Bleak Faith: Forsaken

53%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,977 reviews
  • gameplay
  • atmosphere
  • music
Bleak Faith: Forsaken Game Cover
Bleak Faith: Forsaken is running on vibes alone; delivering a bundle of tremendously creative art design and a promising concept, tied together by the weak string of its functionality.
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"Bleak Faith: Forsaken" is a third-person open world survival horror action RPG set in a unique universe. As a member of the Forsaken, you must survive in a remote outpost and explore the Omnistructure to uncover its secrets. This immersive game combines elements of cyberpunk and dark fantasy to offer a fresh and frightening experience for all players. Every aspect of the game is crafted with care, including a rich and mysterious lore.

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

53%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,977 reviews
gameplay198 positive mentions
stability303 negative mentions
  • The atmosphere and world design are stunning, creating a unique and immersive experience.
  • The game offers a variety of weapons and build customization, allowing for different playstyles.
  • The developers are actively updating and improving the game based on community feedback.
  • The combat feels clunky and unresponsive, with many players experiencing issues with hitboxes and timing.
  • There are numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including enemies getting stuck or not attacking.
  • The lack of a clear narrative and confusing mechanics can make it difficult for players to understand how to progress.
  • gameplay960 mentions

    The gameplay of "Bleak Faith: Forsaken" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its ambitious mechanics and unique world design but criticizing its execution. While some appreciate the innovative combat system and the depth of character customization, others find the controls clunky, the mechanics poorly explained, and the overall experience janky and unpolished. Despite these issues, players who invest time to learn the mechanics often report a rewarding experience, suggesting that the game may appeal more to those willing to navigate its challenges rather than expecting a polished AAA experience.

    • “The atmosphere in this game is top tier and the gameplay keeps getting better with dedicated passionate devs. If the game had released in the state it is now after the last major update, I believe the reviews would be very positive.”
    • “I can't praise this enough, the gameplay, the scenery, the immersion, the atmosphere, multiple endings, the different ways to play the game (with or without XP and i-frames), the interesting builds, the 40k-ish lore, and many more.”
    • “Once you familiarize yourself with the mechanics, you will realize almost any build will work as long as you commit to it.”
    • “Absolutely insufferable combat and movement mechanics.”
    • “What a letdown...the gameplay feels horrible, even after all these updates and positive changes.”
    • “Repetitive gameplay, awful interface, unresponsive mechanics and looks like a 2010 game.”
  • atmosphere726 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised as its strongest feature, characterized by stunning visuals, haunting music, and a unique, immersive world design that evokes feelings of exploration and dread. Many players appreciate the game's ability to create a sense of scale and mystery, drawing them into its richly crafted environments reminiscent of classic souls-like titles. Despite some technical issues and janky gameplay, the overall atmospheric experience is compelling enough to recommend the game to fans of the genre.

    • “This game is super beautiful, the landscapes are dark and rustic, and the music matches the atmosphere; perfect for a small studio.”
    • “The atmosphere in this game is top tier and the gameplay keeps getting better with dedicated passionate devs. If the game had released in the state it is now after the last major update I believe the reviews would be very positive.”
    • “The world has just a wonderful atmosphere to it and some really creative spaces.”
    • “The atmosphere was truly terrifying for me.”
    • “This game has a disturbing atmosphere; it took me back to the same feeling when I first played Bloodborne.”
    • “The trailer and the atmosphere were so intense that it's almost impossible to not get excited with this release, but this is a game that at its core is focused on combat and exploration, and they both are terrible and unfinished.”
  • music572 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, effectively enhancing the overall experience with haunting melodies and fitting soundscapes. Many players describe the soundtrack as beautiful and evocative, perfectly complementing the game's dark and rustic environments, although some note that it can be repetitive and occasionally suffers from abrupt transitions. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's unique atmosphere and emotional depth.

    • “Oh boy, the exploration accompanied by the hauntingly beautiful soundtrack provided an immersive experience that overshadowed any frustrations with the combat system.”
    • “The soundtrack is *muah*, chef's kiss.”
    • “Music is absolutely gorgeous, and listening to the soundtrack alone does not do it the same justice as coming across a beautiful piece while exploring or fighting.”
    • “The music is just plain generic and you get sick of hearing it over and over and over as you try to navigate this maze.”
    • “There doesn't seem to be any proper looping for the tracks and the transitions between songs are so sudden that it breaks your immersion all the time.”
    • “The first couple of songs were killing the initial experience while I was feeling out this game.”
  • graphics568 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the unique art style and atmospheric visuals that evoke a sense of exploration and immersion. However, several players noted issues with graphical fidelity, including low-resolution textures, inconsistent performance, and various bugs that detract from the overall experience. While the aesthetic is often described as stunning and reminiscent of classic titles, the technical execution leaves room for improvement, particularly in animations and fluidity.

    • “Graphics and art design are great and detailed, doing a wonderful job of making the world feel old and apocalyptic and leftover from a time of being very well lived in, while also creating a feeling of isolation for the protagonist in this current age in which the story is set.”
    • “The aesthetics are gorgeous, the omnistructure is truly amazing, fun to explore and get lost in it.”
    • “The art style is absolutely stunning, like a dream-labyrinth and a very immersive experience.”
    • “The item slots for rings and amulets especially look like they bought artwork of rings and amulets from Shutterstock or maybe commissioned it on DeviantArt without showing the artist any singular glimpse of the world's aesthetic or design.”
    • “The graphics are not the best visually, with muddy textures, VSync issues, framerate issues, camera lock-on issues, clipping issues, physics issues, and a host of visual bugs, but the visuals have their moments, such as in brightly lit areas with water and vivid colors... but the game takes place in a grey and brown hellscape covered over mostly in darkness sapped of color.”
    • “The movement is sloppy, the combat is slow, and the graphics are mid.”
  • stability307 mentions

    The game's stability is widely criticized, with players reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and performance issues that significantly detract from the overall experience. Many describe it as feeling unfinished and clunky, with frequent crashes and frustrating gameplay mechanics. While some acknowledge the developers' ongoing efforts to address these issues, the consensus is that the game remains too unstable for a full recommendation at this time.

    • “The game runs great; I have no frame rate-related issues.”
    • “The game runs smoothly, and the controller works perfectly and can be customized.”
    • “The game operates flawlessly, with no frame rate problems.”
    • “Can't really recommend it, game can be fun but it's too buggy at the moment, nevermind the random crashes (I get around 8 a day) but now I am at a point where I can't upgrade my character or perks so this is as far as I can go.”
    • “When the game launched, it was a buggy mess.”
    • “This game is just not ready for release yet. I've only played 2 hours of this game and it has been a buggy, janky mess.”
  • story302 mentions

    The story of the game is characterized as cryptic and minimalist, drawing inspiration from works like "blame!" and employing a non-linear narrative that encourages players to piece together the lore through exploration and environmental storytelling. While some players appreciate the atmospheric and existential themes, many express frustration over the lack of clear direction and narrative depth, noting that the story often feels underdeveloped or almost non-existent. Overall, the game offers a unique world with intriguing visuals, but its storytelling methods may leave players wanting more clarity and engagement.

    • “The story unfolds gradually; it’s a minimalist narrative that doesn’t tell a linear story but invites you to piece it together through deduction, exploration, dialogue, and environmental storytelling, which greatly enhances the immersion.”
    • “The story is cryptic but the implications are fairly clear; it's very existential and has a sense of cosmic horror on top of everything.”
    • “Bleak Faith has an absolutely dark but beautiful world and story brimming with potential, making one feel a sense of wonder.”
    • “The story is probably the most cryptic and underdeveloped aspect of the game.”
    • “The story might as well have not existed and the only real reward for me was getting to see what insane vista their artists cooked up but that was a good enough reward for me personally, but that won't be the case for everyone.”
    • “The story is pretty much nonexistent, it feels purposefully vague and nonsensical, there are no item descriptions or even really much of an intro to introduce the world to you.”
  • optimization176 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant performance issues such as stuttering, frame drops, and collision problems, particularly on certain platforms like the Steam Deck. While some users noted improvements following patches and found the game playable with adjusted settings, others criticized it for being poorly optimized, especially for controller use. Overall, while there are signs of progress, many players hope for further optimization to enhance the gaming experience.

    • “The devs work incredibly fast and many patches have been released since launch, so the game has significantly improved compared to then with a lot of optimization fixes, bug fixes, collision fixes, balance changes, and more done to make it a better experience.”
    • “Finally, this game has to be one of the best optimized games I've played in a long time and considering all the horribly optimized games we've been getting, it's a breath of fresh air since Wo Long was massively disappointing in that regard.”
    • “+ very good optimization/performance, no frame stutters (besides area transitions), no fps drops in combat, smooth 60fps gameplay...etc.”
    • “The game is terribly stuttering with freezing every minute or so for 10 or so seconds at a time.”
    • “With several performance problems, it's basically impossible to spend more than 5 minutes without noticing a serious problem that drastically affects your gameplay, especially in terms of combat, which is the most important part of the game.”
    • “Very badly optimized, within the first 10 minutes I fell through the floor multiple times and items started flying around the map.”
  • grinding46 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, particularly when it comes to farming materials for crafting and upgrades. While the simplified item management system is appreciated, many feel that the lack of a traditional leveling system and the need for extensive grinding to optimize builds detracts from the overall experience. Additionally, the combat mechanics and UI issues contribute to the frustration, making the grinding feel less rewarding and more of a chore.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The upgrade and crystal system are simple, but elegant; my only issue is with late game crystals requiring a bit too much grinding if you want several different armor/weapon sets.”
    • “I wouldn't mind it as much if my build was just not well optimized, but if my only choices are a) suffer for hours dying to a boss with overcranked health, damage and an insane gimmick or b) suffer for hours grinding and then maybe have a chance to fight the boss on even ground, then I'd rather not choose at all.”
    • “Farming for healing items should not be extremely tedious, as it ruins the experience of attempting the later boss fights.”
  • humor36 mentions

    The humor in the game is largely derived from its ragdoll physics and dismemberment mechanics, which players find both hilarious and integral to the game's personality. While many bugs add a comedic element, some are frustrating and detract from the experience, leading to mixed feelings about the overall execution. Despite the game's flaws, players appreciate the amusing animations and unexpected moments, though some feel the humor can become tiresome due to the game's numerous issues.

    • “The hilariously janky, large enemies are a personal highlight: the formula for these sizable foes involves bringing them down by swiping at their legs, then climbing on their back, stabbing weak points, Shadow of the Colossus style, until they throw you off, or just one-shot you with basically no warning.”
    • “Seeing people get filtered by the first boss because they don't know how to jump over an attack is really, really funny, lmao.”
    • “I had nothing game-breaking in the bugs department, but you can make one enemy knight type easily walk backwards towards you, which paired with his already pretty hilarious animation made me burst in laughter.”
    • “It is one of the most unfunny things in the game.”
    • “Skill won't help me when I fall through the map, buddy. Wish I would've refunded this game when I had the chance; the idea behind it is great, but the execution is so flawed it's just not funny anymore.”
    • “The minimum specs are a boldface lie; this game struggles to play even on Windows 10. It takes about 5 minutes to start up from a black screen, the controls are super unresponsive, so blocking or parrying anything is absolutely pointless/impossible. Leaving your only option to just not get hit, so you do that, and then roll through a rock and fall through the map to your death. I've fallen through the map so many times it's just not funny anymore.”
  • replayability28 mentions

    The game offers a high degree of replayability, primarily due to its diverse perk and ability system that supports multiple playstyles, encouraging players to explore different builds across several playthroughs. While the game still has some jank and requires further polishing, recent updates have improved its playability, making it more enjoyable for both veterans and newcomers. Players can expect to invest significant time to fully experience the game's depth, with many routes and strategies available.

    • “The way Archangel Studios has implemented these changes through itemization is ingenious and should appease veterans and new players while giving the game a high degree of replayability for those seeking to hone their skills.”
    • “Great replayability, as once you're past the intro you can basically dash to anything you want for your build, so long as you've memorized the sprawling maze of a world!”
    • “While levels can be redistributed, perk points cannot, hence the degree of replayability by taking different routes.”
    • “It's a very rough-around-the-edges indie game, with a floaty feeling to movement and combat, a lot of jank, and numerous bugs, but for what it is, it has a surprising amount of depth and replay value.”
    • “This system is impossible to fully cover in less than 5 or 6 playthroughs, so you can expect a lot of replayability.”
  • emotional24 mentions

    Players express a profound emotional connection to the game, highlighting its ability to evoke feelings of awe and immersion despite its technical flaws. Many reviewers note that the journey through the game's world is both mind-bending and evocative, leaving them with a sense of gratitude and a desire for more, reminiscent of their experiences with beloved titles like Dark Souls. However, frustrations with unpolished mechanics and level design occasionally detract from the overall emotional experience.

    • “No other game has made me feel this small or evoked the same sense of awe that this game's world does.”
    • “If you're like me, once acclimated to the gameplay you're in for an immersive, mind-bending, emotional and evocative journey that leaves you wanting more.”
    • “But to be honest, it doesn't really matter... she's taken me places I've never been before and made me feel feelings I've never felt.”
  • monetization12 mentions

    The game's monetization strategy has been criticized for including intrusive advertisements that detract from gameplay, leading to a perception of unfair difficulty. However, players appreciate the absence of microtransactions, loot boxes, and pay-to-win elements, which contrasts with the misleading marketing that overhypes the game's combat mechanics. Overall, while the monetization approach has flaws, it avoids common pitfalls seen in many modern games.

    • “This game doesn't have multiple collector's editions, microtransactions, or loot boxes, which is refreshing. There are no bait-and-switch purchasable cosmetics that later turn into XP boosts or other pay-to-win elements.”
    • “I appreciate that this game avoids the common pitfalls of monetization, such as microtransactions and loot boxes. It feels good to play without the pressure of additional purchases.”
    • “It's great to see a game that prioritizes player experience over monetization strategies like pay-to-win mechanics or excessive cosmetic sales.”
    • “Just add in stupid ads to make the fight artificially harder; worse, you can't life steal from the other ranged enemies - absolutely unfair and just throws in ranged enemies in the arena because this boss is hard.”
    • “- Advertisements and trailers overhype this game (combat is a lot slower than in the videos).”
    • “For three developers, it is an impressive project, but unfortunately, the game does not hold up to its advertising at all.”
  • character development2 mentions

    While the gameplay, atmosphere, music, and character designs are praised, there is no specific mention of character development, suggesting it may not be a focal point in the game's narrative or progression.

    • “The gameplay is fun, and the atmosphere and music are just incredible, along with some really cool enemy and character designs.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

37% average critic score

Buy Bleak Faith: Forsaken

Play time

7hMedian play time
9hAverage play time
2-18hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 52 analyzed playthroughs

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