The Forest Cathedral Review: Science Meets Mystery

When I first fired up The Forest Cathedral, I was intrigued by its bold premise: a video game inspired by Rachel Carson’s groundbreaking environmental book Silent Spring. This isn’t your typical zombie shooter or open-world RPG. Instead, it’s a first-person environmental thriller that blends 3D exploration with retro 2D platforming, all wrapped in a narrative about the dangers of DDT. Developed by Brian Wilson (not that Brian Wilson) and published by Whitethorn Games, this indie title aims to educate and entertain. But does it deliver a compelling experience, or does it get lost in its own ambitions? Let’s dive into this unique 2023 release and see if it’s worth your time.

Gameplay Overview

The Forest Cathedral is a hybrid of walking simulator, puzzle game, and 2D platformer, set on a remote island called Science Island. You play as Rachel Carson, a scientist investigating the effects of DDT on wildlife. The gameplay splits into two distinct modes:

• 3D Exploration: Most of your time is spent wandering the island in first-person, soaking in the environment, and using a sci-fi scanner called the iRGB. This device highlights anomalies—like dead fish or mutated mosquitoes—in bright red, guiding you to story triggers or interactable objects. Exploration feels slow and deliberate, with a focus on observing nature rather than action. Think Firewatch but with a scientific lens.
• 2D Platforming: To activate machinery or progress the story, you interact with terminals that launch you into pixelated 2D platforming segments. Here, you control “Little Man,” a retro-styled character navigating spike-filled corridors and pushing boxes to solve puzzles. These sections aim for an 8-bit vibe, complete with clunky controls and finicky collision detection.

The mix is creative but jarring. The 3D sections are calm and immersive, while the 2D platforming feels like a different game shoehorned in. For example, one early puzzle has you guiding Little Man through a maze of spikes to open a gate in the 3D world. It’s a cool concept, but the controls are sluggish, and the difficulty spikes unexpectedly. Compared to The Witness, which seamlessly blends puzzles into its island setting, The Forest Cathedral struggles to make its mechanics feel cohesive.

Art & Design

Visually, The Forest Cathedral is a mixed bag. The island is lush and vibrant, with swaying trees, buzzing mosquitoes, and serene water bodies. At its best, it captures the beauty of nature, like when you stumble across a sun-dappled clearing filled with birds. The game’s use of light and color creates moments of awe, though the textures can feel dated, more PS4-era than next-gen.

The 2D platforming sections lean hard into pixel art, with a red-and-black aesthetic that screams Virtual Boy. It’s a bold choice, but the contrast between the retro 2D and modern 3D visuals is disorienting. Character models, especially in cutscenes, look stiff and uncanny, pulling you out of the immersion. The iRGB scanner’s pixelated overlays are a nice touch, blending the game’s dual art styles, but they can’t salvage the inconsistent presentation.

Sound design fares better. The ambient hum of insects and rustling leaves pulls you into the island’s ecosystem. The voice acting, however, is hit-or-miss. Rachel’s actress delivers emotional lines well, but some dialogue—like calling objects “Mr. Chair” or “Mr. Eagle”—feels quirky to a fault. The soundtrack, with its eerie guitar riffs, adds tension but occasionally drowns out dialogue, as I noticed during a key story moment involving Dr. Muller.

Story & Pacing

The narrative is The Forest Cathedral’s heart, drawing inspiration from Rachel Carson’s real-life crusade against DDT. In the game, Carson is hired by the shady Dr. Muller to study wildlife on Science Island, where DDT has been sprayed. As you follow the pesticide’s impact—from mosquitoes to fish to eagles—you uncover a conspiracy to silence Carson’s findings. The story weaves in Carson’s romance with Dorothy Freeman and her battle with cancer, creating a personal stakes layer.

While the environmental message is powerful, the storytelling is uneven. The game takes liberties with history, presenting a fictionalized Carson who feels more like a quirky protagonist than the accomplished scientist she was. Dialogue can be overly simplistic, and the plot jumps between beats without enough buildup. For instance, a mid-game twist involving Muller’s motives feels abrupt, lacking the foreshadowing to make it land.

Pacing is another issue. The game clocks in at 2–3 hours, which is fine for an indie title, but it rushes through Carson’s journey. Compared to Firewatch, which nails a concise yet emotionally resonant story, The Forest Cathedral feels like a rough draft. The pixel-art cutscenes, while charming, deliver exposition in a storybook style that clashes with the game’s thriller vibe. Still, moments like scanning a dead eagle and realizing DDT’s ripple effect are haunting and stick with you.

Performance & Bugs

I played The Forest Cathedral on PC via Steam, and performance was mostly smooth on a mid-range rig (RTX 3060, Ryzen 5 5600X). Frame rates stayed stable at 60 FPS on high settings, with no major crashes. However, I encountered minor bugs:

• Visual Glitches: Occasionally, the iRGB scanner’s overlay would flicker, obscuring the screen.
• Audio Issues: Dialogue was drowned out by music in a few scenes, forcing me to rely on subtitles.
• Platforming Frustration: The 2D sections had inconsistent collision detection, causing Little Man to clip into spikes unfairly.

Console players, especially on PS5, have reported issues like missing save checkpoints and trophies not unlocking, per reviews on Codec Moments. These aren’t game-breaking, but they highlight the game’s unpolished edges. Compared to What Remains of Edith Finch, which delivers a polished indie experience, The Forest Cathedral feels like a low-budget effort.

Who This Game Is For

The Forest Cathedral isn’t for everyone, but it has a niche audience:

• Eco-Conscious Gamers: If you care about environmental issues or want to learn about Rachel Carson, the game’s message will resonate.
• Indie Enthusiasts: Fans of experimental titles like Firewatch or The Witness might appreciate its bold ideas, even if the execution falters.
• Short-Game Lovers: At 2–3 hours, it’s perfect for players who want a quick, thought-provoking experience.

It’s not for:

• Action Fans: There’s no combat, and the slow pace may bore players craving intensity.
• Platforming Purists: The 2D sections are clunky compared to precision platformers like Celeste.
• History Buffs: The fictionalized take on Carson may frustrate those expecting a factual retelling.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Unique blend of 3D exploration and 2D platforming
• Powerful environmental message inspired by Silent Spring
• Beautiful island environments with immersive sound design
• Short runtime suits players with limited time

Cons:

• Uneven storytelling with abrupt pacing
• Clunky 2D platforming controls
• Inconsistent art styles and unpolished visuals
• Minor bugs and performance issues

Final Verdict

The Forest Cathedral is a bold experiment that swings for the fences but doesn’t quite hit a home run. Its environmental message and creative gameplay blend are admirable, but the clunky platforming, uneven story, and technical hiccups hold it back. It’s a game I wanted to love more than I did, as its heart is in the right place. If you’re an indie fan or eco-warrior looking for a short, quirky experience, it’s worth a playthrough, especially at a sale price. But if you demand polish or tight mechanics, you might want to pass.

Compared to Firewatch’s emotional depth or The Witness’s puzzle mastery, The Forest Cathedral feels like a rough gem. Still, its focus on Rachel Carson’s legacy makes it a unique addition to the indie scene. I give it a 6.5/10—flawed but memorable.

FAQ

Is The Forest Cathedral worth playing?
It depends on your tastes. If you enjoy indie games with strong messages and don’t mind some jank, it’s worth a shot, especially for $15 or less. But if you prioritize polish or action, you might be disappointed.

How long is The Forest Cathedral?
The game takes 2–3 hours to complete, with no significant replay value unless you’re hunting achievements. It’s a one-sitting experience.

Is The Forest Cathedral scary, relaxing, or challenging?
It’s not scary, though it has eerie moments, like discovering DDT’s impact. The 3D exploration is relaxing, but the 2D platforming can be challenging due to clunky controls. It’s more frustrating than difficult.

What games are similar to The Forest Cathedral?

• Firewatch: Both are first-person walking sims with strong narratives and beautiful environments, but Firewatch has better pacing and polish.
• The Witness: Similar island-based puzzle gameplay, but The Witness focuses on intricate puzzles rather than platforming or story.
• What Remains of Edith Finch: Another short indie with a unique narrative, though it’s more polished and emotionally gripping.