Review: Cultist Simulator (Steam)

Seize forbidden treasures. Summon alien gods. Feed on your disciples. Cultist Simulator is a game of apocalypse and yearning from Alexis Kennedy, creator of Fallen London and Sunless Sea. Play as a seeker after unholy mysteries, in a 1920s-themed setting of hidden gods and secret histories.

Pros:

• Nice graphics.
• 275MB Download size.
• Steam achievements.
• Graphics options- Resolution, UI scaling, Graphics quality preset.
• Autosave interval slider.
• Can click on anything for an info pop up window.
• Roguelike narrative card game.
• Feels and plays like a living card game.
• Two game speeds- Normal and fast forward. Can be switched whenever you like.
• Every action triggers a reaction whether it be a new set of cards or another card to play to trigger another card and so on and so on.
• Lore- Everywhere and is sometimes good, sometimes bad, sometimes helpful to your cause, Sometimes detrimenytal to your goal.
• The feeling you get when things begin to click and you grasp what is going on.
• Upon death your actions dictate what choices you have in terms of your legacy and how your next game will begin/play out.
• Every game is different.
• It is a game that sticks with you l;ong after playing.
• Gameplay- A mission or objective will appear and you need to drop a specific card (if you have one) into it in order for something else to trigger or have that particular event pan out. Its a game that can be hard to describe but seeing it in motion will increase your attention.
• Health- You have health and must play health cards in order to keep your run going. You can lose health from a multiple of events and if you hit zero its game over.
• Every card can be placed where ever you want on the massive board.
• The stories told are a mixed bag but are all very well written.
• Difficult.
• Clear UI showing what your health is and cards in play, Timers over cards doing actions and so forth.

Cons:

• No tutorial at all.
• No idea what is going on, You are very much left to your own devices.
• Confusing at times.
• Very hard to put down.
• Difficult.