Join Us, the open-world cult-building sandbox from Wolf Haus Games, stepped into the spotlight at the Xbox Games Showcase 2026 with its third trailer - and a locked-in March 2027 release window. The action-survival cult simulator officially announced its launch on Xbox with Game Pass, offering 1-4 player co-op as players recruit followers, build a compound, issue their own teachings, and prepare for the coming apocalypse. The game launches on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, and in the cloud, included with Game Pass, and supports Xbox Play Anywhere at no additional cost.
The third trailer, unveiled at the showcase, highlighted elements of the game's narrative campaign for the first time, while also showcasing recruitment, follower management, chaotic combat, and new wardrobe options.
A Sandbox That Says Yes To Everything
Join Us describes itself as a sandbox survival game, but hands-on impressions suggest it runs much deeper. The 10-person team at Wolf Haus Games has seemingly kept throwing ideas at the wall and, instead of rejecting them, found ways to make them work. Ride a deer? Drive a forklift? Encounter aliens? All confirmed.
Players are thrown into the role of a devout member of a doomsday cult, sent to Bedford County, USA, to prepare for the upcoming apocalypse - recruiting followers from local towns, building a compound, teaching followers their ways, and fighting local law enforcement.
The cult customisation runs deep from the very opening screen. Players design their cult's robes, choose an icon (a flying saucer is one option), and even set naming conventions for members. In this sandbox survival game, the most valuable resource isn't stones and wood - it's human beings.
Combat, Permadeath, and Body-Swapping
Combat is a central pillar of the experience, with weapons ranging from pistols to machine guns and serrated machetes. Cycling through weapons is described as a breeze, and the combat feels solid for a demo build - with further refinement expected before the full release.
One of the more inventive mechanics is the permadeath and body-swap system. Attracting police attention - including a police helicopter - can very quickly end your current character's run. When that happens, players seamlessly take over any surviving cult member. Long-distance swaps even function as a fast-travel system, letting players jump into any nearby follower mid-combat.
Converting new civilians to the cause requires influence - earned by posting flyers, handing out autographs from the Leader, or more aggressive persuasion. Each new convert arrives in matching cult attire and immediately acts on their own initiative, sometimes hijacking the nearest vehicle and leaving the player stranded.
Features at a Glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | Wolf Haus Games |
| Team size | 10 people |
| Max co-op | 4 players |
| Release window | March 2027 |
| Platforms | Xbox Series X|S, PC, PS5, Steam, Epic |
| Game Pass | Day one, Play Anywhere |
Base Building, Farming, and Aliens
Beyond combat, there is much more to Join Us than violence and exploration - official channels confirm base building, farming, indoctrination of members, domesticating animals, and aliens. Every character in the world, from civilians to enemies, is a potential recruit. Players can spread propaganda, manage infamy, and make their cult worthy of joining - and once a follower joins, they can be put to work, played as directly, or enlisted on missions.
Wolf Haus Games had an ambitious Early Access cycle planned for this year, but following the Xbox Games Showcase reveal, the team opted to make a full push for version 1.0, with Steam playtests planned. The March release will cover PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and additional handheld devices, delivered as a full release with all the polish players would expect.
Join Us is scheduled for release in March 2027, also coming to Steam and the Epic Games Store alongside Xbox. For deal hunters, the day-one Game Pass inclusion makes this a low-risk entry point - but locking in a key ahead of launch is worth considering for those who prefer to own their cult outright.
Buy Join Us
Live deal tracker
Join Us is available to pre-order now - pick it up for CA$54.84 via the price table above.
