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Play Overview
The Forest (2018) is a survival horror game where you are the only passenger to live after a plane crash. You explore a mysterious forest to find food, shelter and safety but soon have to battle strange cannibalistic people.
Although some will like the jump scares and creepy horror vibe, it's really the living, breathing world that is the most appealing. Every tree and every plant can be chopped down. You can build a camp, start a fire to keep warm, scavenge for food, and construct a small shelter or large ocean-side fortress. As well as lay traps and defences to keep a safe perimeter.
What's unusual about the enemies in the game is how their programmed intelligence means they don't always attack. Sometimes they keep their distance or follow you, or lure you into traps they have made. The game works to question whether it is you or them that are perpetrating violence. In combat, they regularly protect one another from injury, remove torches, surround the player, hide behind cover, drag wounded tribesmen to safety, keep their distance, use tactical decisions, not overextend into unknown territory, and occasionally surrender out of fear.
The game is open to how you want to play, although if you wish you can follow missions that lead to a conclusion of sorts with two different possible endings. The game features a day and night cycle along with varied terrain and locations. If you die in the game you are sent back to your shelter save point. To avoid dying you must manage your health, energy, stamina, hunger, and thirst levels.
Our examiner, Andy Robertson, first checked The Forest 4 years ago. It was re-examined by Thom Robertson and updated 3 months ago.
Although some will like the jump scares and creepy horror vibe, it's really the living, breathing world that is the most appealing. Every tree and every plant can be chopped down. You can build a camp, start a fire to keep warm, scavenge for food, and construct a small shelter or large ocean-side fortress. As well as lay traps and defences to keep a safe perimeter.
What's unusual about the enemies in the game is how their programmed intelligence means they don't always attack. Sometimes they keep their distance or follow you, or lure you into traps they have made. The game works to question whether it is you or them that are perpetrating violence. In combat, they regularly protect one another from injury, remove torches, surround the player, hide behind cover, drag wounded tribesmen to safety, keep their distance, use tactical decisions, not overextend into unknown territory, and occasionally surrender out of fear.
The game is open to how you want to play, although if you wish you can follow missions that lead to a conclusion of sorts with two different possible endings. The game features a day and night cycle along with varied terrain and locations. If you die in the game you are sent back to your shelter save point. To avoid dying you must manage your health, energy, stamina, hunger, and thirst levels.
Our examiner, Andy Robertson, first checked The Forest 4 years ago. It was re-examined by Thom Robertson and updated 3 months ago.
Kids not old enough for this yet? There are lots of games similar to The Forest. Here are some similar younger-rated games:
Play Style
This is an Adventure and Simulation game with Action, Fighting and Role-Play elements. You can play this by yourself or as a 4-player online game. You can play online together with other people which enables you to construct more ambitious camps and have more resources to survive.
You can play this game in the following styles:
Duration
Play Time: This game will take between 20 hours and 25 hours to complete. It will take considerably longer to find all the extras and establish a strong and stable life on the island.
Benefits
This game is good if you want to:
Age Ratings
Content Rating
Users Interact: The game enables players to interact and communicate with each other, so may expose players to language usually associated with older rated games.
Rated for younger players in Australia. Rated Mature Accompanied (MA 15+) for Strong Horror Themes.
In addition to the official ratings, parents should note that in the Peaceful difficulty setting, the game is free of cannibals and mutants, allowing you to focus purely on surviving the wilderness.
Skill Level
14+ year-olds usually have the required skill to enjoy this game. Still, it's important for parents and guardians to consider the maturity required to process the game content. You need resilience to cope with the set backs. You also need to be able to plan and manage your resources.
Account Rating
- You need be 18-years-old to subscribe to PlayStation Plus for online play, but can create sub-accounts for younger players of 7-years or older to play online with PlayStation 4.
Costs
The Forest usually costs £13.99 to £15.49.
It's important to set up your accounts and devices appropriately. More information is on our Financial Resources page.
The Forest
There are the following additional costs associated with this game:
-
You need a subscription to play online:
- You need to purchase a PlayStation Plus subscription to play online with PlayStation 4.
It's important to set up your accounts and devices appropriately. More information is on our Financial Resources page.
Game Details
Release Date: 30/04/2018, updated in 2018
Out Now: PC and PS4
Skill Rating: 14+ year-olds
Players: 1 (4 online)
Genres: Adventure, Simulation (Action, Fighting and Role-Play)
Accessibility: 16 features
Components: 3D First-Person, Day and Night and Open World
Developer: End Night Game (@EndNightGame)
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Written by parents for parents, the database complements the in-depth discussion about video game addiction, violence, spending and online safety in the Taming Gaming book. We are an editorially independent, free resource without adverts that is supported by partnerships. |
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