Sons of the Forest, the inbound survival horror title from Endnight Games, will feature an AI companion that will provide some company and help for those who want to go it alone. The upcoming sequel to 2018's The Forest is one of the most hotly anticipated games of 2023 so far, which is impressive considering it's going up against the likes of Starfield, the remake of Resident Evil 4, and The Legends of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
When the first game released a few years ago, The Forest was known for its survival tactics and horror elements, which pit the player against a brutal tribe of cannibals and mutants in a dense forest. Taking advantage of the crafting and survival mechanics that were prominent at the time, the game made a name for itself in both indie gaming and the horror genre. Now, with the follow-up on the way, some more footage has dropped which gives insight into what fans can expect.
A recent preview video from IGN shows what's coming in Sons of the Forest, with a few similarities between this game and The Forest, such as the location, some of the enemies, and the building mechanics. It also appears as though the story will begin in a similar fashion, though it could branch off. However, one of the biggest differences between the two games is the inclusion of an AI-controlled companion. In the video, the player happens upon an elite solider at the start of the game called Kelvin, who is unable to speak thanks to a head injury. But he is capable of helping the player out by doing various tasks like gathering resources, for example. This will at least alleviate any loneliness some may feel when playing the game solo, especially given the AI's helpful nature.
It's unfortunate that Sons of the Forest had to be delayed a couple of times. Initially scheduled for a late 2021 release, the launch date was pushed back to early 2022. However, this was moved again to the new launch window of February 2023. At the time, Endnight Games said the delay came about after it was apparent just how ambitious the game was going to be.
Hailed by many as one of the best open-world horror games, at least according to Metacritic, The Forest seemed to come about at the right time, during a period in which a lot of early access and indie survival titles like DayZ and Rust were being released. Whether Endnight's sequel will be just as praised remains to be seen, but many are no doubt looking forward to what's on offer.
Sons of the Forest is in development for PC and is set to launch in February 2023.
