CULTivate

Recruit eccentric followers, fund shady infrastructure projects, and fulfill bizarre prophecies in a delightfully dark, satirical puzzle strategy game that utilizes a dual-layered tile-drafting grid and secret objective agendas for the ultimate tactical compound-building showdown.

CULTivate (designed by Melanie Newman and published by Poptoop Games) brings a brilliant mix of dark humor and tight spatial optimization to the tabletop. Moving away from typical high-fantasy or sci-fi themes, this game casts players as charismatic, albeit slightly unhinged, cult leaders trying to build the most successful compound in the neighborhood. The core objective is a competitive, puzzle-like race for devotion: players draft unique follower tokens from a central pool, organizing them onto their personal compound grids to complete specific social patterns and satisfy demanding, high-scoring agendas before the authorities get too suspicious.

The primary strategic hurdle lies in balancing your immediate compound layout with the disruptive interference of hidden agendas and wandering investigators. Every round, players take turns drafting colorful follower tiles—ranging from gullible believers and wealthy donors to meddling under-cover investigators. Placing these tiles onto your compound map triggers unique resource bonuses, but you must arrange them into precise geometric configurations dictated by your secret Prophecy Cards. Crucially, your opponents can intentionally pass you investigator tokens that block your grid spaces and drain your authority. True tactical mastery requires adapting your spatial planning on the fly, carefully concealing your ultimate scoring patterns from your rivals, and completing your grandiose monuments before the shared pool of recruits runs entirely dry across a smooth, highly interactive 30-to-45 minute session.

Game Specs at a Glance:
Age Range: 14+ Years
Publisher: Poptoop Games
Play Time: 30-45 Minutes
Player Count: 2-5 Players
Complexity: Low-Medium (Pattern Building, Open Drafting, Hex/Square Grid Placement, Secret Objectives, Take-That Interaction)

What's in the Box?

• 5 Unique Asymmetric Cult Leader Character Mats and Matching Compound Grid Boards
• 70+ Acrylic Follower and Investigator Tokens
• 1 Velvet Follower Recruitment Draw Bag
• 50+ Prophecy, Scheme, and Agenda Cards
• 1 Central Investigator Tracker and Turn Board
• 40+ Cardboard Coin and Devotion Point Markers
• 1 Rulebook Booklet