Forgotten Demo

As it was said so many times before, horror games have two ways to scare players: either by using loud noises and jump scares, or by developing an unnerving atmosphere over time. The latter is much more powerful and memorable, but it’s also tougher to achieve. On the other hand, the results are obviously worth the effort, at least if you want to create something worthwhile.

Forgotten is a simple first-person game in which the emphasis is put on atmosphere and everything that affects your mood, which is why it can be quite terrifying sometimes. However, it’s definitely not done yet, so there are many missing elements that make the experience feel cheap and unfinished. Even so, you can tell that the game is on the right track, at least if the developer keeps improving it.

The story in the demo focuses on exploration and puzzle-solving, although it’s a bit more impersonal than in most other horror games. Hence, you do not seem to be playing a character with personality or a background story, which means that it’s just a placeholder for yourself. As for the plot, you investigate a house and the events that lead to the disappearance of an entire family, or so it would seem.

The atmosphere is created using a combination of level design, sound effects and text, and it’s quite clear that the game would be a lot more terrifying if it was complete. Hence, there are all sorts of things to make you feel uneasy, such as sounds coming from behind locked doors. Moreover, you can find journal pages and various other clues about what transpired in the house before your arrival.

As for the graphics, the low-poly style is not that impressive, and it would be nice to see an upgrade in this regard as well. On the other hand, it matters very little if the rest of the elements are refined, because you can be just as terrified without the help of an impressive graphics engine. In fact, there are far more important things to consider before visual appearance, and it’s nice to see that the developer thinks the same.

Even if it’s in a very rough state at the moment, Forgotten has every chance to become a great game in the future, especially if the focus is kept on story and atmosphere. Hence, all that’s needed is more work and dedication in order to add more gameplay.