The Forbidden Arts

About

Selosoft’s The Forbidden Arts drops you into a world where fire mastery and platforming go hand in hand. As Phoenix, you navigate ancient ruins and shifting environments using fire-based abilities that let you burn, melt, and ignite your way through puzzles and combat. The game leans heavily on exploration, rewarding players who poke around crumbling temples and overgrown forests for hidden paths and upgrades. Combat is straightforward but lacks depth, relying on basic attacks and elemental interactions to take down foes. The art style and atmospheric settings keep things visually engaging even when the gameplay feels familiar. The game’s challenge comes from its achievement system, which includes 66 trophies or milestones. The rarest one, “Golem Executioner,” only 3.4% of players have unlocked, hinting at some tough late-game trials. It released in 2019 across PS4, PC, Xbox, Switch, Mac, and iOS, making it widely accessible. While the story is light and the mechanics unassuming, the mix of platforming and elemental experimentation gives it a niche charm. Players looking for a casual adventure with a focus on discovery might find it hits the right notes, even if it doesn’t reinvent the wheel.