Together in Forgotten Lands

Mona
Dec 27, 2025
4 min read

Factors	Rating	Description
🎮Gameplay	8	Solid co-op puzzles with good difficulty balance and variety
📷Graphics	7	Mystical aesthetic but needs polish; players blend into scenery
🎧Narration/Audio	7	Atmospheric ambiance is there but not memorable
😮Variety	8	Four distinct biomes with unique puzzle mechanics each
🎰Re-playability	6	Limited replay once puzzles are solved; one-and-done experience
💲Price	N/A	TBD

Went into this one with my boyfriend expecting a chill puzzle night-and that's exactly what we got. Played on the xbox layout controller, but the displayed buttons in-game were not correct. The game paced well and we had a decent experience overall.

📝Story/Plot without spoilers:

🔸 You and a partner find yourselves in an ancient cave system atop a mystical mountain. How you got there or why isn't immediately clear-the game leans into environmental storytelling rather than exposition dumps. Your goal is simple: work together to uncover the secrets of this forgotten world and find your way out. Throughout the journey, you'll encounter bizarre plants, mysterious creatures, and arcane forces that hint at a civilization long gone. The story unfolds through the environment itself-glowing runes, crumbling structures, and strange mechanisms tell the tale of what once was. It's not narrative-heavy, but there's enough mystery to keep you curious about what's around the next corner.

🎮Gameplay:

🔸 The puzzles are the star here, and they hit a sweet spot in difficulty. They're challenging enough to make you think but never so obscure that you're stuck for ages feeling frustrated. Every puzzle felt solvable with enough observation and teamwork-which is exactly what you want from a co-op puzzle game.

🔸 The variety of puzzle types keeps things fresh across the four biomes:

------🔹 Light manipulation puzzles where you align rays on stones to unlock portals/doors. These require coordination-one person adjusts while the other confirms the alignment.

------🔹 Platforming sections with bouncy jellyfish that launch you to higher areas. Timing and communication are key here. ------🔹 Color orb mechanics where you fuse different colored balls to create new colors. Simple concept, but the applications get clever.

------🔹 Classic lever puzzles that require simultaneous pulling-straightforward but satisfying when executed together.

🔸 The game is designed exclusively for two players, and it shows. Every puzzle requires genuine cooperation-this isn't one of those co-op games where one person can carry. You need to communicate, coordinate, and sometimes just trust your partner when they say "jump NOW".

🔸 Figuring out the next steps is genuinely fun. The game doesn't hold your hand, which I appreciated, but it also doesn't leave you completely lost. That said, I do think some light hints would help-not answers, but gentle nudges like "The light shows the path" when you've been stuck for a while. It would maintain the satisfaction of solving puzzles while reducing potential frustration. Each of the four biomes introduces new mechanics and atmospheres, so there's a sense of progression and discovery as you move through the cave.

🔸 One significant issue: player visibility. Even on Ultra graphics, it's surprisingly hard to locate your teammate because the character models blend into the environment. In a game where you need to constantly coordinate positions and movements, losing track of your partner is a real problem. An arrow indicator, hover text, or even just a subtle glow around players would solve this instantly. I hope the devs add something like this before full release.

🔸No major technical issues during our playthrough. The game ran smoothly, no crashes, and the online co-op connection was stable throughout.

📷 Graphics:

🔸 The mystical cave setting is genuinely pretty. There's a dreamlike quality to the environments-glowing flora, ancient stone structures, ethereal lighting. The art direction captures that "forgotten world" vibe well. However, the graphics need more polish. Even on Ultra settings, some textures feel flat, and the overall visual fidelity doesn't quite match other puzzle adventures in this space. It's not ugly by any means, but it's not going to wow you either.

🔸 The biggest visual issue is player readability. Characters don't stand out from the backgrounds enough. When your co-op partner is on the other side of a puzzle area, you'll find yourself squinting and asking "where are you?" way too often.

📝Main Pros and Cons:

🟩Pros-

Puzzles hit the perfect difficulty sweet spot-challenging but solvable
Genuine co-op design where both players matter equally
Four distinct biomes with unique mechanics and atmosphere
Good variety of puzzle types

🟥Cons-

Graphics need more polish even on highest settings
No hint system for when you're stuck

😇 Verdict:

🔸 Together in Forgotten Lands is a solid co-op puzzle game that does the important things right. The puzzles are well-designed, the difficulty curve is fair, and the mystical cave setting provides a pleasant backdrop for your brain-teasing adventure. If you have a regular puzzle partner, this is worth your time. Try the free Chapter One first if you're on the fence-it'll give you a clear sense of whether the full game is for you.

Rating: 7.5/10

A mystical cave worth exploring-just don't lose sight of your partner.