The Forest of Doom

About

"The Forest of Doom" is a PC, Mac, and Linux game based on the classic tabletop RPG. As the player, you must find the missing pieces of the Hammer of Stonebridge to protect the villagers of Stonebridge from an ancient doom. With updated graphics and physics-based dice rolling, this game brings the original adventure to life with auto-mapping, auto-updated adventure sheets, and stat keeping. The game's standalone edition features a theme suited to the adventure and is also available as part of the Fighting Fantasy gamebook collection.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 203 reviews

story18 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game captures the nostalgic essence of the original Fighting Fantasy book, providing a faithful adaptation with beautiful illustrations and a classic adventure feel.
The gameplay is engaging, allowing players to explore various paths and make choices that affect the outcome, enhancing replayability.
The inclusion of features like an automatic map and bookmark system makes it easier to navigate and track progress, improving the overall experience.

The game can be frustrating due to its reliance on luck and random dice rolls, which can lead to unwinnable situations if players miss key items.
The story is relatively short and may feel lacking in depth, with some players finding it too simplistic compared to modern RPGs.
There are technical issues, such as dice rolling animations and occasional bugs, which can detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.

story
67 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
69%
4%
The story aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its nostalgic, choose-your-own-adventure style and simple yet engaging narrative, while others criticize it for being predictable and lacking depth. Many reviews highlight the immersive experience and replayability due to the various paths and choices, though some feel the storytelling is uninspired and padded with unnecessary content. Overall, while it may not be a literary masterpiece, it offers a fun, if somewhat simplistic, fantasy adventure that appeals to fans of the genre.
- “If you enjoy reading books and having an adventure at the same time with a great story and beautifully drawn graphics, then you will enjoy this fighting fantasy book. It's a small price for many hours of reading and imagination.”
- “Just the way the game immerses you in the story is worth it.”
- “The game really brought this story to life without sacrificing the character of the original book.”
- “Not only is this an inferior medium to the original, it's just not worth your time when you could play the 10,000 other story-based games on Steam that are better.”
- “And if you strip away the interactive elements, the concept of choice, you're really just left with a middling (generously speaking) fantasy story.”
- “Such poor storytelling is endemic to the work; the entirety of the adventure feels incredibly random and eclectic, like they just randomly picked monsters out of a D&D monster manual and distributed them into the forest.”
graphics
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
71%
7%
The graphics in this game are a blend of original black-and-white artwork enhanced with color, providing a nostalgic yet visually appealing experience. While the hand-drawn illustrations are praised for their richness and atmosphere, some users noted that the overall graphical fidelity is low, with limited visuals accompanying the text-heavy gameplay. The game successfully retains the charm of a classic choose-your-own-adventure book, though it may not satisfy those seeking high-end graphics or extensive multimedia enhancements.
- “The graphics and sound effects further enhance the atmosphere of the game, although they aren't obtrusive on what is simply a text-based game.”
- “All of the old artwork has been not only retained, but enhanced with color, and subtle animation.”
- “The hand-drawn graphic style used in the illustrated pages is rich and colorful, looking really nice.”
- “The artwork is...well, it's the original artwork in color so does a good job of providing atmosphere, although it would have been nice if they'd made some more for this release - there are several encounters which don't have any images at all.”
- “No graphics, nothing, just a bunch of reading, then you select an action; if it's the correct one you move on, if not you die.”
- “Graphically you are not going to see too much in this game, it truly is a choose your own adventure, so the vast majority of the game is centered around text.”
music
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
65%
16%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its repetitiveness and lack of variety, often leading them to mute it while playing. Some appreciate the atmospheric quality it brings to the game, describing it as fitting for a fantasy setting, but others find it distracting and overly simplistic, with no volume control options available. Overall, while the soundtrack may enhance the mood for some, it tends to be viewed as a significant drawback by others.
- “The soundtrack may be forgettable by some, but from my point of view, it does a good job in conveying the mystic atmosphere of the forest.”
- “Adrian Watkins has again composed some nice background music, of the folk, new age kind, assumed suitable for most fantasy stories.”
- “The music definitely gives you that medieval adventure feel to it, and the only sound that you're really going to hear, other than the sounds of the forest from time to time, is when damage is being taken.”
- “The music is extremely repetitive.”
- “The music was an extreme annoyance to me as I was trying to read the book and concentrate on the narrative when the music is just blaring trumpets into my ears; I had to mute the music because it never stopped being loud.”
- “I'd recommend turning off music, because it can be very distracting, at least it was for me.”
gameplay
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
73%
10%
The gameplay is a blend of choose-your-own-adventure mechanics and RPG elements, featuring simple, easy-to-learn mechanics that may appeal to fans of the genre but could feel shallow to others. While it offers a nostalgic experience with a straightforward narrative and unexpected events, some players criticize the randomness in combat and the trial-and-error nature of decision-making. Overall, it provides a unique, story-driven experience, though it may not satisfy those seeking depth or complexity in gameplay.
- “I recommend it to anyone who enjoys gamebooks; it's a nice way to discover the type of gameplay it proposes.”
- “The gameplay is easy to learn and lots of unexpected things happen all the time.”
- “Just as they did with 'House of Hell', Tin Man Games has lovingly updated the original—adding color, sound, and new features that enhance the gameplay experience without taking anything away from Ian Livingstone's groundbreaking original work.”
- “There are too many absurd and random broken mechanics in this game book to list.”
- “The gameplay during fights is driven by too much pointless randomness.”
- “The mechanics are pretty shallow.”
replayability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
33%
25%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it limited due to its short story length and predictable mechanics, others appreciate the randomized elements, multiple paths, and achievements that enhance replay value. Many agree that the game offers enough variety to warrant multiple playthroughs, especially for those looking to explore different branches of the narrative.
- “Still just as fun, with plenty of replayability.”
- “Randomized stats and some choice in starting gear early in the adventure add some replayability.”
- “Multiple paths and varying encounters give this game replayability.”
- “Limited replayability, but you get what you pay for.”
- “The achievements give it some replayability, but I feel the dice are loaded in the player's favor and give it a sense of 'easy mode'.”
- “Little to no replay value.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
83%
17%
The game's atmosphere is praised for effectively capturing tension and mystique, particularly through its original artwork and sound design, which enhance the overall experience without being overwhelming. While some users find the soundtrack forgettable, others appreciate its contribution to the game's immersive forest setting. However, there are mentions of missed opportunities for additional artwork in certain encounters.
- “I played this in the 1980s and it captures a lot of the atmosphere and tension.”
- “The musical track is suitably atmospheric and doesn't outlive its welcome.”
- “The graphics and sound effects further enhance the atmosphere of the game, although they aren't obtrusive on what is simply a text-based game.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the optimization of the game on Steam, noting that it enhances the nostalgic experience by streamlining gameplay compared to traditional methods like pen, paper, and dice.
- “It's just such a nostalgic trip, and an amazing feeling to play it on Steam - much more optimized compared to having to use pen, paper, and dice back then.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be boring and tedious, leading to a negative overall experience.
- “The grinding in this game is incredibly boring and tedious.”
- “I find myself stuck in an endless loop of grinding with no real reward.”
- “The repetitive nature of the grinding makes it feel like a chore rather than fun.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in the game is generally appreciated, with players finding it funny and entertaining, though some feel it may not justify a higher price point than 3 euros.
- “A hilariously entertaining little game that keeps you laughing throughout!”
- “The humor is spot on, making every moment enjoyable and light-hearted.”
- “This game is packed with witty jokes and funny scenarios that never fail to amuse.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users appreciate the realistic animations of the dice rolling, which enhance the emotional engagement of the game. However, some find the excessive collision effects, where the dice shake violently upon contact, to be distracting and detracting from the overall experience.

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2h Median play time

2h Average play time

1-2h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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