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.

88%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

stability, optimization

88% User Score Based on 104,213 reviews

Critic Score 83%Based on 7 reviews

Platforms

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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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 104,213 reviews

story2.7k positive mentions

stability2.4k negative mentions

story
14,343 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
67%
14%
The story in "Sons of the Forest" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it confusing, rushed, and lacking depth compared to its predecessor, "The Forest." While some appreciate the environmental storytelling and the mystery elements, others criticize the narrative for being disjointed and poorly executed, often requiring players to piece together the plot through scattered notes and documents. Overall, while the gameplay and building mechanics are praised, the story is seen as a weak point that needs further development and refinement.
- “The story is engaging and keeps players invested in the world and its characters.”
- “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 story is a mess.”
- “This game story was badly written and was all over the place, instead of theorizing what's happening we spent most of our time trying to glue the pieces together and understand what we just watched.”
- “The last fourth of the game feels incredibly rushed, to the point that it almost ruins the story.”
gameplay
7,613 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
56%
6%
The gameplay of *Sons of the Forest* has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its immersive building mechanics and stunning graphics, which significantly enhance the survival experience. However, some criticize the game for its repetitive gameplay loop, lack of meaningful survival mechanics, and a weak storyline that feels underdeveloped. While the game offers a variety of crafting and combat options, players note that the survival elements often feel optional, leading to a less engaging experience compared to its predecessor, *The Forest*.
- “The attention to detail is remarkable, with dynamic weather systems and day-night cycles that affect gameplay and player strategy.”
- “The crafting and survival mechanics are more refined, offering a greater sense of realism and creativity in how you approach your environment.”
- “The building mechanics are amazing, and the NPC characters really add to the creepy atmosphere.”
- “The gameplay is very similar to the first game, but it lacks depth and feels repetitive.”
- “The building mechanics are convoluted and not intuitive at all.”
- “The survival mechanics are practically non-existent, as within an hour or so you will no longer struggle with food or water.”
graphics
7,277 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
37%
2%
The graphics in "Sons of the Forest" have received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising the stunning visuals, detailed environments, and realistic lighting effects that significantly enhance the immersive experience. Players have noted that the game showcases a remarkable leap in graphical fidelity compared to its predecessor, "The Forest," making it visually appealing even on lower settings. However, some users have reported performance issues and optimization challenges, particularly on mid-range systems, which can detract from the overall experience despite the impressive graphics.
- “The game’s stunning visuals, from the dense forests to the eerie, atmospheric caves, create an unsettling yet captivating world.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, showcasing lush forests, detailed landscapes, and eerie caves that are vibrant yet foreboding.”
- “The graphics are absolutely stunning, and the world feels alive and dynamic.”
- “The graphics are a huge improvement upon the first obviously.”
- “The only thing this game has better than the first one is the graphics.”
- “It's basically just the forest with slightly better graphics and a larger map.”
stability
2,480 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
96%
The stability of "Sons of the Forest" has been widely criticized, with players reporting numerous bugs and glitches that significantly impact gameplay. Many users noted issues such as freezing, crashes, and AI pathfinding problems, particularly with the companion character, Kelvin. While some players found the glitches amusing and part of the charm, the overall consensus is that the game feels unfinished and requires further optimization and bug fixes to enhance the experience.
- “The game engine seems very well optimized, everything is working perfectly with no glitches or problems so far.”
- “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, 10/10 game so far.”
- “The early access experience for me has been relatively bug free and seems already well polished, they've already patched the game a few times to squash early problems and the developers' past performance with updates is good, so I expect much more to come.”
- “The game is a buggy, sloppy mess.”
- “There are games that are less buggy than this in the genre; I would put this at the very bottom because of all the game-shattering recurring bugs (like falling through the floor after loading and ending up in some unused space under the world).”
- “It's a buggy mess, but it's my buggy mess.”
optimization
2,169 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
52%
27%
The optimization of "Sons of the Forest" has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, particularly on lower-end systems. While some users with high-end hardware experience smooth gameplay, others struggle with frame drops and stuttering, even on low settings. Overall, the game is seen as needing substantial optimization and bug fixes to enhance the experience, especially given its early access status.
- “Graphically and technically, the game is surprisingly optimized for a game with such stunning visuals and amazing details.”
- “Performance improvements in the full release have resolved previous bugs and optimization issues, ensuring a smoother experience.”
- “The optimization of the game is just crazy.”
- “The game has some really bad optimization; worse than Rust.”
- “The performance isn't that great for me, as the fps just jumps all over the place even with DLSS or FSR enabled from 30-60fps on ultra.”
humor
1,095 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "Sons of the Forest" is a standout feature, with players frequently highlighting the hilarious antics of the AI companion, Kelvin, whose clumsy behavior often leads to comedic mishaps. Many reviews emphasize that the game is particularly funny when played with friends, as shared experiences and unexpected glitches create memorable moments of laughter amidst the horror elements. Overall, the game successfully blends dark humor with survival gameplay, making it a fun and entertaining experience, especially in multiplayer settings.
- “The AI companions: the game introduces Kelvin, a helpful but hilariously dumb companion who will do exactly what you tell him—no more, no less.”
- “It's like a family camping trip gone horrifyingly, but occasionally hilariously, wrong - in the best way possible.”
- “The shenanigans you can pull off with your buddies make every session unpredictable and hilarious.”
- “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
1,005 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
23%
76%
The grinding aspect of "Sons of the Forest" has received mixed feedback from players, with many describing it as tedious and time-consuming. While some appreciate the depth and realism of the building and crafting systems, they often find the resource gathering and construction processes overly laborious, especially without features like log sleds from the previous game. However, the introduction of AI companions like Kelvin helps alleviate some of the grind by assisting with resource collection, making the experience more enjoyable for those who prefer a less solitary approach to survival gameplay.
- “The game isn't grinding like most survival games.”
- “Easy enough to find food, especially if you have Kelvin with you to catch fish, which means you aren't grinding out most of your time just trying to stay full. A lot of people might appreciate this so they can get out and explore & have fun.”
- “Granted, building feels a lot better than the older title; foraging isn't as tedious, almost too easy, and the same goes for water availability.”
- “The map is enormous, and while this could be exciting in theory, in practice, it’s just tedious.”
- “Traveling back and forth to a base becomes another tedious task in a game already bogged down by its pacing.”
- “The building process is awful, tedious and too much time-consuming.”
atmosphere
870 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
39%
2%
The atmosphere in "Sons of the Forest" is widely praised for its stunning visuals, immersive sound design, and a palpable sense of tension that enhances the survival horror experience. Players appreciate the game's dynamic weather, seasonal changes, and detailed environments, which contribute to a hauntingly beautiful yet eerie world. However, some critiques mention that while the atmosphere is impressive, it may not fully replicate the unique dread of its predecessor, "The Forest," with certain gameplay elements and narrative depth feeling less impactful.
- “The game’s stunning visuals, from the dense forests to the eerie, atmospheric caves, create an unsettling yet captivating world.”
- “The atmosphere pulls you in, and there’s always this perfect mix of exploration and tension.”
- “Its world feels genuinely alive: the forests are dense, the wildlife is reactive, and the weather and lighting create a tense, often eerie atmosphere.”
- “The game's atmosphere, which was a major strength in the first game, feels less eerie and immersive here.”
- “The whole atmosphere and feeling feels off: I didn't feel the dense mood from the first part again.”
- “The atmosphere is flat, the building is watered down and tame, you have a literal slave that can get you infinite food if you want.”
music
520 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
63%
4%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the engaging and diverse soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. Players particularly enjoy the in-game radio stations and original tracks, which add a fun and immersive element, especially during activities like riding golf carts. However, some users express disappointment over changes to the menu music and the absence of ambient music during key moments, suggesting that the soundtrack could benefit from more variety and better integration with the game's emotional tone.
- “The atmosphere is palpable, with a haunting soundtrack and eerie sound design that keeps you on edge.”
- “The stunning world, engaging survival mechanics, and thrilling encounters make it a must-play for fans of the genre; the soundtrack is an auditory masterpiece that elevates the gaming experience.”
- “The music is phenomenal, and our favorite one was 'Hey You' as it was both funny and just a good song!”
- “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.”
- “In the first game, if you found a document, there would be music to signify the importance, and it would get everyone excited because it genuinely meant a lot and left you to piece together the puzzle.”
- “The main menu music sounds like something out of a cheesy 80's action flick.”
replayability
247 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
62%
13%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising its multiplayer mode and multiple endings that enhance replay value, while others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking content after the initial playthrough. Many reviews highlight that the game can be enjoyable with friends, but the overall consensus is that it currently suffers from limited replayability, especially in solo play. Future updates and additional content are hoped for to improve this aspect.
- “Multiplayer mode further extends the game's replayability, making it a title players will revisit often.”
- “The game features multiple endings, which also enhance its replay value, providing fresh experiences with each playthrough.”
- “What impressed me most about Sons of the Forest was the sheer amount of content and replayability.”
- “There's really not much replayability in my eyes since the game gets super repetitive quickly.”
- “I bought the game at launch and honestly don't see too much change so far in the very linear story, which is fine, but there is really no replayability.”
- “This game can easily be beaten in a few hours and has very minimal replay value.”
emotional
220 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
94%
5%
The emotional aspect of the game elicits a wide range of responses, from heartwarming moments shared with companions like Kelvin and Virginia to feelings of disappointment regarding the narrative depth and character development. While some players find joy and nostalgia in building and surviving with friends, others express frustration over a lack of emotional investment in the story and characters, particularly when compared to its predecessor. Overall, the game offers both chaotic fun and moments of genuine connection, but it struggles to consistently deliver a compelling emotional experience.
- “The game's narrative depth adds an emotional weight to the journey, making every discovery feel meaningful and rewarding.”
- “I absolutely loved this game and the 'fought demons' ending, 100% my favorite ending in the history of the games I've played; it was a very sweet ending that nearly made me cry tears of joy.”
- “The bond between Virginia and yourself as you go through the hardships of the island was so beautifully done that I cried at the end.”
- “Real bad and boring story, same mechanics with forest, dungeons/caves are boring and empty and most of the game it feels like a walking simulator.”
- “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
127 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
3%
94%
The monetization aspect of "Sons of the Forest" has drawn significant criticism, with many players labeling it a "cash grab" compared to its predecessor. Reviewers express disappointment over the game's perceived lack of content, polish, and depth, suggesting that it was rushed to capitalize on the success of the original. While some appreciate the absence of microtransactions, the overall sentiment leans towards frustration over the game's unfinished state and misleading marketing.
- “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.”
- “I expected something a step up from the forest, not a cash grab.”
- “This game is an unfinished cash grab, do not buy.”
- “After years of development, they come out with this absolutely unfinished, boring cash grab.”
character development
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
46%
25%
Character development in the game is largely criticized, with many reviewers noting a lack of meaningful growth, dialogue, and narrative depth. While the character design is praised for its detail and creativity, the absence of a compelling story arc and character progression detracts from the overall experience, leaving players wanting more engagement and development. Overall, the game is seen as needing significant improvements in character development to elevate its potential.
- “The attention to detail in both environments and character design is exceptional.”
- “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.”
- “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.”