Worshippers of Cthulhu is a uniquely Lovecraftian city-builder where you build and manage your own island of cultists. Read our review to see what it did well, what it didn't do well, and if it's worth buying.
Disclaimer: The following game, and subsequently this review, contains depictions and mention of blood, bodily harm, body horror, human sacrifice, ritualistic cannibalism, and slaughter. If you find the aforementioned themes triggering, please continue with your own discretion, or feel free to check out our other reviews instead.
Everything We Know About Worshippers of Cthulhu
Worshippers of Cthulhu Story Plot
The narrative of Worshippers of Cthulhu draws heavily from the chilling cosmic horror of H.P. Lovecraft, the mastermind behind the infamous Lovecraft Mythos. At its core, the game revolves around building, managing, and nurturing your very own cult dedicated to the Great One, Dagon.
As you recruit new followers and initiate them into your cause, you’ll confront non-believers, explore dark and forbidden rituals, and navigate the day-to-day complexities of cult life—all in unwavering service to your eternal master.
Worshippers of Cthulhu Gameplay
Worshippers of Cthulhu combines classic city-building mechanics—such as road construction, city grids, resource management, worker assignments, and technology upgrades—delivering the expected features of the genre without straying too far from the familiar formula. However, what truly distinguishes this game is its infusion of occult elements reminiscent of Cult of the Lamb. Expect to engage in sinister rituals, perform human sacrifices, subjugate non-believers, and ultimately summon your dark master, Dagon.
Based on gameplay footage shown in trailers, Worshippers of Cthulhu treats your followers as valuable resources, whether they're sacrificed in dark rites or assigned as laborers to further your unholy cause.
Worshippers of Cthulhu Release Date
Worshippers of Cthulhu will be released on October 21, 2024, for the PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store at around 9 a.m. EDT / 6 a.m. PDT. Look at the table below to see your region's release time!
Worshippers of Cthulhu Review [Early Access]
Unfathomably Good for Early Access!
If Cult of the Lamb, Critical Role’s Candela Obscura, and the Call of Cthulhu TTRPG have shown us anything, it’s that cult iconography has a firm grip on the public imagination, and H.P. Lovecraft’s influence remains as timeless as ever. In other words, tentacles and blood sacrifices are in right now, and Worshippers of Cthulhu scratches that itch perfectly—or at least as perfectly as a tentacle can scratch an itch, anyway.
But before we get too deep into praising the Old Ones, let’s don our ceremonial robes and figure out which names to chant as we dive into what makes Worshippers of Cthulhu even more enthralling than the Great Old Ones themselves.
Let’s start with the game’s basics—don’t worry, it’s nothing unfathomable to the human mind, your sanity is safe (for now). Worshippers of Cthulhu is a grid-based city-builder and logistics management sim set on a mysterious archipelago, where effigies of the Old Ones loom over the ruins of failed colonies. As the high priest of a cult dedicated to Cthulhu, your mission is simple: awaken the Great Old One and usher in a new cosmic era, all by performing the right rituals.
At its core, the game offers familiar mechanics for fans of city-builders. You'll have access to specialty buildings, road-building tools, a steady influx of cult initiates, and a production chain for crafting resources and materials. If you’ve played Fabledom, Manor Lords, Republic of Pirates, or Against the Storm, you’ll feel right at home. But Worshippers of Cthulhu stands apart with its own unique flavor.
For starters, your population of initiates aren't just laborers fueling your cult's rise—they are literally the lifeblood of Cthulhu’s awakening. Borrowing a page from Cult of the Lamb’s rituals, you can use your followers for more than just work. Through rites and ceremonies, you can mold their roles in the cult (each marked by a knife-carved scar), transform them into fearsome monsters to conquer rival territories, or even sacrifice them outright to earn divine favor. Their blood, after all, is the key to unlocking Cthulhu’s return.
You can also elevate your initiates to higher ranks within the cult, promoting them to acolytes, apostles, and eventually zealots. Each rank comes with increased labor capacity and allows for the production of more specialized goods. For instance, while initiates can only craft basic items like wooden planks or cooked corn, higher-ranking cultists can create more refined products, such as corn ale or steak.
In Worshippers of Cthulhu, faith is your primary currency, earned by meeting the fundamental needs of your cult. This creates a positive feedback loop: well-cared-for cultists produce more goods, which in turn further improve the lives of others. This cycle is represented by your cult’s Zealotry level, which measures the fervor of their faith and grants cult-wide bonuses as it increases.
The game also dips into minor RTS elements with sea combat and island conquests, though these mechanics seem to be on the back burner for now, likely to be expanded as development continues in early access.
To summarize its gameplay quality, Worshippers of Cthulhu strikes a great balance between classic city-building mechanics and fresh, innovative ideas. While it nails the core fundamentals of the genre, it sets itself apart with its ritual system and immersive Lovecraftian themes, offering a unique take on both the city-builder and cult management genres.
Graphically, Worshippers of Cthulhu is a visual marvel, both in terms of fidelity and art direction. The 3D assets for the buildings are impressively detailed and beautifully modeled, even though they’re meant to be viewed from a distance. The islands of the archipelago, with their eerie effigies, are equally stunning, capturing the foreboding atmosphere you’d expect from a world steeped in Lovecraftian lore.
Speaking of which, the game is absolutely drenched in cosmic horror vibes. From the design of the Harbinger—an NPC that serves as Cthulhu's mouthpiece—to the grandiose shrines and ceremony halls you can build, the visual elements scream Lovecraft. Fans of H.P. Lovecraft’s work will find themselves right at home, as the game’s art direction perfectly captures the unnerving, otherworldly nature of his universe.
On the audio front, the game features a fully-voiced narrator, a haunting eldritch soundtrack, and solid sound design that brings the island’s many moving parts to life. While the audio might not be groundbreaking, it certainly complements the game’s atmosphere and gets the job done.
Overall, Worshippers of Cthulhu is remarkably polished for an early access title. The core gameplay is solid, with a satisfying progression system and plenty of story elements already in place. The potential for future expansion is clear, with more islands, building tiers, and production chains likely to come. Even in its current form, the game feels complete enough to enjoy, making it a promising addition to the genre.
As the game continues to evolve, there’s no doubt it will only get better. More content, more cult-building mechanics, and even deeper cosmic horrors await. Simply put, the game’s quality is otherworldly—R’lyeh good, some might say.
Gotta Love How Much is in this Early-Access Build
One thing that continues to surprise me is just how much content can be packed into a game still labeled as "early access," and Worshippers of Cthulhu is no exception. With at least 8 hours of gameplay per playthrough, thanks to the many tiers of unlockables available from the start, the game already feels full-fledged. And that’s just across two islands—there are potentially 6-8 more to come.
In terms of content density, Worshippers of Cthulhu delivers in spades, offering a rich and satisfying experience even in its early state. With so much already on offer, it’s exciting to think about how much more the game will expand as it progresses.
Even More Lovecraft Flavor Wouldn’t Hurt
The game is already drenched in Lovecraftian lore and aesthetics, but it doesn’t yet tap into some of the most iconic elements of the mythos beyond the big squid-headed guy—Cthulhu—who, let’s be honest, everyone knows by now. While there are nods to other Old Ones like Shub-Niggurath and Yog-Sothoth, their presence feels more like a tease than anything substantial.
The entire game is set in R’lyeh, which, while iconic from The Call of Cthulhu, is only one part of the vast Lovecraftian universe. There’s so much more to explore! Imagine venturing to the shadowy docks of Innsmouth or catching a glimpse of the eerie streets of Arkham. While it’s just wishful thinking at this point, the game’s potential for expanding to new islands and locations leaves the door wide open for more immersive Lovecraftian settings in the future. The groundwork is laid, but there’s plenty of room to infuse the game with even more of the mythos’ rich, unsettling flavor.
Combat Barely Exists
One area where Worshippers of Cthulhu falls a bit short is its sea combat system, which feels underdeveloped and underutilized. While I appreciate the unique twist of sending mutated cultists into battle rather than traditional ships, the opportunity to engage in these sea battles is rare, and when it does happen, the fights are brief and lack any real excitement or climactic tension.
This is definitely a system the developers should prioritize as the game moves toward full release. Right now, it feels like a missed opportunity in an otherwise rich and immersive setting.
Minor Bugs and Crashes to Address
While the core mechanics flow well, the game itself doesn't always run as smoothly, even on mid-to-high-end systems like mine. Cutscenes often stutter instead of seamlessly transitioning from gameplay, and I've encountered a few crashes during them throughout my playthrough.
It's likely a minor issue that could be addressed in a future patch, but worth keeping in mind, especially if your system isn’t top-tier.
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Worshippers of Cthulhu Product Information
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| Title | WORSHIPPERS OF CTHULHU |
|---|---|
| Release Date | October 21, 2024 |
| Developer | Crazy Goat Games |
| Publisher | Crytivo |
| Supported Platforms | PC (Steam, Epic Games) |
| Genre | Horror, Simulation |
| Number of Players | 1 |
| Rating | PEGI 18 |
| Official Website | Worshippers of Cthulhu Website |
