Forspoken may feel like the kind of game nobody actually asked for, but it's nice to see developers try something original and create a new story rather than over-relying on old franchises and characters. Sometimes, we try to soar and fall flat on our faces - but at least we tried.
While Forspoken is a hit-or-miss kind of game, it does share a lot in common with other games. Whether you've finished Forspoken, or just had your fill, these games will be eager to show you what they're made of.
9 Horizon: Zero Dawn
Horizon: Zero Dawn (and its sequel, Forbidden West) offer you a massive open world to explore, full of nooks and crannies to get lost in. Also, if you're so inclined, there are some gigantic robots to fight. You don't have magic like in Forspoken, but you have access to technology that makes you a unique threat to the synthetic creatures who stalk you, and any humans who may find themselves on the wrong side of your bow.
Aloy is not as talkative or plucky as Frey - she has a "strong, silent-type" disposition, but they have similar characteristics. Like Aloy, Frey is an orphan who seeks some kind of belonging. And both characters have the total capacity to wreck anyone who stands in their way, so what more could you want?
8 The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
There's something peaceful about the end of the world, as portrayed in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. As always, you play as Link, the chosen hero who must save Hyrule and Princess Zelda from the threat of Ganon. Except that, this time, Ganon's already won. He won a hundred years ago, and you failed. So now, you have to fix it - no matter what.
Breath of the Wild has an ageless art style, a painterly cel-shaded look that renders its many vistas absolutely breathtaking. It's also an incredibly freeing game - you can stroll up to Hyrule Castle in only your underwear, wielding only sticks if you choose. There is so much to discover, and with that discovery, a profound sense of peace.
Forspoken is heavier on the narrative side - fast-paced and quick-witted - so if you're seeking something akin to downtime after your adventure with Frey, don't keep Hyrule waiting.
7 Final Fantasy 7: Remake
Final Fantasy 7: Remake is possibly the most accessible Final Fantasy title in a while - even if you don't know the intricate lore of the FF7 Compilation, it's still a ball to play. With quick-paced battles, a well-realized world, and perfect reintroductions to beloved characters, there's a lot to love about Square's return to Midgar.
This is the perfect game for sinking a lot (like, a lot) of hours into. With such an entertaining and intriguing storyline that seems just as relevant now as it did back in the 1990s, you can let yourself immerse yourself into this world where both magic and technology collide.
6 Tomb Raider
We heard you like parkour and scaling cliffs? Lucky for you, Tomb Raider is all about that, too. We'd recommend you start at the beginning with 2013's reboot, as it's an exciting adventure that brought Lara Croft back into the popular consciousness. It was then followed up with two more excellent entries, Rise of the Tomb Raider, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider.
This game is also a little grittier than older entries into the series, having a harsher survival angle than the older games. So if you're down with that, Lara Croft is waiting for your help to solve some mysteries, deal with some awful mercenaries, and raid some tombs.
5 Mass Effect: Legendary Edition
The galaxy needs you. Mass Effect: Legendary Edition combines the first three Mass Effect games and all their DLC into one remastered and convenient package. While Dragon Age probably shares more in common with Forspoken's fantasy world, Mass Effect is BioWare at its best, and still offers a huge, sprawling story to enjoy.
This series is so easy to get lost in – the world-building is tight, the characters memorable, and the overarching story gets you invested almost immediately. It's an action RPG, and it's a horror game, and it's a choice-based adventure game, and it's even kind of an alien dating simulator.
4 Hades
You only need to hear the sweet riff of the guitar Hades' signature score to know that this game absolutely rips. There is no better introduction to roguelites than Supergiant's smash hit, and that's saying something. While Hades doesn't share much with Forspoken gameplay-wise, there's something in its vibe that feels akin to it.
Or maybe it's just that Frey seems like she would get along swimmingly with hell's local himbo, Zagreus. And hey, who wouldn't, when the prince of the underworld is such a good-natured sweetheart, who also happens to be a terribly effective fighter. The best thing about Hades is that you can play it in your own time - runs don't usually take more than a half-hour, so this is the easiest game to pick up and play.
3 God of War (2018)
What do Kratos and Frey have in common? Honestly, nothing. Forspoken is a bit of a hectic game, and if you're looking for a little more chaos in your combat system, God of War can more than oblige. Besides, who can resist fighting some of these well-designed and absolutely massive monsters?
God of War's Midgard, the ancient mythological Scandinavia, is exceptionally beautiful. Forests seem to stretch forever, frost kissing every branch of every tree, the lakes are clear and icy, and mountains pierce the sky. There are monsters abound, but none are a match for you. Mashing buttons never felt so narratively rich.
2 Life Is Strange: True Colors
If you want a more chill game without combat but with interesting characters, look no further than Life is Strange: True Colors. Well, it's not entirely chill - the inciting incident in the third mainline entry into the Life is Strange series is profoundly tragic and harrowing. Still, things do get better, kind of, as you move through the game.
Alex Chen, your main character, has the gift and curse of empathy powers. She can read people's emotions, feel as they feel, and sometimes take away negative feelings for better or worse. As far as Life is Strange protagonists go, she's one of the best - a well-realized portrait of a young woman with a lot of heart and many problems. You get the sense that, in another world, she and Frey could be friends.
1 The Legend Of Zelda: Majora's Mask
We're going retro for this one - as much as it pains some of us to call the N64 era 'retro.' At first glance, Forspoken doesn't seem to have much in common with this simultaneously beloved and misaligned entry into the Zelda canon. Yet, these two games do have some striking similarities that make them, if nothing else, kindred spirits.
Like Frey, the Link of The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask is a stranger in a strange land with a talkative, sarcastic companion. But, while Termina isn't entirely unlike his home realm of Hyrule, and many of the faces are familiar, this is a different world all the same. A different space with its own rules and customs to navigate.
Oh, and the scariest moon in all of video games is hanging overhead, threatening to fall on everyone's skulls within three days. Good luck, you'll need it.