Image via Massive Monster
Cult of the Lamb is a massive roguelike, and it’s one that keeps feeling compelling due to the wealth of management options and base development for our followers. Especially since a number of free updates followed and brought in post-game activities. It seems appropriate that the Cult of the Lamb: Woolhaven expansion feels as substantial as the original, so much that I feel it acts as a sequel sometimes.
Woolhaven expects a certain familiarity with both dungeon diving and cult management in Cult of the Lamb, but fortunately you’re probably well-versed by the time you get to it. It only unlocks after the Old Faith Bishops Leshy, Heket, Kallamar, and Shamura are dealt with in Darkwood, Anura, Anchordeep, and Silk Cradle in the main campaign. Yngya’s statue will be available for offerings to unlock access to Woolhaven. Upon reaching the Lamb reaching the home of the lambs, it’s clear everything fell. Marchosias is menacing the area and Yngya’s restoration depends upon heading into Ewefall and The Rot in order to learn new truths and restore the lands.
The two locations in Cult of the Lamb Woolhaven feel important for different reasons. Ewefall is the story-based area that involves heading to the mountain near our new settlement. It is the area taken over above, and it acts as a means of advancing the story and learning about what’s going on, as well as getting things like Followers and livestock. Below the mountain is The Rot, which struck me as the more dangerous and mechanically taxing location. Interactions there are forced in order to get the precious Rotburn. The material is needed to help heat and keep Followers and Woolhaven alive. Because as you go through the story and best challenges, winter will strike with inclement weather conditions that can kill your villagers and crops. I do sort of wish there was more than just the flail in terms of new weapons, but the range it offers and control is fantastic.
Which is partially why I feel like the cult and base management in Cult of the Lamb Woolhaven feels a bit more challenging and, in some ways, fulfilling than in the base game. But then, that’s probably because I did get things organized quite well, as tending to Followers and arranging my hub ended up being the element of the original that I enjoyed most. At times, it felt like once I got a good system going, I didn’t need to put as much effort into maintenance. With Woolhaven, there’s more of a balance at play.
Speaking of which, I adore the new ranching element of Woolhaven. Like I enjoyed making sure I had crops ready for Followers before and the original Cult of the Lamb base-building is great. But having the Cowish, Llamaish, Turtleish, and Yakish to find, tend, get wool from to help with the cold, and even butcher adds such a great additional tactical element to my society. I appreciated them both as a fixture at the base and an additional resource. They’re so handy and satisfying to maintain.
Followers also felt fresh again with Cult of the Lamb Woolhaven. Two types who can show up are spoilers, but I loved the design of one and the implications of the other. Especially since the other ends up tied to an actual choice with greater influences. Having that while also needing to keep in mind the new traits when keeping track of people invigorated the simulation elements. Especially since I could also build the Exorcism Altar to adjust their traits or the Work Tent to
Cult of the Lamb Woolhaven is an exceptional add-on, and the range and extra additions is incredible. It really can feel like a whole new extra game sometimes when you consider the story, base and cult management additions, and new dungeons. It offers so much.
Cult of the Lamb is available on the Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PC, and iOS devices, and the Woolhaven expansion is available now.