Forward: Escape the Fold

About

Forward: Escape the Fold is a single player casual turn-based strategy game with horror and fantasy themes. It was developed by Two Tiny Dice and was released on March 29, 2022. It received positive reviews from players.

Forward: Escape the Fold is a turn-based puzzle game that challenges players to manipulate and navigate through grid-based levels. As the player, you must guide a sentient AI to find the exit while avoiding deadly traps and solving intricate puzzles. With its simple mechanics and gradually increasing difficulty, this game offers a unique and engaging experience for all puzzle enthusiasts. Reference: ]

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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84%

Audience ScoreBased on 470 reviews

gameplay51 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

Engaging and addictive gameplay with a simple yet strategic card-based system.
High replay value due to various characters, items, and procedurally generated levels.
Quick runs make it perfect for casual gaming sessions, allowing players to easily jump in and out.

Heavy reliance on RNG can lead to frustrating experiences, with some runs feeling unfair.
Limited depth and variety in gameplay can make it feel repetitive after a few hours.
Lack of cloud save functionality and minimal narrative depth may deter some players.

gameplay
117 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
53%
3%
The gameplay is characterized by its simple yet engaging mechanics, offering a strategic card-based system that encourages decision-making and item synergy. While the game provides a fast-paced, casual experience with high replayability, some players note that it can become repetitive and lacks depth over time. Overall, it strikes a balance between accessibility and strategic complexity, making it a fun choice for fans of the roguelike genre.
- “Has deceptively simple mechanics that synergize in many surprising ways.”
- “The unique progression system, which involves choosing a path from three cards at every turn, keeps the gameplay fresh and engaging.”
- “The mechanics are straightforward but the item combos and different characters can really turn every run into a unique and fun experience.”
- “It's a fun game but like the other reviews have mentioned, the gameplay is quite limited and you will get bored of it pretty quickly once you work out the game.”
- “Playing this game for almost 2 hours, the main issue that was evident was that the gameplay is generally the same each time you go through a run and needs more spice to it.”
- “Unfortunately after winning with all heroes, I stopped; the gameplay is too identical for each hero, not much difference after understanding the winning strategy.”
replayability
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
35%
10%
The game offers high replayability through various modes, including expert challenges and procedurally generated levels, which keep the gameplay fresh and engaging. Players appreciate the unique character abilities and item combinations that enhance replay value, although some feel the content may become limited after extensive play. Overall, it is recognized for its addictive mechanics and enjoyable gameplay loop, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre.
- “High replay value: with procedurally generated levels and multiple modes, including a challenge mode and a harder difficulty, the game provides plenty of replayability.”
- “Endless combinations of items makes for great replay value.”
- “For those worried about replayability, it's there; all characters have their unique loadouts with 3 skills you can choose from to start with and enjoy the gameplay.”
- “Making the game a one-time experience and no proper continuous replayability after doing 100%. If you uninstall, there is currently no reason to reinstall it.”
- “Lacks depth and replay value for me. The characters are kind of neat but don't add enough to the game to make it worthwhile in a world where there is Inscryption and Slay the Spire. Don't waste your time on this.”
- “Some 'synergies' with cards, but very little replay value.”
graphics
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
43%
11%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming pixel art style that appeals to some players, though others find the visuals basic and not particularly flashy. While the art is often praised for its originality and cohesion, it may not resonate with those who prefer more modern graphics. Overall, the aesthetic is described as effective and atmospheric, complementing the gameplay despite its simplicity.
- “Several characters to choose from, each of them feeling unique, great graphics, and easy to understand gameplay.”
- “I also feel both the artwork and UI are brilliant – highly effective, cohesive, and full of character.”
- “Addictive old school style graphic game with modern twists.”
- “While the pixel art has its charm, the visuals are quite basic and might not appeal to everyone.”
- “It definitely isn't flashy as far as the graphics go.”
- “Gamers that aren't fond of pixel graphics won't like what's on offer here.”
music
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
35%
13%
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric quality and engaging soundtrack, which enhances the overall experience, particularly during dungeon-crawling. Reviewers appreciate the delicate musical score and sound design, noting how it ramps up during key moments, adding to immersion. Overall, the combination of music, sound effects, and pixel art creates a charming and enjoyable ambiance.
- “The sound design is also very good; the music ramps up as you get closer to the boss, and the sword swing sound hitting 5+ enemies is incredibly satisfying.”
- “A particular design decision which I found boosts the immersion is that even though the game is 2D, the lack of third dimension is compensated by the music. Once you are nearing the end of the level, the music subtly changes to a more epic version of the same song.”
- “The delicate musical score added an adventuring vibe and was surprisingly pretty good for a game with this level of budget.”
- “A particular design decision which I found boosts the immersion is that even though the game is 2D, the lack of third dimension is compensated by the music (by the way, the bassline reminds me of a song from the Mass Effect OST).”
- “Easy to play with your own music in the background if you're into that type of thing.”
story
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The game's story is criticized for its lack of depth and minimal character and lore development, leaving players wanting more context and progression. While some appreciate the straightforward mechanics and distinct roguelike elements, those seeking a complex narrative may find it lacking. Overall, the game features a simple yet enjoyable story, but it could benefit from a more robust narrative structure.
- “Nice artwork, story, sfx and music!”
- “Don't think so, a fun little roguelike game, with interesting written story.”
- “If this had a story mode with multiple paths, different endings and a lot more variety of mechanics this would be very much worth it.”
- “There's minimal background information on characters and the dungeon's lore, which might leave players desiring more context and story progression.”
- “Was hoping for some story progression, but there's not much going on.”
- “I think for players who want a lot of complexity or story, this isn't for you.”
atmosphere
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its charming pixel art and engaging soundtrack, which together create an immersive dungeon-crawling experience. Reviewers highlight the old-school tabletop RPG feel, complemented by well-written flavor text and decent atmospheric music, contributing to a captivating and replayable environment. Overall, the combination of visual and auditory elements fosters a strong and enjoyable atmosphere.
- “The pixel art, while minimalistic, is charming and accompanied by an engaging soundtrack that enhances the dungeon-crawling experience.”
- “It also has fantastic pixel art, great sound design, and an overall old-school tabletop RPG feel that gives off an excellent atmosphere.”
- “A great implementation of a simple and well-known 'march through card-y dungeon' idea, with 15-minute roguelite runs, great atmosphere, and high replayability.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally find the grinding aspect to be manageable and enjoyable, with many noting that it feels satisfying rather than excessive. The potential for reduced RNG grinding and increased replayability adds to the overall positive experience, drawing favorable comparisons to games like Slay the Spire.
- “Not super grindy, but enough to feel satisfied.”
- “It was fun enough to not mind grinding items.”
- “The above will reduce RNG grinding 100% and make it more replayable and customizable, like Slay the Spire.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Overall, the game is praised for being extremely bug-free, with only minor glitches and flaws reported. Reviewers appreciate the stability, especially given the game's price and the size of the development team.
- “The game is extremely bug-free, providing a smooth and enjoyable experience.”
- “I appreciate how stable the game is; I haven't encountered any crashes or major issues.”
- “The overall stability of the game enhances my gameplay, allowing me to focus on enjoying the content.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it hard to enjoy the experience.”
- “I encountered several bugs that disrupted gameplay, which is frustrating.”
- “There are stability issues that need to be addressed; it often freezes during critical moments.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The optimization in the game initially appears straightforward, effectively teaching players the core mechanics during the first run. However, as players progress, future runs become more complex and nuanced, requiring deeper strategic thinking.
- “The optimization system is incredibly rewarding; it encourages players to experiment and find the best strategies for their playstyle.”
- “I love how the game balances simplicity and depth in its optimization mechanics, making each decision feel impactful.”
- “At first, it looks like easy optimization - and that's true for the initial run, but that's just teaching you the core mechanics. Future runs become more nuanced.”
- “The optimization system feels overly complicated and not intuitive, making it hard to achieve the desired results.”
- “I expected a smoother optimization process, but instead, I found myself frustrated with the lack of clear guidance and the trial-and-error approach.”