While The Forest featured a memorable array of monstrosities, Sons of the Forest diverges with a new generation of mutants that are bigger and badder than their predecessors, while still exemplifying the same body horror that the now-series is known for. Even veterans will need to relearn their survival skills, because the mutants in Sons of the Forest require a different approach altogether.
With an increased focus on crafting and survival, Sons of the Forest seems more like Don't Starve than a sequel to The Forest. But once players catch a glimpse of the mutants they'll be facing down on the peninsula, it comes more clear that Sons of the Forest is following in The Forest's footsteps where it counts in terms of atmosphere. Found in remote caves and roaming the game's open world, the mutants in Sons of the Forest are sure to test players' mettle as they attempt to survive in the wilderness.
Fingers
Fingers are likely the first mutant type that players will encounter in Sons of the Forest, resembling a human from the waist-down but possessing a massive maw down the length of their head, neck, and torso like a Venus flytrap on legs. This opening is lined with fingers, presumably for grabbing and consuming their victims. Fingers will challenge players on open ground in the wilderness, making Sons of the Forest's dynamic seasons system more difficult to acclimate to. Fingers are sure to give players a scare in their first days on the peninsula.
The Twins
The Twins present players with their first major tactical challenge. They consist of two human bodies conjoined lengthwise at the waist, crawling side-by-side on all four eight appendages and waiting for the right moment to strike. Sporting elongated limbs tipped with razor-sharp claws, The Twins can be found crawling on cave walls and ceilings as well. Their ability to flank, distract, and maneuver tactically is an impressive showcase of Sons of the Forest's enemy AI system.
Giant
Little is known about the Giant mutant so far. The Giant is another enemy spotted in Sons of the Forest trailers prior to release, for instance appearing shortly after the helicopter crash to snatch the body of the player's colleague. Whether the Giant is a full-bodied mutant or simply a giant hand hidden in the bushes remains a mystery, but it's safe to say players will have their work cut out for them tackling this behemoth.
Mutant Babies
Mutant Babies are a classic enemy featured in The Forest, and have only made a brief appearance in the disturbing release date trailer for Sons of the Forest. In the trailer, Mutant Babies are being flung by Sluggy. Despite being fairly easy to kill in The Forest, Mutant Babies dished out a lethal amount of damage with each leaping attack. The fact that Sons of the Forest has Mutant Babies being flung by another, more durable mutant will surely ramp up the challenge of facing them head-on.
John 2.0
Players of The Forest will recognize the name "John" as a moniker for the Worm mutant, a conjoined row of slug-like creatures that used their hive mind to take down enemies. John 2.0 doesn't share much in common with the Worm other than their body appearing to be two conjoined human bodies stitched at the bottom of their legs, giving it double the height of a normal person. Walking on one set of hands while the other is used for attacking from above, John 2.0 clearly carries the legacy of the creepiest enemies from The Forest.
Sluggy (The Blob)
Sluggy is perhaps the most fearsome mutant in Sons of the Forest. Only appearing toward the end of the game in the labs, Sluggy is named for his heavily distorted features. An amalgam of several different body parts, Sluggy is a hulking mountain of flesh and bone, first seen throwing mutant babies at the player in the aforementioned trailer. The multiplayer aspect of Sons of the Forest will certainly come in handy when fighting Sluggy, as players can use an ally or two to take down this monstrosity from different angles.
Virginia
Virginia is a unique mutant compared to the rest in that players can peacefully interact with her. Sharing a name with the multi-limbed mutant from The Forest, Virginia differs from her namesake in that she appears to have kept her humanity intact. She looks like a relatively normal human woman, save for the fact that she has three arms and legs. Players can interact with Virginia in a variety of ways, with developers saying they can "try to have her like you, ignore her, scare her off - how you interact with her is up to each player." Considering solo players will also have an AI companion in Sons of the Forest, it should offer more nuanced interactions with the surrounding world.
Sons of the Forest is now available in Early Access for PC.