When Cult of the Lamb first launched in 2022, it captured hearts and minds with its darkly whimsical blend of sinister cult leadership and adorable base-building charm. The game combined roguelike dungeon crawling with a settlement management system, all wrapped in a deceptively cute aesthetic. Now, over three years later, Massive Monster surprises fans with Woolhaven, a substantial DLC that breathes new life—or perhaps, new frost—into the world of the faithful flock. Initially skeptical about a major expansion for a game that had already settled into my memory, I was pleasantly surprised to find eight additional hours of engaging content that rekindled my passion for tending my cult.
A Return to the Flock
For the uninitiated, Cult of the Lamb casts you as a possessed lamb, saved from death by a forgotten deity, tasked with building a loyal cult in their name. Gameplay splits neatly between two core loops: dungeon-crawling combat in procedurally generated forests and mountains, where you slay heretics and gather resources, and base-building back at your camp, where you recruit followers, construct buildings, and keep morale (and blood sacrifices) high. The game’s twisted charm lies in its juxtaposition—adorable woodland creatures engaged in dark rituals, with a touch of Animal Crossing meets The Village meets Dark Souls. It’s weird, memorable, and above all, addictive.
Winter Comes to Woolhaven
Woolhaven introduces a dramatic shift to the game’s world: winter has arrived. This isn’t just cosmetic—snow blankets the landscape, your followers grow cold, and food supplies dwindle as crops fail. Suddenly, survival demands more attention than ever. You’ll need to keep the furnace going and keep the followers fed and happy in harsh conditions.This new survival layer deepens the base-building experience, transforming it from a more passive backdrop into an active, engaging challenge.
I found myself spending far more time managing the day-to-day needs of my flock than I ever did in the original campaign. Monitoring warmth levels, organizing supply chains, and balancing feeding schedules added satisfying complexity. It’s a smart evolution of the original formula, reminding me of Don’t Starve’s survival mechanics but softened by the game’s inherent charm. The tension between keeping your followers alive and keeping them devout creates a compelling new rhythm—one that makes the home base feel more alive and vulnerable than ever before.
New Animals, New Stories, and New Dungeons
One of the most delightful additions is the ability to adopt and care for animals within your cult. But here’s the catch: you can pet them and take them for walks.. And I—along with, I suspect, many others—spent far too long doing exactly that. It’s a small detail, but it adds emotional warmth (pun intended) to the game, grounding the darker themes in moments of genuine tenderness.
The narrative of Woolhaven centers on restoring the mountain village to its former glory by returning lost souls and help with winter. While the story is serviceable—complete with melancholy cutscenes and lore tidbits—it’s not the strongest draw. Like the base game, the story complements the gameplay rather than driving it. Still, it gives a clear purpose to your actions, turning your cult’s expansion into a mission of redemption rather than mere domination.
On the combat side, two new dungeons offer fresh layouts, enemies, and bosses. The fights are challenging and well-designed, with new enemy patterns and environmental hazards. You’ll also unlock new weapons and relics, though the variety feels incremental rather than revolutionary. I did find myself wishing for more experimental mechanics—perhaps a shift in combat flow or a new ability tree—but given that this is a DLC, not a full sequel, the additions still feel worthwhile. The dungeons don’t reinvent the wheel, but they spin it with confidence and style.
Conclusion: A Worthy and Warm Expansion
Woolhaven isn’t just an add-on—it’s a meaningful expansion that nearly doubles the original experience. With its survival-driven gameplay, animal interactions, and expanded world, it manages to feel both (somewhat)fresh and true to the spirit of Cult of the Lamb. While I wish it had allowed for independent save files or more radical gameplay innovations, these are minor critiques in the face of so much content and charm.
This DLC reignited my love for a game I thought I’d moved past. It’s not just about spreading your cult—it’s about nurturing it, warming it, and giving it a soul. And sometimes, that soul just wants to pet a llama by the fire. Woolhaven is a cozy, chilling, and thoroughly enjoyable return to the flock—absolutely worth the devotion if you enjoyed it the first time around.
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