Cult of the Lamb: Woolhaven DLC Review

One of my favourite games from 2022 has released an impressive DLC expansion. It adds a couple of new dungeons along with even more dark and mysterious elements. There’s something about Cult of the Lamb: Woolhaven that perfectly balances cuteness, mystery, and a strikingly dark atmosphere, and I absolutely love it.

Several months have passed since I last dipped my toe into the Cult. Gaining access to the Woolhaven DLC was just the jolt to the system I needed to revisit. Woolhaven is accessible closer to the end of the game. My save file, however, had been corrupted, and I used a previous save and some additional time to get me where I needed to be. However, it is something to be aware of if you are keen to play.

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Now that I was prepared, it was time to visit Woolhaven, the fertile land of my sheepish ancestors and the God Yngya at the base of the Holy Mountain. Upon my arrival at the foot of the mountain, I encountered a statue of Yngya, surrounded by ten graves. Encircling them was the town of Woolhaven, a desolate place that had been empty for ages. The crumbling buildings and decaying infrastructure were clear signs and metaphors of what had transpired in the past.

Soon, I heard the voice of God Yngya, who pleaded with me to complete the ritual and restore their presence. I was also asked to revive the ancestral homeland and the inhabitants who had once lived there. Much like my own cult, these inhabitants are linked to Yngya and the ritual.

Beyond the town lies the Holy Mountain, home to new dungeons for my sheepish friend to explore. Inside the mountain, there are a series of paths that lead both upward and downward, as well as in and out. Exploring these paths reveals new enemies and various gods. Many of these enemies have a wolf-like appearance. The region also introduces a variety of new bosses and mini bosses, each with unique forms and attack patterns. As I ventured through the dungeons, I encountered the Heretic Marchosias, the wolf god, who opposes the impact that my dungeon crawling has on the mountain.

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I soon returned to my cult campgrounds to see what had changed with the new DLC. After completing my first few dungeons and restoring some of the god’s power, I encountered the first major change: the introduction of winter. This cold, harsh climate froze my food stores, chilled my followers, and buried protected buildings under snow.

To combat the chill, I discovered the importance of a new item called Rotburn. This item is essential for surviving the winter; it can be found in the new dungeons and later mined or extracted. Rotburn plays a significant role in the Woolhaven DLC.

Additionally, the DLC introduces a new weapon and several divine inspirations designed to improve the cult’s upkeep and defence against the severe winter. The new weapon is a flail, which adds a unique option to the current arsenal. It can be used to repel enemies, and its heavy attack allows the Lamb to charge forward, delivering a powerful slam.

The new buildings that have been added include a Rotburn burner, which keeps the entire camp warm enough to function, as well as ranches and fences to protect the animals. Extra mines have also been established for gathering Rotburn. Additionally, there are new followers known as the Rot, who resemble decaying meat creatures. Although they may look grotesque, they can be quite helpful to the cult.

The game now features winter and snow, bringing seasonal fun like making snowmen and throwing snowballs. Players can even perform a ritual to bring snowmen to life, creating additional followers for the camp.

Furthermore, the introduction of ranches and animals is an exciting new feature. In addition to the adorable cult members, players can now enjoy a variety of cute farm animals, including yaks, llamas, turtles, and more. These delightful creatures can be walked, ridden, sheared, and even shared with my cultists. The wool collected from shearing can be used in various ways, primarily serving as currency in the township of Woolhaven.

The game has expanded its building and offerings, allowing me to expand the land surrounding my cult. This new feature has transformed my previously crowded cult area, giving me almost three times the space to utilise, and all it required was some gold.

However, the recent DLC expansion introduced many challenges, including numerous deaths within my cult while I was setting it up. These fatalities were largely due to the increasingly severe winter storms as I worked to restore power to the Woolhaven God. With the addition of blizzards and storms, I also faced random wolf attacks, making the protection of my flocks a top priority.

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The Woolhaven DLC is a fantastic addition to the lore of Cult of the Lamb, and it approaches this enhancement in a way that doesn’t solely involve battling another god. The expansion invites players to discover new lore at their own pace. With each new resident added and each part of Woolhaven restored, I uncovered more information about the events that had transpired. The choices I made throughout this process compelled me to keep returning to the game.

Woolhaven has reignited my passion for this charming yet dark and twisted rogue-lite. The DLC expansion has introduced a fresh dimension to the game, offering significantly more content to explore and enjoy. The expanded lore captivated my interest, and the storytelling was engaging. With a blend of wholesome and darker elements, this experience was truly memorable.

(Review code provided to Explosion Network.
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