Cultic

Cultic doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it's a standout shooter.

Cultic is a crunchy retro-inspired FPS that builds upon the foundations of Blood to deliver a viscious, violent delight.

Solid and definitely have an audience. There could be some hard-to-ignore faults, but the experience is fun.

Honoring classic FPS tropes while incorporating modern elements, CULTIC is a fantastic choice for fans of intense gunplay. Its high-quality audiovisual presentation creates a palpable sense of tension that complements the gameplay, pitting the player against both dangerous humans and monsters. A wide array of resources is at the player's disposal, including various weapons, items, and movement mechanics to navigate the levels. Despite some minor issues, it is an excellent pick for fans of engaging and entertaining shooters.

If Cultic was co-op, I’d be writing this article with my trousers most definitely removed and burning beside me in a ritual that would most certainly result in the more conservative members of our readership pushing their glasses up their nose, or at the very least clearing their throat, uncomfortably. A huge thumbs up from me, and a welcome inclusion into the pantheon of truly great horror FPS titles.

Cultic shows how the term boomer shooter can be both a love letter and a disguise for a surprisingly modern project. While embracing the gritty look and brutal spirit of ’90s shooters, Jason Smith layers wider level design, creative weapons and real verticality onto that old-school frame. It’s not flawless — reused assets, occasionally unfair enemy aggression and the lack of Italian may bother some players — but anyone seeking an FPS that blends nostalgia with fresh ideas will find Cultic a perfect companion for getting their hands dirty again. And for us boomers, well… it feels a bit like coming home.

Cultic at once feels it's much too similar to Blood: Refreshed Supply, and yet, it does enough differently to earn an easy recommendation. With a focus on much more deliberate atmospherics and thoughtful level design, not to mention an array of genuinely satisfying weaponry, Cultic is absolutely deserving of your hard-earned cash.

Cultic goes far beyond a simple homage to the retro style of first-person shooter games, and proves itself right in creating an experience that is undeniably full of good inspirations, but is also unique and different from what the current (or past) market offers. Even with some inconsistencies in the art style and narrative pacing, it doesn't settle for being "just" a great boomer shooter, and is certainly a safe bet for anyone who appreciates an excellent mix of action, cosmic horror, and a healthy dose of gore violence.

Cultic is a great, yet very safe game, which eventually evolves into a very experimental yet frustrating Chapter 2. It's an impressive feat for the really small team, which started as a solo effort during Chapter 1. Unfortunately, the game is afflicted by a terrible pace and frustrating enemy placements towards the end, which left a bad taste in my mouth when all was said and done.

CULTIC is a love letter to classic first-person shooters while confidently introducing plenty of ideas of its own. Its outstanding artistic direction, exceptionally clever level design, countless secrets, brutal combat, and survival horror atmosphere come together to create an experience that stands apart from most modern shooters. Anyone who plays it will almost certainly remember the "chainsaw guy," though probably not for friendly reasons. My biggest criticism remains the camera controls, which never felt completely comfortable to me despite trying several different sensitivity settings. Fortunately, this issue became much less noticeable after switching to Casual difficulty, which I believe is the best way to experience the campaign for the first time. I also loved the way the game rewards exploration. Finding secret passages, uncovering new routes, and revisiting older areas never feels like wasted time. Quite the opposite. That constant sense of curiosity is exactly what makes CULTIC feel so much like the genre's greatest classics. If you're looking for a modern FPS packed with cinematic storytelling, you'll probably find better options elsewhere. However, if you miss the creativity, exploration, and unapologetic brutality of 1990s shooters, CULTIC absolutely deserves a place on your list. It's one of those rare games that fully understands its inspirations and successfully transforms them into something that remains just as fun today.