Although its inspiration is clear, Forewarned takes the concept of ghost hunting and fleshes it out to thrilling new heights.

Each and every biome feels distinct and unique as you pull up to it, gear up, and delve down deep into the dark. They all have their own unique set pieces, lighting sources, layouts, and even traps and scares. Plus, with the introduction of dynamite and breakable walls, there's even more to explore and loot, should you risk delving deeper into the danger that had previously been even further sealed away. Every single time I play, I feel as if I'm discovering something new that I hadn't experienced previously.

And that's all before you attempt to guess the Mejai.

The different evidence to watch out for is the perfect balance of vast and focused, giving each Mejai their own unique feel for how they haunt their own tombs. The game thoroughly rewards you for paying attention, with the consequences of excessive haste or greed remaining omnipresent throughout the experience.

Forewarned proceeds to then go above and beyond in its gameplay once you finalize your guess upon the door to the Mejai's inner sanctum. Guess the mejai correctly based off the evidence you gathered, and you'll be rewarded with a huge sum of loot, as well as a special relic from the sanctum's gilded sarcophagus. Guess wrong, and the inner sanctum remains sealed forever. Either way, the entrance to the tomb will lock, and the Mejai will physically manifest.

I particularly love the dichotomy of the guessing experience -- the game changes drastically in either direction. A correct guess rewards you with a new set of options; figure out how to leave with what you've got, or risk delving even deeper for a chance to perform a successful banishment ritual. An incorrect guess turns the on-edge exploration into a sprawling panic, as your group must use what it has now to ward off a mejai you weren't ready for, AND and find the lever to open the exit door.

Plus, with ten different locations, six possible mejai, five biomes, four difficulty settings, three sizes, and a toggleable timed mode, every single Forewarned run feels like its own adventure movie.

Not to mention, the constant bugfixes and quality-of-life updates (such as Marker Flags and radio communication between players) leads me to believe that the support this game is already getting will only make it become even better with time.

PLEASE do yourself a favor and check out this game.



**UPDATE:**
With the game's full release, it got even better.
Two new maps, a new biome, a new mejai, TONS of new content and puzzles, and fully revamped banishment rituals really were the finishing touches this game needed.

I can safely say this game is my favorite indie horror experience ever made.

It's alright