Forestrike

Forestrike is a tactical roguelite martial arts game. Players take on the role of Yu, a martial artist on a mission to save the emperor from a ruthless admiral. Gameplay features a blend of intense combat and strategic planning. Players can use Yu's special 'Foresight' ability to see how encounters will play out and try out different strategies before entering the real battle. Each opponent responds predictably to the player's actions, making every battle a strategic puzzle that rewards precision and mastery. Once players have committed to the final version of the fight, success will carry them forward, while failure will end their run.

This makes the game feel like a puzzle. The combat system is challenging, rewarding those who are patient enough to analyse their mistakes and learn from them. The variety of play styles is enhanced by the different fighting styles taught by five masters and the ability to combine and upgrade techniques. The game offers an intense and difficult challenge, where precise execution, timing and positioning are crucial.

Between battles, Yu can recover at inns, acquire new gear, and rescue travellers to earn rewards. Thanks to the roguelite structure, Forestrike's game loop requires improvisation in subsequent runs, and players can make permanent progress. However, the metaprogression could be more rewarding and faster. There is also a lack of variety, which is to be expected given the low price. Those who enjoyed Shogun Showdown may also enjoy Forestrike.

Forestrike was developed by Thomas Olsson and Skeleton Crew based in Kyoto, Japan. The team is responsible for 2021's Olija and organises BitSummit, Japan's leading independent game development festival.

The game's publisher is Devolver Digital, an American company that specialises in indie video games. The company has been particularly active this year, releasing Look Outside in March, The Talos Principle: Reawakened and Gorn 2 in April, Shotgun Cop Man in May, Tron: Catalyst in June, Mycopunk in July, Stick it to the Stickman in August, Baby Steps in September, and Ball X Pit in October. The latter was a major success for the publisher, achieving over 35,000 concurrent users on Steam - the fourth-highest number for Devolver Digital. Heart Machine's Possessor(s) and Forestrike were released in November.. Skate Story by Sam Eng is scheduled for release on 8 December. Quarantine Zone: The Last Checkpoint from Brigada Games is also scheduled for release this year. Minos, a maze-building roguelite, and the boomer shooter Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 have been announced for release in 2026.

Forestrike was released on 17 November 2025 for PC and Switch 5, priced at €9.99.

Conclusion

In Forestrike, martial arts combat becomes a challenging puzzle.

Features

• Outstanding gameplay concept
• Five different fighting styles
• Charming pixel art