Forgotten Hope

About

Forgotten Hope is a single player action game with a mystery theme. It was developed by Black Hammer Studios and was released on May 12, 2021. It received very positive reviews from players.

Forgotten Hope is a first-person narrative-driven game about a teenage girl seeking to rediscover her past. After waking up in a cave with no memories, she explores a rural village and countryside, visiting memory points to regain her lost memories. The game features mature themes, such as depression, loss, and death, and is narrated by the protagonist herself. A mysterious wolf guides the player through one open area map and two linear maps to uncover the truth.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 86 reviews

story34 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

Forgotten Hope delivers a meaningful and emotional story that resonates with players, addressing serious themes like mental health and loss.
The game's atmosphere, music, and visuals come together beautifully, creating an immersive experience that leaves a lasting impression.
As a debut title from a small Sri Lankan indie studio, it showcases a lot of heart and intention, with a strong message that encourages hope and resilience.

The gameplay is simplistic and can feel repetitive, with limited interaction and exploration, which may detract from the overall experience.
Voice acting is often criticized as wooden and lacking depth, which undermines the emotional weight of the narrative.
Some players found the pacing and structure of the story to be uneven, leading to confusion and a lack of clarity in its message.

story
76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
51%
4%
The game's story is widely praised for its emotional depth and meaningful exploration of serious themes, particularly mental health and personal loss. While some players found it to be a familiar narrative with predictable elements, many appreciated its heartfelt message and the immersive experience it provided through its visuals and soundtrack. Overall, the storytelling is considered a strong point, resonating with players and offering a thought-provoking journey despite some critiques regarding depth and execution.
- “A nice game that delivers a valuable message throughout its story, addressing the serious topic of mental health.”
- “The game navigates a very real mental health topic and does a stellar job in taking the player through the story being told.”
- “Forgotten hope is a story-driven exploration game that delivers exactly what it promises.”
- “Typical sad story with some motivational stuff I've seen a million times.”
- “That being said, I agree, this is a sad story, but other than the over-the-top, preachy monologue about not giving up hope at the end, this game fell short of providing any meaningful perspectives or insight.”
- “In conclusion, while the game seems a well-intentioned serious story about how we deal with loss, the game does not tackle these subjects well enough to say anything meaningful, while not giving the player any gameplay to make up for it.”
music
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
39%
7%
The music in the game has been universally praised for its emotional depth and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many reviewers highlighting the soundtrack as a standout feature. It is described as haunting, captivating, and beautifully composed, effectively complementing the game's themes of loss, friendship, and acceptance. Overall, the soundtrack significantly elevates the game's narrative and atmosphere, making it a memorable aspect for players.
- “The atmosphere, music, and message all came together in a really touching way.”
- “The soundtrack was absolutely beautiful throughout the game and it was emotionally driven.”
- “The music is just so captivating and unique; I love the soundtracks.”
- “The music was so haunting that it was like another entity within the game.”
- “Personally, the in-game text and the soundtrack were more than enough for me to keep up with the storyline, and the narration might not be everyone's cup of tea.”
- “But even without separately purchasing the soundtrack, this game is absolutely worth the price tag.”
graphics
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
39%
11%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the unique, minimalist art style and low-poly aesthetics that contribute to the overall atmosphere. While some found the visuals simple yet appealing, others criticized them as basic and lacking in detail compared to other titles. Overall, the graphics are seen as a fitting complement to the game's emotional narrative and soundtrack, though some players wished for more vibrant colors and improved animations.
- “The amazing story, the visuals, and the overall vibe is something that resonates with me and reminds me of games like Never Alone, Life is Strange, and Among the Sleep.”
- “Really loved the low-poly aesthetic; the models were excellent throughout.”
- “Amazing visuals, minimalist art style, story, and the OST are the things I loved most about this game, which are truly wonderful!”
- “Graphics are very low poly and basic, but still pretty.”
- “Graphics are awful (just take a look at 'Everybody's Gone to the Rapture' to see what can be done), the gameplay is abysmal (compare this to 'The Painscreek Murders'), and the voiceover is so grating I wanted to turn the sound off after a few minutes.”
- “My only complaint would be the lack of life in the mysterious wolf; it needs some better animations and visuals, especially when getting up and walking about.”
emotional
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players highlighting its meaningful narrative, beautiful soundtrack, and powerful messages that resonate deeply. Many reviews note the game's ability to evoke strong feelings, particularly through its exploration of themes like loneliness, loss, and hope. Despite some critiques regarding voice acting, the overall consensus is that the game offers a touching and impactful emotional journey that leaves a lasting impression.
- “The atmosphere, music, and message all came together in a really touching way.”
- “A small, but well-told narrative with a deep theme that will take you on an emotional journey and leave you feeling melancholic for hours after finishing it.”
- “Forgotten hope has a unique art style, emotional storyline with a powerful message, a beautifully crafted world, and an amazing soundtrack.”
gameplay
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
62%
19%
The gameplay is primarily a simple point-and-click mechanic, often described as a walking simulator that lacks depth and interactivity, which some players found disappointing. While certain elements, like the maze in the final chapter, were praised for their execution, overall, the gameplay is considered basic and not the main focus of the experience. Many reviews highlight that the game’s narrative and atmosphere are more compelling than its mechanics, which could benefit from enhancements.
- “Great story, great advice, and great gameplay.”
- “The best way to describe Forgotten Hope’s gameplay is to call it a first-person walking simulator in the vein of What Remains of Edith Finch and Dear Esther.”
- “The music, gameplay, story, and design all come together perfectly to immerse the player in Hope's world and the struggle she's going through.”
- “The gameplay is simple point and click where I feel the game holds your hand too often.”
- “Altogether then, we have a walking simulator in a dead world with mediocre gameplay used to convey a bungled message.”
- “In conclusion, while the game seems a well-intentioned serious story about how we deal with loss, the game does not tackle these subjects well enough to say anything meaningful, while not giving the player any gameplay to make up for it.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its dream-like quality, peacefulness, and emotional depth, effectively complementing the story's themes. While the low poly art style and environments enhance the experience, some players noted issues with unnatural voice lines and poor lighting that detracted from the overall impact. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a strong point, contributing significantly to the game's emotional resonance.
- “The atmosphere, music, and message all came together in a really touching way.”
- “It is atmospheric, peaceful, and enticing, and yet the overall message is sincere and deeply moving.”
- “The world you explore has a dream-like quality to its atmosphere and style, which adds much to the experience.”
- “However, Hope's voice lines felt unnatural, which I could not wrap my head around. Although the dark atmosphere was intended to serve the gritty theme of the story, I felt hours of work might have gone unnoticed due to the bad lighting in the game.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
100%
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with users noting subpar performance and unsatisfactory voice acting. Overall, the optimization appears to be lacking, impacting the overall gaming experience.
- “The game runs incredibly smoothly, even on lower-end hardware, thanks to its excellent optimization.”
- “I was amazed at how well the game is optimized; it maintains a steady frame rate without any noticeable drops.”
- “The developers have done a fantastic job optimizing the game, making it accessible for a wide range of systems.”
- “The game performance is lacking.”
- “The voice acting isn't great, and the overall performance is not optimal either.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively time-consuming, often requiring repeated exploration of areas to uncover hidden memories, which can feel tedious and frustrating.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Some of the memories were too well hidden, which makes it a tedious process of exploring the areas over and over.”