The Sinking Forest - PS5 Review

The Sinking Forest on PS5 is a compact, atmospheric psychological horror that leans hard into mood, folklore, and slow‑burn dread. What it lacks in length and mechanical depth, it makes up for with a striking sense of place and a surprisingly emotional undercurrent. It’s the kind of game that feels handcrafted because it is and that intimacy shows in both its strengths and its rough edges.

You play as Sota Miyazono, a young man searching for his missing sister, Sayuri. It's a setup that’s familiar for the genre but effective in grounding the story. The narrative unfolds through exploration and scattered notes that reveal the tragic fates of the village’s former residents, gradually layering mystery, folklore, and grief into something more unsettling than outright terrifying.

The PS5 version preserves the game’s moody, dimly lit environments: abandoned homes, narrow forest paths, and a village that feels like it’s sinking into its own sorrow. The lighting is intentionally oppressive, and the game uses it well as shadows hide threats, but they also hide beauty. Even in decay, the world feels strangely mournful, as if you’re walking through the remnants of a life that once mattered.

The Sinking Forest is at its best when it’s simply letting you exist in its world. Sound design is subtle but effective, with creaks, whispers, and distant noises that keep you on edge without overwhelming you. Mannequins, yes, mannequins play a surprisingly prominent role in the game’s tension, often appearing in dim corners or half‑lit rooms to give you that “is it moving?” jolt.

This is not a combat‑heavy horror game. Enemies do appear, especially in the second half, but encounters are sparse and often lethal, sometimes instantly so. That can undercut the tension a bit, but it also reinforces the vulnerability the game wants you to feel.

Mechanically, this is a straightforward survival‑horror experience: explore, read notes, solve light environmental puzzles, and avoid or fend off threats. The game’s short runtime means it never overstays its welcome, but it also leaves some ideas underdeveloped. You can feel the ambition pushing against the constraints of a solo‑developer project.

Still, the atmosphere carries it. The forest and village feel alive in a way that’s more psychological than literal, every step feels like it’s pulling you deeper into something you shouldn’t be seeing.

Pros

• Thick, oppressive atmosphere that nails the feeling of wandering a cursed, forgotten village.

• Strong environmental storytelling, with notes and locations that build a tragic, folklore‑tinged mystery.

• Beautifully eerie lighting and art direction, especially in the forest and abandoned interiors.

• Sound design that quietly gets under your skin, using subtle creaks, whispers, and distant noises.

• Short, focused runtime that doesn’t overstay its welcome.

• A personal, emotionally grounded narrative that feels handcrafted and sincere.

Cons

• Very short, leaving some ideas and mechanics underdeveloped.

• Enemy encounters can feel abrupt or unfair, with occasional instant‑kill moments that break immersion.

• Simple gameplay loop — exploration and light puzzles with limited mechanical depth.

• Some rough edges typical of a solo‑developer project (animation, pacing, occasional jank).

• Story resolution may feel too quick, especially for players wanting deeper lore payoff.

The Sinking Forest is a short, atmospheric horror experience that thrives on mood, tension, and emotional weight rather than jump scares or complex mechanics. It’s imperfect, some encounters feel abrupt, and the runtime leaves you wanting more, but it’s also memorable, intimate, and beautifully eerie. If you enjoy compact psychological horror with a strong sense of place, this is absolutely worth your time on PS5.

XPN Rating: 3 out of 5 (SILVER)

The Sinking Forest is out now!