Review Cult of the Lamb: Woolhaven - The DLC that delivers as much as the base

Cult of the Lamb is nearly four years old now. I bought it back then, played for a while, and really enjoyed it. Over time, the developers released several smaller, cosmetic, and free DLCs, but those never quite gave me the urge to jump back in. When the Woolhaven DLC was announced, it was a total surprise.

I absolutely love the aesthetic of Cult of the Lamb. Even with the macabre elements found throughout the game, it still manages to be fun and intriguing. It is an experience everyone should try at least once.

Knowing that the game would continue with a winter aesthetic left me very excited.

With the release of Woolhaven, I decided to start a new save from scratch. I had not realized that the new content only truly kicks in near the end of the base game, but during smaller moments, I was surprised by a new "demon" that appeared and made my village colder. That was when I realized the events were connected to the DLC.

After finishing the base game and playing for over 19 (!!!) hours straight, I realized that Woolhaven is a full game in its own right, not just a small or rushed expansion. It delivers as much content as the base game, bringing new mechanics, weapons, biomes, and gods, plus an entire village to restore.

It could honestly be a standalone title given how much content it offers, but I think it was a wise decision to place it at the end of the base game. This allows it to utilize existing mechanics while adding more complex systems, such as the blizzard mechanic and the constant effort to keep your followers from freezing.

Technical Specifications

Name: Cult of the Lamb: Woolhaven DLC

Release Date: January 22, 2026

Genre: Roguelike, Dungeon Crawler, Action

Developed by: Massive Monster

Published by: Devolver Digital

Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X|S, iOS (via Apple Arcade)

The DLC introduces fresh lore regarding our main character.

Yngya, the forgotten god of lambs, summons you to restore the flock and reclaim what time has erased. But as you breathe life into what was long gone, a creeping rot awakens, spreading corruption through the sacred mountain that was once the lambs' home.

This means we have new enemies to face, specifically wolves and putrid beings. We also have a new type of follower: the Putrid. These followers do not sleep, eat, or freeze, but they die much faster than normal followers.

Additionally, we have the mission of restoring the destroyed village while uncovering the history of the residents and Yngya.

What is new in the DLC?

First and foremost, we have the change of seasons to winter. This shift affects everything, including crops that now freeze during winter and during ice storms. We also have new buildings like the Furnace to keep followers warm and the Corral to house animals.

There are new bosses, including a wolf pack serving Marchosias, a fierce wolf who took in all those punished and enslaved by the Bishops. Furthermore, we have new maps representing the interior and exterior parts of the mountain.

Another addition is the Legendary Weapons mechanic along with a new weapon type: the Flail. It is quite versatile and feels distinct from the base game arsenal. There is also a new minigame called Flockade, which is just as fun as Knucklebones. Many players will find it more complex since it offers more pieces.

And there is so much more! According to the official page, the DLC adds 52 new follower forms, 68 decorations, 17 buildings, new outfits, tarot cards, and relics.

I started the game from zero to enjoy every detail. For those who finished the base game years ago, it might be easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of old and new mechanics layered together. Because of this, I recommend starting from the beginning if you feel inspired. It was definitely worth it for me, and the magic of being a cult leader felt as incredible as ever.

Right at the start of the expansion, we see a beautifully made cinematic. Then, we arrive at a village and meet Yngya, who tells us stories about regaining strength and helping the lambs who have passed away. The story is excellent, and the new biomes and animations are gorgeous.

Next, we must enter the mountain to obtain Rotburn, a new fruit that is heated and used to fuel the Furnace. Blizzards and new systems are introduced gradually in an organized way, and I found the progression to be very well paced.

The blizzard and the cold increase in intensity as we progress through the mountain stages, making it harder to manage resources and followers. At certain points, I was afraid to return to the village and find everyone dead. As a precaution, I would end missions early, keep the Furnace at maximum, and prepare plenty of food.

Even so, I occasionally got distracted by missions and village chores. My followers aged and died, leaving me with only 8 at one point. I do not recommend letting things get that far, as it takes time to find and level up new followers. Fortunately, I managed to recover.

Another added mechanic was the Corral. There, we can raise animals that provide wool, which is an essential material for rebuilding Woolhaven and trading with residents. We also get milk and other resources depending on the animal raised.

Caring for the animals is fun and adorable, and it is great to see them grow. Still, it can be a bit cruel since they often end up being used to supplement scarce food supplies during the blizzard.

By rebuilding the village, we also unlock the Legendary Weapons mechanic. These are stronger than normal weapons and help immensely during missions, especially against resilient enemies with shields. It is extremely satisfying to use these new weapons, especially the Flail, which stands out for having more reach than the base game tools.

To sum it all up, I loved the new additions, the biomes, the missions, and especially the corral mechanic.

Being a roguelike, Cult of the Lamb naturally becomes repetitive at times, but the DLC has so much fresh content that the game stays engaging. I spent hours exploring the new lore, helping citizens, and enjoying every moment.

In my opinion, Woolhaven will appeal to any type of player, from the most strategic cult leaders to those who play just to enjoy the story. It is a DLC that delivers more than promised, featuring a fascinating plot and incredible art.

Rating: 9.5/10

I recommend purchasing this DLC without hesitation, especially if you enjoyed the base game. It is an experience worth every penny.