Can You Survive The Forest?
In a world where the line between friend and food blur, explore what it takes to stay alive amid cannibalistic insanity.
VR Support
last updated Dec 12, 2023
Whether you're advocating for cannibal rights by joining them for dinner, or just peacefully deforesting the land for that sweet ocean view cabin, the game has something for everyone.
A Dance With Danger
Let's get this party started by addressing how 'The Forest' sets the survival bar high with an intricate cocktail of horror and homesteading. Scrounging for resources is no walk in the park when you're on the menu for a society of cannibals with an unquenchable hunger for fresh tourist. But hey, if erecting structures amidst the howls of flesh-hungry mutants is your definition of a Friday night chill session, then you're in for a treat. The crafting system is a gem, making you feel like a regular woodsman McGyver. Despite minor gripes about controller keybinds being as customizable as a block of granite, and AI sometimes embracing the IQ of a startled koala, the game delivers on the survival front like a courier in the apocalypse.
Digital Symphony of Screams
Now, don't go thinking the audio is just your average rustling leaves and twig snaps in the dark. No, the soundtrack of 'The Forest' is more like a gourmet audio experience crafted to delight the senses (and occasionally trigger some intense therapy). The eerie score pairs beautifully with the ambiance like a fine wine matches an apocalyptic dinner. The screeches of our cannibal compadres can turn a peaceful crafting session into a panicked frenzy, making you wish you could set your Spotify to 'Non-lethal lullabies of a deserted island'. Kudos to the audio team, because the sound design is like velvet for the ears—assuming that velvet occasionally shouts at you from the woods.
Visual Feast, or Famine?
If we're talking eye candy, 'The Forest' is like a decadent chocolate cake with just a few nuts too many. The graphics are lush and vibrant—when they're not vigorously testing the boundaries of your hardware. While beauty is in the eye of the PC settings beholder, you might find yourself torn between breathtaking visuals and playable frame rates, unless you've got a rig more powerful than a NASA supercomputer. Terrain detail and enemy design might sometimes feel as polished as a spoon in a cutlery drawer, but overall, the aesthetic is more pleasing than finding a can of beans in the game's bleak survival landscape.
The Social Cannibal Experience
What would a survival horror be without the option to share the insanity with friends? 'The Forest' offers a multiplayer mode that can only be described as the digital equivalent of a group therapy session with axes. It's seamless, terrifying, and guarantees a bonding experience that's hard to match, unless your idea of team-building includes being chased by a mob of angry vegan activists. Whether you fancy a strategic defense or plan to roll like a band of marauding Vikings, tackling the horrors of the wild with your pals adds a layer of satisfaction that solo play simply can't match. Laugh, scream, and debate the morality of eating other humans together—what's not to love?
STEAM RATING
Developer & Publisher
Endnight Games Ltd
Release Date
April 30, 2018
Final Thoughts
Overall, 'The Forest' is a masterclass in survival horror that blends gut-wrenching suspense with the joy of creation. Whether you're advocating for cannibal rights by joining them for dinner, or just peacefully deforesting the land for that sweet ocean view cabin, the game has something for everyone. Sure, it might have a bug here or there, and the AI can occasionally seem like it's been hitting the jungle juice too hard, but these are mere hiccups in an otherwise stellar title. Just be prepared to trade your beach holiday for a crash course in cannibal evasion—sunscreen optional.
