{"id":187459,"date":"2022-04-04T10:44:41","date_gmt":"2022-04-04T08:44:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sftarticles.wpenginepowered.com\/en\/?p=187459"},"modified":"2025-07-01T20:50:18","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T03:50:18","slug":"mirror-forge-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/mirror-forge-preview\/","title":{"rendered":"Mirror Forge preview | Intense horror game"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Mirror Forge<\/a> is a free demo<\/strong> of a survival horror game<\/strong> developed and published by MystiveDev, with a planned full release on September 30, 2022. The developer states that it\u2019s inspired by Silent Hill<\/strong>, which is why I had to test it for a review. Being a long-time fan of the SH franchise since the start, I needed to see how well the game holds to these claims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The demo certainly has a dark overtone, and there are certainly hints to the Konami classic. How are the gameplay elements in Mirror Forge<\/strong>, and are there good graphics? How long is the demo, and will you be scared? Find out all the terrifying, horrific details in my review below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mirror Forge inspired by Silent Hill<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let me start my Mirror Forge review by addressing the statement that Silent Hill inspired it. Playing through the demo, I definitely felt similar elements<\/strong> from titles like Silent Hill 2<\/a> <\/strong>and Silent Hill 4: The Room<\/strong><\/a>. There\u2019s even a section where you enter the memory of your home, which certainly connects to Silent Hills, or P.T<\/strong>.<\/a> as we originally called it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, which parts were similar to Silent Hill? Well, the graphics and horrific elements<\/strong> definitely are. When you enter the hospital area later, some aspects and the map reminded me of Alchemilla Hospital<\/strong>. There isn\u2019t any fog like in SH streets, but you get the same dark atmosphere<\/strong> within the buildings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Besides some creature similarities<\/strong>, the aspect that connected Mirror Forge to Silent Hill the most for me is how it messes with your mind<\/strong>. I\u2019ll cover this a bit more in the review below, but there are areas where you see one thing for a moment, and then it changes when you turn around. This tastes like every SH title I\u2019ve played. There\u2019s even a Silent Hill achievement for finding the Easter egg <\/strong>related to the game series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mirror<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Mysterious clues to the story<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So, let\u2019s get to the Mirror Forge demo. When you begin, you\u2019re standing in a strange storage area<\/strong> with blood and frightening objects covering the walls.<\/strong> There are corpses with body parts within walls — to give you some idea. You don\u2019t really know what\u2019s happening except for the notes you find<\/strong> and the literal writing on the wall<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each room and area is a puzzle you need to solve <\/strong>to get to the next phase, almost like an escape room scenario. It starts easy with hints <\/strong>of how to solve them, but when you reach the hospital, it\u2019s all up to you to figure things out. I love how challenging the puzzles seem, but many times there\u2019s such a simple solution, such as doing the opposite of what they say. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The main story so far is definitely intriguing, but it does in some ways feel a bit like Silent Hill 2. What I mean is the relationship<\/strong> between your character and your wife<\/strong> and the hint that you killed her. However, Mirror Forge takes a fresh approach to this premise, and I can\u2019t wait to see how it unfolds in the complete game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mirror<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Terrifying visual effects<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I need to place a disclaimer that I\u2019ve played horror games for most of my life, and there are few things that still scare me in this genre. Yet, there are plenty of terrifying moments<\/strong> that made me jump for an instant and swear happily at the developers for making me feel that way again. What makes it more frightening is that you play in first-person view<\/strong>, much like Resident Evil 7<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The terror is a welcoming combination of gore, jump scares, and suspense <\/strong>building that\u2019s hard to find a balance in most games. Fortunately, Mirror Forge seems to be getting it right. It\u2019s definitely not for the faint of heart<\/strong>, especially for anyone dealing with anxiety issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mirror<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Walking through an eerie atmosphere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main gameplay aspects in Mirror Forge mostly revolve around walking around, finding items, solving clues, and evading death. There are no combat actions<\/strong> as yet, so everything hinges on survival. In the hospital, you have to do your best to avoid the deformed nurses without a weapon in hand. You don\u2019t know how badly I wished for a crowbar to smash their skulls in. Thank goodness for the painkillers. There were some moments where the movement was awkward, though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m at a crossroads about having no combat. I understand how it adds to the survival element, where you need to avoid creatures<\/strong> to continue playing. However, I do miss being able to clear the floor with a weapon so I can appreciate the beauty of the halls and rooms in peace. We\u2019ll have to see if this element changes in the full game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mirror<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Nothing is as it seems in Mirror Forge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Finally, I need to add how much I adore how nothing is as it seems<\/strong> in Mirror Forge. One moment, you\u2019re walking down a corridor to a door where a memory scene plays. When you turn around, the scenery has changed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s also an alternate universe, much like Otherworld in Silent Hill<\/strong>. It mostly works with a mirror that transports you<\/strong> elsewhere and everything looks different. While it\u2019s all the mirror does for the moment, I\u2019m keen to see how they evolve this feature <\/strong>over the entire game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mirror<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Mirror Forge: Do you have the guts?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Mirror Forge demo took me 1 and a half hours to complete<\/strong>. There\u2019s a surprising amount you can do in that time, so don\u2019t let that put you down. It\u2019s a terrifying experience that I loved as a horror gamer and author, and especially as someone that has written Silent Hill novels. It took me deep into my fears, and yet I smiled at all the puzzles, horror, and scenery I encountered. The full game will be nothing but epic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you love horror, check out my Death Stranding Director’s Cut review<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pros<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n