Indie Game Spotlight #2: Forager

Available on: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, iOS, Microsoft Windows, Linux, Macintosh operating systems, Android, Nintendo Switch.

By Oliver Giles


If you were to take the crafting of a building system found in games such as Minecraft and Portal Nights and combine it with the 2D RPG style aspects of Stardew Valley, you would probably end up with something that looks quite a bit like Forager.

Created by developer HopFrog using the GameMarker engine, Forager was available on seemingly everything short of a graphing calculator when released back in early 2019, and for good reason. The low amount of storage space and power required to run the game made it perfect for those who wanted to download it and see what the title had to offer.

The game's premise sees you dropped onto a small island in the middle of nowhere, where you are tasked with more or less rebuilding society. As you may expect, the majority of the gameplay revolves around the player collecting resources to build their base, but it doesn't stop there. The well throughout progression system allows you to craft new technology and items to help you on your way. These advancements can be anywhere from mining facilities that automatically generate ore to trading markets, slot machines, and sewing stations.

Each advancement will help you on your quest to gather even more resources, which can be used for building and trading.

Use coins obtained through training to unlock nearby islands to advance your civilization, with each island holding something unique. Some contain hordes of enemies and a boss fight; others have story-based quests that can earn you some excellent rewards, while other islands can provide you with a chance to grab some rare or unique resources.

Take advantage of an RPG-style leveling system with skill points each time you level up. These points can go towards a total of 64 different skills, each unlocking abilities and potentially game-changing advancements. What you do with your immense power is up to you.

That's not to say the game is perfect, however.

Some versions of the game return you to the home screen if you die, which is bound to happen at least a few times. While it only takes a few seconds to load back into your world, this can become rather annoying if you are the type of player who tends to die a lot.

The controls aren't precisely well-refined either, which can occasionally turn the usually fun act of base-building into a chore.

Overall though, Forager is a fun indie title with a daily engaging gameplay loop, great pick-up-and-play value, and a rather memorable style. Certainly worth picking it up if you're into indie titles.








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