The Forgotten City

 PlayStation 5
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 86 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 59 out of 86
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 86
  3. Negative: 15 out of 86
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. Comradely
    Nov 23, 2021
    6
    Starts off promisingly when everything is a mystery to you. Stumbles over its premise several times over by the end though with the time-loop mechanic revealing basically nothing interesting other than the tombs. The ‘true’ ending is one of the corniest things ever sincerely conceived.
  2. SuperkenGaming
    Aug 19, 2021
    9
    The Forgotten City
    An experience you wont forget
    The forgotten city is a 6 hour long action adventure mystery game where you playas a character that wakes up in what seems like the distant past, in this land of people afraid of this golden rule, if just one person sins theyre all doomed, these golden statues will cometo live and turn everyone into gold.. but hers the conundrum, to get    The Forgotten City
    An experience you wont forget
    The forgotten city is a 6 hour long action adventure mystery game where you playas a character that wakes up in what seems like the distant past, in this land of people afraid of this golden rule, if just one person sins theyre all doomed, these golden statues will cometo live and turn everyone into gold.. but hers the conundrum, to get some info and escape, you gotta do a little sinning.. luckily for you.. youre a time traveler.. you steal the item or kill the person you need to, run to this portal, go back intime, thankfully theres a messanger standing right at the portal for you to tell all the info to, so they can run and take care of things you already took care of, not only that, youre back with the item you stole, sin free, rinse repeat, talk to the charcters in this small yet lived in feeling city,solve their problems, get what you need.. youll even get your own golden bow,which leads to some amazing dungon crawling sequences that I would’ve lovedseeing more of, youre dealing with thesegolden monsers, shooting vines leavesandalgie, to turn them into gold to traverse.. I loved it.. but again sadly this makes up maybe only 2 hours total of this 6 hour game.. the rest is just talking and listening, being persuasive, solving problems, figuring out the big giant people puzzle, how can I get what I need, gi back in time and use it against this person, or help this person.. I loved trying to solve the problem of getting info and also dealing with burdansall at the same time, and I loved that I got to keep everything I collected in between it all..
    The forgetten city is one of the coolest story games ive ever played… it is definitey boring at times.. a lot of times.. I skipped more dialog than I would in a game really pulling me in with its story.. but I was still glad I pushed through to the end, to reveal the big twist..
    If youre a fan of solving mysteries or just love a really good story, snatch this one up..
    I give The Forgotten City
    an 8.5/10    … Expand
  3. Mindkiller7522
    Nov 16, 2021
    10
    The game far exceeded my expectations! Believe all the hype for it, the writing is incredible. I went in to it pretty cold, and there are so many twists and turns that I would recommend that method for anyone thinking about buying it. The story is perfectly paced and is one of the rare games that had me thinking formulating a to-do list in my mind when I wasn't playing it. I kept trying toThe game far exceeded my expectations! Believe all the hype for it, the writing is incredible. I went in to it pretty cold, and there are so many twists and turns that I would recommend that method for anyone thinking about buying it. The story is perfectly paced and is one of the rare games that had me thinking formulating a to-do list in my mind when I wasn't playing it. I kept trying to figure out ways to solve all of the mysteries and get the best ending (which DID NOT disappoint!) The graphics and sound design were stellar, but the voice acting and writing are the real stars of the show. For an indie game where most of it involves talking to people, it is a really engrossing experience and I would highly recommend it!… Expand
  4. ihearthawthats
    Jan 18, 2022
    9
    Hours Played: 9 Hours
    Trophy Completion: 22/41 (63%)
    Worth My Time: Yes, it's short. Worth My Money: Yes, it's not full price. What I Like: The game just pulls you in and keeps you there. Very intriguing concept and world. Really makes you think. It is open ended that rewards creative problem solving. What I Dislike: Controls and looks a bit janky at times. How It Stacks Up:    Hours Played: 9 Hours
    Trophy Completion: 22/41 (63%)

    Worth My Time: Yes, it's short.
    Worth My Money: Yes, it's not full price.

    What I Like: The game just pulls you in and keeps you there. Very intriguing concept and world. Really makes you think. It is open ended that rewards creative problem solving.

    What I Dislike: Controls and looks a bit janky at times.

    How It Stacks Up: One of the best recent dialogue-based adventure games. It's quite open world compared to more restrictive games like Life Is Strange. I recommend it even for those who don't like adventure games, as opposed to Quantic Dream games which are more niche. That being said, it doesn't quite have the AAA production values of those games.    … Expand
  5. dick7181
    Oct 29, 2021
    10
    Simply amazing. I hear the complaints about "stiff graphics" but understanding where this game comes from as well as the idea of 'art style' will get you past this barrier. This game is an experience that no gamer should go without experiencing. It will influence other games for years to come. Play a pioneer while it's still easily digestible. Also, avoid spoilers at all costs!
  6. Bollywongaloid
    Sep 19, 2021
    8
    Such a brilliant concept for a game… think of it as a detective game where you arrive at the scene before the crime has taken place (ala Minority Report except with 20 odd suspects). Was having a blast playing this but unfortunately I stumbled into one of the endings all too abruptly (within 2 hours of gameplay). Really let’s the game down somewhat because I don’t think finding the otherSuch a brilliant concept for a game… think of it as a detective game where you arrive at the scene before the crime has taken place (ala Minority Report except with 20 odd suspects). Was having a blast playing this but unfortunately I stumbled into one of the endings all too abruptly (within 2 hours of gameplay). Really let’s the game down somewhat because I don’t think finding the other endings will be nearly as fun knowing what the twist is.… Expand
  7. frederik1478
    Jan 30, 2023
    9
    A truly wonderful story and it's always fun to have groundhog elements in the game.

    The way the game Leeds up of the history is phenomenal I felt like I was learning real history while paying it. Graphics and presentation was good enough. The only real bad part is the characters eyes are a bit too intensely, The puzzles were nice to figure out and I never felt like I was stuck so I had    A truly wonderful story and it's always fun to have groundhog elements in the game.

    The way the game Leeds up of the history is phenomenal I felt like I was learning real history while paying it.

    Graphics and presentation was good enough. The only real bad part is the characters eyes are a bit too intensely,

    The puzzles were nice to figure out and I never felt like I was stuck so I had to watch a walkthrough . So it was quite good and I would recommend playing it if you find it.    … Expand
  8. Daniel0809
    Nov 27, 2021
    8
    I only finished 1 of 4 endings. The story was very interesting but the lack of pew pew & kaboom kinda bored me. The amount of dialog was insane and the voice actors did a great job. very short game.
  9. elolugo
    Mar 5, 2023
    7
    Good game. 90% of gameplay time you'll spend in conversations. Play it only if you're subscribed to PS+ Extra
  10. Silky_Johnson
    Jan 13, 2022
    9
    Great writing, a genuinely interesting story with plenty of twists & turns, and an awesome voice cast. The controls can be a bit clunky & the visuals are a bit dated but overall it’s a very fun experience.
  11. MarkL123
    Jul 31, 2021
    10
    Wow, having never played the Skyrim mod, jumping into this world is now a top favorite story driven rpgs I’ve played in a while! So glad I bought this to support such amazing writers and hope to see more games like this. The story and characters are flawless and as I was playing on ps5, I didn’t experience any bugs or glitches what so ever. Impressive. Combat felt fresh and great, reallyWow, having never played the Skyrim mod, jumping into this world is now a top favorite story driven rpgs I’ve played in a while! So glad I bought this to support such amazing writers and hope to see more games like this. The story and characters are flawless and as I was playing on ps5, I didn’t experience any bugs or glitches what so ever. Impressive. Combat felt fresh and great, really hope to see more story’s made!… Expand
  12. NelsOOnDR1
    Aug 12, 2021
    10
    I, at home, have already quite adult children of these games, the children got a lot of fun of their disposition to play this on the PS5, I myself looked at this game with great pleasure! The benefit is done according to conscience!
  13. sigmabalade
    Jan 16, 2022
    10
    The characters are unique and each have different motivations which makes the world feel more alive i loved the twists and the endings, voice acting and design is on point, the world is beautiful and the real world history references are a plus and integrated very well into the story, pro tip: turn off the hint system and avoid spoilers for maximum enjoyment
  14. Fyxhcl
    Mar 20, 2023
    7
    The Forgotten City is an investigative adventure set up in a ancient roman city.

    Controlling your character in a first person view, you'll have to explore the city, its houses, temples and surroundings, talking with all the citizens in order to understand who's going to break the Golden Rule ("treat others as you want to be treated"), a rule which has been set up literally by a god, and    The Forgotten City is an investigative adventure set up in a ancient roman city.

    Controlling your character in a first person view, you'll have to explore the city, its houses, temples and surroundings, talking with all the citizens in order to understand who's going to break the Golden Rule ("treat others as you want to be treated"), a rule which has been set up literally by a god, and whose breach will turn every person in the city into a golden statue. Luckily, during your investigation you'll have a useful gimmick at your disposal: every time the rule is breached and the apocalypse starts, the city major will open a time portal that will take you at the start of the day. Repeating the day several times, talking with everyone, and trying, loop after loop, different outcomes, you'll eventually understand what's happening in the city, and will be able to reach one of the available endings.

    The formula is simple, and works well. The "time loop" mechanic opens to a lot of investigative possibilities, trying the same dialogue more times or using your previous knowledge to influence the events of the current loop. The city is not huge, but you will need to explore it fully in order to learn all its secrets and understand what's happening, and the historical details that it contains are very interesting. Learning about it and discovering its secrets are very satisfying activities and will keep you entertained until you'll understand what's happening.

    The game isn't also free from defects: even if the city is built very well, graphics are not the best for this time, and characters really lack any animation other than walking or speaking, the game is pretty short (I think maximum 10 hours to see and do everything) and, despite the complete freedom in what to do, and the four different endings, the game events are mostly linear and will require to be "solved" in a specific way in order to progress the plot. Speaking of the plot, and without giving any spoiler, it is pretty cool but there is some pretty big hole in it.

    In conclusion, The Forgotten City is a good investigative adventure, that suffers a lot from being developed by a small team (simple graphics/animation, short story, plot holes), but at the same time uses a great formula and deliver a fascinating story and a satisfying investigative gameplay, for the time that it lasts. Definitely suggested if you like adventures, mysteries and/or the ancient romans!    … Expand
  15. Henrypurp
    Nov 16, 2021
    9
    This game was really fun. It explores philosophical questions of morality, but it keeps you engaged. I’d give this game a 10 if not for having quite a few graphical bugs and frame rate issues. Don’t let that deter you though. This is a fun game from beginning to end. A deep mystery that can be rushed through, or you can take your time to dig deeper. Definitely play this game.
  16. Neeus
    Nov 24, 2021
    10
    What a captivating game. Finished it in one sitting. Mystery and storytelling well done.
  17. Jojoshka
    Jan 5, 2022
    10
    It's really cool to see this mod for Skyrim become a full-fledged game. I loved this adventure with many endings. Spent a day and got all the achievements without guides +)
  18. bjablonski20
    Jan 6, 2022
    10
    Fantastic game with multiple interesting mysteries throughout - absolutely worth the money

Awards & Rankings

19
#19 Best PlayStation 5 Game of 2021
77
#77 Most Discussed PlayStation 5 Game of 2021

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
85

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. INVEN
    May 27, 2022
    85
    The power to immerse into 6 hour gameplay originates from the great narratives of the game. Even though the animations and face expressions are a bit clumsy, The Forgotten City's deep story added on award-winning original mode is something that should not be missed by those who love mysteries and adventures.
    Read full review
  2. Gaming Age
    Oct 12, 2021
    100
    It’s a fun game built around a tantalizing mystery, and once it gets its hooks into you, you’re guaranteed to want to keeping playing until you’ve uncovered all its endings.
    Read full review
  3. GameOver.gr
    Sep 17, 2021
    90
    The Forgotten City is this year’s unexpected contender for the “GotY 2021” award. Exceptional writing and wonderfully built world, all come together in a wonderfully balanced adventure game that finds the golden line/ rule between the hardcore fist person adventures of the past and the more modern walking simulators, offering a deep experience for all type of players.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »