The Forest of Doom

About

The Forest of Doom is a single player role playing game. It was developed by Tin Man Games and was released on October 30, 2014. It received positive reviews from players.

"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.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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81%

Audience ScoreBased on 206 reviews

story18 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

Faithful adaptation of the classic Fighting Fantasy gamebook, capturing the charm of 1980s interactive storytelling.
Engaging atmosphere with immersive writing and well-rendered illustrations that enhance the reading experience.
Modern conveniences like automatic stat tracking, auto-mapping, and bookmarking make gameplay smooth and accessible for both nostalgic fans and newcomers.

Limited replay value due to a linear structure where most paths converge towards the same outcomes, making multiple playthroughs feel repetitive.
Choices can feel arbitrary, and the game often punishes players for small missteps that are difficult to predict, leading to frustration.
The reliance on luck for combat outcomes can make success feel more dependent on chance than on player skill or strategy.

story
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
70%
4%
The story of "The Forest of Doom" is a nostalgic adaptation of Ian Livingstone's classic fighting fantasy gamebook, offering a simple yet engaging narrative that immerses players in a choose-your-own-adventure format. While some reviews highlight its charm and replayability, others criticize the story for being predictable and lacking depth, with a reliance on random events that can frustrate players. Overall, it appeals to fans of interactive storytelling and those seeking a light-hearted fantasy adventure, though it may not satisfy those looking for a more complex narrative experience.
- “The Forest of Doom, developed and published by Tin Man Games, is a digital adaptation of Ian Livingstone’s classic Fighting Fantasy gamebook that successfully translates the charm of 1980s interactive storytelling into a modern format.”
- “For longtime fans of Fighting Fantasy or curious newcomers, The Forest of Doom remains a worthy trek into the heart of interactive storytelling’s early wilderness—a forest filled with danger, mystery, and the enduring spirit of adventure.”
- “The play is simple, the format elegant, the story as delightful as any choose-your-own-adventure could hope to be.”
- “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
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
71%
7%
The graphics in "The Forest of Doom" are a blend of nostalgia and modernity, featuring remastered color versions of the original 1980s illustrations while retaining their iconic line art style. While the hand-drawn graphics are praised for their richness and atmosphere, some users noted the low resolution and lack of additional artwork for certain encounters. Overall, the game successfully balances its text-driven gameplay with visually appealing elements, appealing to fans of both classic and contemporary adventure narratives.
- “The illustrations, adapted from the original book’s artwork, have been remastered in color while retaining the rugged line art style that defined 1980s fantasy.”
- “I particularly love that, even though they commissioned new artwork, they kept all the iconic original illustrations as well.”
- “All of the old artwork has been not only retained, but enhanced with color, and subtle animation.”
- “The artwork is...well, it's the original artwork in color, so it 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.”
- “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.”
- “Granted it's more graphical than an ebook reader, but there is little in the way of 'multimedia' enhancements.”
music
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
67%
15%
The music in the game is generally described as atmospheric and fitting for the eerie setting, but it suffers from repetitiveness and a lack of variety, with many players finding it distracting while reading. While some appreciate the thematic quality of the soundtrack, others recommend muting it due to its intrusive nature. Overall, the absence of volume control options and the limited musical content detract from the experience for many users.
- “The music loops after a while, but it remains subtle enough not to distract from the text.”
- “The mood is set nicely by an epic-feeling soundtrack that conveys the mystic atmosphere of the forest.”
- “The musical track is suitably atmospheric and doesn't outlive its welcome.”
- “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
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
76%
9%
The gameplay combines classic choose-your-own-adventure elements with RPG mechanics, utilizing virtual dice rolls to determine outcomes based on skill, stamina, and luck. While the mechanics are straightforward and accessible, some players find the randomness and simplicity lacking compared to modern RPGs, though it appeals to nostalgic fans and newcomers alike. Overall, the experience is enriched by its story-driven nature and the charm of its retro design, making it a unique homage to interactive fiction.
- “The core mechanics remain true to the original format: your character’s fate is determined by rolls of virtual dice that govern your skill, stamina, and luck.”
- “These small conveniences make what was once a demanding, bookkeeping-heavy process into something smooth and intuitive, ensuring the experience appeals not only to nostalgic fans but also to newcomers unfamiliar with tabletop-style mechanics.”
- “The forest of doom mixes typical choose-your-own-adventure gameplay with the dice rolling of RPG games to decide whether or not you win or pass certain encounters.”
- “The gameplay is basically a Sierra adventure game with a text dump and a still image.”
- “The gameplay during fights is driven by too much pointless randomness.”
- “The mechanics are pretty shallow.”
replayability
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
39%
23%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it limited due to a lack of significant variation after completion, others appreciate the randomized elements and multiple paths that enhance replay value. Achievements and different starting choices contribute to replayability for some, but the general consensus suggests that it may not sustain long-term interest for all players.
- “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.”
- “Once finished, the replay value drops to near zero.”
- “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, giving it a sense of 'easy mode'.”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
20%
30%
The atmosphere of the game is richly immersive, drawing players into a tense and eerie experience reminiscent of classic adventure literature. With effective prose, ambient sound effects, and a moody soundtrack, it creates a compelling environment that encourages players to engage deeply with the narrative. While some visuals may feel lacking, the overall ambiance is enhanced by the original artwork and sound design, making for a captivating reading experience.
- “It is a work that relies on atmosphere, choice, and luck to sustain tension, evoking the feel of reading a well-loved adventure book while giving it the convenience and accessibility of digital play.”
- “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.”
- “Ambient sound effects and a moody soundtrack accompany your reading, reinforcing the eerie atmosphere of Darkwood Forest.”
- “Livingstone’s prose has a simple but effective rhythm, using short descriptive passages to immerse you in the forest’s oppressive atmosphere.”
- “It invites players to slow down, to savor the words and the atmosphere rather than chase instant gratification.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be boring and tedious, detracting from the overall enjoyment and engagement.
- “The grinding in this game is incredibly boring and tedious.”
- “I find the repetitive tasks to be a major turn-off.”
- “The amount of grinding required feels excessive and drains the fun out of the game.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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 even the simplest tasks feel fun and engaging.”
- “I couldn't stop chuckling at the witty dialogue and clever puns sprinkled throughout the 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.”
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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Frequently Asked Questions

The Forest of Doom is a role playing game.

The Forest of Doom is available on PC, Mac OS, Windows and Linux.

On average players spend around 2 hours playing The Forest of Doom.

The Forest of Doom was released on October 30, 2014.

The Forest of Doom was developed by Tin Man Games.

The Forest of Doom has received positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

The Forest of Doom is a single player game.

Similar games include Sorcery! Parts 1 & 2, Fabled Lands, Fighting Fantasy Classics, Fighting Fantasy Legends, Deathtrap Dungeon: The Interactive Video Adventure and others.

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