Forced

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"Forced" is a hack-and-slash, one- to four-player co-op arcade RPG with puzzle and tactical elements, where slaves fight to death in a gladiator school to win their freedom. Four unique classes, local and online co-op, and a challenging campaign with tricky puzzles and monstrous foes are featured. The game includes a Spirit Mentor for an extra party member and a Survival Arena mode. With a good plot, ingenious gameplay, stellar visuals, and good music, players must evade all enemy attacks and figure out how to apply marks to defeat them.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

72%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,142 reviews

gameplay64 positive mentions

stability27 negative mentions

Great co-op gameplay that emphasizes teamwork and communication.
Challenging puzzles and combat that provide a rewarding experience.
Unique mechanics with the spirit orb that adds depth to gameplay.

Single-player experience is frustrating and not recommended.
Connection issues and bugs can hinder multiplayer gameplay.
Difficulty spikes can make certain levels feel unfair and tedious.

gameplay
198 mentions
32 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is characterized by its unique mechanics that emphasize teamwork and puzzle-solving, making it particularly enjoyable in cooperative play. While the graphics and level design are praised, many players note issues with clunky controls, balancing problems, and a lack of engaging single-player content. Overall, the game shines in multiplayer settings but can feel repetitive and frustrating when played alone.
- “It has some pretty unique mechanics and very well designed levels that constantly bring new challenges with a huge emphasis on teamwork.”
- “The charm of this game comes from the phenomenal cooperative gameplay (not recommended for single player!), in which you have to slay many enemies, solve puzzles at the same time and communicate a lot.”
- “The central mechanic of using a spirit-ball that must be passed around between players and used to activate, destroy or otherwise do anything important is an excellent co-op mechanic that's a ton of fun.”
- “Clunky gameplay, poor collision detection (I didn't realize that was even an issue in games anymore until Forced), extremely laggy online play, extremely buggy offline play.”
- “The gameplay is basically mild puzzles smashed together with arena beat-em-up gameplay, where you'll be fighting against the clock (and spastic game bugs) to deal with blowing up statues, smashing into enemies in a poor excuse for a cooperative game, where player actions have scarce effect on teamplay, other than to screw with each other's plans to pass the glowing puzzle ball around, causing much frustration.”
- “Dull gameplay, terrible controls, and an awful mechanic where you have to navigate a ball around while fighting in order to complete some areas.”
story
102 mentions
18 % positive mentions
76 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally considered weak and simplistic, serving primarily as a backdrop for the action-oriented gameplay rather than a focal point. Players note that while the narrative involves four gladiators navigating various challenges, it lacks depth and originality, often feeling like an afterthought. Despite its shortcomings, some reviewers appreciate the humor and creativity in the mission design, suggesting that the gameplay experience is more engaging than the story itself.
- “The game isn't story-heavy (nor does it have to be) but the plot is quite interesting and well written.”
- “The story is simple but the early twist plus good characters and good voice actors make it engaging.”
- “This game is as awesome as the story of its creation!”
- “The story is not this game's strong point as the plot is fairly simple.”
- “The attempt at a story is more of a hindrance and should've been left out almost altogether.”
- “In short, this game is boring to play by yourself as you'll find the story is very linear and boring, while the actual gameplay, which is intended for group play, will be frustrating.”
graphics
48 mentions
54 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players noting that while they are generally good and visually appealing, they lack innovation and can be considered basic or barebones. Some users appreciate the diverse environments and polished visuals, while others point out issues like graphic bugs and performance optimization problems. Overall, the graphics are deemed functional and enjoyable, but there is room for improvement.
- “The graphics, gameplay mechanics, and puzzles are all great quality.”
- “The graphics are good, the performance is good, there isn't any stuttering, there aren't freezes.”
- “The graphics look beautiful in 1080p!”
- “I play Vermintide 2 and Ghost Recon Wildlands on the highest graphics, yet somehow I put this game's settings on 'ugly but fast' and still experienced offline lag.”
- “Last but not least, the graphics really could be better, indie or not.”
- “In addition, the game is poorly optimized in terms of graphics use.”
humor
30 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is largely appreciated, especially in multiplayer settings, where players find the combination of challenging gameplay and comedic elements—such as bad voice acting and funny deaths—hilarious. While some players note that the humor can be hit or miss, particularly in solo play or due to bugs, many agree that playing with friends enhances the experience, making it a source of laughter and frustration in equal measure. Overall, the humor is seen as a significant and enjoyable aspect of the game, contributing to its appeal.
- “This is basically Gauntlet with a sense of humor and more co-op puzzle solving.”
- “Just the right amount of rage-inducing fun, mixed with hilariously bad voice acting.”
- “The co-op is challenging/rewarding, and the humorous bits add extra fun to the levels.”
stability
28 mentions
11 % positive mentions
-7 % neutral mentions
96 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs affecting both single-player and multiplayer experiences. Players encounter issues such as a buggy user interface, network connectivity problems, and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, making it feel unpolished and at times nearly unplayable. While some enjoy the core gameplay, the persistent technical issues significantly detract from the overall experience.
- “The graphics are good, the performance is excellent, and there is no stuttering or freezing.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any interruptions, providing a stable experience.”
- “I appreciate the consistent frame rates and overall stability during gameplay.”
- “Great game in principle, but unplayably buggy.”
- “Network issues are extremely common - the game splits and people see different things on their screens, someone can't move at all, someone dies but gets stuck in the dying animation and glitches the level, unable to complete it, and the list goes on.”
- “It's too buggy to even bother... unless you are willing to spend an hour setting the game up.”
music
19 mentions
47 % positive mentions
37 % neutral mentions
16 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising the well-composed soundtracks that enhance the gameplay experience, particularly during key moments like boss fights. However, some players criticize the audio mixing, which can make the music either too soft or overwhelming, detracting from the overall enjoyment. While the soundtrack is generally appreciated, its impact is diminished by technical issues that affect sound balance.
- “A very nice game, it has a great soundtrack, fairly simple to play but challenging nevertheless.”
- “The game's soundtracks are also very well composed and fit each level.”
- “The game's music is great, but the music for the final boss really got me into the mood, it made me feel like I was in the middle of a legendary struggle.”
- “The music is boring.”
- “This game has terrible audio mixing that makes most combat and music either too soft or not audible at all.”
- “You have to turn the game sounds so far down in order to be able to hear your friends that you miss out on any subtle sounds such as impacts and also miss out on the soundtrack.”
grinding
16 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Overall, the reviews indicate that the game is not focused on traditional grinding for levels or gear, instead emphasizing teamwork, strategy, and skill execution. While some players appreciate the lack of monotonous grinding, others find certain challenges and boss encounters can become tedious. The game offers a refreshing alternative to grind-heavy titles, but some players still experience moments of frustration with its pacing and puzzle elements.
- “This isn't a game for grinding - if you want to mindlessly farm loot for better gear and levels, search elsewhere.”
- “And you will be grinding old levels for challenges that might yield enough to continue.”
- “The mark system which adds extra damage from abilities and basic attacks don't do enough to quickly wear down bosses at a reasonable rate and the boss levels which are supposed to be epic become tedious.”
replayability
13 mentions
23 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
23 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the unique skill gem system and timed challenges that encourage replaying levels, others feel the lack of randomness and additional content, such as more boss fights or extra levels, limits its overall replay value. Despite these criticisms, many find the challenges and time trials to significantly enhance the replayability experience. Overall, the game offers decent replayability, but could benefit from more variety and content to keep players engaged.
- “Levels are replayable and have very decent challenges to gain additional gems.”
- “The game's main sense of replayability comes in the fact that each arena playthrough is timed, and ranked among others.”
- “Nevertheless, challenges and time trials give this title some serious replayability.”
- “Cons: almost no replayability.”
- “My last gripe is that I don't feel like the game has much replayability.”
- “In terms of replayability, there is no randomness to this game, or any abundance of places you might have missed to explore.”
optimization
11 mentions
27 % positive mentions
18 % neutral mentions
55 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting issues such as lag, crashes, and poor performance, particularly on mid-range hardware. While some users noted improvements in graphics optimization on modern systems, others still experienced significant netcode and stuttering problems. The consensus suggests that despite some positive aspects, the game remains poorly optimized overall.
- “The game features a customization system that rewards good performance and encourages experimentation: outside of combat, you're free to mix and match any three active and three passive abilities that you've unlocked.”
- “Unlike many hack and slash games, this title does not focus on equipment or leveling skills. Instead, it provides skills with distinct trade-offs that may need to be optimized between levels.”
- “The graphics have been optimized, and it's running much better on modern hardware.”
- “2013 Unity game... like Gauntlet but more puzzles, poorly optimized, and randomly crashes.”
- “What I got was a poorly optimized game with iOS game-style level design and netcode issues.”
- “In addition, the game is poorly optimized in terms of graphics use.”
emotional
6 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, experiencing a wide range of feelings from laughter to frustration and triumph. The heartfelt story behind its development adds to the emotional weight, while the impactful music enhances the sense of struggle and achievement during gameplay. Overall, the game evokes strong emotions, making it a memorable experience despite its challenging nature.
- “Danish developed game, but a team that really shows off their passion and depth of commitment - check their story at their website, it is really a heartwarming one.”
- “I laughed, I cried, I raged, and I celebrated.”
- “The game's music is great, but the music for the final boss really got me into the mood; it made me feel like I was in the middle of a legendary struggle, so much that even after all the frustration that had been built up prior to it, I didn't rage once at a death no matter how close I came to defeating him that run.”
character development
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is viewed as basic and lacking depth, with some players noting a complete absence of customization options. However, the engaging puzzle mechanics and cooperative gameplay provide a fun and challenging experience that somewhat compensates for the shortcomings in character progression. Overall, while character development may not be a strong point, the game's strategic elements and communication foster a collaborative environment.
- “Addictive, fun together, never seen before gameplay, real cooperation, a lot of communication, strategizing, character development, challenging.”
- “The battle mechanics and character development are basic, but the puzzle aspect more than compensates.”
- “Zero character development and no loot to customize your build.”
atmosphere
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is characterized by a seamless integration of challenging puzzles and action, resulting in an exhilarating experience for players.
- “The puzzles weave through the action seamlessly, creating a challenging but exhilarating atmosphere.”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized for being misleading, particularly in its advertising and store page presentation.
- “This game's advertising, including the store page, is incredibly misleading.”
- “The monetization system feels exploitative and takes away from the overall experience.”
- “I feel pressured to spend money to enjoy the game fully, which is frustrating.”