Indie · May 31, 2018
Cultist Simulator (2018)
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. Perhaps you're looking for knowledge, or power, or beauty, or revenge. Perhaps you just want the colours beneath the skin of the world. In this roguelike narrative card game, what you find may transform you forever. Every choice you make, from moment to moment, doesn't just advance the narrative - it also shapes it. Become a scholar of the unseen arts. Search your dreams for sanity-twisting rituals. Craft tools and summon spirits. Indoctrinate innocents. Seize your place as the herald of a new age. In this 20-40 hour game, you'll: Combine cards to tell your own story in a rich, Lovecraftian world of ambition, appetite and abomination. Corrupt your friends. Consume your enemies. There is never only one history. Found a cult, dedicated to the Red Grail, or the Witch-and-Sister, or the Forge of Days . Recruit Believers and promote them to Disciples to serve as burglars, researchers, cat's-paws. Use your disciples to keep you fed - or feed on your disciples. Unravel arcane, unacknowledged mysteries. Translate grimoires and glean their lore. Locate and pillage the Star Shattered Fane. Penetrate the realm of the Hours, and win a place in their service. Perhaps - if you are very cunning - you may even glimpse the Mansus. Outwit rivals, investigators and the increasingly suspicious Authorities. Your own altered Appetites may force you to act abominably, but your Cause must not be stopped. Transcend death with a story-driven legacy system. Perhaps your inheritors will complete the Rite of the Crucible Soul. Perhaps they'll find peace in a pleasing career. Perhaps they'll bring the Dawn.
Indie releases from 2018
40 Indie titles launched in 2018 — top 6 by review volume.
Peer Indie titles
Comparable titles in the same genre and review-volume band — ranked by Steam positive percentage.
Position in Indie
| Metric | This title | Genre position |
|---|---|---|
| Review volume | 13.0k Steam reviews | Top 22% in Indie |
| Positive rating | 79% positive | Genre average: 87% — this title sits in top 84% |
| Metacritic | 71/100 | Genre average 77 — top 82% of Indie titles |
| Concurrent peak | 582 players | Top 11% in Indie by live player count |
| Engagement hours | 13 h average | Top 49% for session depth among Indie |
Community Tag Signals
Tag weights reflect how many Steam users voted each descriptor — larger pills = stronger consensus.
- Simulation · 816
- Choices Matter · 813
- Strategy · 790
- Dark Fantasy · 708
- Dark · 667
- Card Game · 643
- Singleplayer · 637
- Lovecraftian · 629
- Strategy RPG · 626
- Lore-Rich · 624
- Resource Management · 614
- Story Rich · 608
- Narrative · 607
- Replay Value · 605
- Rogue-lite · 600
Reception Metrics
Steam community
79%Mostly Positive · 13.0k reviews
10.3k positive · 2.7k negative
Metacritic
71/100 critic aggregate
Metacritic user score
6.6/10
Curator recommendations
10.2k
Peak concurrent players
582
Features & Capabilities
Community
- Steam Achievements
- Steam Trading Cards
- Steam Workshop
- Steam Cloud
- Remote Play on Tablet
Accessibility
- Adjustable Text Size
- Color Alternatives
- Playable without Timed Input
Input & Comfort
- Custom Volume Controls
Other
- Single-player
- Mouse Only Option
- Family Sharing
Press Quotes
“A magnificent nightmare, for those with the stamina to master the gruelling card game that houses it.” Recommended – Eurogamer “Cultist Simulator is something else. It’s seductive. It captures the looming threat of utter annihilation played against the transcendent bliss of unravelling mysteries wrapped in enigmas wrapped in other really, really weird shit. It’s excellent, put simply. The cosmic horror and occult subject matter isn’t just set dressing here – it’s expertly woven into the core of play, and the…
Engagement Profile
All-time avg
13h
short (5–15 hours)
Median
4h
Typical completion time
2-week avg
5h
Current engagement
Achievements
83
Steam unlocks available
Localization Coverage
Interface / Subtitles (7)
- English
- Simplified Chinese
- Russian
- German
- Japanese
- French
- Spanish - Spain
Release & Availability
| Release date | May 31, 2018 |
|---|---|
| Developer | Weather Factory |
| Base price | $5.99 -70% |
| DLC / Add-ons | 6 released |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Estimated owners | 1M–10M |
| External links | Official site · Metacritic page · Support · [email protected] |
Editions & Packages
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