New Cultic Review

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

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I loved Cultic Chapter One when it came out in 2022. Now, with the release of its second chapter, the full game is one of the best shooters of 2025.

What is it? A long awaited boomer shooter with one of the coolest looks in the subgenreExpect to pay: $20 / £17 (for both chapters)Developer: Jasozz GamesPublisher: 3D RealmsReviewed on: Windows 11, Intel i5-12600K, RX 9070 XT, 32GB RAMMultiplayer? NoSteam Deck? VerifiedLink: Steam

This exercise in demon worshipper annihilation is a meat and potatoes boomer shooter that primarily distinguishes itself by executing everything at a very high level: Great maps, great guns, great enemies, plus one of a kind art direction and suffocating jaunts into pure horror.

Cultic has an arsenal of staple FPS guns⁠—pistol, shotgun, magnum, machine gun, etc.—but they hit different. They all have great feedback and sound effects, with headshots turning noggins into geysers of raspberry preserves, as well as gorgeous spritework for their viewmodels. I love that creator Jasozz went with the funkiest historical firearm for every weapon: The starting pistol is a Mauser "Broomhandle," the SMG a British Sten Gun, and the sniper rifle some kind of experimental, side-loading paratrooper rifle the Nazis deployed during the "conscript teenagers then try to find Odin and steal his powers" phase of World War 2.

The star is the magnum, a sawn-down "mare's leg" lever action rifle that is one of the head-clickingest guns I've ever had the pleasure of using in an FPS. Chapter Two introduces an alternate shotgun and magnum to spice up the arsenal, and here's my advice: Keep the new semi-auto shotty, but ignore the snub-nosed revolver, the lever action is just too fun not to use.

Cultic's maps are sprawling mazes, each with a gimmick and unique flow. The train level, Christmas village, mall, and Resident Evil Spencer Mansion send-up are all standouts. My one complaint is that Chapter Two started to feel a bit bloated and overlong, particularly the final level. Chapter One, though, is perfectly paced.

While we're mostly playing the hits mechanically, Cultic has a special look and attention to detail you can't find in any other FPS released this year. Back before it even had a demo,

Source: PC Gamer