Hey Xbox Wire readers! I’m Yared from Whitethorn Video games, and I’m right here to share a bit data about our newest launch, The Forest Cathedral, which launched right now on Xbox Sequence S|X!
When you might know us from the numerous cozy, heartwarming titles we’ve printed, equivalent to Calico and Lake, The Forest Cathedral takes a barely darker path. The sport, whereas nonetheless adhering to tranquil, low-stress gameplay, evokes a extra unsettling, eerie feeling that approaches the realm of horror. Gamers will embark on a mysterious, atmospheric psychological thriller based mostly on the real-world ecological disasters brought on by the pesticide DDT, or as developer Brian Wilson extra precisely describes the style: an environmental thriller. The sport is performed from the perspective of environmental scientist Rachel Carson, although the actual star of the present is the haunting setting itself.

Strategies of Analysis
The Forest Cathedral’s totally voiced, wealthy narrative is informed by a mixture of two gameplay types. One is its first-person 3D exploration through which the participant navigates Science Island, conducting analysis on its wildlife. Taking notes and using a particular scanner, the participant investigates the distant island seeking solutions to the thriller.
Alongside the way in which you may work together with pc terminals the place The Forest Cathedral’s second gameplay model seems within the type of 2D platforming puzzles. On these terminals, the participant controls a 2D character “Little Man,” traversing by the puzzles so as to function mechanisms again within the 3D house. Each the 2D and 3D worlds work together with one another, unlocking new areas or progressing the story.

Artwork Imitates Life
The Forest Cathedral’s story is a dramatic reimagining of real-world scientist Rachel Carson’s environmental science e-book, Silent Spring, which documented her discovery of the dangerous results of DDT. Developer Brian Wilson drew inspiration from the tried silencing of Carson and her findings to construct his personal creative interpretation of occasions.
As Wilson explains, “the story of Rachel Carson is a David vs. Goliath story.” All through the sport, you’ll change into immersed in conditions that evoke a sense of struggling towards overwhelming resistance. On this manner, Wilson emulates what he believes Carson should have felt as she battled to share what was finally life-saving data that big chemical corporations didn’t need the general public to know. The Forest Cathedral imparts the identical uncertainty, worry, and confinement, leaving the participant anxious to find how the malicious plot develops.

The surroundings gamers will discover in The Forest Cathedral relies on Prepare dinner Forest State Park’s personal Forest Cathedral, situated in western Pennsylvania – close to the place each Wilson and Carson grew up. The vibrantly rendered environment paired with the atmospheric soundtrack – together with a number of authentic items composed by Wilson – create a peaceable but eerie setting for the story to unfold. From the dramatic top of the towering indigenous bushes to the tranquil lake that hugs the shores of the island, intrigue surrounds you as you comb the island and unravel its mysteries. Although domestically impressed, the sport’s themes of social consciousness and our responsibility to the environment apply globally.
Ease of Entry
Whitethorn Video games needs to make sure that as many gamers as doable get the possibility to take pleasure in our titles, and The Forest Cathedral implements many accessibility options with that objective in thoughts. A number of of the adjustable settings embrace:
- Full keyboard and mouse or gamepad controller help
- Enter rebinding for many actions
- Excessive-contrast sans-serif textual content/subtitles and Open Dyslexic typeface choices
- Visible results toggles
- Frequent checkpoints
- “Flip Off Spikes” toggle, eradicating platforming part hazards
- “Float Mode” toggle, decreasing platforming part fall velocity
- Much more choices, all obtainable from the settings menu at any time
With these settings, gamers can customise their expertise to finest go well with their playstyle and skill at any level of their playthrough.
We hope that you just take pleasure in unearthing the mysteries of Science Island in The Forest Cathedral, obtainable now within the Xbox retailer!


The Forest Cathedral
Whitethorn Video games, Inc.
$14.99
The Forest Cathedral is a first-person environmental thriller set on a distant island. Enjoying as scientist Rachel Carson, gamers will determine why the island received’t let her go away. The sport tells the reimagined story of the tried silence of Rachel Carson main as much as her discoveries on the dangerous pesticide often called DDT.
Slowly uncover the results of DDT on this dramatic reimagining of the story of Rachel Carson. Use superior environmental expertise to unravel 2D/3D linked puzzles.