Cultist Simulator

Cultist Simulator is a unique, narrative-driven simulation and digital board game developed by Weather Factory and designed by Alexis Kennedy. Released in 2018, it submerges the player into a 1920s Lovecraftian world where secret societies, forbidden knowledge, and the silent reality of ancient gods lie just beneath the veneer of mundane life. The game is celebrated for its deliberately obtuse mechanics, which force the player to learn through dangerous trial and error.

Gameplay: The Alchemy of Cards and Verbs

The entire game takes place on a tabletop interface, using two primary elements: Cards and Verbs.

• Cards (Nouns): Represent every resource, asset, and concept in the game—from the tangible (Funds, Health, Occult Books, Tools, Followers) to the abstract (Passion, Dread, Fascination, Lore Fragments, Influences). Every card is categorized by a series of Aspects (like Lantern, Forge, Moth, or Grail) that define its magical properties and utility.

• Verbs (Actions): These are timed slots (like Work, Study, Explore, Dream, and Talk) where the player slots the Cards. The Verbs are constantly running down timers, which create a real-time element of pressure and consequence.

The core gameplay loop involves figuring out which combination of Cards slotted into a Verb will yield a desired result, such as:

• Using Study + Reason to create the Erudition skill.

• Using Explore + Secret Histories Lore to launch an Expedition to raid ancient vaults.

• Using a Rite + a Follower + Influence to summon a powerful spirit.

The Struggle for Ascension

The initial struggle is simply survival. The player must manage the Time Passes verb, which periodically consumes Funds and, if they run out, generates Moth-related cards like Dread or Fascination. Too much of either can lead to madness, death, or being exposed to the relentless Hunters of the Suppression Bureau.

The true objective, however, is Ascension. The player must dedicate themselves to one of the Desires (Enlightenment, Power, or Sensation), corresponding to a specific Principle (Lantern, Forge, or Grail).

• The Cult: To fuel the ascension, the player must use Talk to recruit Followers and establish a secret Cult. Followers can be sent on missions to earn funds, steal materials, or deal with Rivals and Hunters.

• The Mansus: Through Dreaming, the player gains access to the Mansus, a transcendent reality that serves as the source of powerful Influences and higher-level Lore needed for Rites.

To achieve victory, the player must ultimately perform a high-level Rite, combining their Desire card with Lore, Tools, and Sacrifices that collectively meet an immense Aspect requirement (36 total), shattering the borders of reality to achieve true immortality.

The game is a masterclass in providing a narrative experience through emergent mechanics, where every death is just a new beginning for a fresh seeker of the secret histories.