The Forbidden Arts

The Forbidden Arts feels like a game from the early GameCube era, but not a particularly good one. Whilst the dungeons are vast and varied, and the platforming mechanics competent enough, the combat really brings the whole experience to its knees thanks to poor enemy AI and half baked elemental mechanics that make the entire experience feel very repetitive. Add to that the lacklustre graphics and empty overworld, and this is a game that only the most ardent of fantasy enthusiasts will enjoy.

57%Game Brain Score

graphics, gameplay

story, grinding

81% User Score Based on 26 reviews

Critic Score 54%Based on 7 reviews

Platforms

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About

The Forbidden Arts is a single player role playing game. It was developed by Stingbot Games and was released on August 7, 2019. It received neutral reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

The Forbidden Arts is an action adventure platformer with a focus on discovery and exploration. You play as Phoenix, a young boy who seeks to master the element of fire in a grand adventure of ancient magic.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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81%

Audience ScoreBased on 26 reviews

graphics11 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game features beautiful graphics and a vibrant color palette that enhances the overall experience.
The platforming mechanics are engaging, with a mix of 2D and 3D gameplay that adds variety to the adventure.
The game has a fun story and offers a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic platformers.

Combat mechanics are frustrating, with issues such as poor enemy AI, awkward hitboxes, and a lack of responsiveness that detracts from the gameplay.
The game can be overly challenging, with limited health and punishing enemy encounters that lead to frequent deaths and repetition.
Navigation in the overworld can feel clunky, and the lack of clear indicators for safe spots and enemy attacks can lead to unnecessary frustration.

graphics
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
26%
16%
Overall, the graphics of the game receive positive feedback for their colorful and beautiful art style, with many players appreciating the visual design and immersive world-building. However, some critiques mention that while the graphics are appealing, they are sometimes overshadowed by other gameplay issues, such as combat mechanics and environmental design.
- “The graphics are amazing and I enjoyed playing this game.”
- “First of all, the art style is just gorgeous and nice to look at (think Torchlight).”
- “I really like the colorful graphics, and the soundtrack is okay and suits the game very well.”
- “Add to that the lacklustre graphics and empty overworld, and this is a game that only the most ardent of fantasy enthusiasts will enjoy.”
- “[poor combat, dungeons overstay their welcome, graphically a bit of an eyesore, fire mechanics could have been greatly expanded upon]”
- “Old school difficult with a refreshing art style.”
gameplay
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
53%
18%
The gameplay features a mix of 3D exploration and 2D side-scrolling platforming, with the latter being the main focus, though the 3D world adds narrative context. While the platforming mechanics are solid and easy to learn, combat suffers from poor enemy AI and repetitive mechanics, leading to a less engaging experience. Overall, the game offers fun moments but could benefit from smoother gameplay and improved combat dynamics.
- “The actual gameplay and focus is in the 2D platforming levels, and the 3D world is more of a bonus and helps put together the story when everything comes together.”
- “It has plenty of solid platforming value, with some quality of life aspects that could be changed to help make the gameplay feel more smooth.”
- “The forbidden arts is a nice indie studio entry for the Switch and good for at least 12 hours of gameplay.”
- “Sure, the 3D overworld exploration is not too extensive and each area is also limited in size; that's because there's not much in the actual way of gameplay there.”
- “Whilst the dungeons are vast and varied, and the platforming mechanics competent enough, the combat really brings the whole experience to its knees thanks to poor enemy AI and half-baked elemental mechanics that make the entire experience feel very repetitive.”
- “Personally, I wish the game mechanics were just a bit more forgiving, and it would be an almost perfect game.”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The music in the game is generally described as pleasant and fitting, with some reviewers noting its catchy themes and suitability for the colorful graphics. However, it is also criticized for being somewhat repetitive and generic, though players have the option to disable it if desired. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the experience, it may not stand out significantly.
- “The music themes are pretty nice for this game.”
- “The forbidden arts is a fun side-scrolling adventure game with colorful graphics and pleasant music to listen to.”
- “I really like the colorful graphics, and the soundtrack is okay and suits the game very well.”
- “The music is repetitive but can be disabled in the audio options.”
- “Sound effects and music are well done, albeit a bit generic.”
story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The game's story is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its depth and how it ties the gameplay together, particularly in the context of 2D platforming and 3D world-building. However, some players express indifference towards the narrative, indicating that it may not be engaging for everyone. Overall, the story is a significant aspect of the game, enhancing the overall experience despite mixed feelings from some users.
- “There's a nice story that ties everything together.”
- “To the devs: again, your artwork, sound, story structure, and world building feel so good.”
- “Find 6 feathers... but I'm not going into the story; I really didn't care much about it.”
- “The actual gameplay and focus is in the 2D platforming levels, and the 3D world is more of a bonus and helps put together the story when everything comes together.”
- “The whole game is story driven.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the grinding aspect for offering enjoyable achievements that strike a balance between challenge and accessibility, avoiding excessive difficulty or tediousness.
- “The grinding in this game feels endless and tedious, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “I find the grind to be overly repetitive, which takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
- “The amount of grinding required to progress is frustrating and feels like a chore rather than a challenge.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews indicate a lack of character development, with users expressing disappointment over the absence of growth or depth in the characters throughout the game.
- “There is no character development.”
- “The characters feel flat and lack any meaningful growth throughout the game.”
- “I was disappointed by the lack of depth in character arcs; they never evolve or change.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report significant stability issues, including frequent freezes when attempting to remap controls and glitches such as characters getting stuck in the terrain. These problems detract from the overall gameplay experience.
- “I tried to switch the ability key to a different button, but every time the game just freezes for ages and then assigns a random key.”
- “There are a few glitches, like characters falling into the terrain and getting stuck.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
100%
Players appreciate the high replayability of the game, as each platforming zone can be revisited to discover hidden gold and access additional 3D safe zones, contributing to an overall enjoyable experience.
- “+ Lots of replay value.”
- “Each platforming zone is replayable for its hidden gold and leads to another 3D safe zone.”
- “There is a lot of replay value.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report experiencing strong emotional reactions, often crying or feeling overwhelmed, particularly in dark game areas that evoke a sense of fear or sadness, highlighting the game's ability to create a deeply immersive and affecting atmosphere.
- “I cried and wailed a lot in my videos whenever I came across a dark area that required me to light up the room.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere is generally praised for being vibrant and visually appealing, contributing positively to the overall experience.
- “Overall, the atmosphere is quite nice and colorful.”

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54%Critics’ scoreBased on 7 critic reviews

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12h Median play time

9h Average play time

2-12h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

The Forbidden Arts is a role playing game.

The Forbidden Arts is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Mac OS and others.

On average players spend around 9 hours playing The Forbidden Arts.

The Forbidden Arts was released on August 7, 2019.

The Forbidden Arts was developed by Stingbot Games.

The Forbidden Arts has received neutral reviews from players and neutral reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its graphics but disliked it for its story.

The Forbidden Arts is a single player game.

Similar games include Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom, Castle In The Darkness, Cally's Trials, AGGELOS, KAKU: Ancient Seal and others.

The Forbidden Arts

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