Developer Wolf Haus invited four people with real cult backgrounds to test the co-op survival game “Join Us,” sparking a spectrum of opinions shaped by their personal histories.
The playtesting session, organized recently by Wolf Haus, gathered together Jaga, Javier, Ariel, and Elena—each a former cult member. Collectively, these individuals bring over 50 years of experience living inside different kinds of cults, providing insight for a game that humorously but incisively delves into cult life from an insider’s perspective.
Playtest Grounded in Lived Experience
The game studio refrained from naming the specific cults involved, but the participants spoke candidly about their pasts. Ariel shared that he once expected a UFO would come and return him “home” on 12th May 2001, recalling a critical prophecy from his previous group. Javier, for his part, reflected on daily routines at a “holistic rejuvenation centre,” emphasizing the role of cultivating their own food.
These differing experiences shaped the testers’ perspectives on gameplay elements like compound building, belief creation, and follower recruitment. In this video preview, reactions ranged from delight—especially with features like virtual gardening—to outright discomfort. Some participants were amused or curious about the game’s mechanics, while one reviewer was direct in their skepticism, remarking: “no one’s going to like this.” The testers’ feedback reflected a broad range of emotional responses to the simulated cult activities.
Satirical Survival in an Open-World Setting
“Join Us” introduces players to a satirical open-world survival experience where the challenge is to found and grow a cult, invite followers, and persevere through a post-apocalyptic landscape. The title supports both solo play and online co-op with up to four players, combining real-world cult nuances with tongue-in-cheek humor.
By enlisting feedback from individuals with direct cult involvement, Wolf Haus aimed for authenticity that goes beyond the standard playtest. Their responses, described as “mixed,” included everything from enjoyment of reliving certain scenarios within a safe digital context to discomfort and doubts about the game’s universal appeal.
Platforms and Launch Details
The scheduled release window for “Join Us” is March 2027. The game is slated to debut on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. With its blend of survival gameplay and a satirical look at cult organization, the game is likely to provoke discussion—particularly in light of its consultation with those who have lived within cult-like environments.
Wolf Haus’ method of integrating the real-life insights of former cult members into the design and publicity process highlights a commitment to thoughtful engagement with complex themes. As further impressions appear in advance of release, debate around the depiction of cult-building in games like “Join Us” will almost certainly continue both within and outside the gaming world.