After watching a couple of videos about CULTIC, we kinda expected another retro-inspired shooter that borrowed the best parts of classics like Blood. We got some of that, but, more importantly, we found something that feels familiar on the surface before gradually revealing its own identity. CULTIC delivers the fast-paced action we hoped for, but the shooting is just a prelude to something even greater: the freedom to approach every encounter however we wanted.
Jasozz Games and 3D Realms cast us as a detective who wakes up in a mass grave after being left for dead by a mysterious cult. Since staying dead isn’t really an option, we set out to uncover what’s happening, leaving an enormous trail of destruction behind us along the way. The recently released PS5 version also includes Chapter Two, allowing us to continue the story beyond the forests and abandoned farms of the original campaign and into the war-torn streets of New Grandwell.
At first glance, CULTIC looks like a straightforward boomer shooter. We thought so too, and we charged headfirst through the first few rooms. It didn’t end well. Those damn cultists are surprisingly accurate, and attacking from multiple angles seems to be their favorite thing. If you aren’t constantly moving, you will get overwhelmed in seconds. Your aim is very important, but so is positioning. We were surprised by how much of the game encouraged us to slide into cover and dodge incoming attacks. Holding the trigger was a secondary thing; what always came first was thinking about where to go next.
Chapter Two builds on almost everything we enjoyed in the original campaign, and one of its best additions is the revamped dodge, which now doubles as a shoulder charge. It may sound like a small change, but it completely alters the rhythm of combat. Knocking enemies off balance creates just enough breathing room to reload, reposition, or finish off another target. After only a handful of encounters, it became one of those mechanics we instinctively relied on, making close-range fights feel noticeably more dynamic than before.
The second chapter surprised us in other, much more substantial ways too. The environments are interactive, and almost everything around you can become a weapon. Explosive barrels are the obvious choice, but we had fun picking up and throwing plenty of chairs, crates, lanterns, and countless smaller objects. Some of our most satisfying moments came from improvising with the environment rather than relying on firearms. Unsuspecting cultist in your way? Throw a bar of soap at them and see how satisfying it is. Moments like these make the new chapter somehow feel perfectly at home in CULTIC’s chaotic sandbox.
Every weapon carries a satisfying sense of weight, and landing a clean headshot never stopped feeling rewarding. The double-barrel shotgun is devastating at close range, while heavier weapons introduced later in the campaign—including mounted machine guns and bazookas—turn several of the larger battles into spectacular set pieces. The only firearm that never quite clicked with us was the standard pump-action shotgun, which lacks the impact and personality found throughout the rest of the arsenal.
Visually, CULTIC strikes an excellent balance between old and new. Its deliberately low-resolution presentation captures the atmosphere of 90s shooters without feeling technically outdated. Dynamic lighting, thick shadows, and detailed environmental effects help create an unsettling atmosphere, while the sound design constantly keeps you on edge. Hearing cultists muttering to each other somewhere in the darkness before they suddenly open fire is often just as tense as the firefights themselves.
The original campaign felt tightly paced, with each level introducing something new before moving on. Chapter Two takes a far more ambitious approach, featuring significantly larger environments that can easily last close to an hour each. There are some fantastic set pieces along the way, including battles aboard moving trains and large urban firefights, but the increased scale occasionally works against the experience. Spending long stretches searching for the next objective or clearing yet another wave of enemies can slow the momentum, making parts of the campaign feel more exhausting than exciting.
Those pacing issues never overshadow what makes CULTIC special. We’re sure this shaken-up formula might feel refreshing to some, or even most, fans. Regardless of how you spin it, CULTIC remains one of the strongest retro shooters we’ve played in recent years. It successfully blends old-school shooter design with modern physics and player freedom. We warmly recommend you check out this familiar and refreshingly original experience.
Score: 8.5/10
- Developer: Jasozz Games
- Publisher: 3D Realms
- Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2
- Release Date: October 13, 2022 (Chapter One) / September 18, 2025 (Chapter Two) / July 23, 2026 (Consoles)
- Genre: Retro First-Person Shooter / Horror
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