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 2,284 reviews

gameplay128 positive mentions

stability54 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 mentor that adds depth to gameplay.

Single-player experience is frustrating and not recommended.
Connectivity issues and bugs can hinder multiplayer gameplay.
Difficulty spikes can be overwhelming, especially without a full team.

gameplay
396 mentions
32 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Forced" is characterized by its unique mechanics, particularly the cooperative use of a spirit mentor orb that players must guide through puzzles and combat scenarios, emphasizing teamwork and communication. While the game features well-designed levels and a variety of classes, many players find the controls clunky and the gameplay can become repetitive, especially in single-player mode. Overall, it is best enjoyed with friends, as the cooperative elements significantly enhance the experience, despite some technical issues and balancing concerns.
- “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.”
- “Pretty horrible gameplay and keybinds that are not changeable.”
- “Gameplay is stale and overly difficult for no reason except garbage controls and slow response times.”
- “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.”
story
204 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 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 to the cooperative action. Despite its shortcomings, some players appreciate the humor and creativity in the missions, 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
96 mentions
54 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
4 % 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 highlight the diverse environments and polished visuals, while others point out issues like graphic bugs and performance optimization problems. Overall, the graphics are deemed satisfactory for an indie title, but there is room for improvement.
- “The graphics, gameplay mechanics, and puzzles are all great quality.”
- “The gameplay is sharp and the graphics are amazing.”
- “Graphics look beautiful in 1080p!”
- “Anyway, crippled controls and glitchy collision and graphics.”
- “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
60 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely appreciated, especially in multiplayer settings where friends can share in the hilarity of frustrating gameplay and bad voice acting. Many players find the comedic elements, such as funny translation errors and the absurdity of character deaths, to enhance the overall experience, although some note that the humor can be inconsistent and overshadowed by technical issues. Overall, the game is seen as a fun, rage-inducing experience that shines when played with others who have a good sense of humor.
- “This is basically Gauntlet with a sense of humor and more co-op puzzle solving.”
- “Amazing game, local multiplayer with friends is hilarious, especially when baiting your friends to their deaths.”
- “Not only is it very challenging making you work with your team but it also made me hurt from laughing so much.”
stability
56 mentions
2 % positive mentions
2 % neutral mentions
96 % negative mentions
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with numerous reports of bugs affecting both single-player and multiplayer experiences. Users have noted issues such as a buggy user interface, network connectivity problems, and glitches that can hinder gameplay, making it feel unplayable at times. While some players find the game enjoyable despite these technical issues, many express frustration over the frequent need for troubleshooting and the overall lack of polish.
- “The graphics are good, the performance is good, there isn't any stuttering, there aren't any freezes.”
- “Great game in principle, but unplayably buggy.”
- “The glitches in the current version make it nearly unplayable.”
- “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.”
music
38 mentions
47 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
8 % 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, several users criticize the audio mixing, which can make combat sounds and music either too soft or overwhelming, detracting from the overall enjoyment. While some find the soundtrack memorable and fitting, others describe it as boring or forgettable.
- “A very nice game, it has a great soundtrack, fairly simple to play but challenging nevertheless.”
- “The game's soundtracks are 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
32 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game is generally not focused on grinding, emphasizing skill execution and teamwork over mindless farming for loot or levels. While some players may find themselves grinding old levels for challenges, the overall experience rewards strategy and cooperation rather than traditional grinding mechanics. However, certain aspects, like boss battles, can become tedious, and the puzzle elements may feel basic and unengaging amidst combat.
- “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.”
- “Although it has a leveling system, the challenge-based experience can leave you feeling stuck, and there is no actual grinding that can be done to unstick you.”
replayability
26 mentions
23 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
12 % 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 engaging enough to warrant multiple playthroughs, resulting in a generally positive but somewhat divided perception of replayability.
- “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.”
- “This game also has tons of value in the replayability department as well, not to mention it is gorgeous, with really good voice acting.”
- “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
22 mentions
18 % positive mentions
27 % neutral mentions
55 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received largely negative feedback, with many users reporting issues such as lag, crashes, and poor performance on mid-high performance PCs. While some improvements have been noted in graphics optimization for modern hardware, overall, the game is criticized for its inadequate optimization and netcode issues, leading to a frustrating experience for players.
- “Unlike many hack and slashers, this game does not focus on equipment or leveling skills; instead, it provides skills that have distinct tradeoffs against other skills and may need to be optimized between levels.”
- “Edit: graphics have been optimized and it's running much better on modern hardware.”
- “Forced also uses my favorite kind of customization system, the kind 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.”
- “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
12 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 and joy to frustration and sadness. The game's challenging nature evokes a sense of achievement, particularly during intense moments like the final boss battle, where the music enhances the emotional stakes. The developers' heartfelt story and commitment to their craft further resonate with players, adding to the overall emotional impact of the experience.
- “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
6 mentions
33 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is generally viewed as basic, with some players noting a complete lack of customization options and loot. However, the engaging puzzle mechanics and cooperative gameplay provide a compensatory experience that keeps players invested. Overall, while character development may be limited, the game's strategic elements and communication foster a fun and challenging environment.
- “The battle mechanics and character development are basic, but the puzzle aspect more than compensates.”
- “Addictive, fun together, never seen before gameplay, real cooperation, a lot of communication, strategizing, character development, challenging.”
- “The battle mechanics character developments are basic, but the puzzle aspect more than compensates.”
- “Zero character development and no loot to customize your build.”
atmosphere
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
50 % 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
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized for being misleading, with users highlighting that both the advertising and the store page do not accurately represent the game's content or features.
- “This game's advertising, store page included, is incredibly misleading.”