SteamSense
CULTIC

CULTIC

Overwhelmingly Positive

AI Summary

Medium Risk⏰ Data from 56 days ago

CULTIC: A Retro Shooter with Polarizing Chapter 2 and Performance Concerns

CULTIC delivers a stellar first chapter with great gunplay and atmosphere, but Chapter 2's design and performance issues create a polarized experience.

Sentiment Distribution

Loved52%

Players love the immersive world and tight gameplay loop.

Liked28%

Solid experience with minor rough edges.

Mixed11%

Enjoyable but held back by technical issues.

Disliked6%

Frustrating progression and poor optimization.

Hated3%

Feels unfinished and not worth the price.

Top Discussion Topics

Positive (>70%)
Mixed (40–70%)
Negative (<40%)

Full Report

Core Impression

CULTIC is a well-crafted retro horror shooter that excels in atmosphere and gunplay, but its second chapter divides players and technical issues on lower-end hardware raise red flags. Key data: 52% of 200 analyzed reviews are 'loved', 28% 'liked', 11% 'mixed', 6% 'disliked', and 3% 'hated'. The most praised topic is gunplay (93% positive), while performance (25% positive) and boss fights (29% positive) are the weakest.

What Players Love

TOP 3 praise points: 1. Gunplay: Players consistently praise the satisfying headshots and weapon feel. One player said, "Headshots are satisfying as hell. The whole thing plays beautifully from start to finish." 2. Horror atmosphere: The creepy ambiance and sound design are widely appreciated. A review notes, "Cultic is dripping with creepy atmosphere, plus it has some of the BEST sounding guns in any shooter." 3. Level design (Chapter 1): The first chapter's maps are highly regarded for their tight design and rewarding exploration. A player commented, "The level design is so well done, and the graphics are crisp and the perfect amount of retro."

What Players Dislike

TOP 3 complaint points: 1. Chapter 2 quality: Many players find the second chapter's maps overly large and confusing. One review states, "The maps in Chapter 2 are giant rat nests that fold and circle back into each other until the map layout feels like a massive tumbleweed with very little hints or direction on where to go." 2. Resource management: Ammo scarcity is a common frustration. A player wrote, "ammo is a constant problem... when a game makes ammo this scarce it's just boring." 3. Performance: Some players report poor optimization, especially on Steam Deck. One complaint reads, "The performance is completely unacceptable. The terrible retro pixelated visuals can't run with stable 60 fps even on a lowest settings on a steam deck."

Risk Signals

The most significant risk is the sharp divide in quality between Chapter 1 and Chapter 2. Chapter 2 has a positive ratio of only 45%, with frequent complaints about map size, enemy bullet sponges, and pacing. This has led to a notable portion of mixed and negative reviews (17% combined). Performance issues on low-end devices (25% positive ratio) and complaints about boss fights (29% positive) are secondary but persistent concerns. Additionally, a small number of players (3% hated) feel the game is incomplete, expecting the second chapter to be a free update rather than a separate purchase. Overall, the sentiment is largely positive, but the Chapter 2 controversy and technical issues warrant a medium risk level.

Analyzed 500 reviews
Analysis from May 11, 2026
AI cost: $0.0099

Want a specific game analyzed, or have feedback or a collaboration idea?

Requests are usually processed within a day — free, no sign-up needed.

Get in touch →

📬 Subscribe for the latest Steam game insights and trend analysis

Only for SteamSense updates. Unsubscribe anytime.