Info about Honey, I Joined a Cult:

Official game description:
Honey, I Joined a Cult is a tycoon/management game where you must build and expand your base, supervise your cultists and resources, and increase your faith, funds and following!
**MANAGE YOUR CULT**
Effective management is at the heart of every money-making enterprise and your organisation is no exception! Being snappy dressers isn't enough, your cult must run like a well-oiled hypno wheel. Set schedules for your cultists, develop their skills, level them up and manage food and maintenance systems. Assign tasks to your cultists based on a priority system. So who said that micro-management doesn't work?!
**BUILD A BASE FOR YOUR CULT**
Every great cult needs great interior design. Place, design, and decorate rooms to keep your cultists happy. There is a whole host of weird and wonderful room options and objects, each with a vital role to play in your cult. From polygraph rooms, discombobulator, and spirit chambers to energy spas and the dreaded ministry of alteration.
**CUSTOMISE YOUR CULT**
A cult is only as good as its name (and its followers!). Choose yours wisely when picking for your cult, cult leader, the Divine Being that they worship, the Holy Room in which they prove their dedication and the followers that will become the cultists of tomorrow! Make your cult your own by deciding on:
\*A funky symbol
\*An epic uniform to impress would-be followers
\*An imposing hat to make other cults jealous
\*A strange relic to worship and adore
**CARE FOR YOUR CULT**
Cultists have needs too and you'll have to ensure that all of yours are fed, watered and having lots of fun! You must take care of your cult's physical and mental well-being to allow them to be the best cult members they can possibly be! It is as they say, cult is only as strong as the cultists!
**LEAD YOUR CULT**
Your cult leader can be very demanding. Whether it's recruiting specific followers or building certain rooms, be sure to bend to their every whim. Not fulfilling demands will lower their mood and a displeased leader won't be able to perform effective sermons. Cultists can be sent on missions in the local town. Whether it's gathering resources, unlocking new tech or just a demand from your leader, the Covert Ops room is the perfect place to plan!
**GROW YOUR CULT**
Use all your charms to recruit new followers, who will bring in resources and eventually climb through the ranks to become full cultists. Discontented followers will simply leave, so be sure to turn that frown upside down!
Follow us, join the community and chat with the devs. Look in the external links to join our Twitter and Discord We're always listening – let’s achieve greatness together!!!

Release date: Nov 3, 2022

Categories: Cult Management, Base Building, Resource Management, Character Customization, Simulation, Worker Management, Humor-driven Gameplay, Strategy

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 10; verdict: Fair; summary: Reviews explicitly mention no microtransactions.
- Steam Deck: score 10; verdict: Seamless; summary: The overall user experience with the game on Steam Deck is positive, with no significant performance issues reported. Users appreciate the game's compatibility and control support.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $5.00 - $10.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence suggests that the community generally finds the game worth purchasing only at significant discounts. Many users mention waiting for sales or big discounts, indicating that the full price is considered too high. Specific mentions of prices such as 'a fiver or less' and general sentiments about the game being worth it only on sale support a lower price range. The repeated advice to wait for discounts implies that the fair price is considerably lower than the current base price.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 40.0h
  - Story completion: 20.0h
  - Session length: 9.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provided includes several direct mentions of playtime and game progression. One user mentions putting in 20 hours and being close to the finale, indicating a near-complete playthrough. Another user played for 9 hours straight during their first session, suggesting a long session length. A different user mentions being at around 40 hours and close to beating the game, which provides a clear indication of the total playtime for game completion. Additionally, the comparison to other games like Rimworld and Prison Architect, which are known for their extensive playtimes, helps contextualize the expected playtime for this game.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game starts fun and engaging but becomes repetitive and tedious after a few hours, particularly in the mid to late game stages.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: Completion of the tutorial and early game stages
  - Time to anchor: 2h 0m
  - Friction: repetitive tasks; tedious micromanagement; lack of meaningful progression; permanent debuffs in mid-game; slow pacing
  - Unlock drivers: completing the tutorial; understanding the basics; early game engagement
  - Conditions: patience with learning curve; tolerance for repetitive tasks; enjoyment of management simulations; appreciation for humor and charm
- Player Archetypes:
  - Grind-Focused Manager (sale)
    - Motivation: Progression and empowerment through grinding.
    - Playstyle: Repetitive tasks and long-term micromanagement.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: grinder; management enthusiast
    - Reference games: Rimworld; Prison Architect
  - Casual Multitasker (sale)
    - Motivation: Relaxation and casual play.
    - Playstyle: Casual and mindless gameplay, often while multitasking.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: casual player; newcomer
    - Reference games: Rimworld; Prison Architect
  - Humor-Seeking Enthusiast (sale)
    - Motivation: Enjoyment and humor.
    - Playstyle: Playing for fun and laughs.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: casual gamer; humor lover
    - Reference games: N/A


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Unique and humorous concept (weight 0.45): The concept of creating and managing your own cult is found to be hilarious and original. Players appreciate the humor and eccentricity in the game.
- Engaging and addictive gameplay (weight 0.31): The gameplay is described as deep, engaging, and addictive. Players enjoy the satisfying gameplay loop and find the experience fun and immersive.
- Good customization options (weight 0.21): The game offers decent customization options, allowing players to tailor their experience. This feature is appreciated by many players.
- Polished and charming visuals (weight 0.16): The game is noted for its polished feel and charming visuals. Players find the graphics cute and attractive, adding to the overall enjoyment.
- Similar to Prison Architect (weight 0.08): The game is often compared to Prison Architect, with some players finding it less buggy. This comparison helps set expectations for new players.
- Thematic and engaging atmosphere (weight 0.08): The game creates a strong thematic atmosphere, which is well-received by players. The theming is considered well done and adds to the overall experience.

Common complaints:
- Lack of replayability and content (weight 0.34): The game is criticized for its lack of replay value and content. Players find the gameplay boring and repetitive, with little depth or complexity to keep them engaged over time.
- Abandoned and unfinished (weight 0.22): Players feel that the game has been abandoned by the developers and is unfinished. There are no updates or support, leaving the game in an incomplete state.
- Excessive waiting and micromanagement (weight 0.16): Players criticize the game for being a 'waiting simulator' with too much micromanagement, making the gameplay experience less enjoyable and more tedious.
- Not worth the price (weight 0.16): Players feel that the game is not worth the full price of 20€, citing a lack of content and value for the cost.
- Slow and unrewarding progression (weight 0.12): The progression system in the game is slow and unrewarding. Players find that the progress bar fills too slowly, making the gameplay experience less enjoyable.
- Overly simplistic gameplay (weight 0.11): The game is criticized for being too simple and easy, with simplistic gameplay mechanics that do not offer enough challenge or depth.
- Poor UI design (weight 0.11): The user interface is described as clunky, oversized, and overly complicated, making it difficult for players to navigate and enjoy the game.
- Limited gameplay options (weight 0.11): Players find the game lacking in choices and customization options, which limits the overall gameplay experience and reduces its appeal.
- Lack of updates and new content (weight 0.09): The game lacks updates and new content, with no workshop or additional features being added, leading to a stagnant and less engaging experience.
- Grind-heavy mechanics (weight 0.09): The game is criticized for being too grind-heavy, requiring players to spend excessive time grinding for resources, which can be frustrating and tedious.
- Poor building mechanics (weight 0.09): The building mechanics in the game are poorly designed and buggy, adding little value to the overall gameplay experience.
- Monotonous end game (weight 0.09): The end game is described as monotonous and repetitive, with little content or variety to keep players engaged.
- Lack of creativity and innovation (weight 0.09): The game is criticized for its lack of creativity, innovation, and engagement, making it less appealing compared to other titles.
- Tedious gameplay elements (weight 0.09): The game includes moments of tedium, such as a tedious tutorial and missions, which detract from the overall enjoyment and engagement.
- Lack of mission variety (weight 0.09): The game lacks variation in graphics and missions, leading to a repetitive and less engaging experience.
- Shallow cult management (weight 0.09): The cult management aspect of the game is described as shallow and empty, lacking depth and meaningful gameplay elements.
- Problematic research tree (weight 0.09): The research tree in the game lacks meaningful progression and is criticized for needing a rework to improve the gameplay experience.

Gameplay feedback:
- Cult management and simulation (weight 0.37): The game revolves around creating, managing, and expanding a cult, with various choices and mechanics related to cult themes and member management.
- Research and technology development (weight 0.31): A significant aspect of the game involves researching and developing new technologies, facilities, and upgrades to advance the cult.
- Base building and management (weight 0.28): Players engage in building and managing structures, rooms, and compounds, similar to base-building and management simulation games.
- Similar to Rimworld and Prison Architect (weight 0.2): The game is frequently compared to Rimworld and Prison Architect in terms of gameplay mechanics and art style.
- Mission and achievement systems (weight 0.16): There are systems in place for missions, achievements, and various events to provide goals and challenges.
- Follower and skill management (weight 0.16): Managing followers, including recruitment, skill development, and task assignment, is a core gameplay element.
- Micromanagement of tasks (weight 0.11): The game involves detailed micromanagement of schedules, priorities, and task assignments for cult members.
- Resource and currency management (weight 0.11): Managing various resources and currencies, such as Geld, Glaube, and Einfluss, is a crucial part of the game.
- UI and menu design (weight 0.1): The user interface and menu design are noted for their complexity and clarity, impacting the overall user experience.
- Heat management mechanics (weight 0.08): Managing heat, which seems to be a resource or mechanic in the game, is noted for its ease of management.
- Customization and aesthetic options (weight 0.06): The game offers various customization options for aesthetics and design, allowing players to personalize their cult compounds.
- Humor and comedic writing (weight 0.06): The game features a unique style of humor and comedic writing, adding a distinctive tone to the gameplay experience.
- Leader abilities and demands (weight 0.06): Leaders in the game have specific abilities and demands that players must manage and fulfill.

Performance notes:
- Game crashes and glitches (weight 0.12): Several players reported issues with the game crashing and experiencing glitches, particularly at the end of the game.
- FPS and resolution issues (weight 0.07): Some players have mentioned that the game is locked at 60 FPS and have noted issues with resolution clarity.
- Compatibility with Windows 11 (weight 0.04): The game reportedly works well on Windows 11 without any issues or crashes, indicating good compatibility with this operating system.
- Performance on Steam Deck (weight 0.04): Players have noted that the game runs smoothly on Steam Deck without any performance issues.
- Visual bugs on widescreen (weight 0.04): There are reports of visual bugs specifically on widescreen monitors, affecting the gameplay experience.
- Lack of updates (weight 0.04): Players have expressed concern over the lack of updates for the game, which may affect its longevity and player satisfaction.
- Bugs with repair workers (weight 0.04): Players have encountered bugs related to repair workers in the game, which can impact gameplay.
- Minor language errors (weight 0.03): There are some minor language errors in the game, which do not significantly affect gameplay but are noticeable.

Recommendations:
- Recommended to buy on sale (weight 0.3): Many players suggest that the game is worth purchasing, especially when it is available at a discounted price. This sentiment is echoed across multiple clusters, indicating a consensus on the value proposition of the game during sales.
- Highly recommended for fans (weight 0.18): The game is highly recommended, particularly for fans of management and simulation games. Players highlight its uniqueness, humor, and engaging gameplay, making it a standout choice for enthusiasts of the genre.
- Worth it for specific audiences (weight 0.11): The game is recommended for specific audiences, such as casual players or those with patience for detailed gameplay. It is also noted for its potential and low price, making it an attractive option for certain groups.
- Negative recommendations (weight 0.06): Some players strongly advise against purchasing the game, citing concerns about its value and potential risks. These reviews suggest that the game may not meet expectations or justify the investment.
- Positive reviews in other languages (weight 0.06): There are positive recommendations for the game in languages other than English, indicating a broader appeal and satisfaction among international players.

Other player notes:
- Increase random events (weight 0.07): Players are asking for more random events to add variety and unpredictability to the game.
- Consent in Free Love (weight 0.04): Players suggest implementing a consent mechanism in the Free Love room to address ethical concerns.
- Expand compound size (weight 0.04): Players suggest increasing the size of the compound to allow for more activities and exploration.
- Stat boost for items (weight 0.04): Players want certain items to provide stat boosts to enhance gameplay mechanics.
- Balance political heat (weight 0.04): Suggestion to better balance the political heat mechanic to make it more fair and enjoyable.
- Sell objects feature (weight 0.04): Request for the ability to sell objects to manage resources and inventory better.
- Add decor sub-categories (weight 0.04): Suggestion to add sub-categories within the decor section to better organize and find items.
- More therapy rooms needed (weight 0.04): Request for additional therapy rooms to improve character development and interaction.
- Mention of Early Access (weight 0.03): A note that the game is in Early Access, indicating ongoing development and potential for changes.
- Gratitude for game key (weight 0.03): A player expressed gratitude for receiving a game key.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.28): Players are frustrated by a variety of issues including a poorly designed tutorial, repetitive and grindy gameplay, and numerous bugs. The game's mechanics are often criticized as complicated, nonsensical, or unengaging, with specific complaints about the heat management system, UI issues, and excessive micromanagement.
- Disappointment (weight 0.26): Players feel disappointed due to the game's lack of depth, replayability, and meaningful progression. Many also express frustration over the game being abandoned by developers, leading to unfinished content and a lack of updates.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.17): Players enjoy the game's humor, creativity, and strategic depth. The fun gameplay loop, addictive mechanics, and interesting theme contribute to a positive experience.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.05): Players are satisfied with the game's concept, performance, and the enjoyable experience of growing and managing a cult. The detailed customization options and unique gameplay compared to other management games also contribute to this satisfaction.
- Boredom (weight 0.04): Players find the game boring due to its repetitive gameplay and lack of depth. The slow pacing and unengaging tasks contribute to a lack of interest.
- Amusement (weight 0.04): Players are amused by the game's humorous elements, funny premise, and entertaining mechanics. The game's theme and satirical aspects provide a source of enjoyment.
- Excitement (weight 0.04): Players are excited by the engaging and fun gameplay, as well as the prospect of building and managing their own cult. The anticipation for updates and the enjoyable building mechanics contribute to this excitement.
- Joy (weight 0.02): Players find joy in the game's humorous elements, quirky characters, and entertaining random events. The fun ideas, themes, and customization options add to the overall enjoyment.
- Disappointed (weight 0.01): Players feel disappointed due to the game's repetitive nature, lack of fresh content, and failure to capture the cult atmosphere. The grind-heavy gameplay and lack of developer support also contribute to this disappointment.
- Appreciation (weight 0.01): Players appreciate the game's humor, customization options, and artistic style. The depth of the game and attractive visuals are also noted as positive aspects.
- Excited (weight 0.01): Players are excited due to positive comparisons to other games and the anticipation for future updates. The love for the game and its potential contribute to this excitement.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Players are angered by issues such as characters dying due to injuries and lack of proper healthcare. UI issues and game bugs also contribute to this frustration.
- Admiration (weight 0.01): Players admire the game's polished nature and the simplification of how cults work. The game's unique approach and execution are appreciated.
- Anticipation (weight 0.01): Players are anticipating future updates and additions to the game. The expectation of new content and improvements contributes to this feeling.
- Hopeful (weight 0): Players are hopeful due to the fun gameplay and the promise of future updates. The anticipation of improvements and new content contributes to this optimism.
- Excitement (weight 0): Players are excited because they find the game interesting and enjoyable.
- Slight disappointment (weight 0): Players feel slightly disappointed because the game lacks sufficient absurdity and does not meet their expectations in terms of humor and uniqueness.
- Relaxation (weight 0): Players find the game relaxing due to its sit-back-and-relax experience. The game's casual and laid-back nature contributes to this feeling.
- Gratitude (weight 0): Players express gratitude towards the development team for creating a game that has helped them through difficult times. The positive impact of the game on their lives is deeply appreciated.}