Review: Sons of the Forest explained to parents

sons of the forest ecran partage featured
sons of the forest ecran partage featured

What parents need to know

Sons of the Forest is the next survival and horror game developed by Endnight Games, the creators of the famous game named The Forest, released in 2014. The game was first announced at The Game Awards 2019 and has sparked excitement among survival horror fans all over the world.

The game follows the story of a special agent who survives a helicopter crash and finds himself stranded on an island, in a mysterious and dangerous forest while he was out, accompanied by a team, in search of a wealthy family that has disappeared. The player must fight against supernatural creatures and discover the secrets of the forest to survive. Sons of the Forest offers an intense gaming experience, where every choice the player makes has significant consequences for survival.

tent screen sharing
A makeshift shelter made with a tarp, on the beach.

One of the most exciting aspects of Sons of the Forest is the combat system. Players have at their disposal a variety of weapons and traps to fight against enemies. The game also introduces new features, such as the ability to climb trees to escape enemies and build complex traps to capture them. The player can build small makeshift shelters and quickly explore the island or take the time to build stronger shelters and make furniture, storage and facilities to hunt animals or harvest rainwater, for example. The game leaves a lot of autonomy to the player, who can explore as they pleases and according to their playstyle.

inventory screen sharing
Inventory

In addition to improved combat features, Sons of the Forest also offers a more immersive survival experience, albeit very similar to other games in the same genre and its predecessor, The Forest. Players must find food, water, and shelter to survive in the forest. They can also build camps and fortifications to protect themselves from enemies. As they explore, the player finds tools, items, and weapons that allow them to explore otherwise inaccessible locations or build new structures (e.g., shovel, gun, magnetic access card, grappling hook, rebreather, flashlight, etc.). To find these items, however, the player must explore the vast system of underground caves that stretch under the entire island, and thus, in the dark, encounter various strange enemies… The game also allows the use of a GPS to discover the markers related to certain objectives. However, the satellite GPS does not work when the player is underground, in the cave system.

GPS Screen Share
GPS and markers

The game also offers enhanced graphics and an immersive soundscape that immerses you in the horror of the forest. The creatures in the game are creepy and well-designed, which adds an extra layer of horror to the gaming experience. Another interesting aspect: the developers have experimented with the artificial intelligence of enemies, which can have a different approach depending on the type of enemy and the reaction of the player. The player is also accompanied by allies, including another survivor named Kelvin, who follows the player around and can help him complete certain tasks, such as chopping wood, fishing and setting up camp, again thanks to an artificial intelligence system that allows the player to give instructions to Kelvin. However, the feeling of loneliness is essential to the atmosphere of the game, so NPCs do not speak and interact little, they just point fingers at enemies and do some daily tasks to maintain the camp and feed themselves.

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A notebook to give instructions to Kelvin.

It should be noted that the game is not yet officially finished and is only offered in Early Access. Many updates are therefore made regularly, which brings new discoveries every month. If you think you might like the game, now is a good time to get it, since the price is rather affordable, at less than $ 40.

Details

Release date: 23 February 2023
Developer: Endnight Games Ltd
Publisher: Newnight
Available on: Steam PC
Available format: Digital
Version tested: Steam PC

Game genre: Horror and survival
Themes covered: Survival, horror, exploration, construction, discovery, courage
Duration of the main game/story: To be discovered!
Total time to complete everything: À découvrir

Text languages: German, English, Simplified chinese, Traditional chinese, Korean, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian,
Voice languages: English,

Number of local players: 1
Number of online players: 2

Level of experience required

Age 3+ 7+ 12+ 16+ 18+
Beginners
Intermediate
Experienced

It is a scary, violent and disturbing game. It is not made for people who scare easily or for a young audience.

The game gives few instructions and most are accompanied by pictures (for building shelters, for example). There are few voices, we mostly hear the enemies make various noises, but there is no dialogue.

The game is challenging and requires excellent control of the 3D camera and combat system. However, it can only take a few hours of play for an intermediate player to quickly grasp the mechanics of the game. The game is also fully compatible with a controller.

No additional cost.

Local game modes

In local mode, the game allows you to explore the forest and complete the main campaign. It is possible to enjoy all the features of the entire game in single and local mode.

Online Game Modes

Online, the game can be played in co-op mode with a friend. However, it is the same game, there are no mini-games or different features to explore together, it is simply for the pleasure of sharing the experience (and having help to build bases with a little whimsy).

Expansions/Add-ons (DLC)

No extension announced or planned at this time!

Our opinion

In conclusion, Sons of the Forest is a promising survival and horror game that offers an intense and immersive gaming experience. With new features, an improved combat system and superior graphics, the game is not to be missed for survival horror fans. The game doesn’t have a release date yet, but fans can expect an upcoming release on PC and consoles. If you’re a fan of horror and survival games, this is a title you’d probably like.

Trailer

About Myriam Baulne

Traductrice agréée aussi détentrice d'un DEC en animation 3D et synthèse d'images, Myriam est constamment à la recherche d'opportunités afin d'allier ses passions pour les jeux vidéo, les TTRPG et la rédaction. Armée d'un solide bagage journalistique, elle est outillée pour vous rapporter toute l'actualité et l'information sur vos jeux favoris.

View all posts by Myriam Baulne

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