The Indie Informer

It’s shocking what the brain can forget. I willingly, happily sacrificed a large portion of my life to Cult of the Lamb when it first released in 2022. But it’s been more than a year since I revisited. Cult of the Lamb: Woolhaven reminded me of all the comfort of returning home while pelting me with irresistible turmoil, compelling rewards, and possibly its best narrative.

Stepping into my cult sent a crushing wave of pride over me. My village was a paragon of efficiency, and I forgot how much work I’d put into making it so. The large farm on my left as I entered was being tended by half my flock. My self-aggrandizing statue was surrounded by my cultists, supplying devotion. Down below, a field of perfectly placed tents led to a red-light district which was purpose-built to cultivate sin. Each of these resources, thanks to previous updates, had buildings making the cult’s everyday management self-sufficient. It was like coming back home.

Cult of the Lamb splits its action between base management and roguelike dungeon runs. Its more powerful half, for me, has always been tending my proverbial flock. This remains true for Woolhaven, but it more often tempts me abroad to a home away, represented in its titular village, which needs plenty of sprucing up. It also leads me frequently down its garden path of combat to uncover the mystery of a new deity who seems to actually have good intentions.

Of course, the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and unraveling the story behind the last of the lambs and what led to their demise often pulls me away from keeping my cult safe from the harsh, new storms of winter.

Ever-changing weather is a pleasing addition to the game. It recreates the absorbing struggle that so demanded my time when I first started playing. For so long, my cult needed so little from me; my presence wasn’t really necessary anymore. With the introduction of winter’s harsh assaults — from freezing followers, snowed-in buildings, wolf attacks, and food shortages — I suddenly found myself busy again.

But the game doesn’t just pile all of this on me with nothing to help. My favorite new element of Woolhaven is ranching. I would like it for nothing else than the ability to pet cute little imitations of yaks, cows, and llamas every day. However, these creatures also allow me to get through the cold months, providing wool, milk, and meat (among other things that animals you’ll unlock later bring to the table).

Wool is also an important currency in reconstructing the ruined Woolhaven. The last bastion of lambkind fell under mysterious circumstances, and it’s barely-surviving, winter-controlling god, Yngya, urges me to find the missing remnants of her ghostly flock. I find the spiritual horde combing through dungeon maps on a tall, imposing mountain now ruled by a fiercely atheist wolf. Combat is still fairly straightforward with fresh relics, cards, and a new weapon type keeping things from feeling stale.

I take almost as much pride in beautifying this new location as my own stomping grounds, and the new mini game and various quests keep me splitting my time between the two.

Cult of the Lamb: Woolhaven offers something for every type of cult leader. Fighting enthusiasts will discover a weapon that combines range with damage alongside creative new opponents. Narrative-seekers will uncover a host of characters carrying the burden of a failing power. Cult managers can look forward to new blood with which to build a stronger base in dangerous times. Together, it all combines in an experience that makes jumping back into one of indie’s best titles well worthwhile.