Shadows of Forbidden Gods

About

Shadows of Forbidden Gods is a single player strategy game with horror and fantasy themes. It was developed by BobbyTwoHands and was released on October 31, 2021. It received very positive reviews from players.

"Shadows of Forbidden Gods" does not have a released version yet, but from its demo, it is a strategy game where you play as a Lovecraftian god aiming to destroy the human world. You can choose various approaches to human extinction, such as causing an ice age, a volcanic eruption, or a plague. As a god, you can also command agents to infiltrate human kingdoms and corrupt them, potentially turning heroes into your own weapons.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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93%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,486 reviews

gameplay106 positive mentions

grinding18 negative mentions

Unique and engaging gameplay that allows players to embody an evil god and manipulate a living world.
High replayability with different gods and strategies to explore, each offering a distinct playstyle.
Emergent storytelling as players create their own narratives through the actions and consequences in the game.

Clunky and unintuitive UI that can make navigation and information retrieval frustrating.
Graphics are inconsistent and may detract from immersion, with some assets feeling outdated or poorly designed.
Steep learning curve that may overwhelm new players, requiring patience and experimentation to fully grasp the mechanics.

gameplay
465 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
72%
5%
The gameplay in "Shadows of Forbidden Gods" is characterized by its complex mechanics and unique strategies tied to different gods, offering a deep and engaging experience for players who enjoy grand strategy games. However, many users note that the game suffers from a steep learning curve due to poorly explained mechanics and a clunky user interface, which can detract from the overall enjoyment. Despite these issues, the game is praised for its replayability and the emergent storytelling that arises from its intricate systems, making it a potentially rewarding experience for those willing to invest the time to master its nuances.
- “Its gameplay loop is fun and there are many ways to win the game.”
- “Gameplay really benefits from a very slow burn, where 250 turns in you feel like there's no way you can win, only to see the fruits of your brilliant maneuvering leave the map covered in plague, war, and Cthulhu cults 75 turns later.”
- “The game offers variety in gameplay styles and approaches with multiple different gods, multilayered storyline generator / sandbox with generative worlds where you can turn wild orcish hordes against their neighbors, learn dark magical arts, fight, corrupt societies and spread plagues among many other activities with your heroes (called agents).”
- “The ui is still a disaster, mechanics are still very unclear, and there are still whole elements of the game that feel incomplete and/or unsatisfying to engage with.”
- “The tutorial was very lackluster, didn't explain anything besides really basic mechanics.”
- “This game has the makings of something brilliant but, unfortunately, it is stuck at mediocre right now because the mechanics are nearly completely opaque.”
story
103 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
81%
3%
The game's story is characterized as a rich, emergent narrative experience where players take on the role of an evil god, manipulating kingdoms and characters through strategic gameplay. While the writing may lack polish and the user interface feels early access, the dynamic systems and variety of gameplay styles create a compelling sandbox for storytelling, allowing players to craft their own unique tales of chaos and intrigue. However, some players express a desire for deeper lore and more cohesive storytelling elements to enhance the overall experience.
- “One of the things I absolutely love about the game is how through the various interactions with characters and events you can start to have this emergent storytelling experience.”
- “You're the antagonist of the story, infiltrating human kingdoms, spreading plagues and famines, raising orc armies, corrupting heroes and rulers, and so on.”
- “The writing is not good and doesn't immerse you in the story being told.”
- “Nothing quite feels like the first time you murder the chosen one with your strongest agent, martyr them for your cause, watch fate replace the chosen one of prophecy with a maddened hero of weak character and no leadership ability who has to watch the world fall apart despite their best efforts - and realize that because of you the story is broken.”
- “Most of the random events harm the player and don't make any significant impact on the world or the story.”
graphics
99 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
68%
8%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting their simplistic and inconsistent nature, often feeling more indie and dated compared to AAA titles. While some appreciate the unique art style and thematic elements, including the use of historical paintings, others criticize the lack of cohesion and overall visual appeal. Despite these shortcomings, many agree that the gameplay experience compensates for the graphics, making it a worthwhile title for strategy enthusiasts.
- “The art seems like it uses real artworks in some areas with traditional oil paintings which are very fitting to the theme, then use other styles of arts in different areas like portraits.”
- “The art style most of the time is very well done; the character portraits, use of actual paintings from history etc. all fits the theme perfectly.”
- “Do not let yourself get spooked by the graphics, the gameplay makes more than up for it and after a while you actually start enjoying the style.”
- “Oh, the graphics are awful; the interstitial art doesn't match the rest of the game in theme, resolution, or style.”
- “There is 0 consistency and frankly a ton of bad artwork that makes the game feel like the dev gave up less than halfway before slapping 1.0 on that bad boy and pushing the game out the door.”
- “No animations, no interesting visuals, just generic looking fantasy circles like you'd see in a D&D game scooting across straight lines.”
replayability
69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
50%
4%
The game boasts high replayability due to its diverse mechanics, multiple gods with unique playstyles, and randomly generated worlds, ensuring that no two playthroughs are the same. While some players feel that replay value may diminish after several runs, many appreciate the depth and potential for future content that could enhance the experience further. Overall, it is regarded as a complex simulator with significant replay value, appealing to fans of strategic and dynamic gameplay.
- “The game has massive replayability and you can accomplish any goal you set your mind to.”
- “It is very replayable: different gods with their own mechanics, strategies, random character traits, and events make for very different playthroughs.”
- “Replayability is immense; no two runs are going to be the same.”
- “I feel like the replay value is somewhat limited after you've done a few playthroughs, but it's still a good value in my opinion.”
- “Lacks replayability out of the box, but mod support gets you another 20 or so hours.”
- “Its kind of hard how to scale difficulty in terms of replayability.”
music
65 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
63%
12%
The music in the game has received largely negative feedback, with many users describing it as dull, bland, and sleep-inducing, often suggesting players turn it off or use their own playlists for a better experience. While a few reviews noted that the music fits the game's dark themes and can be pleasant, overall, it is considered the weakest aspect of the game, lacking the depth and engagement needed to enhance gameplay. Improvements in the soundtrack could significantly elevate the overall experience, as many players feel it detracts from the otherwise compelling gameplay.
- “The music is good too, very fitting for the dark god’s plots and eventual ascension, unless the forces of light and the chosen one stop them!”
- “The music is great and it's just a nice, chilled experience that you can easily sink unexpected hours into.”
- “The soundtrack is well done, moody and poignant, without being ostentatious.”
- “The music is easily its weakest point, with the music in-game being as dull and bland as it could be.”
- “On the downside, it has a clunky UI and an uninteresting tutorial with awful, sleep-inducing music (I just put on something atmospheric from YouTube in the background instead).”
- “You're probably better off getting your own dark fantasy music playlist rather than listening to the music that comes with this game.”
grinding
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
90%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and frustrating, often feeling like a chore rather than an engaging challenge. The mechanics require long-term strategic planning and repeated actions, which can lead to a sense of futility, especially when mistakes result in significant setbacks. Overall, the grinding experience detracts from the enjoyment, making it feel more like a test of patience than a rewarding gameplay element.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Maybe I'm just not smart enough for this or I'm missing something simple, but this is not a fun learning exercise where I feel like I've really grasped the concepts of the game; it's a tedious chore that makes me feel like a frustrated moron by the end of my inevitably failed run.”
- “That said, it does get very tedious at times, and if you make a mistake in those 250 turns (or while executing the plan), in most cases that is tantamount to a slow game over.”
humor
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its absurdity and dark comedic elements, particularly through the character of Iastur, the laughing god of madness, who manipulates personalities and drives kingdoms to insanity. Players find amusement in the chaotic interactions and the nonsensical scenarios that unfold, such as a skeleton engaging in endless conversations and the comedic tension of a solo performance that incites maniacal laughter. Overall, the humor is a blend of madness and irony, enhancing the game's unique charm.
- “Who would win: the entire world... or one incredibly funny skeleton?”
- “I talked endlessly to my neighbors about the compelling dramatic tension in the nonsensical play this gentleman in a yellow robe performed solo for me, at which point my neighbors began laughing maniacally.”
- “I played a crazed laughing god that focused on changing the likes and dislikes of key people around the map, and by the endgame had driven a once united and just kingdom insane.”
atmosphere
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
27%
17%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and unique qualities, featuring a Lovecraftian vibe that complements its themes of world domination and destruction. Players appreciate the chill ambiance and artistic style, although some note that the user interface and tutorial detract from the experience. Overall, the atmosphere effectively balances a sense of calm with the game's darker elements, enhancing the strategic depth and engagement.
- “The atmosphere is perfect and immersive.”
- “Despite the board-gamey presentation, the writing, the music, as well as the little details to corrupted characters, all the way to watching actual darkness spreading across the map make the atmosphere click into place as the world spirals out of control.”
- “The atmosphere is oddly calming considering the game itself is about destroying the world.”
- “Has a Lovecraftian atmosphere which suits the game well.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
Overall, the game's optimization is commendable, with players reporting no significant bugs or performance issues, even on budget hardware. However, the sandbox nature may lead to frustration for those seeking a more structured optimization challenge, as the randomness can either hinder progress or allow for overpowering strategies.
- “I experienced no noticeable bugs or performance issues during gameplay, despite playing on a budget machine.”
- “This is very much geared towards a sandbox experience; if you're looking for an optimization challenge, you're likely to either get frustrated with the large amount of randomness or very quickly find the optimal strategies that let you destroy the world and be home in time for brunch.”
- “This is very much geared towards a sandbox experience; if you're looking for an optimization challenge, you're likely to either get frustrated with the large amount of randomness or very quickly find the OP strategies that let you destroy the world and be home in time for brunch.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to reinvigorate interest in the genre, suggesting a deep connection and engagement with familiar mechanics, whether through innovative twists or new features. This emotional resonance enhances the overall gaming experience, making it more impactful for players.

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24h Median play time

23h Average play time

16-28h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Shadows of Forbidden Gods is a strategy game with horror and fantasy themes.

Shadows of Forbidden Gods is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 23 hours playing Shadows of Forbidden Gods.

Shadows of Forbidden Gods was released on October 31, 2021.

Shadows of Forbidden Gods was developed by BobbyTwoHands.

Shadows of Forbidden Gods has received very positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

Shadows of Forbidden Gods is a single player game.

Similar games include Ruinarch, KeeperRL, Rise to Ruins, Dominions 4: Thrones of Ascension, Rise to Ruins and others.

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