Forsaken Forest (2018) Board Game

Forsaken Forest is a board game that was released in in 2018. It is designed for 4-12 players and has a runtime of 20-60 minutes. The game falls under the categories of bluffing, card game, deduction, fantasy, horror, and party game. The game designers include Chris Cold, Christof Grobelski, Lake Hurwitz, Tomasz Jedruszek, and three others. The artwork for the game is done by Forsaken Games.

Game Components of Forsaken Forest

Player cards: Representing villagers and the corrupted Forsaken.

Destination cards: Indicating the hidden goals for each team.

Action cards: For conspiring, killing, persuading, and rescuing.

Game board: Depicting the ominous forest.

How To Setup Forsaken Forest

To set up the game, players are first divided into two teams: the Villagers and the Forsaken. The Villagers begin with a majority of players but lack knowledge of their teammates’ identities and their team’s destination. In contrast, the Forsaken start with fewer players but have complete information about their team. Each player receives a role card and the game board is prepared to reflect the dark, magical forest setting.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Social Deduction: Players must figure out who is on their team and who is not.

Bluffing: Essential for the Forsaken to deceive Villagers and for Villagers to uncover the traitors.

Strategy: Planning and coordination are crucial for both teams to achieve their goals.

Objective:

Villagers: Navigate to their hidden destination without being killed by the Forsaken.

Forsaken: Kill enough Villagers to thwart their opponents’ goal before being discovered.

Player Experience

In Forsaken Forest, players are immersed in a high-stakes environment where trust and deception are key. The game encourages intense social interaction, as players must convince others of their intentions while trying to uncover the hidden roles of their peers. The experience is dynamic and unpredictable, making each game unique and engaging.

Pros

High replayability: Different roles and setups ensure varied gameplay each time.

Intense social interaction: Encourages bluffing, persuasion, and strategic thinking.

Simple to learn but complex to master: Easy to grasp the basics, but deep strategy is involved.

Large player capacity: Supports 4 to 12 players.

Cons

Long setup time: Preparing the game can be time-consuming due to the complexity of roles and destinations.

Role imbalance: The Forsaken have an advantage in terms of information, which can sometimes make the game feel uneven.

Confusion potential: With many roles and actions, new players might find it confusing initially.

Personal Thoughts on Forsaken Forest

Forsaken Forest is ideal for those who enjoy social deduction games and are comfortable with high levels of interaction and strategy. It’s perfect for larger groups, offering a unique experience that blends deception, deduction, and teamwork. However, it may not suit players who prefer more straightforward or less socially demanding games. For fans of games like “Werewolf” or “Mafia,” Forsaken Forest is a compelling addition to their game collection.

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