Cults and Daggers

Overall the game feels very unpolished, with event notifications scattered all over the world map, messes of text piling up in one spot, and a lack of any sort of in game tutorial or instructions. While I found the idea interesting, the game was frusturating to follow, and also nearly pre-emptively decided who would win any age (the seven rounds the game is divided into) after the first, as it would play through what looked like thirty turns with no input or control on behalf of the player. Often another cult would end up with enormous amounts of faith (one of the two types of tech points) , and on on occassion my cult seemed to be wiped out during those turns. One session of the autoplay ended with several notices that I could not recruit more disciples, indicating that the AI in control of the player's side was simply spamming the recruit action for no good reason. The flipside is that the game might wind up crippling all the other cults and leave yours dominant at the beginning of the age. My main complaint is that this is a strategy game in which a significant portion of the strategy is conducted by a remarkably clumsy AI, rather than the player.

For all its faults, Cults & Daggers is an interesting and fun take on turn-based 4X games. It's got a great premise, multiple roads to victory, and a rule set that isn't crazy tough to learn. It's surprisingly fun managing the operations of your pet religion, sending marching orders to your disciples, and preaching to or manipulating cities, and quashing the Old Gods. It's not perfect. In fact, the events summary at the beginning of each turn is particularly horrible for such a critical part of the game's interface. It could have used a nice scrollable and easily digestible format of events that you can read through. Still, just on uniqueness of premise and solid, challenging strategic play, I'd say it's a good buy for fans of turn-based menu-driven strategy games looking for something different.

An enjoyable strategy game that tries something different, and largely succeeds. It lacks slick graphics and interface, but it feels like there's a lot going on under the hood. There's a slower pace to it not often met these days... younger impatient players may not understand and react accordingly. The developer seems ready to react to any problems found. It remains to be seen how interestingly the later stages of the game can develop, as I haven't got that far yet. Recommended for the more mature, patient and thoughtful gamer....

This is a perfect Game for me it breaks down each turn moves at a nice steady pace for the first couple ages then the word is populated enough the news really slows the games down but for me it is not a big deal. I do not enjoy haveing to rebuild my cult because of the time in between ages but I understand it. If you enjoy games that move slow ( if you keep the news on and like turn-based stratedgy games then I highly recommend this game or if you like a faster pace shut the news off and it is just as fun.

Let me preface with how badly I wanted to enjoy this game. I had no expectations and realized that, much like Dominions or Crusader Kings, this would take some time to comprehend. So I gave it several attempts, read the manual (which is sparse on information, unforgivably so) and even put together a mock let’s play to see if while I was talking my way through the game it might change the way I approached it. Unlike others here, while I don’t love the interface, its no worse than most games of this ilk. The information is summarized for you in the beginning of the turn, and then left as a hyperlink on the map where it occurred. Yes the game does not have the most attractive menus and interfaces, but its serviceable and at least themed consistently throughout the game giving it cohesion. I am not exactly sure what is going on in the main menu and cult customization screens that are so taxing on my system however, as my video card fans really crank up on these screens, but I digress... This game is almost so bad as to be embarrassing. “Cults and Daggers is a big game and somewhat overwhelming to start.” - Manual But its not. It’s little more than a board game that would be slightly too complex to keep track of. Though I think with some work the superfluous “depth” could have been massaged away and this puppy could have shipped in a box with some tokens that would have been more attractive than some of the graphics on display. Let’s look at some of the “features”: “Turn based Strategy over 400 years of history.” If you can make it that far without being bored out of your mind. There are only a handful of actions each disciple can perform, and the lasting effect of these actions are minimal at best. Dozens of turns worth of effort can be erased nearly instantly and there is no sense of progression. Its really seven fortyish turn rounds with one of the laziest anti power creep mechanics I have ever seen implemented. After each of these rounds the computer takes control of all assets and runs around like a drunken idiot... and only then can you start the next round in the aftermath. Hell they could have just started the game this way too. “Create and customise your own Faith” Name it. Pick a color and hope its not too close to a computer color, or just leave it default for safety. Then pick your one lackluster power and one disciple out of the completely random set (don’t worry, you get two more completely random followers you can’t pick when you start the game). Don’t get attached to him or any other, they will die like flies either to murder or execution (like they should) or old age, finding a lover and starting a family or the plague (because apparently this is interesting or adds character to the world). Don’t be confused either, these aren’t Crusader King characters that die in a humorous way and leave a legacy of disaster in their wake. It’s a painful prick in a sagaless world to a character you probably won’t even remember the name of. “Procedurally generated technology tree and adventure system” I don’t even know what the hell this is even on the list for. This is the worst use of procedurally generated content I have ever seen. I assume by “technology tree” they ment the miracles, blessings and spells list which are about as colorful as the headliner at a nickleodeon. The spells are as creative as, a small bonus to one of your stats, a small amount of silver in all your cities, converting a few nobles or… transforming into an animal (disclaimer, I haven’t tried this one, the only one that sounds interesting). The “procedural” part must be the naming and bonus amount they apply and perhaps their prerequisites. I would not be proud enough of this to even list it as a feature. . “In depth modelled spying system allows for deep subterfuge” This is the game I guess? You can be hidden, or found. There are actions you can do while hidden that will reveal you… or won’t. “Complete ambient music Album "Cults and Daggers" included” I don’t know what this means. Is these assets created just for the game? I didn’t get a set of MP3s like I did with Hotline Miami. Nothing memorable here. “Single player. Hotseat & PBEM multiplayer” I should hope it had one of these. This game is shallow, way too reliant on RNG to feel strategic and ultimately feels like spinning your wheels and going nowhere. There is no joy in winning a round of this game. To the inevitable staunch defender: If you think I just don’t get it, am not qualified or are just one of those kids these days that doesn’t know what it was like, I would encourage you to look at my library of games and playtimes. The first game I bought was Interplay’s 10 Year Anthology and El Fish. I want this game to exist just as much as you do, but I am able to realize when someone just didn’t put all the parts together right in order to make a game this complex a meaningful enjoying experience. This game should be in early access and is no where complete enough to justify a 30 dollar price tag. Even for less I wouldn’t recommend it.

Really cool game nice amount of strategy to it and the whole look of the game is epic. I have encountered some issues with it such as white screens at the end of the age and I did just lose my save in the patch/update today but the game is so good its cool, just crack on and the dev is on the forums chatting to people working hard on it so it'll be plain sailing soon. Worth the moeny worth your time. Gets the full 10 when its plain sailing time 9/10

feeling like writing a review of this since there have been som negative reviews. first off id like to point out that this game is not for everyone, as it is lots of clicking and waiting. (and reading) but beneath that, this is a game i really enjoy even though i havent played much yet. its allways exciting pressing a new turn as you really dont know what will happend the next turn, i began the first age winning pretty much, the second age was a real downer for me as the AI kept killing my followers. on the third now im getting back at them and enjoying my self alot. there are a few things id like to see improved though. -better movement of camera -see the travel time for followers and maybe an arrow showing the direction ( forget where ive sendt them) -possibility to cancel movement or alter it. - some elaborate explanation on some things, (miracles mainly) other than that its a fun game and hope to play it much more.

It's a simple TBS with some RPG elements. What makes it so interesting is the setting and the focus(expanding your new founded cult). The game is quite simple in its mechanics and could use some more events. On the plus side, it's really easy to get into it. You don't need two hours of preparation to begin playing at a decent level. I recommend you check the playthrough video posted on Steam. If it looks like something you'd like then the game is for you(I haven't had trouble with game breaking bugs or missing features).

I haven't enjoyed a turn based strategy game this much since playing the original Civilization on my Commodore Amiga; I am once again in the grips of 'just one more turn' fervour! The sound design, maps, icons create a great immersive atmosphere and gameplay is fairly intutitive and easy enough to understand with helpful tooltips. Contrary to some comments there is not too much reading in this game. I am sure some people would like more explanation as to what all the words and numbers mean, and yes the game needs polish, and yes the UI could be improved, but I am honestly having far too much fun to care or notice.

EDITED I'm going to be frank and say this game is not perfect. It's far from it, and it really should be labelled as Early Access. Putting this game on an arbitrary ten point scale, I'd score it around a 3. I originally gave this game a down vote, and I do strongly urge potential buyers to do their own research and know what you're getting in to. However, the concept alone is something fresh and is a breath of fresh air on Steam. The developer also keeps a close ear on the forums and is taking the criticism and suggestions offered to heart. As long as the developer keeps putting in the effort to fix things, they'll have my confidence.