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CULTIC

CULTIC

Jasozz Games · released Oct 12, 2022

ActionIndiePCPlayStation 5Xbox Series XNintendo Switch 2

Death is only the beginning. Crawl from your grave and gear up to fight your way through the ranks of a mysterious and twisted cult. You, your guns, and your dynamite will have to shoot, slide, blast, duck, dodge, and maybe throw a gib or two to survive in this old-school-inspired shooter.

Steam page ↗OpenCritic ↗Metacritic 82 · users 9 ↗
89
VGC Score
■Stablehigh confidence

anchored at patch: “CULTIC v2.1 Localization Update” (18d ago)

95%
At launch
97%
Steam all-time
81%
Press
85%
Player sentiment
87%
Recent sentiment

PC 89 · PlayStation 81 · Xbox 77

Screenshots & trailers

Review sentiment over time

Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.

How this score was computed

The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.

ComponentPositiveQuality (0-100)Weight (pseudo-reviews)
Press reviews (OpenCritic)–8138
Creator reviews (1 tracked)–801
All-time Steam reviews97%931000
Metacritic user ratings––0
Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted)87%80144
Calibration prior (typical game)–7250

Acclaim gate: the raw blend lands at 90.0, but scores above 88 must be earned in front of a mass audience; this verdict rests on 8,665 player reviews, a largely self-selected fanbase. As more players weigh in, the ceiling rises (full scale unlocks at 100,000 reviews).

Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Aug 14, 2026) · 126 reviews sampled · 144 total reviews in window · weighted 77.3 up / 11.8 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →

Press & Creators reviews (39)

Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.

  • 80
    The JimquisitionThe Jimquisition
    trust 84CreatorOct 30, 2022

    “Cultic’s shameless revelry in gore is delightful. Its array of guns is conservative in number but tightly focused in design, each weapon built for purpose and tangibly effective as a result. Pacing is a little one-note and insistently dingy visuals can be offputting at times, but the whole package remains a top notch retraux shooter. I had tremendous fun throughout, and while I’d like to see a little more unique personality from future installments, I haven’t had my fill of the action on offer here.”

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    3DNews3DNews
    trust 78Oct 5, 2025

    “Quote not yet available”

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    Cubed3Cubed3
    trust 70Nov 13, 2022

    “One of the finest retraux FPS games available, CULTIC pays homage to titles like Blood, and actually surpasses them. From running, jumping, sliding, and reloading, to chopping heads, firing and reloading weapons, and throwing explosive dynamite or flesh-burning Molotov cocktails at the feet of robed fanatics, everything feels awesome. The levels are large and decently non-linear, and the atmosphere, visuals, as well as the OST, are top notch. Solo-dev Jason Smith has every right to feel proud of this wonderful ode to the era it was inspired from.”

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    Gamesource ItaliaGamesource Italia
    trust 70Jul 22, 2026

    “Cultic is a great, yet very safe game, which eventually evolves into a very experimental yet frustrating Chapter 2. It's an impressive feat for the really small team, which started as a solo effort during Chapter 1. Unfortunately, the game is afflicted by a terrible pace and frustrating enemy placements towards the end, which left a bad taste in my mouth when all was said and done.”

    read full review ↗
  • 100
    GameffineGameffine
    trust 69Nov 28, 2022

    “CULTIC: Chapter One, with its horror themes, retro art design, beefy gunplay and well-designed levels is hands down the best old-school inspired shooter released this year. There is so little to complain about the game that are not on a technical level. It’s crafted with so much love and care that it’s easy to envision CULTIC becoming one of the, if not, the best throwback FPS ever made by the time all the chapters are released. Kudos also goes to the publisher for launching the game with a fair regional pricing.”

    read full review ↗
  • 85
    LevelUpLevelUp
    trust 69Nov 19, 2022

    “CULTIC is a love letter for boomer shooter fans that has the perfect mix between old and new, resulting in a product with the potential to rise above similar games. It's a worthy look back to the roots of the FPS genre, while also forging a path into a new genre.”

    read full review ↗
  • 85
    Capsule ComputersCapsule Computers
    trust 69Aug 7, 2026

    “Cultic delivers the brutal and fast paced action that boomer shooter fans love all while presenting itself in a vintage style though lacking enemy variety and a thin plot hold it back.”

    read full review ↗
  • 90
    Games FreezerGames Freezer
    trust 66Jul 28, 2026

    “If Cultic was co-op, I’d be writing this article with my trousers most definitely removed and burning beside me in a ritual that would most certainly result in the more conservative members of our readership pushing their glasses up their nose, or at the very least clearing their throat, uncomfortably. A huge thumbs up from me, and a welcome inclusion into the pantheon of truly great horror FPS titles.”

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    SECTOR.skSECTOR.sk
    trust 66Nov 29, 2022

    “A great return to classic pixel FPS. Although graphically it may not suit everyone and it does not bring anything new, the gameplay and the atmosphere are definitely excellent.”

    read full review ↗
  • 81
    PC GamerPC Gamer
    trust 64Dec 11, 2025

    “Cultic doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it's a standout shooter.”

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    TechRaptorTechRaptor
    trust 63Oct 12, 2022

    “Cultic is a creepy romp through tombs, towns, and other terrorizing areas. Tight gunplay, fantastic stylized visuals and a somber soundtrack are only held back a bit by the dumb AI and relatively trivial combat encounters.”

    read full review ↗
  • 95
    EntertainiumEntertainium
    trust 62Oct 30, 2022

    “Today’s glut of “boomer shooters” is largely inspired by just a handful of classics from the original golden age of roughly 1993 to 1997. Any new game runs the risk of seeming too similar to one of these icons, of lacking its own identity. At first glance, Cultic seems sure to fall into this trap, given its evident similarities to Blood. In fact, Jason Smith’s fantastic first project uses Monolith’s 1997 game as a jumping-off point, and ultimately delivers one of the best retro shooters in years.”

    read full review ↗

…and 27 more tracked reviews.

Patch history

  1. CULTIC v2.1 Localization Update
    Aug 14, 2026significant · resets scoring window
  2. CULTIC Comes to Console
    Jun 23, 2026
  3. CULTIC - v.2.02i Patch
    Jan 8, 2026significant · resets scoring window
  4. CULTIC v.2.02h Patch
    Dec 29, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  5. CULTIC - v.2.02g Hotfix
    Dec 23, 2025
  6. CULTIC - V.2.02f Patch
    Dec 21, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  7. CULTIC - Home for Cultmas Update
    Dec 18, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  8. CULTIC - Home For Cultmas Update Trailer
    Dec 16, 2025
  9. CULTIC Automap Update Beta v.2.0.1j
    Nov 15, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  10. CULTIC: Automap Update Beta v.2.0.1h
    Nov 9, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  11. CULTIC - Automap Update v.201f
    Nov 3, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  12. CULTIC - Automap Beta Patch v.201c/d/e
    Oct 27, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  13. CULTIC - Automap Beta Patch v.201b
    Oct 13, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  14. CULTIC Automap Update Out on Beta Branch
    Oct 10, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  15. CULTIC Dev Log - Automap and More!
    Oct 4, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  16. CULTIC: Chapter Two - Hotfix v2.0g Out On Beta Branch
    Sep 26, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  17. CULTIC: Chapter Two - Post-Launch Dev Update
    Sep 23, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  18. CULTIC: Chapter Two Hotfix v2.0f / Ammo Adjustments
    Sep 21, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  19. CULTIC: Chapter Two Hotfix v2.0e To Beta Branch
    Sep 20, 2025
  20. CULTIC: Chapter Two v2.0d Hotfix on Beta Branch
    Sep 19, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  21. CULTIC: Chapter Two Available Now!
    Sep 18, 2025
  22. CULTIC "2.0 Update" Available on Beta Branch
    Sep 11, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  23. CULTIC - Chapter Two Launch Date Trailer
    Sep 3, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  24. CULTIC Development Update #11 - The Final Devlog
    Apr 8, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  25. CULTIC Development Update #10 - All Aboard!
    Mar 5, 2025
  26. CULTIC Development Update #9 - Going Medieval
    Jan 13, 2025
  27. CULTIC Development Update #8 - The Giblet Ranch
    Nov 19, 2024
  28. CULTIC Development Update : Condemned Meat
    Aug 28, 2024
  29. CULTIC Development Update : A Dip In The Swamp
    Aug 6, 2024
  30. CULTIC - Survival Mode Patch (Beta)
    Feb 20, 2024significant · resets scoring window
  31. CULTIC - Snail Mode BETA Update
    Jan 25, 2024significant · resets scoring window
  32. CULTIC: Ability Mode BETA
    Jan 11, 2024significant · resets scoring window
  33. CULTIC - Merry Cultmas Bonus Content
    Dec 22, 2023
  34. CULTIC: Merry Cultmas Update!
    Dec 21, 2023
  35. CULTIC v108 Beta Patch
    Oct 19, 2023
  36. CULTIC v107b Patch
    Oct 1, 2023significant · resets scoring window
  37. CULTIC: Chapter One v105c
    Mar 20, 2023
  38. CULTIC: Chapter One - v105b
    Mar 19, 2023
  39. CULTIC Chapter One v105 Released
    Mar 17, 2023significant · resets scoring window
  40. CULTIC v105 Released on Beta Branch
    Mar 3, 2023significant · resets scoring window

…and 17 earlier patch announcements.