Cult of the Lamb’s Success Inspired Grimoire Groves’ Developers

The enchanting roguelike game titled “Grimoire Groves” has garnered numerous comparisons to “Cult of the Lamb.” Both games share similarities in their vibrant aesthetics and innovative approach to the conventional roguelike structure, incorporating elements from various genres like construction, crafting, and agriculture. Notably, “Grimoire Groves” started its development before “Cult of the Lamb” was released, so it wasn’t directly inspired by the latter. However, the success of “Cult of the Lamb” gave the creators of “Grimoire Groves” reassurance that their idea for a roguelike game without combat would resonate with gamers.

During an interaction with Game Rant, Tabea Iseli, the lead designer of Grimoire Groves, discussed the similarities drawn between Grimoire Groves and Cult of the Lamb. The game’s success boosted the Stardust team’s faith that Grimoire Groves would thrive in a similar manner. Although Grimoire Groves offers a lighter, more comforting journey compared to Cult of the Lamb, which features themes of cults, ancient gods, and sacrifices, they both share a common genetic makeup. This likeness can be traced back to their shared deviation from the traditional “exploring a dark dungeon, fighting monsters and demons” roguelike formula.

Cult Of The Lamb’s Success Was Good News For Grimoire Groves

Iseli from Grimoire Groves mentioned that when people examine the completed project, they often associate it with “Cult of the Lamb”. However, interestingly enough, “Cult of the Lamb” wasn’t an influence for the game because the team had already begun working on it before its release. The development of Grimoire Groves was lengthy due to the challenges in finding a publisher; eventually, they opted for crowdfunding via Kickstarter. Over time, the project expanded considerably, incorporating additional farming and crafting features as well as more complex NPC interactions.

Though Grimoire Groves wasn’t directly inspired by Cult of the Lamb, the team behind Stardust was genuinely encouraged by the latter’s successful launch in 2022. The reception for Cult of the Lamb was overwhelmingly positive and it earned several nominations, which left the creators of Grimoire Groves thrilled when they learned about this accomplishment.

Upon its release, it brought us immense relief as it was among the initial games where we genuinely felt validated, thinking, ‘Ah, this shows our idea of combining roguelike, farming, and cozy elements might resonate with a broader audience beyond our own community.’

Grimoire Groves’ Inspirations Included Animal Crossing And More

In the development process of Grimoire Groves, neither Cult of the Lamb directly influenced it, but other games did. One such game was Wizard of Legend, a roguelike game centered around casting spells. Another source of inspiration came from the Animal Crossing franchise. As the team working on Grimoire Groves started to envision more dialogue and storylines for its NPCs, they found themselves drawing inspiration from Animal Crossing.

Initially, when we were developing our Non-Player Characters (NPCs) for our game, they resembled traditional shopkeepers found in classic roguelike games,” shared Iseli, “However, as our audience and community grew more fond of these characters, the team decided to revamp and expand them.” The popular Animal Crossing games influenced this transformation, leading to a more elaborate portrayal of NPCs in Grimoire Groves. This includes an additional plotline where players can opt to construct homes for certain beloved characters, if they wish.

Essentially, Grimoire Groves isn’t exactly like Cult of the Lamb or Animal Crossing, but it carves out its unique space: a comfy roguelike with farming aspects that prioritizes nurturing and feeding charming plant creatures over intense combat. It also offers the chance to bond with intriguing characters and create scrumptious dishes like boba tea. Maybe Grimoire Groves will inspire other developers to venture into the roguelike genre much like Cult of the Lamb did for Stardust.

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2025-03-22 21:28