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.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 78 | 8 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 80% | 74 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 77% | 72 | 2824 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Jul 1, 2024) · 300 reviews sampled · 2824 total reviews in window · weighted 193.4 up / 42.2 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (22)
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.
- 70
“Cultist Simulator is definitely not for everyone. In a way, the game attempts to break down established gameplay mechanics and is, in a sense, suited for those who love challenges and originality. Alexis Kennedy’s distinctive style is unmistakable here, but while playing, you’ll encounter far more confusion and ambiguity than in *Fallen London* and *Sunless Sea*, on which Kennedy worked. The game certainly has an original concept and execution, but the form, with its many ambiguities, has overshadowed the content and the intended effect. Cultist Simulator has squeezed an interesting story about creating a religious cult into a card game, but its harshness and ambiguities, along with various elements that can strongly frustrate players, have definitely diminished its entertainment value.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“At the end of the day, the one thing I can definitively say is that it is a game that I enjoyed, but also one where I can very well understand if others dislike it.”
read full review ↗ - 40
“An interesting card game focused on discovery of the rules as part of the game, however without an easy way to explain the rules, players can quickly find themselves stymied by its impenetrable logic.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“As far as I can tell, the game is deterministic, and if you play correctly, when you learn what playing correctly even IS, then you shall succeed and ascend to your rightful place.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“A magnificent nightmare, for those with the stamina to master the gruelling card game that houses it.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“I was surprised by my experience with Cultist Simulator as it should have been a game that really grabbed me. The mood, the setting, and the pedigree of the writing are all perfectly in line with my interests, but I found the combination of the card playing and having to sit at a PC never truly gelled.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Cultist Simulator may have a high learning curve, but the meaningful rewards matter to you, and the variety of choices encourage you to experiment during each game.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Cultist Simulator is one of the most interesting games I’ve played in years. It can be too slow at times but the hours disappear while playing. There’s always the desire to study one more book, go on one more expedition, or take one more trip to the Mansus. You never know what you might find.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“A dark, engrossing, and challenging narrative card and crafting game.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Cultist Simulator won't be for everyone as the learning curve is fairly steep and it is a pretty unforgiving game. Anyone who loves puzzles, interesting games and solid narrative will find a lot to love.”
read full review ↗ - 53
“There are some solid ideas that carry you fluidly through the first few hours but the more you play, the more you realize that you're being brainwashed to think that menial work is fun”
read full review ↗ - 75
“An well-done simulation of a tabletop card-drafting game, Cultist Simulator can draw you in, and without realizing it, minutes or hours will have gone by. Its subject matter and large amount of reading will be a downside for some, but if you enjoy games set in H.P. Lovecraft-ian worlds, you will enjoy this game a lot.”
read full review ↗
Gaming Professors
Gamer Escape
Kinglink Reviews
Chalgyr's Game Room
Eurogamer
TheSixthAxis
GameSkinny
CDavis_Games
PC Gamer
TechRaptor
Old Grizzled Gamers
Geeks Under Grace…and 10 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Update 2025.8.f.4 "FULGENTIUS"Oct 7, 2025
- Small loc fixesMay 21, 2025
- 2024.A.2 'AGNES' from beta->liveJul 1, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- HOTFIXFeb 27, 2024
- 2023.12.s.4 - "SARCODES"Feb 13, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- 2023.10.r.9 RANUNCULUSNov 13, 2023
- 2023.5.p.12 PEONYSep 13, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Cultist Sim has a new baby sister: enter BOOK OF HOURSAug 17, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Cultist Simulator BETA (gateofhorn) patchAug 5, 2023
- "Though much is taken, much abides"Mar 17, 2023
- NEMESIA updateJan 17, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- GHIRBI, the GatekeeperDec 13, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- MOTHORCHIDDec 6, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- LONGIFLORUM patchNov 16, 2022
- KALMIA: sheep-slayer, cone-bringerOct 24, 2022
- ILEX+JUNIPER: Teeny hotfix for lore upgradesSep 21, 2022
- ILEX (and JUNIPER on beta)Sep 20, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Patch notes for HELLEBORE! (2022.8.h.3)Sep 8, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- 2022.7.f.5 FRAGRANTOLIVEAug 9, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- 2022.6.d.1 DAHLIAJun 23, 2022
- 2022.6.c.1 CROCOSMIAJun 8, 2022
- 2022.6.b.2 BRYONYJun 7, 2022
- BETA: 2022.5.a.2 ASPHODELMay 25, 2022
- v2022.5.y.2 YERMAMay 17, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- v2022.5.y.1 YERMAMay 17, 2022
- WELCOME, YOU ROGUESMay 3, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- 2022.5.v.1 VIOLETMay 2, 2022
- 2022.4.t.8 TARTUFFEApr 29, 2022
- 2022.4.s.1 SARGASSOApr 26, 2022
- 2022.3.q.1 RIGOLETTOApr 19, 2022
- v2022.3.q.1 QUIETPLACE (beta->live)Apr 4, 2022
- 2022.3.p.1 PORINMar 22, 2022
- 2022.3.o.1 ORFEOMar 18, 2022
- v2022.3.n.1 NEWMOONMar 16, 2022
- 2022.3.m.1 MARSYASMar 15, 2022
- 2022.3.l.1 LAKMEMar 14, 2022
- Teeny hotfix for KNOTGARDENMar 12, 2022
- 2022.3.k.1 KNOTGARDENMar 12, 2022
- v2022.3.j.1 JENUFAMar 11, 2022
…and 12 earlier patch announcements.