When Thomas Olsson and Skeleton Crew Studio set out to create Forestrike, they had an ambitious vision: combine the adrenaline rush of action games with the strategic depth of turn-based combat. Released in November 2025 under Devolver Digital, the result is a martial arts roguelite that transforms frantic fighting into calculated choreography.
The Birth of Tactical Kung Fu
Forestrike didn’t happen overnight. The Kyoto-based development team, responsible for 2021’s acclaimed Olija, wanted to push boundaries in the roguelite genre. Thomas Olsson, the game director, describes the core concept as “Tactical Kung Fu,” a playful term that captures the game’s unique identity. The team believed that deck building and encounter generation would be key to creating an emergent fighting system, though Olsson admits they were “a little naive” thinking the genre would solve all their problems. Still, it proved to be the right direction.
The game follows Yu, an inexperienced martial artist tasked with liberating his homeland from a ruthless empire. Players traverse various landscapes, defeating enemies in a roguelite format where each playthrough presents slightly altered levels and scenarios. But what sets Forestrike apart isn’t its premise – it’s how combat unfolds.
Foresight: The Game-Changing Mechanic
At the heart of Forestrike lies its signature mechanic called Foresight. This supernatural ability lets players preview and practice battles as many times as needed before committing to the real fight. Think of it as a mental rehearsal space where failure has no consequences. Players enter a darker, parallel dimension where they can experiment with different strategies, test timing, and learn enemy patterns without losing progress.
Balancing this mechanic presented unique challenges. Olsson explains that many games already make players repeat choreography – titles like Hotline Miami or Celeste come to mind. Forestrike’s twist is requiring players to reproduce their planned moves consistently in the actual battle. Each opponent responds predictably to actions, transforming every encounter into a strategic puzzle that rewards precision and mastery.
Five Masters, Countless Possibilities
Throughout the journey, Yu encounters five eccentric martial arts masters, each teaching distinct fighting philosophies and techniques. This system creates a personalized playstyle that evolves with each run. Players can combine and upgrade techniques, leading to unexpected synergies.
Olsson has a soft spot for the Monkey master, whose techniques cause unpredictable results that showcase the game’s emergent aspects. He encourages players to break the game with overpowered combinations or express themselves with style. Techniques like Levitation let you float quietly above the battlefield, while Kong Lao turns your hat into a weapon. The team loves seeing players use basic techniques in unexpected ways or employ cosmetic Stances purely for self-expression.
The Five Fighting Styles
- Leaf Path – Focuses on dodging and light/heavy strikes for agile combat
- Cold Eye – Emphasizes blocking and throws with a radical approach to fighting
- Monkey – Creates unpredictable results and emergent gameplay situations
- Each master provides permanent upgrades and unique technique combinations
- Players can experiment with throwing weapons, stunning enemies, and aerial maneuvers
Deck Building Meets Martial Arts
The roguelite structure generates unique runs and encounters every time, making adaptation and improvisation crucial. Between battles, players recover at inns, acquire new gear, and rescue travelers for rewards. The progression system leans heavily into deck-builder mechanics, where you pick from random upgrades as you advance through node-based maps.
Shops along the way let you sacrifice certain techniques to forge better ones, or purchase health and trinkets to aid your run. Some abilities include healing when an enemy accidentally defeats another enemy, or stunning opponents by poking their eyes. This variety ensures each playthrough feels distinct, though the game’s metaprogression system could be more rewarding according to some players.
Design Philosophy and Influences
Forestrike exists in the same universe as Olija, though the thematic approach differs dramatically. While Olija was emotional and sensory, Forestrike is demanding and technical. Olsson emphasizes that Forestrike carries the identity of several people who injected their own vision into the game, making it special beyond his individual contributions.
The team drew inspiration from essential kung-fu cinema, though they kept specific titles close to their chest. The pixel art is wonderfully detailed with idiosyncratic animations that fans of Skeleton Crew’s previous work will recognize. Combat feels like solving a complex puzzle rather than button mashing, rewarding patient players who analyze mistakes and learn from them.
Development Challenges and Solutions
| Challenge | Solution |
|---|---|
| Balancing action with strategy | Created Foresight mechanic for consequence-free practice |
| Creating variety in runs | Implemented deck-building with random upgrades and node-based maps |
| Making combat feel tactical | Designed predictable enemy patterns that reward precision |
| Player expression | Added technique combinations and cosmetic stances |
Community Feedback Shapes Development
The development team actively engaged with player feedback throughout the process. Community insights sparked concrete debates among designers, helping solidify concepts and smooth rough edges. This collaborative approach helped the team commit to specific decisions while nuancing elements that needed refinement.
The ultimate reward in Forestrike isn’t just completing a run – it’s achieving victory without using Foresight at all. This goal pushes players to master the combat system so thoroughly that they can execute flawless fights on the first attempt. It’s a testament to how the game trains players to become genuinely skilled fighters, at least within its pixelated universe.
FAQs
What makes Forestrike different from other roguelite games?
Forestrike features a unique Foresight mechanic that lets players practice battles multiple times in a consequence-free dimension before fighting for real. This transforms combat from reflexive action into strategic choreography where you plan every move.
Who developed Forestrike and when was it released?
Forestrike was developed by Skeleton Crew Studio and game director Thomas Olsson, based in Kyoto, Japan. It was published by Devolver Digital and released on November 17, 2025, for PC and Nintendo Switch at a price of $9.99.
What are the five masters in Forestrike?
The game features five eccentric martial arts masters, each teaching different fighting philosophies and techniques. Examples include the Leaf Path focusing on dodging and strikes, the Cold Eye emphasizing blocks and throws, and the Monkey master whose techniques create unpredictable emergent gameplay.
Is Forestrike suitable for players new to roguelite games?
While Forestrike is challenging and rewards precision, the Foresight mechanic makes it more accessible than typical roguelites. Players can practice encounters as many times as needed before committing, removing frustration from failure while still maintaining challenge.
Can you play Forestrike without using the Foresight ability?
Yes, and that’s actually the ultimate goal. The game encourages players to eventually win battles without using Foresight, demonstrating true mastery of the combat system. This represents the highest level of skill achievement in the game.
What is the connection between Forestrike and Olija?
Both games were created by Thomas Olsson and Skeleton Crew Studio, and they exist in the same universe. However, their themes differ significantly – Olija is emotional and sensory while Forestrike is demanding and technical.
How does the deck-building system work in Forestrike?
Players progress through node-based maps, selecting from random upgrades and techniques as they advance. You can combine and upgrade techniques, visit shops to sacrifice moves for better ones, and acquire trinkets and gear that modify your fighting style each run.
Conclusion
Forestrike represents a bold experiment in game design that successfully merges two seemingly incompatible genres. By giving players the power to see the future through Foresight, Skeleton Crew Studio created a martial arts game that values both tactical planning and execution skill. The result is a roguelite that feels fresh and innovative, proving that with creative vision and careful design, even well-established genres can be reinvented. For players willing to embrace its challenging puzzle-like combat, Forestrike offers a uniquely rewarding experience that trains you to become a true digital martial arts master.