The Forest Quartet

About

"The Forest Quartet" is a narrative-driven adventure game where players uncover the secrets of a mysterious forest through the eyes of four different characters. With a focus on exploration, puzzle-solving, and character development, players will delve into the rich lore and history of the forest while forming bonds with the unique inhabitants they encounter. The game boasts stunning visuals and an original soundtrack, creating an immersive and atmospheric experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 163 reviews

story51 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The Forest Quartet features a beautifully crafted narrative that explores themes of loss and grief, resonating deeply with players.
The game's stunning visuals and exceptional sound design, including a captivating jazz soundtrack, create an immersive and emotional experience.
While short, the game offers a poignant journey that many players find worth revisiting, especially for its heartfelt storytelling and artistic presentation.

The gameplay is quite simplistic, with puzzles that may feel too easy or linear for seasoned players, leading to a lack of challenge.
Many players feel the game is too short, often completing it in under two hours, which may leave some wanting more content.
The narrative, while touching, can feel rushed or lacking in depth regarding character development, making it difficult for some players to fully connect with the story.

story
110 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
51%
3%
The story of "The Forest Quartet" revolves around a jazz band coping with the loss of their lead singer, exploring themes of grief, emotional healing, and the power of music. While the narrative is heartfelt and evocative, it is presented in a straightforward manner, often described as more of an interactive story than a traditional game, with simple puzzles that serve to enhance the emotional experience rather than challenge the player. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking a poignant, atmospheric tale that can be completed in a single sitting.
- “The Forest Quartet is a beautiful and deeply evocative narrative puzzle game that blends emotional storytelling with atmospheric design.”
- “The Forest Quartet tells the story of a jazz singer who has passed away, leaving her bandmates to grapple with their grief.”
- “A touching journey that showcases the power of games as a storytelling medium.”
- “The story is short and more could have been done with the puzzles, which are not very challenging and too repetitive in style.”
- “I don't like writing negative reviews for indie titles, but I really don't think the story was told well.”
- “There were some parts of the game that I enjoyed; it has a compelling tragedy as a group of musicians lost a lead singer and their passion for playing music, but I feel like too much of this game is 'giving' you a story right away, and not letting you discover it.”
music
88 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
49%
3%
The music in the game is widely praised for its stunning quality and emotional depth, with many reviewers highlighting the beautiful soundtrack and sound design that enhance the overall experience. The jazz themes resonate strongly throughout the gameplay, contributing to a poignant narrative about loss and healing, culminating in a particularly moving final song. While some critiques mention a desire for more musical content, the overall consensus is that the music is a standout feature that elevates the game's artistic value.
- “Developed by Bedtime Digital Games, the title offers a poignant exploration of loss, grief, and the healing process through the lens of a mesmerizing musical journey.”
- “The forest quartet is a masterful blend of art, music, and storytelling, delivering an emotional and unforgettable experience.”
- “The soundtrack and audio are phenomenal, which definitely contributes to the atmosphere and emotions.”
- “The narrative, and ultimately, music wasn’t inspiring enough to recommend a playthrough, even at the sale price.”
- “In my opinion, the sound and musical score in general, as well as the sound design, was well done and deserves the most praise, but when Nina sings in the game, it sounds a bit synthetic and plastic; it would have been much nicer to hear her sing properly, and maybe in a few variations so it's not always the same.”
- “Doesn't matter that pretty much everything else (music, story, art style, etc.) is done really well; the game portion of this game isn't good, so I can't recommend.”
emotional
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of *The Forest Quartet* is widely praised for its beautiful and heartfelt storytelling, which explores themes of grief, loss, and healing through a touching narrative and atmospheric design. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke deep emotions, with its poignant portrayal of a jazz quartet coping with the death of a member, complemented by immersive sound and visuals. While the gameplay is simple and the experience brief, many find it a powerful and cathartic journey that resonates long after completion.
- “The narrative is heartfelt and relatable, presenting grief not as something to 'solve' but as a process to experience and honor.”
- “It's a testament to the power of storytelling in games, and a reminder of the emotional impact that can be achieved through simplicity and restraint.”
- “Completely immersive, utterly absorbing, incredibly touching exploration of the manifestations of grief.”
gameplay
47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
64%
6%
The gameplay is characterized by simple mechanics and light environmental puzzles, making it accessible but often criticized for its lack of depth and challenge. While it effectively supports an emotionally driven narrative and features unique mechanics across its three chapters, many players feel it falls short in terms of engagement and complexity. Overall, it serves as a soothing, aesthetic experience rather than a robust gameplay offering, appealing primarily to those who prioritize story and atmosphere over intricate mechanics.
- “The gameplay revolves around environmental puzzles and exploration.”
- “The gameplay is simple, but rewarding.”
- “The music was also woven into the gameplay in masterful ways; the angry banging of drums and lonely piano tune stood out as the antithetical sounds to a quartet in need of orchestration.”
- “The puzzles are baby level easy and the overall gameplay is too basic.”
- “It contains some form of gameplay, but it is rather light and quite uninteresting.”
- “Yet, gameplay is shallow, puzzles too simplistic and could be better integrated into the plot.”
graphics
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
28%
8%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning art direction, featuring vibrant, dreamlike visuals that create an immersive and emotionally evocative atmosphere. Players appreciate the meticulous craftsmanship in the visuals, which are complemented by a haunting soundtrack and effective use of light and shadow. While some noted minor performance issues, the overall aesthetic experience is considered exceptional, making it a highlight of the game.
- “The game's art direction is stunning, with vibrant and dreamlike visuals that capture the mystical essence of the forest.”
- “I have no words to explain just how beautiful this game is; the visuals are perfect!”
- “Beautiful painterly art style that is dark but with a core of brightness; would I dare to say almost glowing at the same time.”
- “Although the graphics are well done (dark, dramatic, and atmospheric), I got bored with it.”
- “Doesn't matter that pretty much everything else (music, story, art style, etc.) is done really well; the game portion of this game isn't good, so I can't recommend.”
- “I mean, as an aesthetic/narrative experience, I think you did a decent job, but I think you didn't take all of the opportunities with the gameplay and the visuals that you created. There are so many games on Steam that are all about the experience, and so many of them are more compelling; I wanted to get more out of it.”
atmosphere
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
24%
12%
The atmosphere of "The Forest Quartet" is widely praised for its emotional depth and evocative design, featuring lush visuals, a haunting soundtrack, and immersive sound design that enhance the narrative experience. Players appreciate the game's surreal and melancholic ambiance, which effectively conveys themes of grief and reflection, making it a captivating journey worth revisiting. Overall, the combination of stunning graphics, atmospheric lighting, and poignant storytelling creates a memorable and introspective experience.
- “The forest quartet is a beautiful and deeply evocative narrative puzzle game that blends emotional storytelling with atmospheric design.”
- “As you explore the forest and uncover its secrets, you'll find yourself captivated by the game's atmosphere and entranced by its melody.”
- “It blends in perfectly with the story and the aesthetics and it only contributed more to making it a great atmosphere and experience.”
- “Although the script and atmosphere are some highlights of the forest quartet, the sound design, soundtrack, mixing, and mastering are from another world.”
- “It has a lonely, peculiar, kind of surreal atmosphere.”
- “Visually it's gorgeous with an amazing axonometric, eerie world, strong surreal atmosphere, and smooth animations.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The game offers limited traditional replayability due to its short length and minimal puzzles, typically lasting only 60 to 90 minutes. However, players may be drawn to revisit it for its captivating narrative and emotional depth, akin to the experience of watching a compelling film.
- “Not a long game, not big replayability but a really well-crafted experience and one that is worth your time being immersed in, like a good film.”
- “In reality, there are not more than ten puzzles and there is no replay value, but it offers a captivating story that can lead you to think about several interesting things.”
- “While it may lack traditional replayability, its poignant narrative and lush world may entice players to revisit it for the sheer atmosphere and emotional resonance.”
- “In reality, there are no more than ten puzzles and there is no replay value, but it does provide a captivating story that can lead to several interesting thoughts.”
- “The game is very short, I would say 60 to 90 minutes with no replay value or collection content.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game's optimization is highlighted by its stunning audio and music, complemented by realistic and emotional voice performances that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the short yet impactful narrative, culminating in a rewarding final performance that ties the story together beautifully.
- “The audio and music are stunning, as are the voice performances, which add so much emotion to the experience.”
- “Great voice acting performances that feel realistic and emotional.”
- “Short but sweet tale that ends with a great performance as a reward for your completion.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Players appreciate that the grinding aspect of the game is minimal, allowing them to avoid frustration and focus on the puzzles, story, and overall experience. This design choice enhances enjoyment rather than detracting from it.
- “Grinding feels tedious and repetitive, making the experience less enjoyable.”
- “The constant need to grind for resources detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
- “The grinding mechanics can become frustrating, leading to a sense of burnout.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its silliness and the enjoyment of tricking characters, which adds a lighthearted touch. Additionally, it effectively blends humor with moments of sadness, creating a poignant narrative that resonates with players.
- “They are incredibly silly, and tricking them feels funny.”
- “It hit home for me quite a lot, and I love how it combined humor and sadness to tell fragments of a touching story.”