DaRmaZat Sometimes, you can tell within the first few minutes that you’re playing something extraordinary—a game where talent and dedication ooze from every corner, where every piece fits together seamlessly, and where everything is designed to create a deeply enjoyable experience. That’s exactly the feeling I had when I first played The Forgotten City.
Originally created as a Skyrim mod by just three developers, The Forgotten City gained so much love from the community that its creators decided to turn it into a standalone game over the course of four years. When it officially launched in late July 2021, it became clear that it would be just as successful as the mod—if not more.
Mystery at its Core
The game takes you back nearly 2,000 years, to one year after the great fire of Rome—a catastrophe shrouded in mystery. Was it Nero? The Christians? Or someone else? You, however, are a modern-day individual who has inexplicably fallen into the Tiber and remembers nothing except your name. After a brief exchange with a woman who saves you from drowning—during which you choose your body type, each with its own strengths and weaknesses—you find yourself in a nameless city that strongly resembles ancient Rome.
At first, your objective seems straightforward: figure out who you are and how to return to the present. But it doesn’t take long to realize there’s something deeply strange about this city. Residents talk of the “Golden Rule”: a law decreed by the gods, where any sin—stealing, harming others—results in the annihilation of everyone in the city, turning them into golden statues. The only way to reset this doom is through a human sacrifice at the city’s altar, which somehow rewinds time. Everywhere you look, you see haunting golden statues frozen in agony, and you’ll often hear whispers—eerie voices adding to the game’s enigmatic atmosphere.
Addictive Gameplay
Through conversations with the city’s residents, quests and storylines start to intertwine in beautifully intricate ways. Each resident matters and has their own unique story, quirks, and problems for you to solve—or exploit. From the humorous to the sinister, every character feels alive and engaging. Your dialogue choices hold real weight; one wrong move might close off interactions with a character entirely. Thankfully, these mistakes aren’t permanent—because, as mentioned, you can always reset the timeline by provoking someone to commit a sin.
While it may seem like replaying the same day and having the same conversations would grow tiresome, the dynamic nature of the dialogue ensures it doesn’t. Your protagonist learns from every interaction, and this knowledge shapes future conversations, eliciting fresh reactions from the townspeople. The voice acting and storytelling are so compelling that you forget you’re stuck in a time loop. Over time, the combination of time travel and dialogue becomes so addictive that you’ll find yourself testing wild ideas just to see how the world reacts. These experiments might even lead you to one of the game’s multiple endings. And while the action takes a backseat for much of the game, when it does come into play, it’s executed flawlessly.
Flawless Mechanics and Stunning Presentation
One of the game’s most impressive aspects is its design philosophy. There’s no pointless loot; every object serves a purpose. From your initial flashlight to the notes, coins, and a beautifully designed bow you acquire later, every item contributes meaningfully to your journey. The absence of a map might seem like a drawback, but the city’s compact design ensures you’ll quickly get your bearings.
Despite its modest size, the city is brimming with detail. The architecture is breathtaking, both inside and out, and the game is peppered with educational references to Classical Antiquity. Visually, the game is more polished than it needs to be, and its soundtrack—often calming yet tinged with mystery—perfectly complements the setting. It’s no surprise that the soundtrack is included as bonus content.
Final Thoughts
The Forgotten City is a modern fairy tale, best experienced in 4K, with headphones, and under the cover of night. Its craftsmanship is impeccable, and playing it is an absolute joy. Writing a spoiler-free review for such a masterpiece is no small feat, but I hope I’ve succeeded in preserving its secrets. This is a must-play for anyone who values story-driven games—a true gem that reminds us why we fell in love with gaming in the first place.
Additional Information
Release Date: July 28, 2021
Played On: PC
Official Website: https://forgottencitygame.com
