I love this game; I have close to 75 hours into it, which, for a reviewer with limited time to come back to a lot of games, is a huge feat. Because I loved it so much on launch, I have very high expectations for any DLC released by developers, Massive Monster.

‘Cult of the Lamb: Woolhaven’ is exactly what a DLC should be: a new area with lots of content and an add-on story. This is no wolf in sheep’s clothing, and Massive Monster have a very loud point to prove to triple-A titles.

If you want to read our thoughts on the base game, ‘Cult of the Lamb’, released back in 2022, you can find a fully comprehensive review here.

Beloved leader of your own cult, after hearing Yngya’s call, you are sent to the snow-covered mountain tops. You discover Yngya is the ‘Mother Of The Flock’, and she has been waiting for you, the last of her lambs. Slain by the dastardly Bishops and left to rot in the Winter, Woolhaven now beckons you home to your land of the lambs, to release the tormented spirits of your flock.

Haunted by these fleecy spirits of the past, you must now gather lost souls of your fallen brothers and sisters, and reestablish your woolly heritage. The Woolhaven DLC’s narrative opens with a clear heart-pulling punch, and the direction of the story is so connected and cohesive with the base game that you can’t help lapping up every tidbit of lore they present.

Woolhaven has lots to offer in the gameplay department. Most noticeably, you will get, first, a land upgrade from a very mysterious mole named Gofernon, to expand your cult, and a shrine will allow you access to the brand new area of Woolhaven. Your main objective is similar to the original game as you clear out rooms to a boss, but this time your aim is to work your way down the peak.

This is uniquely split into two forms: through the forests of Ewefall, infested with the diabolical wolf clan or through The Rot, the grotesque beings festering away inside the mountain. This is a great way to keep what could be a monotonous cycle of combat fresh, as each area is very different, with a range of new and annoyingly good enemies with new patterns of attack.

Not only does the game come in day and night cycles now, but seasons too. Your beautiful midsummer days and nights now will be thrown into the bitterness of the ‘Winter’. As you progress down the mountain, these get more frequent and harsher.

If you do not prepare, these can kill your followers, freezing them solid. Luckily, you are given tools like a furnace and hot spas to help, and if you are really organised, you will be strict in hoarding food before the frost bites.  It really makes the town management gameplay more strategic.

There are so many new little elements that add up to what is actually a big package of things to do. Prayers now unlock new snippets of lore, and new rotten followers can join your flock that don’t age or eat but eventually rot away. These followers and journeys into dungeons can give you new cards for your deck, and other added bonuses, too.

There are new ingredients, plants, food, rot by-products and even cute little flowers and animals that can bring a touch of spring to the chill of the ‘Winter’. You can even use wool from your new farm animals as currency to develop your new little village of vendors at the summit of the mountain. There is so much to do, and minutes melted into hours easily.

Visually, as you’d expect, it’s aligned to the base game, but God, does this game just look so good. Gorgeously crafted 2D animation cutscenes are sparingly cut throughout the story, though each scene is powerful in production, entertainment, and, to me, more importantly, feeling. It is very reminiscent of a 90s Sunday morning cartoon, just cleaner, more polished. The in-game is also their iconic, very stylised 2D artwork with their bold lines and vibrant colours.

The environment this time of Woolhaven and the village of Ewefall is a nice contrast of whites and blues as you traverse the desolate mountain peak, but also the deep reds and oranges as you purge the pustulant blobs of The Rot that festers within the mountain. The audio complements the whole adventure nicely, being whimsical and adrenaline-fueled in boss fights. The soundwork is just very on brand with the rest of the game.

I had so much fun with this DLC and wasn’t exaggerating in the introduction about it being exactly what a DLC should be. It was nothing but content and entertainment. Massive Monster has an uncanny ability to deliver such a masterly crafted piece of work. While I will always welcome more ‘Cult of the Lamb’ content, I can’t wait to see what other projects they have planned for the future.

Written by: Stacey