Forge Ahead

Forge Ahead is a simulation game where you mine metals and craft swords. While it has its funny moments, the grinding and numerous bugs can be frustrating, and the frequent ads may annoy some players. The game's description of "Mine metals and Craft Swords" accurately sums up its core gameplay loop.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

59%

Audience ScoreBased on 9,994 reviews

graphics85 positive mentions

monetization2,522 negative mentions

Fun and addictive gameplay that allows for creativity in sword crafting.
Good graphics and smooth controls, making it enjoyable to play.
The game has potential for future updates and improvements.

Excessive ads that interrupt gameplay after almost every action.
Lack of variety in sword designs and materials, leading to repetitive gameplay.
Bugs that prevent storing or selling swords after forging, causing frustration.

monetization
2,602 mentions
3 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
97 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with players expressing frustration over the excessive number of ads that interrupt gameplay. Many users report being forced to watch ads after nearly every action, including forging swords and upgrading equipment, which significantly detracts from the overall experience. Even those who paid for ad removal still encounter ads tied to game progression, leading to accusations of the game being a cash grab rather than a fully developed product.
- “In-app purchases work fine.”
- “Decent game when there are no ads.”
- “This game is the best because no ads and no lag.”
- “You're forced to watch ads to progress the game even if you pay to remove ads.”
- “Even if ads were completely removed after you pay to remove them, which they aren't, there isn't enough content to justify the cost of the upgrade.”
- “You will spend the same amount of time watching ads as you spend playing the game, if not more time with ads.”
gameplay
280 mentions
21 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The gameplay has been widely criticized for being overly simplistic, repetitive, and lacking depth, with many players expressing frustration over the excessive number of ads that interrupt the experience. While some users find the core mechanics enjoyable and addictive initially, the overall consensus is that the game quickly becomes monotonous and fails to deliver on the engaging gameplay promised in advertisements. Improvements in mechanics, graphics, and a reduction in ad frequency are frequently suggested to enhance the overall experience.
- “I loved this game when I first played it; very cool idea and very addicting gameplay.”
- “This gameplay is, for some reason, beyond exceptional and really addicting.”
- “The gameplay is awesome, the graphics are awesome, although it was a little bit laggy, it's still awesome!”
- “Gameplay is non-existent, you just hold your finger on the screen waiting for things to happen.”
- “The gameplay is boring and there isn't enough charm to hold interest for even a millisecond.”
- “The gameplay is simplistic, you'll do everything there is to do when you make your first sword.”
graphics
253 mentions
34 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
26 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many users describing them as basic, bland, and poorly executed. Common complaints include a lack of detail, repetitive visuals, and a simplistic design that detracts from the overall experience. While a few users noted that the graphics are acceptable for a mobile game, the consensus is that significant improvements are needed to enhance the game's aesthetic appeal and immersion.
- “The graphics are good for mobile games and it is fun making all the swords.”
- “Great game for something simple to do although I think it would be awesome if there were more options for creativity with visuals of the swords, say maybe doing gem inserts in hilts or wraps engraving. The potential for this game is great; I'd like to see where it goes.”
- “This game has amazing graphics and it's really fun.”
- “The graphics are poor, gameplay is atrocious, and the controls are terrible.”
- “I really hate how this could be an extremely fun and addicting idle blacksmith game but it's so unfinished and rushed with the lack of story, low quality graphics, and straight up blank textures that it doesn't even feel like a full game, but an idea list slapped together that nobody cared enough to put love into before throwing it outside to die.”
- “The graphics are horrid.”
story
241 mentions
12 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth and coherence, with many players finding the quests repetitive, poorly written, and often pointless. Users express frustration over the simplistic nature of missions, which frequently result in failure despite meeting requirements, and the absence of a compelling narrative or character development. Overall, while the gameplay may be engaging initially, the lack of a meaningful story and the overwhelming presence of ads detract significantly from the experience.
- “It's a really good time killer and you can do so much, especially being able to do quests and make swords to idle. It's a really fun and good game!”
- “This game is very fun because you make swords. It's like in real life when you want to make swords, and doing missions is fun because you get more money.”
- “I hoped that there would be a more storyline-based mission system, with a lot more plot and characters.”
- “The quests feel pointless and there's no real progression.”
- “The missions are garbage.”
- “There is no storyline and no instruction at all after the tutorial.”
stability
81 mentions
2 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
98 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with frequent freezing and crashing reported by users, particularly during ad playback and sword creation. Many players express frustration over losing progress due to these glitches, which detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game. While some users note improvements over time, the persistent bugs and ad-related interruptions remain a major concern.
- “It needs to be improved in almost every way, but it's not buggy and doesn't crash, so it's okay.”
- “Very good game, no glitches or bugs at all. If I were you, I would download this game! :D”
- “The game barely works; it constantly freezes and crashes.”
- “Every so often it freezes on a white screen when attempting to play the ads, making me have to close it completely and reopen.”
- “The game is enjoyable, but every time an ad plays, the game freezes.”
humor
37 mentions
97 % positive mentions
-5 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding the absurdity of the ads and the game's mechanics amusing, such as characters t-posing and the ridiculous dialogue from NPCs. While some appreciate the comedic elements, like the unexpected outcomes of crafting swords, others feel the humor quickly wears off, leading to boredom. Overall, the game's humor is often described as unintentionally funny, making it entertaining for a short time but lacking depth for sustained enjoyment.
- “The NPCs that pop up as your customers have the most atrocious and hilarious dialogue in the world.”
- “It's funny that you make more money not playing the game than selling swords.”
- “Oh my goodness, it's very funny! I cannot wait to keep on playing and making swords.”
- “This game tries to be funny, but it falls flat on its face.”
- “The humor is forced and lacks any real wit or charm.”
- “I expected some laughs, but instead, I just cringed.”
grinding
37 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and repetitive, with players noting a lack of meaningful rewards and a frustratingly slow upgrade process. Many reviews highlight the overwhelming presence of ads, which further detracts from the experience, making the gameplay feel like a chore rather than an enjoyable activity. Overall, while some players appreciate the concept, the execution leaves much to be desired, leading to a generally negative reception regarding the grinding mechanics.
- “The shine process takes forever and with no visual information, it makes playing this game a tedious process rather than a fun experience.”
- “The game is boring and it becomes quite a chore to earn money. Everything is so expensive that it got tedious really fast. The game mechanics are shallow and quickly get repetitive, the graphics are also too simplistic, and there are no explanations on the crafting materials.”
- “Absurd amount of time grinding (in every use of the word) and then ads constantly on top of the boring gameplay.”
music
31 mentions
16 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The reviews overwhelmingly indicate a strong desire for the addition of music and sound effects in the game, with many players noting that the absence of background music makes the experience feel dull and unengaging. Suggestions include adding generic tunes, sound effects for actions like forging and mining, and even voice acting to enhance the overall atmosphere. Overall, the lack of music is seen as a significant drawback that detracts from the game's enjoyment.
- “Some background music would go a long way.”
- “I really love this game, but the one thing holding it back is that it has no music or sound effects.”
- “Without music, we players cannot relax at all.”
- “There is no music, very little sound responses to clicked buttons.”
- “I really love this game but the one thing holding it back is that it has no music or sound effects.”
optimization
9 mentions
22 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users highlighting significant issues, particularly on lower-end devices, leading to performance problems and overheating. While some players report smooth gameplay, others experience glitches, especially with audio, indicating a need for further optimization improvements. Overall, the game's performance is inconsistent, suggesting that optimization remains a critical area for development.
- “I would like to see better optimization for lower-end devices.”
- “The game is very fun, but it is unoptimized for the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G, mainly the audio; it's very glitchy.”
- “The game needs serious optimizations, and the vibration feature is broken.”
- “Some optimization problems should be sorted out.”
- “Ok game, but it's optimized so horribly that my phone immediately began to overheat.”
emotional
7 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional responses to the game are largely negative, with users expressing frustration over technical issues that prevent gameplay, leading to feelings of regret and boredom. However, one user noted a positive emotional connection, feeling empowered and confident while playing. Overall, the emotional experience is mixed, heavily skewed towards disappointment due to unresponsive controls.
- “This game made me feel as if I was a vixen in my prime.”
replayability
5 mentions
40 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
Overall, the game suffers from low replayability, with players expressing frustration over the lack of engaging content and meaningful progression. Many feel that the current mechanics, such as the sword collection system, lead to a passive gameplay experience that doesn't encourage repeated play. There is a consensus that the game needs more diverse missions and improved material drop rates to enhance its longevity and enjoyment.
- “You just fill up the rack with swords and leave it to build wealth for a few days... I see potential in the game; as of now, however, it lacks the essential backbone of content and replayability.”
- “Missing a lot of stuff to make this game more playable: different missions, a way to toss or change drop rates of materials, and more progression that isn't just about ignoring the game and letting stuff collect.”
- “The game is okay for a while, but it has low replayability. The different parts for the swords are useless, and getting a sword higher than rare requires more work than necessary.”
- “I see potential in the game; however, it currently lacks the essential backbone of content and replayability. You just fill up the rack with swords and leave it to build wealth for a few days.”
- “I stopped playing this game for about a month because, let's be honest, it has zero replay value. I came back expecting a lot of rewards, but I got what I would normally get in a week.”
atmosphere
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
-67 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Reviewers express a desire for improved atmosphere and aesthetics in the game, suggesting that more engaging backgrounds could enhance the overall experience. However, the presence of intrusive advertisements detracts from the immersive quality, leaving players feeling that the atmosphere is compromised by frequent interruptions.
- “The game offers a fresh experience in a stale play store atmosphere, immersing players in a captivating environment.”
- “If you added more atmosphere and aesthetics to your game, such as an actual room instead of a white background, it would look much more appealing.”
- “But maybe if you put a little less emphasis on advertisements and added more atmosphere and aesthetics to your game, such as an actual room instead of a white background, it would look somewhat more decent.”
- “Fresh experience in a stale Play Store atmosphere, unfortunately plagued by intrusive ads that pop up after every sword crafted and are forced to view with upgrades.”
- “Try making backgrounds for atmosphere :)”
character development
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the character development is hindered by poor design choices, particularly in the blame screen, which detracts from the overall gameplay experience. The use of T-pose characters is criticized for being unengaging and suggests a need for significant improvements or removal of this feature.
- “The character design in the blame screen makes it extremely difficult for someone to play, even though the characters are designed in a T-pose. You really need to fix this or just remove it completely.”
- “Character development feels shallow and uninspired, leaving players with little to invest in their growth.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices in character progression makes it hard to feel connected to the characters.”