Sons of the Forest is about to be released on Steam, and MeinMMO editor Maik Schneider has particularly focused on the base building. He explains what makes it so special and why beginners may not necessarily benefit from it here.
Finally, another new survival title with great potential. My first focus always goes to the building system with such announcements. Unfortunately, in the last new survival hit, V Rising, base building was rather simplistic – that was due to the iso perspective.
However, Sons of the Forest draws from a wealth of resources, attempts an innovative system, and could consequently have a significant influence on how such games approach base building in the future.
Because I don’t just pull 2 tons of wood out of my small belly bag and throw them onto a blueprint. I have to craft and set up every wall, every floor, every barricade myself.
A dream for dedicated base builders like me – but perhaps also a nightmare for newcomers to the genre, who can only manage to create a square enclosure.
The multiplayer trailer of Sons of the Forest gives a good first impression of the building system:
What is so great about the building system? I haven’t had a chance to get hands-on yet, but I already know the foundation from The Forest 1. Back then, there were blueprints, but you already had to carry the logs individually to the storage.
It was already a solid system, especially because the logs didn’t just disappear upon a breach. Building parts or smaller elements like log storage spots flew around chaotically when a motivated mutant destroyed a wall.
Sons of the Forest takes it a step further. Blueprints seem to almost completely belong to the past. If I want to build a floor, I chop down trees, cut them vertically, and place them next to each other. They connect “magnetically,” as you know from other building systems.
This allows for an unprecedented freedom in base building because I can size the logs as I need them. In my mind, an impressive log cabin with a conservatory and water access is already taking shape.
It’s likely that the system won’t be quite as “open”. Logs cannot be chopped into any size.
However, once it comes to the next material – stones – it could get really exciting. If I can place each individual brick as I want, the others can happily take on the cave tours.
I will then be busy creating a medieval village complete with a castle and a bustling marketplace.
You can find a brief overview of the game in our video on Sons of the Forest:
What are the disadvantages? I have been playing survival games for over 10 years and have built unnecessarily large bases in various games – ARK, Conan, Rust, Grounded, Raft, 7 Days to Die. The list is quite long by now.
However, Minecraft has already shown me before that it takes a certain degree of experience not to just hammer cubic shapes into the landscape.
Google and a touch of creativity certainly help as well. But what’s more rewarding than taking a proud look at your own creation after hours of work?
Even though the building system makes a really good impression, it could present a certain hurdle for newcomers to the genre.
My recommendation: If you play cooperatively, designate a builder, support him with resources, and let him hammer away for a few hours. Whether it worked out will be shown by the first serious mutant attack.
Otherwise, just start a new base and benefit from the experiences gathered. As soon as the game is released, we also plan to create smaller guides on the topic of “building”.
I’m also interested in your first impression of the building system. What would your dream system look like if you could design something like that? Is there perhaps already a game that fulfills all your building wishes? Leave a comment on the topic.
If you are looking for more games with good building systems, then browse through our list: 7 MMOs with base building where you can get lost
