Cult simulator Join Us recruits four real ex-cult members to “experience the game’s darkly satirical take on cult life”
Join Us, a cooperative simulation game developed by Wolf Haus, allows players to establish their own cults, recruit followers, build compounds, and define beliefs. The game approaches its subject through dark satire, offering a darkly comedic take on cult life and recruitment dynamics.
In an unconventional promotional effort, Wolf Haus recruited four former cult members—Jaga, Javier, Ariel, and Elena—to experience the game firsthand. The four participants bring over 50 years of collective experience from living in actual cult communities, providing unique insider perspectives on the game’s portrayal of cult life.
The developers documented the participants’ reactions in a teaser video showing their responses to playing Join Us. The footage includes commentary from the ex-members reflecting on the game’s depiction of cult dynamics, though not all participants responded positively to the experience. Wolf Haus took care to bleep out references to actual cult names during the presentation, demonstrating sensitivity toward the serious nature of the subject matter and participants’ lived experiences.
The decision to involve former cult members as playtesters reflects an attempt to ground the game’s satirical commentary in authentic experience while adding legitimacy to its handling of sensitive material. Their involvement suggests the developer sought genuine feedback on how the simulation portrays cult recruitment, community-building, and belief systems, even as the mixed reactions indicate nuanced responses to the game’s approach.