Cultist Simulator is a role-playing game that mixes elements of typical card and roguelike titles. In this indie game from Weather Factory, players will be able to dive into a 1920s setting that revolves around hidden gods and secret histories. Players can look for knowledge, power, beauty, or revenge.

Developed by the team behind Sunless Sea, Cultist Simulator is unique in how there is no tutorial — figuring out how to play is part of the game’s mechanics. The main goal is to become more powerful by summoning gods, crafting spells, and feeding upon the energy of loyal disciples.

Narrative-driven card game 

At the beginning of Cultist Simulator, players are presented with a series of cards. Each of these cards describes certain rituals or unlocks a specific power. The cards can be used in combination with one another to gain experience and progress through the open-world storyline, unraveling more arcane, unacknowledged mysteries along the way. Remember to keep in mind that each choice that the player makes will ultimately impact the direction of the narrative. 

However, mastering this RPG card game will take a fair amount of time, and not all decisions will result in positive outcomes. This makes it suitable for players who enjoy a challenge alongside the ability to slowly unlock hidden mysteries. Even failures provide players with valuable insight that will allow them to modify future strategies. However, the game does not allow you to save your progress.

Players should note that there is no real or proper ending for this game. Thus, the game can be played and replayed with entirely different outcomes that present more details to this lore-rich title. This sense of explorative freedom reflects its open-world nature and ultimately serves to define the overall playing experience. The RPG offers 20 to 40 hours of gameplay. 

What’s new with 2025.8.f.4 “FULGENTIUS” update 

In a recent update, a bunch of Steam Deck issues that slowly accumulated over time have now been fixed, restoring the game’s playability. While this update doesn’t add new story content or major gameplay features, the technical improvements are easily observed. Readability is improved with all input hints now a consistent font size, and customization is more efficient now that the game’s input hints are properly updated when changing the key bindings. 

One of the interface screens — the Mansus screen — can now be navigated using the keyboard, which is useful for players who don’t favor using the mouse or a controller. This update improves the overall polish of Cultist Simulator with cleaner UI, better localization, specifically in the Russian localization, and a security update to patch potential vulnerabilities. French and Spanish localizations are also now available. Instead of seeing big changes in the world, story, or mechanics, this update focuses on creating a better experience from what’s already there. 

A progressive roguelike platform 

The use of cards as a means of progression adds a unique touch to the Cultist Simulator. Noir-style backgrounds and top-down gameplay amplify the subtle charm even further. However, since this game is designed to be intellectually stimulating, navigating the game can be tricky due to the lack of a tutorial or tips, especially if you’re only looking for a quick, easy game to pass the time.