How religious is this game?

[Ruinzifra]

I've seen mentions of religious stuff in this game. And look, if you believe is whatever, great for you. I dont, and I dont really want to hear any nonsense religious stuff. Is it just a weird verse here and there, or is it trying to be a religious game? Thanks in advance!

[The Squirmy Wormies]

Very little. It's mostly occult stuff, but the player characters are some form of occult undying soldiers for a vaguely Spanish Inquistion esque religious order. But there's no dialogue so all that is in item descriptions and written lore you find in the game world.

[Otets Oleksii]

Hello. Religion is a part of the setting here, however there is no requirements to pray or participate in religious rituals.
Honestly, I'm confused, which specific features makes the game a religious one? So far, we have a short cutscene with a depiction of a high ranking cleric, ruined church in a hub, spells like Burning Stake and Iron Cross, medieval fantasy stuff about witches in items description, some weapons have minor stylisation (one handgun has crosses cut into bullet cases), and some of the treasures are crosses, chalices and rosaries.
Its not much, compared to the content in game, i.e. only 2 spells out of 15 are religiously themed and maybe 3 guns out of 16 has distinctive thematic features.

In conclusion, the stuff I've mentioned dosen't interfere much with your gameplay. We aren't running around with a giant spiked cross (although I'd like to try that) preaching enemies to death, and so far there is no excessive religious lore that forced upon you, so I wouldn't call it a religious game.

[Vespertellino]

lol

[Vespertellino]

doom is really religious as well

[Damokl]

Originally posted by Otets Oleksii:

Hello. Religion is a part of the setting here, however there is no requirements to pray or participate in religious rituals.
Honestly, I'm confused, which specific features makes the game a religious one? So far, we have a short cutscene with a depiction of a high ranking cleric, ruined church in a hub, spells like Burning Stake and Iron Cross, medieval fantasy stuff about witches in items description, some weapons have minor stylisation (one handgun has crosses cut into bullet cases), and some of the treasures are crosses, chalices and rosaries.
Its not much, compared to the content in game, i.e. only 2 spells out of 15 are religiously themed and maybe 3 guns out of 16 has distinctive thematic features.

In conclusion, the stuff I've mentioned dosen't interfere much with your gameplay. We aren't running around with a giant spiked cross (although I'd like to try that) preaching enemies to death, and so far there is no excessive religious lore that forced upon you, so I wouldn't call it a religious game.

Objectively, you play as Church hound and inquisitor (preyer) in a world overwhelmed by witches and "your holy mission" is to eradicate them. And because you are a preyer you cant go far without any kind of praying or ritual, of course gameplay is lore driven.

You run on a witchfire, which is kind of a lifeforce for witch minions and witchcraft, and church has adopted its use to face off said witches, therefore your ascension (leveling), researches and hub progression are all some form of rituals using witchfire, even lore text plates on the maps require "pray" action to be deciphered. Also one of weapon types is "demonic" but outside of context it easily can be called just "special".

As you play as a superhuman inquisitor and draw your powers from both witchcraft and faith i find it hard to call this game not religious, in a neutral way because it doesnt force you into nor does it require you to be religious. "Religious" can be used in different ways to define things and i find it suitable here.

As a person above said Witchfire is religious but so is Doom. And so is Ultrakill and Bioshock. And id say that Witchfire is comfortably sitting around Bioshock "religious" levels. Thematic depiction and mentions are used as a world building material and not propaganda.

[Vespertellino]

Originally posted by Damokl:

And because you are a preyer you cant go far without any kind of praying or ritual, of course gameplay is lore driven.

wdym, I never prayed in this game
preyer is from "prey", so basically a hunter

[Uro]

Same way God of War is a religious game.

[Damokl]

Originally posted by Vespertellino:

Originally posted by Damokl:

And because you are a preyer you cant go far without any kind of praying or ritual, of course gameplay is lore driven.

wdym, I never prayed in this game
preyer is from "prey", so basically a hunter

I mean what i mean, when you first start the run it leads you to the stone plate and tell you to "Pray for insight" then it reveals chulk-like line leading into tutorial area. Any lore plate on the island do the same, basic action E is called "Pray" for them

[Damokl]

Originally posted by Uro:

Same way God of War is a religious game.

GoW is prob the most religious of the games ive known

[Vespertellino]

Originally posted by Damokl:

Originally posted by Vespertellino:

wdym, I never prayed in this game
preyer is from "prey", so basically a hunter

I mean what i mean, when you first start the run it leads you to the stone plate and tell you to "Pray for insight" then it reveals chulk-like line leading into tutorial area. Any lore plate on the island do the same, basic action E is called "Pray" for them

you're probably right but the preyer part still stands

[The Squirmy Wormies]

Originally posted by Vespertellino:

you're probably right but the preyer part still stands

Preyer is very obviously a pun on prayer so it's disingenuous to say it's got nothing to do with religion. Kinda sums up how religious the game is though: Catholic words/symbolism when it thinks it can do something cool and badass with them, but is not by any means a Catholic game.

[Vespertellino]

it's a pun that is meant to subvert the meaning yes

[cuss]

It's not religious OP. It does have some of the trappings of but lots of games have those. If the presence of angelic and demonic beings, cults, sects, fanatics, rituals,, and other weirdness were indicative of religion then half the video games we play would be labelled religious.

[Damokl]

Originally posted by The Squirmy Wormies:

Originally posted by Vespertellino:

you're probably right but the preyer part still stands

Preyer is very obviously a pun on prayer so it's disingenuous to say it's got nothing to do with religion. Kinda sums up how religious the game is though: Catholic words/symbolism when it thinks it can do something cool and badass with them, but is not by any means a Catholic game.

Been wondering why "preyer" and thought because its an allegory on praying hunter

[Otets Oleksii]

Originally posted by Damokl:

Objectively, you play as Church hound and inquisitor (preyer)

Objectively, there is not a single mention of the word "Inquisition" in the entrie game, so you just mix facts (the player works for the Church) with your own assumptions ("inquisitor").

I think there was a misunderstanding here. OP doesn't have the game so his question isn't about lore, in my opinion he is asking if there is something that he doesn't want to see during gameplay:

Originally posted by Ruinzifra:

And look, if you believe is whatever, great for you. I dont, and I dont really want to hear any nonsense religious stuff.

So I've provided a list of religious items and parts of the game that could potentially be disturbing to OP.
Btw, I should add to my list that some starting classes have name and description with religious elements.
I agree that "religious game" is a vague term, that's why I've asked OP for clarifications.

Originally posted by Damokl:

lore text plates on the maps require "pray" action to be deciphered.

Except this "pray" action doesn't force your character to kneel and fold your hand while reading a prayer outloud. It is a huge difference in pressing "E" button and actually see your character participating in a ritual.
Again, this is not a theorycrafting lore discussion, its a question about what could potentially prevent OP from enjoying this cool game.

Originally posted by Damokl:

it doesnt force you into nor does it require you to be religious. "Religious" can be used in different ways to define things and i find it suitable here.

Which was exactly my point, so I really don't understand why are you trying to argue with me.