The Forest (2018), a first-person open world-survival game from Endnight, launched out of a four-year stint on Steam Early Access last month. Starting today, The Forest has a few new badges on its Steam listing, including support for Oculus Rift and HTC Vive.
The inclusion of VR headset support, which is now free and available in beta, lets users plays the full single player game in VR, and replaces the game’s 2D heads-up display with a smart watch strapped to your arm. The Forest for VR, which currently doesn’t feature multiplayer support, also includes a full 3D inventory and 3D survival book, and the ability to interact with the world via motion controls.
The VR version includes full bow aiming, throwing flares by breaking the tops off them, lighting molotovs with your lighter, and chopping down trees.
Endnight says in a Steam forum update that beta users should “expect some bugs and technical issues. We’ll be updating this branch regularly.”
In single player mode, you step into the shoes of the sole survivor of a jet crash, marooned in a mysterious forest in the wilds of British Columbia. It’s not all flapjacks and maple syrup though, as the woods are filled with cannibalistic mutants out for blood, compelling you to explore and build defenses to survive. The Forest for PC also boasts multiplayer co-op so you can battle the elements (and cannibals) and explore the game’s massive terrain and vast subterranean labyrinths together.
The base game (Steam link) includes the ability to:
- Chop down trees to build a camp, or start a fire to keep warm. Scavenge food to keep yourself from starving.
- Build a small shelter or a large ocean side fortress. Lay traps and defences to keep a safe perimeter.
- Explore and build during the day. Defend your base at night. Craft weapons and tools. Bunker down during the evening or bring the fight directly to the enemy.
- Defend yourself against a clan of genetic mutant enemies that have beliefs, families, morals and that appear almost human.
- Use stealth to evade enemies, or engage them directly with crude weapons built from sticks and stones.