Cult of the Lamb’s cutesy horror “simply naturally comes again to enjoyable”

With Cult of the Lamb set to obtain its large, free Relics of the Previous Religion replace quickly, we took a while to take a seat down with the workforce behind 2022’s cutesy however sinister roguelike recreation. PCGamesN spoke to developer Large Monster’s Jay Armstrong and James Pearmain at WASD 2023 in regards to the upcoming replace, the sport’s adorably unnerving artwork type, accessibility instruments, and the significance of Twitch streaming to Cult of the Lamb’s success.

Relics of the Previous Religion is the primary massive replace for Cult of the Lamb, and it’s going to be free. Armstrong tells us, “We have been so blown away by how many individuals love the sport – we’ve by no means had this earlier than. We’re simply so completely satisfied and grateful.” The workforce sees this and the second deliberate free replace, loosely scheduled for later this 12 months, as a approach to give again to followers.

“I feel it’s actually necessary for us to only make it one of the best recreation potential,” Pearmain explains, pointing to different massive names within the roguelike style as inspirations. “We actually need to have a look at video games like The Binding of Isaac and Don’t Starve – how the sport is now in comparison with what it was at launch, we wish Cult of the Lamb to suit alongside these sorts of video games.”

As for what followers can count on from the replace, Pearmain guarantees “more durable variations of all of the bosses within the recreation” in addition to “a brand new useful resource that you should use to spend on a brand new shopkeeper who can provide you uncommon unlocks.” He describes the brand new, harder mode as “type of a souped-up New Recreation Plus – as a substitute of simply making you battle the very same enemies, we’ve made them more durable.”

It’s not simply in regards to the fight, nonetheless – Pearmain remarks {that a} lack of dungeon depth and selection was one of many essential criticisms raised in regards to the base recreation by gamers, so enhancing on that was an enormous precedence for the workforce. “From the very inception of the sport the thought was, let’s construct a recreation the place we are able to simply continue to grow it.”

Twitch streaming was additionally an enormous a part of the sport’s success. Pearmain nods to the idea of streamers letting their viewers be a part of their cult and make choices, which he says labored rather well for the sport. Nonetheless, it was necessary to the workforce that the tone of the entire thing leant in a enjoyable route to keep away from issues getting overly sinister.

“It might be fairly a heavy subject material,” Armstrong notes, “you’ll be able to feed [your cult members] to different followers… [but] the DNA of the sport is simply to have enjoyable. Although there’s all these horrible issues you are able to do.” As such, the workforce needed to strike a stability between the inherent horror stylings and one thing a bit extra light-hearted.

Pearmain explains, “There was loads of forwards and backwards – we wished it to be cute, however we didn’t need it to be sickly candy; after which we wished it to be horror, however we didn’t need it to be tremendous gross, violent physique horror. So it took various iterations forwards and backwards to search out the place these two goalposts have been.” As the sport’s artwork director, he notes that “All the things was simply too cute, they usually stored telling me to make it an increasing number of evil.”

“We knew we didn’t need purple blood, as a result of we felt like perhaps some individuals wouldn’t reply very nicely to that,” Armstrong says. As an alternative, the sport opted for tentacles that seize your villagers and yank them down into the mysterious void beneath. “I feel we couldn’t have accomplished it another method primarily based on the kind of issues we make,” he explains, “We stored making an attempt to make it darkish, and it simply naturally comes again to enjoyable.”

There’s loads extra within the works for Cult of the Lamb. Together with the Relics of the Previous Religion replace is a collection of elevated accessibility instruments, together with high-contrast textual content mode and dyslexic font settings. Pearmain additionally mentions that the workforce is engaged on choices to pause the day/evening cycle whereas in dungeons, and contemplating methods to permit gamers to regulate problem independently throughout the fight and base-building sides of the sport to raised fine-tune their expertise.

Are there any plans for rising the scale of the camp space, we ask? “Not with this replace,” Pearmain responds, “Nevertheless it’s undoubtedly one thing that I feel we’d love to do.” Nonetheless, he emphasises that the workforce needs to “be certain we don’t increase the world too shortly in a shallow method. As a result of even [with] what we’ve now, we may add extra depth to that.”

“We’re nonetheless open to exploring no matter makes the sport extra enjoyable,” concludes Armstrong. “It’s been an ideal downside to have.”

For those who’re simply getting began, don’t miss our Cult of the Lamb newbie’s information and ideas for combating all Cult of the Lamb bosses. We’ve additionally picked out one of the best indie video games on PC, in case you’re on the lookout for extra smashing smaller releases to maintain your self entertained.

Interview performed by Nat Smith at WASD 2023.