Cults are serious issues in real life, representing complex and often dangerous organizations that exploit human vulnerabilities for personal gain, frequently in the form of financial enrichment. Encounters with such groups can evoke strong fear and anxiety, which is why many people, including myself, are grateful for the absence of personal experience with cults.
However, video games offer a unique platform to explore and confront these fears in a safe and engaging environment. They allow players to delve into the unsettling aspects of cult behavior through various lenses, ranging from lighthearted satire to chilling portrayals. Whether you’re managing the ins and outs of a cult or merely finding yourself in a significant role, video games can satiate your curiosity about cults without the real-life danger.
This discussion includes games where cultivating a cult is central to the gameplay, as well as those where players have the opportunity to influence cult-like structures through their decisions. For our purposes, we’ve defined a “cult”as any organization that operates under the control of a singular, dominant person or group, whether human or otherwise.
Warning: Spoilers Ahead for the Following Titles.
8 Control
A World-Protecting Cult Is Still A Cult
In the game Control, players engage with the Federal Bureau of Control (FBC), a governmental entity tasked with safeguarding humanity from paranormal threats. Despite its seemingly noble mission, the FBC operates with a cult-like structure, as its followers are unwaveringly obedient to the will of the enigmatic Board—an assembly of enormous, worm-like beings communicating from the Astral Plane. The protagonist, Jesse, unexpectedly assumes the title of Director, establishing her authority among the FBC’s employees despite her previous lack of involvement with the organization.
Even if the FBC’s members don’t literally worship the Board, their unquestioning adherence to its directives leads to a chilling dynamic where the Board’s absolute power threatens to disrupt reality itself, should they choose to do so.
7 Fallout: New Vegas
Caesar And The Cult Of Mars
Within the desolate world of Fallout: New Vegas, players encounter Caesar’s Legion, a faction that exemplifies a cult-like structure wielding considerable influence. The Legion embraces the “Cult of Mars, ”venerating the Roman god of war, who they believe cleansed the Earth with nuclear fire. Caesar, portraying himself as the “Son of Mars, ”insists on a divine mission to dominate the wasteland and impose unyielding discipline on its inhabitants. Players can join this Legion, gaining a position of power within its ranks, especially as its leaders grow weaker, possibly allowing you to shape the direction of the Legion’s rule.
6 The Wandering Village
Onbu Demands Sacrifices
In The Wandering Village, players manage a society residing on the back of the colossal creature, Onbu. The aim is to coexist peacefully with this titanic being; however, the lack of direct communication can lead to misguided interpretations by the villagers. Initially, sacrifices to Onbu may be considered an emergency measure, but should the practice become routine, it transforms into a cult-like reverence for the creature. The citizens begin demanding regular tributes, which may escalate into troubelling practices unless countered by scientific interventions that reveal Onbu’s mortality.
5 Ring of Fire
Love That Frenzied Flame
Elden Ring features multiple factions, many exhibiting cult characteristics, but the Chaos Followers stand out. They dedicate themselves to the worship of the Three Fingers and the devastating power of the Frenzied Flame, which promises to eliminate all distinctions and suffering through annihilation. Players can assume the role of the Lord of Frenzied Flame by embracing this chaotic force, effectively initiating a cataclysmic event that aligns with the cult’s vision.
4 The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy-
Evil Overlord Or Living Idol
In The Hundred Line, players navigate through myriad story routes leading to diverse endings, including a particularly unsettling arc known as the “Cult of Takumi.”Here, the protagonist Takumi is inadvertently given a drug that enhances his pheromones, resulting in his classmates forming a cult around him. Though Takumi initially resists the cult-like adoration, he may ultimately accept a leadership role, paving the way for dictator-like ambitions. Alternatively, attempting to revert the situation leads to even darker outcomes, entraping him in a condition that renders him a paralyzed idol worshiped by his followers.
3 Honey, I Joined A Cult
Cult, Scam, Same Difference
| Platforms | PC |
|---|---|
| Developer | Sole Survivor Games |
| Release Date | 3 Nov, 2022 |
In the game Honey, I Joined A Cult, players delve into establishing a cult, parallel to running a scam business. The objective is to gather followers, provide for their needs, and ultimately direct them toward generating revenue through questionable practices. Players can develop their cult’s influence while capitalizing on the followers’ belief in an omnipotent deity, making the gameplay a satirical take on exploitation and ambition.
2 Cultist Simulator
A Cult Of Cards
Cultist Simulator presents a straightforward yet intricate approach to cult dynamics through a roguelike card game format. Here, players start a cult with clear intentions centered around cosmic horrors and ambition for power or immortality. The game emphasizes the necessity of recruiting disciples for support and sustenance while contending with rival cults and government hunters aiming to thwart your plans. Its complex mechanics illustrate how a cult can intertwine with personal ambition and the quest for otherworldly knowledge.
1 Cult Of The Lamb
The Cutest Cult You’ve Ever Seen
Cult of the Lamb skillfully juxtaposes adorableness with macabre elements by positioning players as a sacrificial lamb enlisted to establish a new cult under a demonic deity. Armed with supernatural abilities, you not only attract followers but also engage in traditional cult practices such as ritual sacrifices. The gameplay oscillates between the whimsical and the sinister, culminating in a choice to assume absolute power over the cult by dethroning your deity at the end of the game.
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