Worship picked me up by surprise. I didn’t expect to spend my evenings leading a ragtag group of eldritch-worshipping cultists through gooey forests and shadowy ruins. Yet here we are—and I’ve had a strangely cozy time. If you like cute-yet-grim games with a mix of strategy, roguelite action, and community spirit, this indie gem from Chasing Rats Games is worth a look. Here’s how my journey went.
Overall Impressions
Worship stands out for its blend of Pikmin-style follower management and eerie ritual themes. Your loyal cultists scurry about, gathering resources, aiding in spellcasting, and performing adorably spooky sacrifices. Unlike other cult sims, such as Cult of the Lamb, Worship emphasizes exploration and tactical combat over base-building. While it lacks the polish of a big-budget title, the game radiates passion and creativity from its small but dedicated team.
The experience isn’t flawless. Mid-run bugs and an unclear save system—where progress locks only after defeating a boss—can be punishing. Losing an hour of gameplay to a crash or stuck summon tests your patience. Still, the developers’ quick patches and open Discord communication soften the blow and show a genuine commitment to improvement.
Gameplay Mechanics
Controlling crowds of little cultists is as adorable as it sounds. You assign roles—miners, fighters, ritualists—and off they go, chanting and gathering. My favorite moment was training a squad of flame-wielding zealots and watching them chase a nightmare creature down a mossy hill.
Worship offers a strong sense of strategy through clear unit roles. Summoning cycles feel empowering once mastered—you truly feel like an eldritch commander. The ritual system adds satisfying tension with blood offerings, rune placements, and grand ceremonies for towering gods. Developer engagement is another highlight. They poll Discord for deity ideas, showcase fan art, and crowdsource cultist outfits, creating a shared sense of growth.
The save system remains frustrating. Progress locks only after boss fights, so mid-run crashes are costly. Pathfinding issues can also break immersion, with summoned tentacle horrors getting stuck in trees and no quick “retrieve” option. Large battles strain performance—once follower counts exceed 30, the action slows, leaving cultists frozen during critical fights.
One useful tip from players: use your “summon circle” as a mobile home base. Returning there after exploring can help safeguard your progress.
Story and Characters
Worship’s story is minimal but creepy-cute. You start as a lone seeker of truth, soon drawing a handful of devoted outsiders into your fold. There’s no deep voice-acted narrative—everything comes through ritual scrolls, cryptic runes, and the environment itself. I loved the mystery of the Old Ones; every new region teased a bigger, weirder god waiting to be unleashed.
My cultists don’t have names, but their tiny robes and glowing eyes give them personality. Whenever one of them trips over roots or gets zapped by lightning, I half-expect them to yelp in cartoon speech bubbles. It’s simple, but it works: the world-building shines through the gameplay, and discovering hidden shrines felt like finding little secrets in my own backyard.
Visuals and Graphics
The art style is hand-drawn and slightly rough around the edges, which fits the indie vibe perfectly. Environments shift from mossy caves to burnt-out plains, all with a pastel-tinged palette that keeps things from getting too grim. My favorite area was the bioluminescent forest, where glowing mushrooms lit up my route to the next ritual. The occasional graphical glitch popped up—a floating tree stump here, a texture flicker there—but honestly, I found those quirks charming, like an old cartoon cel.
Sound and Music
I played with headphones on, and the soundtrack quietly crept into my brain. There’s a soft chant that plays during rituals and a somber guitar melody in exploration zones. Sound effects rock: my cultists’ little footsteps, the squelch of summoning portals, or the roar of a defeated boss. No voice acting, but the lack of chatter feels intentional—it keeps the focus on you and your growing horde. Overall, the audio nails that blend of “aww” and “eek” I kept laughing about.
Difficulty and Replayability
Worship isn’t a walk in the park, but it doesn’t beat you down either. Early runs can feel tough—one wrong summon, and your army can crumble. I died more times to pathfinding goofs than actual bosses. But every failure taught me something: use terrain to funnel enemies, split my cultists into squads, or wait to upgrade magic until I was sure of my build.
Roguelite fans will appreciate the promise of meta-progression coming in future updates—devs say they’ll add unlockable perks between runs, deeper map corruption features, and more follower types. Even now, I’ve put in a dozen runs, hunting different boss strategies or just playing with new follower combos. It’s not the deepest replay loop yet, but it’s off to a promising start.
Trivia & Behind the Scenes
Chasing Rats Games may be a tiny studio, but their hands-on approach shines through as the devs personally respond to bug reports and share detailed patch notes after every hotfix. The upcoming third Old One, a community-designed god voted in by fans on Discord, blends hive mind aesthetics with cosmic horror—concept art already has players buzzing. Future updates promise even more wild features, including cultist-led animal husbandry and the ability to ride cultist cavalry into battle, adding fresh layers of strategy and charm.
Final Thoughts
I had a blast, despite the rough edges. Worship feels like a friendly cult sim in early access—plenty to love, plus the kind of bugs you can forgive when you see how active the devs are. If you’re patient and don’t mind a few weird crashes, you’ll find a sweet, odd little world here. And if you wishlist now, you’ll be around when the game really blossoms.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Pros
Worship combines charming art with engaging crowd control mechanics, making every summoning cycle and tactical choice feel rewarding. The game’s strong community vibe shines through in its active Discord, where fans contribute ideas, share creations, and influence future updates. Addictive ritual systems—complete with offerings, rune placements, and grand ceremonies—keep players coming back for more, blending strategy with darkly whimsical fun.
Cons
The save system’s limitations can frustrate, especially when progress is only secured after defeating a boss. Occasional bugs, such as pathfinding hiccups and stuck summons, can break immersion, while performance dips during large-scale battles disrupt the flow. These issues don’t overshadow the game’s charm, but they highlight areas where polish could take Worship to the next level.
I’m looking forward to seeing Worship grow into its own. If you love cozy-but-creepy management games and want to be part of an active indie community, this cult is worth joining—just keep a close eye on your summons!
