Sons Of The Forest
" Immersive action-adventure survival with deep crafting and co-op but a rushed, confusing story "
Sons Of The Forest Review
Sons of the Forest is a visually stunning and immersive survival horror sequel that expands on the foundation laid by The Forest. Players engage in crafting, base-building, and exploration while facing a variety of intelligent enemies including cannibals, mutants, and demons. The game introduces helpful AI companions like Kelvin and Virginia, enhancing both solo and cooperative play. The large, detailed map features dynamic weather, changing seasons, and new gameplay elements such as vehicles and an online map for navigation.
While the gameplay and graphics receive high praise for their depth and polish, many players express disappointment with the story, describing it as underdeveloped, confusing, and with an unsatisfying ending. The final boss and narrative shifts to sci-fi themes feel disconnected from the rest of the experience. Additionally, some users note repetitive raids, grind-heavy mechanics, and occasional bugs. Despite these issues, the game is lauded for its atmosphere, multiplayer experience, and creative freedom in survival mechanics.
Highlights
Players especially praise the improved graphics and atmospheric environments, with realistic lighting and weather effects enhancing immersion.
The gameplay mechanics such as crafting, base-building, and AI companions are highly regarded for adding depth and reducing loneliness.
The variety of enemies and combat options, alongside exploration of caves and discovery of blueprints, keep the gameplay engaging. Multiplayer co-op is highlighted as a major plus, making survival more enjoyable.
New vehicles and the online map system improve navigation and travel across the large island.
Criticisms
Common criticisms focus on the storyline, which many find confusing, rushed, and lacking satisfying closure. The final boss fight and sci-fi narrative elements are seen as jarring.
Players report the map feels too large and empty, making exploration tedious. The frequent enemy raids can become repetitive and immersion-breaking.
Some mechanics like base defense, hunting, and survival elements are considered underdeveloped or too easy, especially on higher difficulties.
There are occasional bugs and technical issues, including multiplayer disconnects and performance problems on some systems.
Pros
- • Stunning graphics with realistic lighting and weather effects enhance immersion.
- • Deep crafting and base-building systems offer creative freedom.
- • AI companions Kelvin and Virginia provide valuable assistance and companionship.
- • Varied enemy types and adaptive AI increase challenge and engagement.
- • Multiplayer co-op greatly enhances the survival experience.
- • Large map with diverse biomes and cave exploration opportunities.
- • New vehicles and online map improve navigation and travel.
Cons
- • Storyline feels rushed, confusing, and lacks satisfying resolution.
- • Final boss fight and sci-fi elements are disconnected from main game.
- • Map size leads to tedious exploration and difficulty tracking objectives.
- • Frequent enemy raids become repetitive and immersion-breaking.
- • Some survival mechanics and difficulty scaling feel unbalanced or easy.
- • Occasional bugs and technical issues affect gameplay experience.
- • Multiplayer disconnects and stability problems frustrate players.
Rating Criteria
About This Game
An entirely new experience from the makers of the ‘The Forest’
Sent to find a missing billionaire on a remote island, you find yourself in a cannibal-infested hellscape. Craft, build, and struggle to survive, alone or with friends, in this terrifying new open-world survival horror simulator.
A Survival Horror Simulator
Experience complete freedom to tackle the world how you want. You decide what you do, where to go and how best to survive. There are no NPC's barking orders at you or giving you missions you don't want to do. You give the orders, you choose what happens next.
Fight Demons
Enter a world where nowhere is safe and fight against a range of mutated creatures, some who are almost human like, and others who are like nothing you have ever seen before. Armed with pistols, axes, stun batons and more, protect yourself and those you care for.
Build and Craft
Feel every interaction; Break sticks to make fires. Use an axe to cut out windows and floors. Build a small cabin, or a sea-side compound, the choice is yours.
Changing Seasons
Pluck fresh salmon directly from streams in spring and summer. Collect and store meat for the cold winter months. You're not alone on this island, so as winter rolls in and food and resources become scarce you won't be the only one looking for a meal.
Co-op Gameplay
Survive alone, or with friends. Share items and work together to build defenses. Bring back-up to explore above and below ground.
Sent to find a missing billionaire on a remote island, you find yourself in a cannibal-infested hellscape. Craft, build, and struggle to survive, alone or with friends, in this terrifying new open-world survival horror simulator.