Survival horror Co-op and multiplayer horror

Sons Of The Forest

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Build a camp on an island of cannibals, and do not go into the caves alone.

Platforms: PC
Price: Paid
Rated: Very Positive on Steam (88% of 321,690 reviews)
Players: 1 to 8 (online co-op)
Controls: Keyboard and mouse or a controller.
Made by: Endnight Games
Released: 2024

What frightens Sent to find a missing billionaire, you crash on a remote island ruled by painted cannibals who watch your camp from the trees, test you, then attack; under the ground, pale mutants of fused limbs and many arms wait in cave systems lit only by your torch, and winter brings them hungrier.
Content: gore, violence, nudity, jumpscares.

The sequel to The Forest. Sent to find a missing billionaire, you crash on a remote island full of cannibals and mutated creatures. You scavenge, craft and build to survive the seasons, alone or with up to seven friends online, and dig into what is hidden underground.

About Sons Of The Forest

Sons Of The Forest was made by Endnight Games, the studio behind The Forest, and came out on Steam in early access on 23 February 2023, with its full release on 22 February 2024. It is played on PC only.

You are part of a team flown to an island to find a missing billionaire and his family. After a crash you are left with almost nothing: a GPS locator, an axe and a few supplies. The island is open from the start. You chop trees and build anything from a lean-to to a walled compound, hunt and fish, store food for winter and explore beaches, mountains and lakes. A few survivors, such as Kelvin, can help: he takes orders and gathers wood, and a three-armed woman called Virginia may come to trust you.

The fear comes from the island's people. Cannibals in paint and masks watch your camp from the trees before they decide to attack, and patrols grow bolder the longer you stay. Below ground, dark caves and bunkers hold mutants of fused bodies and limbs, seen only in the beam of your torch or the glow of a flare. Seasons change what is safe: snow makes food scarce for you and for them.

It is a sandbox more than a story, and with friends it can be as much about building as about horror. It suits players who liked The Forest or want survival crafting with real dread in the dark.

How to play Sons Of The Forest

Buy it on Steam and start a single-player or multiplayer game, choosing a difficulty.
Search the crash site and use the GPS locator to find supplies and points of interest.
Chop trees, gather food and water, and build a shelter and a fire before night.
Craft weapons and build defences as cannibal patrols grow bolder.
Explore caves and bunkers with light and gear to find tools and follow the story of the missing family.

Screenshots

Sons Of The Forest screenshot: a blood-smeared cannibal in a gold mask swings a club at the player on a rocky clearing

Sons Of The Forest screenshot: a pale, many-limbed mutant lit by a torch beam in a dark cave

Sons Of The Forest screenshot: a skull on a stake in front of a crashed helicopter in the woods

Sons Of The Forest screenshot: cannibals come over a log wall as the player holds a crafted weapon in a forest

Sons Of The Forest screenshot: the player's bloodied hand holds a yellow GPS locator beside dead sharks on a beach

Sons Of The Forest screenshot: a waterfall in a sunlit forest with a figure standing under it

Tips

Order Kelvin to gather logs and sticks so you can focus on building.
Dry and store meat before the first winter.
Carry a light source and spare healing items into every cave.
Watch for cannibals studying your camp: build walls before they decide to strike.

Questions

Is Sons of the Forest on PS5 or Xbox?

No. It is a PC game on Steam only, and no console version has been announced.

How many players can play Sons of the Forest?

Up to eight players online, or one alone.

Do I need to play The Forest first?

No. It is a new story on a new island, though it is set in the same world and nods to the first game.

Is Sons of the Forest scary?

Yes, especially early on and underground: cannibals stalk your camp and the caves hold disturbing mutants. Lower difficulty settings make enemies less aggressive.