Forspoken
A magical open-world journey from New York to Athia.
Forspoken is a 2023 action role-playing game developed by Luminous Productions and published by Square Enix. It is the debut game from Luminous Productions, a studio formed by former Final Fantasy XV staff, and was originally known as Project Athia. The game focuses on fast and fluid terrain traversal within an open world, following protagonist Frey Holland as she is transported from New York City to the fantasy realm of Athia and uses magic to survive and find a way home.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Forspoken
- Developer
- Luminous Productions
- Publisher
- Square Enix
- Director
- Takeshi Aramaki
- Producer
- Akio Ofuji
- Programmer
- Hiroshi Iwasaki · Masaki Kobayashi
- Artist
- Yoshiaki Yamaguchi · Akihiko Kishi · Yuki Matsuzawa
- Writer
- Allison Rymer · Todd Stashwick · Amy Hennig · Gary Whitta
- Composer
- Bear McCreary · Garry Schyman
- Engine
- Luminous Engine
- Platforms
- PlayStation 5 · Windows
- Released
- January 24, 2023
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Forspoken was developed to showcase the PlayStation 5's graphical capabilities, featuring ray tracing and procedural generation for large-scale locations. The writing team includes Gary Whitta and Amy Hennig, while Black Girl Gamers provided consultation on the characterization of Frey. The music was composed by Bear McCreary and Garry Schyman. The game was released for PlayStation 5 and Windows on January 24, 2023, after being delayed from an initial May 24, 2022 date, and then from October 11, 2022.
Reader's Guide
Forspoken received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics, with a 'mixed or average' rating on Metacritic and 30% of critics recommending the game on OpenCritic. Ash Parrish of The Verge praised the parkour system for making traversal 'enthralling' despite an otherwise empty world, but found combat 'one-note' and 'kinda useless' in comparison. Kyle Hilliard of Game Informer also reviewed the game. A month after release, Square Enix announced that Luminous Productions would be absorbed back into Square Enix in May 2023. The DLC In Tanta We Trust was released on May 26, 2023, with early access for Digital Deluxe Edition owners. The game's legacy is tied to its technical ambitions and the mixed reception of its narrative and gameplay systems.
Did You Know?
- The game was originally titled Project Athia during development.
- The sentient bracelet Cuff is voiced by Jonathan Cake.
- The consulting company Black Girl Gamers provided feedback on the main character Frey.
- The game features a horde-mode-like 'breakstorm' that ends with a named boss.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Forspoken?
Forspoken is a 2023 action RPG in which a young woman from New York is yanked into a magical open world called Athia and must rely on her sorcery to survive. It was made by Luminous Productions, a studio built around ex-Final Fantasy XV developers, and shipped by Square Enix.
Who is the protagonist of Forspoken?
The player controls Alfre 'Frey' Holland, a New Yorker who is suddenly pulled into the realm of Athia with no memory of how she got there. She is voiced by Ella Balinska in the English track and Umeka Shōji in Japanese.
What can Frey do with her magic in Forspoken?
Frey casts elemental spells on the fly while sprinting, leaping, and wall-running, which makes traversal feel almost like free-form parkour. The same magic powers her combat, letting her chain attacks and area effects without stopping her momentum.
How does the Forspoken story wrap up?
Frey's arc centers on uncovering the political and magical forces destabilizing Athia while searching for a way back to New York. By the end, she confronts the root of the realm's crisis and secures a path home, though the journey reshapes her understanding of both worlds.
What platforms and when did Forspoken release?
The game launched on January 24, 2023, for PlayStation 5 and Windows PC only. It was originally developed under the codename Project Athia before receiving its final title.
More in Role-Playing Games of the 2020s, Part 2 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced