gain the best experience I could from Cultist Simulator. Being honest, I still have to say that I have a bit of a ways to go in reaching that point of knowing everything that's going on, but I won't be stopping anytime soon either.
Cultist Simulator is available now on PC, able to be purchased through Steam or Humble Bundle. Whatever you do, don't miss a chance on getting this game, and I can't wait to see what Weather Factory follows it up with!
Rating : 9.5/10
Developed By : Weather Factory
Published By : Humble Bundle
