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Sons Of The Forest

Sons of the Forest is a great horror game and survival craft em up that balances a strong atmosphere and terrifying moments with player freedom. Whether you want to build a better tree house, or survive the story, there's something here for you.
86%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
stability, optimization
88% User Score Based on 109,351 reviews
Critic Score 83%Based on 6 reviews

Platforms

PCPCWinWindowsCloCloudNGNNVIDIA GeForce NOW

About

"Sons of the Forest" is a survival horror simulator, serving as a sequel to "The Forest." Players are tasked with finding a missing billionaire on a remote island inhabited by cannibals. Gameplay offers full freedom, with no set missions or NPCs, allowing players to craft, build, and protect themselves against mutated creatures while navigating this dangerous world.

88%
Audience ScoreBased on 109,357 reviews
story2.9k positive mentions
stability2.4k negative mentions

  • The graphics are stunning, with immersive environments and exceptional attention to detail that enhance the overall gameplay experience.
  • The gameplay mechanics, including building and crafting, are engaging and allow for significant creativity, making the survival experience more enjoyable.
  • The humor and chaotic moments, especially in multiplayer, add a fun and entertaining layer to the game, making it a memorable experience.
  • The game suffers from significant performance issues and optimization challenges, particularly on lower-end systems, which can detract from the experience.
  • The storyline is often criticized for being disjointed and lacking depth, leading to a confusing and unsatisfying narrative.
  • Many players find the gameplay loop repetitive and tedious, with a lack of motivation for multiple playthroughs due to limited content.
  • story
    15,075 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in "Sons of the Forest" has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment over its execution and coherence. While some appreciate the environmental storytelling and the mystery it presents, others find the narrative disjointed, lacking depth, and poorly paced, particularly in comparison to its predecessor, "The Forest." The ending has been criticized for being abrupt and unsatisfying, leaving players feeling confused and unfulfilled. Overall, while the game offers engaging survival mechanics and building features, the story is often seen as its weakest aspect.

    • “The storyline is engaging, with a mysterious plot that unravels as you explore deeper into the forest’s heart.”
    • “The game effectively balances storytelling with open-world exploration, allowing players to uncover the story at their own pace.”
    • “The story is fascinating and the caves are so detailed and interesting.”
    • “The only downside is that the story is crap and the repeatability isn't very good; the story is about 30-50 hours.”
    • “At the end, the story doesn't make any sense, and the second thing is that you can kill Virginia; if you accidentally kill her, you will never see her until you start a new game.”
    • “The story is incoherent and disjointed, leaving players confused about the plot and character motivations.”
  • gameplay
    8,077 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Sons of the Forest" has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its immersive mechanics, stunning graphics, and engaging building system, which allows for significant creativity in base construction. However, some criticize the repetitive gameplay loop, lack of depth in survival mechanics, and a convoluted story that detracts from the overall experience. While the game shows promise with its innovative features and cooperative gameplay, it still faces issues with bugs and balancing that need to be addressed as it continues to evolve in early access.

    • “The gameplay is intense and immersive, keeping you on your toes as you explore the wilderness.”
    • “The building mechanics are some of the best I've seen in a survival game, allowing for incredible creativity and customization.”
    • “Sons of the Forest delivers an incredibly immersive survival horror experience, blending breathtaking visuals with intense gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay loop becomes repetitive quickly, with little incentive to keep going.”
    • “The building mechanics are incredibly tedious and not enjoyable at all.”
    • “The gameplay is significantly more in depth and improved to the forest but the story has lost a lot of its intrigue by losing all connections to reality.”
  • graphics
    7,563 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics in "Sons of the Forest" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and immersive environments, significantly improving upon its predecessor, "The Forest." Players have praised the game's attention to detail, realistic lighting, and dynamic weather effects, which enhance the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. However, some users have noted performance issues and optimization challenges, particularly on lower-end systems, which can detract from the otherwise impressive graphical fidelity.

    • “Graphics are actually insane, just walking around makes me appreciate the game even more.”
    • “The graphics are stunning, the world-building is exceptional, and the storyline is engaging.”
    • “The graphics are absolutely stunning, and the new building mechanics feel more complex yet realistic, adding depth to the survival experience.”
    • “The visuals are chunky, rough, and poorly optimized.”
    • “Graphics are shocking and comparable to some trashy game like Terraspiele or Castle Crashers.”
    • “The latest update absolutely killed performance and the graphics now look horrible.”
  • stability
    2,533 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The stability of "Sons of the Forest" has been a significant point of contention among players, with many reporting a plethora of bugs and glitches that detract from the overall experience. While some users find the game enjoyable despite its issues, citing fun gameplay and beautiful graphics, the frequent crashes, AI malfunctions, and performance dips have left others frustrated. Overall, the game is seen as a promising but unstable early access title that requires further optimization and bug fixes to reach its full potential.

    • “The game runs great, and I love the cannibals' random features as well.”
    • “For an early access game, it feels like a complete game, nearly bug free from my experience, stunning visuals, the sheer awe I am in from some of the views I get still continues to amaze me.”
    • “The game engine seems very well optimized, everything is working perfectly with no glitches or problems so far.”
    • “The game is a buggy mess that runs at 65fps on my 7900 xtx which is a joke.”
    • “The game is extremely buggy and has less than half the content of the original with a map that is way too large, barren and empty.”
    • “The game is still extremely jank and buggy.”
  • optimization
    2,214 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of "Sons of the Forest" has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including frame rate drops and stuttering, even on high-end systems. While some users have noted improvements in performance since early access, the game is still considered poorly optimized overall, particularly for lower-end hardware. Many players express hope for future updates to address these optimization concerns, as the game's graphics and gameplay mechanics show great potential.

    • “Graphically, there are improvements, and I think the game is well-optimized.”
    • “Very well optimized with beautiful graphics and fun gameplay, especially with friends.”
    • “The graphics are stunning, the gameplay is smooth, and optimization is very good.”
    • “The visuals are chunky, rough, and poorly optimized.”
    • “Without optimization, it's just going to inevitably ruin people's gaming experiences. Over the course of an hour or two, the game will progressively use 5-10x more memory, resulting in stuttering and loss of frames, even with the most basic of actions.”
    • “It's a great game, but it is plagued with horrible performance and optimization issues, and the devs have still not fixed it after a year since launch.”
  • humor
    1,152 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in "Sons of the Forest" is a standout feature, with players frequently highlighting the game's chaotic and often absurd moments, particularly when playing with friends. The janky physics, quirky AI companions like Kelvin, and unexpected glitches contribute to a comedic atmosphere that keeps players laughing, even amidst the horror elements. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with survival mechanics, making it a fun experience, especially in multiplayer settings.

    • “It's brutal, hilarious, and completely chaotic in co-op.”
    • “The unexpected chaos of survival with friends makes every session unique!”
    • “The game is a prime example of good development and the devs having good humor!”
    • “In this case, I wouldn’t find the breadcrumbs as annoying if half of them weren’t related to the same unfunny golf joke.”
    • “The story is so poor it's not funny.”
    • “You know sometimes it's funny, but sometimes it's not funny.”
  • grinding
    1,074 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of "Sons of the Forest" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and time-consuming. While some appreciate the depth and realism of the building and crafting systems, they often feel overwhelmed by the repetitive nature of resource gathering and the cumbersome inventory management. The introduction of AI companions like Kelvin helps alleviate some of the grind, but players still report that the overall experience can feel excessively grindy, especially when it comes to base building and traversing the expansive map.

    • “The survival aspect isn't too tedious or overwhelming.”
    • “The crafting/survival mechanics are not too tedious, so even 'peaceful' mode is fun.”
    • “The game isn't grinding like most survival games.”
    • “It becomes extremely tedious very quickly; the fact of setting up torches requires you to visit your inventory several times to make, as opposed to just being a simple blueprint is beyond me.”
    • “The game feels more tedious, which I attribute mostly to the building mechanic changes, but also the inventory is now a crammed panning mess and doesn't work as well in this one.”
    • “The building system is a nice change, but I could see it getting tedious after a while, especially with the setting up of large log walls and needing to chop every single point.”
  • atmosphere
    936 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere in "Sons of the Forest" is widely praised for its immersive and chilling qualities, effectively blending stunning visuals, dynamic weather, and haunting sound design to create a sense of dread and tension. Players are drawn into a richly detailed world filled with eerie environments, from dense forests to dark caves, enhancing the survival horror experience. While some critiques mention a loss of the original game's unique atmosphere, many agree that the sequel successfully maintains a captivating and atmospheric setting that keeps players engaged and on edge.

    • “From the very first moments, I was drawn into the game’s atmosphere, the creepy environment, and the thrill of survival.”
    • “The dynamic weather system and realistic day-night cycle enhance the immersive experience, creating an atmosphere of constant tension and unease.”
    • “The atmosphere is both haunting and beautiful, with stunning graphics that make the island feel alive (and dangerous).”
    • “For a game that banks so heavily on atmosphere and immersion, these disruptions proved hard to ignore.”
    • “The game's horror atmosphere is dissonant placed against the backdrop of a beautiful boreal forest.”
    • “The whole atmosphere and feeling feels off: I didn't feel the dense mood from the first part again.”
  • music
    548 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in "Sons of the Forest" has received widespread acclaim for its diverse and engaging soundtrack, which includes catchy radio songs and atmospheric scores that enhance the game's immersive experience. Players particularly enjoy the nostalgic synthwave tracks and the ability to listen to music while exploring or building, although some have noted issues with the volume levels and the absence of music during key gameplay moments. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's ambiance and enjoyment.

    • “The soundtrack is so good I have spent hours in the golf cart listening to it and I'm addicted.”
    • “The addition of synthwave music gives it an added 80s B-movie vibe that I really like.”
    • “The game's soundtrack is haunting and atmospheric, perfectly capturing the game's sense of dread and unease.”
    • “There isn't much of a soundtrack, so not much can be discussed there.”
    • “The music is too loud and doesn't fit the game mood; when you pause the game, you are getting attacked by too loud music.”
    • “The cannibals don't scare me, the mutants weren't done right, the soundtrack falls short of what is expected of it.”
  • replayability
    260 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players expressing disappointment due to its linear story and repetitive gameplay, leading to a lack of motivation for multiple playthroughs. However, some users appreciate the multiplayer mode and customizable difficulty settings, which enhance replay value, especially when playing with friends. Overall, while there are elements that can provide replayability, such as multiple endings and building mechanics, many feel that the game currently lacks sufficient content to encourage repeated play.

    • “The game shines in both formats, offering plenty of replayability.”
    • “The ability to make a custom difficulty playthrough is very welcome as you can set day length and season length which makes it much more playable.”
    • “The game features multiple endings, which also enhance its replay value, providing fresh experiences with each playthrough.”
    • “No replayability as items are always in the same spot and late game just straight up sucks!”
    • “Replayability isn't really a thing once you've completed the story.”
    • “This game can easily be beaten in a few hours and has very minimal replay value.”
  • emotional
    235 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising the deep connections formed with characters like Kelvin and Virginia, leading to heartfelt moments and emotional investment. However, many critics feel that the story lacks the emotional weight and clarity of its predecessor, resulting in a less compelling narrative that fails to evoke strong feelings. Overall, while there are moments of vulnerability and connection, the game's emotional depth is often overshadowed by repetitive gameplay and a weaker storyline.

    • “The protagonist's journey is fraught with emotional highs and lows, making for a gripping and memorable experience.”
    • “The bond between you and your AI adds an emotional layer to the survival aspect, making the world feel less isolating despite the constant threats lurking in the shadows.”
    • “The game's narrative depth adds an emotional weight to the journey, making every discovery feel meaningful and rewarding.”
    • “Awesome survival game but very bad and boring story (both endings)... I played it in co-op with one of my friends and it was fun, but if you are into story, don't expect it here.”
    • “Now that I finished the short and really boring story, I have no reason to play.”
    • “Game is fun with friends but is missing a lot of things; the map is barren, caves are mostly boring, and the story is crap for the most part.”
  • monetization
    128 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of "Sons of the Forest" has drawn significant criticism, with many players labeling it a "cash grab" compared to its predecessor. While some appreciate the absence of microtransactions and the game's initial price point, the overall sentiment is that it feels unfinished and lacks the depth and polish expected from a sequel, leading to disappointment among fans. The presence of in-game advertisements and a perceived lack of content further contribute to the perception of the game as a rushed attempt to capitalize on the success of the original.

    • “Pure progression from the last title in the series, no daily tasks, microtransactions, or loot boxes to speak of.”
    • “In the days of microtransactions, loot boxes, and woke culture, this game is truly a breath of fresh air.”
    • “Awesome game for a decent price without any shady monetization tactics.”
    • “This game is an unfinished cash grab, do not buy.”
    • “After years of development, they come out with this absolutely unfinished, boring cash grab.”
    • “I feel like it's just another cash grab, cashing in on their 'success' from the first one, and tricking the fan base into buying it.”
  • character development
    28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is largely criticized, with many reviewers noting a lack of depth and progression for most characters, aside from the player character. While the character design is praised for its detail and creativity, the storytelling and dialogue are seen as insufficient, leading to a disjointed experience that fails to engage players emotionally. Overall, the game is perceived as needing significant improvements in narrative and character arcs to enhance player investment and enjoyment.

    • “The level of depth and detail put into the game's story, world-building, and character development is truly extraordinary, and it's clear that the developers poured their hearts and souls into this game.”
    • “The storyline is intriguing, and the character design adds a unique twist to the survival genre.”
    • “Another aspect of the game that I appreciated was the improved story and character development.”
    • “There is no character development, dialogue (aside from a couple lines during cutscenes) or story arc.”
    • “Overall it seems like this game either needs to be a better pure survival game or have more story/character development to keep me interested or consider it a 'good' game.”
    • “The stories are too short to be able to build up any sort of major drama, conflict, or character development with any of them.”

Buy Sons Of The Forest

13h Median play time
64h Average play time
6-30h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 614 analyzed playthroughs

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