Are you a fan of terrifying, fascinating, and confusing video games? Then, you will agree that 2018’s The Forest is one of the best survival crafting games. 

Now that its sequel, Sons of the Forest, was officially released on February 23, 2023, through Early Access for MS Windows via Steam, let’s see if it is worth the wait. 

Sons of the Forest Overview 

Sons of the Forest was developed by Endnight Games. This survival video game is the sequel to the popular 2018 video game The Forest. 

Set several years of The Forest, the video game challenges players to uncover and survive new mysteries on a temperate island. Considering how much I enjoyed its predecessor, I recommend this strong follow-up.

Players have to explore a beautiful yet deadly island with changing seasons. I find the new base-building mechanics entertaining for a few days without touching the main story. Plus, more unsettling and smarter enemy behavior is paired with improved combat. 

Gameplay and Mechanics 

Sons of the Forest gameplay focuses on exploration and survival in the forest. Players need to craft weapons, build shelters, scavenge for resources, and combat the hostile creature inhabiting the forest. The game’s inventory system allows players to store items and resources. The crafting system lets players create items from the collected items, while the skill tree will enable them to unlock new abilities and upgrade their characters.

Since the game mechanics are straightforward and intuitive, I quickly pick it up and play. The game’s AI system adapts to the gamer’s play style and delivers a challenging experience. Also, the game runs smoothly, and the controls are responsive. 

Visuals and Audio 

The game’s visuals are stunning. The beautiful forest environment is filled with details. The animations are lifelike and smooth, while the character models are well-detailed. Also, Sons of the Forest has a dynamic weather system and day-night cycle, improving the game’s atmosphere. 

The audio is impressive, with a haunting soundtrack and realistic sound effects, which also adds to the atmosphere. 

Characters and Storyline 

Sons of the Forest features a cast of characters. Each character has a unique backstory. The game’s storyline revolves around the protagonist, who tries to survive in the hostile forest environment and unveils the secrets of the forest. As players progress through the game, the story also progresses with a series of missions.

Pros:

  • Stunning visuals 
  • Fun and challenging gameplay 
  • Interesting and well-written characters 
  • Dynamic weather system and day-night cycle 
  • Crafting system for creating new items 

Cons:

  • The AI system can be inconsistent 
  • The game is very linear

Below are the PC requirements of Sons of the Forest: 

Minimum 

  • OS: 64-bit Windows 10
  • Processor: AMD RYZEN 3 3300X or INTEL CORE 15-800
  • Storage: 20GB available space 
  • Memory: 12GB RAM 
  • DirectX: Version 11
  • Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 570 4GB or NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3GB

Recommended:

  • OS: 64-bit Windows 10
  • Processor: AMD RYZEN 5 3600X or INTEL CORE 17-8700K
  • Storage: 20GB available space 
  • Memory: 16GB RAM 
  • DirectX: Version 11
  • Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT or NVIDIA GeForce 1080Ti

 

To sum it up, Sons of the Forest is an incredible open-world adventure game set in an isolated forest environment. It allows gamers to play as unnamed protagonists trying to survive in the wilderness while uncovering the forest’s secrets. Since the game is in a first-person perspective, I got to experience it as if I was really there. 

The game also features an online multiplayer mode, an inventory system, a dynamic weather system, and a day-night cycle. This makes it an excellent game for those who love open-world exploration and survival horror. 

Did this post help you get familiar with Sons of the Forest? Have you already tried playing the game? Let me know your experience in the comment section.