Forest Grove, developed by Miga Games and published by Blowfish Studios, is a first-person mystery game for the PlayStation 5 that invites players to unravel the disappearance of Zooey Kunstmatigaard, the teenage heiress to a billion-dollar tech fortune, in her digitally recreated residence in Forest Grove, Oregon. The game utilizes the futuristic Nanodeck technology from the Remote Forensics Bureau, enabling players to collect evidence, solve puzzles, and deduce the truth behind Zooey’s vanishing act.
The premise of Forest Grove, while not groundbreaking, draws inspiration from classic mystery narratives. The game’s strength lies in its ability to keep players engaged throughout its relatively short duration, despite some technical rough edges that can unfortunately break immersion for a brief while. The narrative unfolds as you navigate the digitally recreated house, searching for clues and solving puzzles, creating an intriguing experience.
As you explore the crime scene, you’ll encounter a variety of evidence, ranging from typical household items to DNA samples and fingerprints. The Nanodeck technology and a drone aid you when investigating holographic images, uncovering family secrets, and revealing suspicious activities. The inclusion of puzzles, hidden doors, and keys adds a layer of complexity, although some may find them relatively easy to solve.
Forest Grove introduces an innovative evidence board, allowing players to piece together the mystery like a real detective. This mechanic encourages deductive reasoning, emphasizing that solving the case is not a straightforward process, one that requires careful consideration of the evidence collected. The interconnected relationships and secrets of the characters further enrich the narrative, creating a web of intrigue.
However, the game does have its drawbacks. Technical issues, such as getting stuck in the environment can hinder the overall experience. The limited number of music tracks, while atmospheric, is also a shame when you consider how short the game is. But despite these shortcomings, the payoff for exploring every corner of the house is still there, offering a satisfying detective-like feel to the mystery.
Forest Grove’s gameplay mechanics manage to challenge players with puzzles and the need for critical thinking when connecting evidence. The timeline system, in particular, stands out as a thematic and engaging way to piece together the events. However, the lack of indicators for the last few missing items in the final stages of the game could be considered a downside, potentially making the experience tedious.
Visually, Forest Grove excels in creating a futuristic atmosphere with its cyber-replicated house, filled with high-tech gadgets and a well-realized environment. The character models, while not flawless, serve their purpose, with some room for improvement in terms of detail and immersion.
In conclusion, Forest Grove may be short and have its share of technical hiccups, but its compelling mystery narrative, innovative evidence board, and focus on deductive reasoning make it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre. While it may not reach the heights of perfection, the game establishes a solid foundation, leaving room for optimism regarding potential sequels that explore different houses and crimes in an anthology series.
Score: 7.2/10
Press Play Media 