A new trailer for upcoming environmental thriller game The Forest Cathedral has been released to showcase the game's accessibility options, with Screen Rant receiving an exclusive first look. The title comes from publisher Whitethorn Games and developer Brian Wilson, and is based around a fictionalized version of real-life scientist Rachel Carson's life.
A new trailer from Whitethorn Games, who in the past have published indie darling titles like beekeeping simulator APICO and the mysterious craft-driven story-based game Wytchwood, highlights the many accessibility options The Forest Cathedral has to offer alongside a showcase of the title's unique gameplay. The Forest Cathedral was designed with accessibility in mind from the start, with options like disabling spikes, slowing player fall speed, and a special font designed to help with the symptoms of dyslexic reading. Screen Rant can exclusively reveal the new trailer ahead of its official announcement.
The Forest Cathedral Is A Unique, Accessible 2D Meets 3D Game
The Forest Cathedral presents an interesting blend of 2D and 3D gaming not often seen, with players controlling a small digital figure called Little Man to navigate various dangerous platforming levels. This gameplay is slightly reminiscent of The Pedestrian, where puzzle-platforming solutions can be found through a mix of 2D maneuvering within levels and 3D player actions outside of them. The Forest Cathedral presents a surreal take on Rachel Carson's discovery of the horrors of pesticide DDT, trapping her on a mysterious island and tasking her with discovering its many secrets. The game is set to release in early 2023 for PC and Xbox consoles.
Accessibility options in video games are incredibly important, as they allow any player to enjoy what the games have to offer. The fact that The Forest Cathedral was designed with accessibility at its forefront from the very beginning is impressive, and also a rare occurrence in the current industry landscape. While tides have slowly been turning, with AAA titles like God of War Ragnarök offering many accessibility features, the industry still has a long way to go.
The Forest Cathedral's focus on being accessible to players regardless of any accommodations they may need is a great step forward, and hopefully one more publishers and developers will practice as the gaming landscape continues to grow. The wide range of options showcased in The Forest Cathedral, from adjusting controls, light effects, and font to toggling the game's difficulty through different settings, mean that a much wider range of players will be able to enjoy the game. Players have a lot of nature-driven puzzle solving and platforming in their future when The Forest Cathedral releases early next year.
Source: Whitethorn Games/YouTube