Let’s be real for a second. Most DLC in the "cozy-dark" genre is just a bunch of recycled assets and a new hat. You buy it, you look at it for five minutes, and then you go back to the same gameplay loop you’ve been running for fifty hours. But the Cult of the Lamb Pilgrim Pack is a weird beast. It’s not just a skin pack, but it's also not a massive expansion like Unholy Alliance or Sins of the Flesh. It sits in this strange middle ground that Massive Monster carved out specifically for the lore nerds.
If you’ve been playing Cult of the Lamb, you know the vibe. It’s cute. It’s gruesome. It’s a management sim where you occasionally sacrifice your best friend because they asked for a sandwich too many times.
When the Pilgrim Pack dropped alongside the Unholy Alliance update, it felt like a bit of a gamble. For $6.99 (depending on your region), you’re getting a digital interactive comic, some decorations, and a couple of unique follower forms. Is it enough? Well, that depends on whether you actually care about Jalala and Rinor or if you just want more ways to make your base look like a gothic fever dream.
What the Cult of the Lamb Pilgrim Pack Really Adds to Your Game
The centerpiece of this DLC isn't actually "in" the game in the traditional sense. It’s the interactive comic. Written by JoJo Mao and illustrated by Carles Dalmau, it tells the story of Jalala and Rinor. They’re pilgrims (hence the name) looking for a home in a world that basically wants to eat them alive.
It’s surprisingly dark.
Most people expect the humor to carry the day, but the comic actually grounds the world of the Lands of the Old Faith. You see the struggle from the perspective of the people not in charge of a cult. You aren't the Lamb here. You're just someone trying to survive the Lamb's wake.
The Follower Forms and Why They Matter
Inside the game, you get a few specific things once you own the pack. You get the Jalala and Rinor follower forms, obviously. But there are also others like the Panda and the Skunk.
Here’s the thing about follower forms: they are purely cosmetic.
If you were hoping for a "Jalala" trait that makes them 20% faster at mining, you’re out of luck. However, the aesthetic consistency here is top-tier. The decorations included—like the Bamboo Wall and the Silk Cradle—actually fit a specific "wanderer" theme that was missing from the base game’s more traditional occult vibes.
The Weird Friction of Interactive Media
Let’s talk about the comic interface. It’s built directly into the main menu.
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You open the game, click "Pilgrim Pack," and you're in a separate UI. It’s not a PDF you download. It’s an interactive experience where your choices actually change how the story unfolds. This is a bold move for a developer known for tight action-roguelike loops. It’s slow. It’s contemplative. Some players hated that. They wanted more dungeons.
But if you’re the kind of person who reads the flavor text on every item, this is gold.
The art style by Carles Dalmau is iconic. If you’ve followed the Cult of the Lamb social media accounts, you’ve seen his work. It’s that thick-lined, vibrant, slightly "grubby" look that makes the characters feel alive. Seeing that translated into a full narrative is worth the price of admission for many fans.
The Hidden Quests
One detail people often miss is how the Cult of the Lamb Pilgrim Pack integrates back into the live game. Once you finish the comic—or even while you're progressing—you’ll find that these characters can actually join your cult.
This isn't just a "spawn item" situation.
There are specific interactions and a short questline involved in bringing these pilgrims into the fold. It makes the world feel interconnected. It’s a bridge between the lore and the gameplay that Massive Monster hasn't really tried before. Usually, followers are just randomized bundles of traits and fleece colors. Jalala feels like a person. Or, well, a person-shaped animal.
Comparing Value: DLC vs. Free Updates
We have to acknowledge the elephant in the room. Cult of the Lamb provides a staggering amount of content for free.
The Sins of the Flesh update was massive. It added systems, outfits, and... well, the "mating tent." Unholy Alliance added local co-op. When you compare those huge, free additions to a paid $7 pack, the paid pack can look a little thin.
But that's looking at it the wrong way.
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The Cult of the Lamb Pilgrim Pack is essentially a "supporter pack." It’s for the people who have already put 100 hours into the game and want to give the devs a bit more cash while getting something unique in return. It’s about the art. If you aren't interested in the story of the world, you should probably skip it. The decorations are cool, but they aren't "game-changing."
The Bamboo and Silk Aesthetic
The pack includes:
- 5 unique follower forms
- 2 exclusive outfits (the Pilgrim's robes are particularly clean)
- 5 new decorations
- The full interactive comic
The decorations are very "Eastern-inspired." Lots of bamboo, paper lanterns, and natural textures. If your cult is currently a jagged obsidian nightmare, these might clash. But if you’re building a peaceful commune in the woods (before you start the ritualistic sacrifices, of course), these assets are some of the best-looking in the game.
Why Some Players Feel Conflicted
There’s a small segment of the community that felt the quest to get the followers was too short. Honestly? They’re kinda right.
If you rush through it, you can "finish" the DLC content in under an hour.
But "finishing" isn't really the point of a game like this. The point is the atmosphere. The point is having Rinor walking around your base while you manage your crops. It’s about the flavor. Massive Monster is leaning hard into the "Lifestyle" aspect of the game. People don't just play Cult of the Lamb; they live in it. They buy the plushies. They listen to the soundtrack on vinyl.
This pack is an extension of that brand.
Technical Bits: Performance and Integration
I’ve seen some reports on Steam and Reddit about the comic crashing on certain hardware, specifically the Steam Deck.
Most of these were patched out within the first week of the 2024 release, but it’s something to keep in mind. If you're playing on a console like the Nintendo Switch, the comic interface is surprisingly snappy. The touch screen support makes flipping through the "pages" feel much more natural than using a thumbstick.
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The integration is seamless. You buy the DLC, it downloads a tiny patch, and the "Pilgrim" tab just appears. No hoops to jump through. No weird "talk to this specific NPC at 3 AM" requirements to start the content. It’s just there.
Is it a Must-Buy?
Probably not for everyone.
If you are a mechanical player—someone who just wants to min-max their Lamb’s damage output and clear Purgatory in record time—this pack adds literally zero value to your experience. There are no new weapons. There are no new Tarot cards. There are no new Relics.
However, if you are a "Lore-Sponge," you need this.
The backstory provided for the Old Faith and the way pilgrims view the Lamb's rise to power is fascinating. It adds a layer of moral ambiguity that the main game often glosses over with its cute animations. You start to realize that while you think you're the hero, to the rest of the world, you're just another terrifying god in a long line of them.
What You Should Do Next
If you’re on the fence about the Cult of the Lamb Pilgrim Pack, here is the play:
- Check your current follower count. If you’re already struggling to manage 20 followers, adding more unique ones might just add to your stress.
- Look at the art of Carles Dalmau. If you like it, the comic is worth the $7 alone. It’s basically a high-quality digital artbook with a story attached.
- Wait for a Sale? These packs often go on sale during Steam's seasonal events. If you're not in a rush to see Jalala's story, you can usually snag it for 20-30% off if you’re patient.
- Prioritize the Free Updates First. Make sure you’ve actually explored the Unholy Alliance content and the Sins of the Flesh mechanics. There is so much free stuff in the game now that you might not even feel the need for extra decorations yet.
Once you decide to pull the trigger, make sure you actually read the comic before doing the in-game quests. It makes the arrival of the characters at your camp much more impactful. You’ll actually care when they get sick or when a rival cultist tries to turn them against you.
The Cult of the Lamb Pilgrim Pack isn't an expansion; it's a mood. It’s a specific aesthetic choice for a specific type of fan. If that's you, you'll love it. If not, the base game is already more than enough.
Actionable Insights for Players
- Unlock the Followers Early: You don't need to be end-game to use the Pilgrim Pack content. In fact, it's better to start a fresh save or jump in mid-game so the new decorations and forms feel like a natural part of your cult's growth.
- Check the Outfits: The new clothing options in the pack are some of the most detailed in the game. Use the Tailor building to equip your high-ranking followers with the Pilgrim robes to distinguish them from the "common" cultists.
- Interactive Choices Matter: In the digital comic, pay attention to the dialogue choices. While they don't change the ending of the main game, they do change the tone of the narrative you experience, adding a bit of replayability to the reading experience.
- Don't Ignore the Bamboo: The Bamboo decorations are excellent for creating "zones" in your base. Use them to fence off your farming area from your ritual circle to create a more organized, aesthetically pleasing layout.