Cult of the Lamb Preview – Gathering the Herd

I never thought I wanted to be a part of a cult, but there’s a first time for everything. In Cult of the Lamb, you not only get to partake in cult activities, but you also get to lead and form the dark society. While the premise presents a sinister concept, the execution was fun and charming. I felt the need to corral the worshippers and slay anyone who got in my way.

The introduction was so simple, yet effective. You play as a terrified lamb who is on its way to get sacrificed. Before you feel the cold steel of the axe upon your flesh, you get transported into an ethereal world, where a powerful being grants you combat skills and ritual powers. With these newfound abilities, you fight your way out of captivity and begin to form your flock of followers.

Fighting your way out of the sacrifice ritual is your introduction to the straightforward combat system. Cult of the Lamb is an action roguelike game, where you fight through enemies and gather cult members on randomly-generated maps. Based on the demo alone, it does seem there is a simple system with lots of weapon variety to keep you engaged.

However, what sets this title apart from other roguelikes is what happens outside of the combat. When you’re not fighting enemies and acquiring powers, you’re building up your society of followers. To help the society form, you can command your followers to perform actions such as gathering resources or building structures. It’s oddly satisfying seeing your own village of subservience come to fruition.

When it comes to aesthetics, there is a beautiful blend of cute and evil. Despite death, blood, and sacrifice comprising much of the presented imagery, you’re also seeing cute animals become loyal servants to you for saving them. As they look at you with beady eyes, you feel oddly attached to them and hope to continue to grow your cult. The animation quality is superb and demented, you can’t help but be entranced. In an odd way, you’re saving many members of society, just like how a cult is said to do. 

The action of Cult of the Lamb felt smooth and satisfying. Not only did I want to explore the dark and gloomy maps of random enemies, but I also wanted to expand my influence in the world. What makes this escapade so enjoyable is how simple the mechanics are–it’s mindless, making it easy to get lost and addicted. I’m really excited to lead a giant society of worshippers to a realm of chaos and enlightenment.

Cult of the Lamb is set to release later this year for PC, PS4, PS5, the Xbox Series consoles, and Nintendo Switch.