Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 77 | 60 |
| Creator reviews (1 tracked) | – | 80 | 2 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 92% | 86 | 498 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 95% | 89 | 198 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Mar 4, 2026) · 198 reviews sampled · 186 total reviews in window · weighted 140.6 up / 7.8 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (30)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 80
- 70
“Forestrike is a fun and rewarding fighting game where the foresight mechanic makes each encounter feel unique. Its blend of strategy, timing, and experimentation with moves and cards keeps gameplay challenging and varied. Fans of martial arts or anyone looking for something different on the Switch will find it worth trying.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Forestrike is an interesting attempt to create something new within the roguelike genre. At the same time, the developers do not alienate players who simply want to enjoy the local story without excessive challenge.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Overall, however, while Forestrike boasts strong gameplay and a lovely, abstract pixel-art aesthetic, its core hook removes a sense of risk. This is definitely a difficult game at its heart, but the ability to practise your runs with no consequences dulls its edge a bit too much.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Despite a steeper-than-usual learning curve, some balance issues, and dealing with bad RNG at the start, Forestrike is one of the few games where you feel like mastering a martial arts skill. There is a depth of tactics game, mixed with the reflexes of a fighting game and the innovative “Forsight mechanic”, making its gameplay stand out among its peers, and it should be commended. Those MA philosophies get corporate well into a story whose writing punches well above its weight compared to similar rogue-lites. This will certainly not be for everyone, but those with patience and a desire for mastery are sure to find a worthwhile experience.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The option to do a test run before battles, as often as you like, is certainly convenient for players but it doesn't guarantee victory and still keeps the battles from becoming trivial. I had a lot of fun experimenting with the various combat skills: they significantly influenced the battles and created just the right "one more run" mentality that makes the Roguelite genre so special for me. Unfortunately, the game often crashed on Switch 2 which led to unnecessary frustration and perhaps you've seen "everything" the game has to offer a little too quickly.”
read full review ↗ - 80
- 70
“Forestrike features an interesting concept and aesthetic I appreciate, but can feel unbalanced.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Forestrike is a ton of fun. It's easy to look at it and assume it's just another beat-'em-up, but the surprisingly rigid and strict rules of combat make it feel a lot more like a themed puzzled game than a standard action title. It's intensely satisfying to emerge victorious from difficult situations and seemingly overwhelming combat. Only a few balance issues drag down the game, but they're not that serious. Puzzle and beat-'em-up fans should give Forestrike a shot.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“As an action game and a roguelike, Forestrike is a satisfying, if challenging, experience. By allowing the player to foresee fights and predict their foes’ next moves, it turns what would be a by-the-numbers 2D fighting game into a more thoughtful experience built around memorisation, timing and strategy. While it drags anytime you have to claw yourself back following a game over, Forestrike makes up for it with its varied combat system and appealing aesthetics. If you’re a roguelike fan or an action fan, there’s a lot to like about Forestrike, and it’s certainly worth jumping into.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Forestrike is an entertaining blend of puzzle game and martial arts brawler, allowing you to experiment with different tactics. The different masters also provide variety with ability combinations that make each run unique. Running into some impossible fights that you simply can't beat and the crashing issue on Switch 2 do take some of the shine off the experience, though.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Forestrike is the latest addition to Devolver Digital’s impressive catalog in 2025. Its creative twist on the Roguelite genre makes it stand out from other games. It’s a game where you have control over everything, and luck doesn’t come into play. It’s a game where you have to use your brain before your brawn, with a splendid cast of characters. While it has some issues, they pale in comparison to the amazing blueprint that is Forestrike.”
read full review ↗
Stryftek
Pure Nintendo
GameMAG
Nintendo Life
Gameffine
ZTGD
Siliconera
Worth Playing
Checkpoint Gaming
TheSixthAxis
GamesNight…and 18 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Patch v1.0-2586Mar 4, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Patch v1.0-2559Feb 14, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Patch v1.0-2394Dec 11, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Patch v1.0-2385Dec 5, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Patch v1.0-2377Dec 2, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Patch v1.0-2330Nov 21, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Demo Patch v.3-270Oct 22, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Cold Eye School Trailer & Demo Update LIVE!Jun 2, 2025
- Patch v.1-120Apr 2, 2025significant · resets scoring window