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Should You Play The Forest Before Sons of the Forest? A Deep Dive

Ultimately, whether or not you should play The Forest before diving into Sons of the Forest is dependent on your personal gaming preferences. While Sons of the Forest boasts significant improvements in gameplay mechanics, graphics, and map size, The Forest offers a raw, atmospheric survival experience with a compelling (albeit cryptic) narrative. If you prioritize experiencing the evolution of the franchise and understanding the underlying lore, then playing The Forest first is highly recommended. If you’re primarily interested in the latest and greatest survival mechanics and aren’t as concerned with the backstory, then jumping straight into Sons of the Forest is perfectly acceptable.

Exploring the Survival Horror Landscape

The decision to play The Forest (2018) before Sons of the Forest (2023) is a question many gamers are asking themselves. Both titles offer unique approaches to the survival horror genre, but they also stand alone as distinct gaming experiences. The Forest created a foundation, delivering a brutal survival experience centered on resource management, base building, and fending off hordes of mutated cannibals. The sequel, Sons of the Forest, expands upon this foundation with a larger map, improved AI, more intricate building mechanics, and a new storyline. Let’s dissect the elements to help you make an informed decision.

Story vs. Survival: What Matters Most?

One crucial aspect to consider is your preference for story-driven gameplay versus pure survival mechanics. While neither game has a particularly deep or hand-holdy narrative, The Forest has a central premise: you’re searching for your son, Timmy, after a plane crash. This goal propels you forward, leading you to explore the island and uncover its secrets. Sons of the Forest, while technically connected to the first game, introduces a new protagonist and plot. The narrative connections are somewhat subtle, and arguably less crucial to enjoying the game. Thus, if you wish to understand all the nuances of both games, playing the first is ideal. However, If the raw survival gameplay is your main priority, Sons of the Forest delivers that in spades.

Gameplay Enhancements in Sons of the Forest

Sons of the Forest brings a host of improvements that make the experience more accessible and engaging. The building system is significantly more intuitive, allowing for more complex and creative constructions. The cannibal AI is far more advanced, leading to unpredictable and challenging encounters. The overall graphic fidelity is significantly higher, and the world feels more detailed and alive.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that The Forest is obsolete. It offers a more streamlined, arguably purer survival experience. The game’s relative simplicity forces you to be resourceful and adaptable, which can be rewarding. If you’re looking for a challenging introduction to the genre, or prefer a more “old school” survival experience, The Forest is still a compelling option.

Connecting the Dots: Lore and Easter Eggs

While Sons of the Forest features a new protagonist and plot, it does contain numerous references and Easter eggs that connect it to the original game. Understanding the events and characters of The Forest will enrich your experience with the sequel, giving you a deeper appreciation for the overarching narrative. A lot of this goes deeper in the game itself, so it is recommended that you do play it first.

However, these connections are not essential to enjoying Sons of the Forest. The sequel does a decent job of introducing new players to the world and its lore. The world itself is vast and unique. However, it can be enjoyed without prior knowledge of the first game.

Performance and Accessibility

Before making your decision, consider your system requirements and budget. The Forest is a relatively older game, so it runs well on most modern PCs. Sons of the Forest, being a newer title, requires more powerful hardware. Furthermore, Sons of the Forest is still in early access, so it may contain bugs and performance issues that are ironed out. Consider whether this is something that would bother you.

Time Commitment

The Forest is a shorter game to complete than Sons of the Forest. Players who prefer shorter gaming experiences may find that The Forest is more preferable for them. The Forest can be completed in around 15 hours, while Sons of the Forest can take over 50 hours to fully complete.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the choice is yours. Playing The Forest first will provide a deeper understanding of the lore and demonstrate the evolution of the franchise. However, Sons of the Forest offers a more polished and feature-rich survival experience. No matter which game you choose, prepare for a challenging and immersive journey into the dark heart of the forest. For further exploration of gaming and its educational potential, visit the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions about The Forest and Sons of the Forest to help you make a more informed decision:

Is Sons of the Forest connected to the first game?

Yes, Sons of the Forest is the sequel to The Forest, featuring a new protagonist and plot while still containing references and Easter eggs that connect to the original game’s lore.
Do I need to play The Forest to understand Sons of the Forest?

No, it is not absolutely necessary. Sons of the Forest has its own self-contained story. However, playing The Forest provides context and enriches the experience by revealing connections and lore.
Is Sons of the Forest bigger than The Forest?

Yes, Sons of the Forest‘s map is significantly larger, estimated to be 4-5 times the size of The Forest‘s map.
Is Sons of the Forest more difficult than The Forest?

Difficulty is subjective. Sons of the Forest has more complex systems, potentially making it harder to master. However, it also has AI companions, making solo play easier. The original The Forest is arguably more punishing with fewer modern conveniences.
Can you play The Forest peacefully?

Yes, The Forest has a Peaceful Mode where enemies are disabled, allowing you to explore and build without the threat of cannibals and mutants. You are even able to gain creative mode by defeating the End Boss.
Can you play The Forest solo?

Yes, The Forest can be played solo. It can be a lonely but challenging survival experience.
How long does it take to beat The Forest?

The main story of The Forest can be completed in around 15 hours. Completing everything will take around 55 hours.
How many endings does The Forest have?

The Forest has two endings. One where Eric activates the artifact. The other has Eric leaving the island with Timmy.
What is the goal in The Forest?

The primary goal in The Forest is to survive and find your son, Timmy, after a plane crash.
Is it worth playing The Forest before Sons of the Forest?

It’s worth playing The Forest if you want to experience the origin of the franchise, understand the lore, and see the evolution of gameplay mechanics. It may not be worth it if you’re only interested in the latest graphics and features.
Does The Forest get harder over time?

Yes, as you progress in The Forest, the mutants become stronger and more frequent.
What are the best weapons in The Forest?

Some of the best weapons in The Forest include the Incendiary Spear, Upgraded Spear, Molotov Cocktail, and Modern Bow.
Can you turn zombies off in The Forest?

Yes, you can disable the enemies through Peaceful mode.
Can you continue on the map after you save Timmy in The Forest?

Yes, you can continue exploring the map and building after saving Timmy, as long as you reload your last save.
Why did they take Timmy in The Forest?

Timmy was kidnapped as a sacrifice to revive Megan, the daughter of Matthew Cross.

This information should provide a more comprehensive understanding of both games. Enjoy the gameplay!

Should you play The Forest first?