Indie developer Jens Arvidsson announced Save the Forest with a playtest running until Christmas 2025 on Steam. The turn-based tactics roguelite combines Into the Breach’s precise combat puzzles with Slay the Spire’s constant upgrade loops and classic tactical RPG squad building from games like Shining Force. You recruit units, enhance them after every battle, and fight increasingly difficult encounters through the forest, culminating in boss fights that test your squad composition. The game features 28 distinct units and over 130 stackable upgrades, targeting a Spring 2026 release on PC, Mac, and Linux with Steam Deck compatibility.
The Into the Breach Influence
Into the Breach launched in 2018 from Subset Games (FTL: Faster Than Light) and redefined tactics games through perfect information and puzzle-like combat. Every enemy telegraphs their exact attack before you move, transforming battles into spatial puzzles where you manipulate enemy positions and redirect attacks. The game eliminated randomness from hit chances and damage rolls, making every loss feel like a strategic mistake rather than bad luck.
Save the Forest adopts this philosophy of telegraphed attacks and positioning-focused tactics. Arvidsson describes combat as “quick yet intense,” following a loop of strategy (upgrades and builds) then tactics (unit positioning) then back to strategy. This mirrors Into the Breach’s emphasis on short, focused battles where every move matters rather than sprawling encounters with RNG determining outcomes. The forest setting replaces Into the Breach’s mech-vs-kaiju sci-fi with fantasy aesthetics, but the core tactical puzzle DNA remains.
The Roguelite Progression Layer
Where Save the Forest diverges from Into the Breach is the Slay the Spire-inspired constant upgrade loop. In Into the Breach, your mechs stay relatively consistent throughout runs with limited progression. Save the Forest lets you level up units after every battle, creating constant growth and build decisions. With over 130 upgrades available, many of which stack, the progression possibilities compound rapidly.
This creates a roguelite experience where each run feels substantially different based on which units you recruit and how you upgrade them. Maybe you build a glass cannon squad maximizing damage but sacrificing defense. Perhaps you focus on control abilities that manipulate enemy positioning. Or you could create a tanky frontline that absorbs damage while ranged units pick off enemies. The 28 distinct unit types provide the foundation, while the stacking upgrades let you push builds in extreme directions.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Developer | Jens Arvidsson (solo developer) |
| Playtest Period | Until Christmas 2025 |
| Unit Count | 28 distinct recruitable units |
| Upgrades | 130+ available, many stackable |
| Progression | Level up units after every battle |
| Combat Style | Quick, intense, focused tactical puzzles |
| Inspiration | Into the Breach, Slay the Spire, Shining Force |
| Platforms | PC, Mac, Linux (Steam Deck compatible) |
| Release Window | Spring 2026 |
| Controller | Full support, needs refinement before launch |
The Shining Force Connection
Shining Force launched on Sega Genesis in 1992, establishing many conventions for tactical RPGs that persist today. The game featured grid-based battles where you controlled a squad of diverse units including warriors, mages, archers, and specialized classes. Between battles, you explored towns, talked to NPCs, and recruited new allies to expand your force. Combat emphasized positioning, unit synergies, and understanding each character’s strengths.
Save the Forest borrows Shining Force’s emphasis on squad composition and unit diversity. The 28 recruitable units presumably include various classes and roles that need to work together tactically. Boss fights that test your squad composition specifically echo Shining Force’s challenging encounters where bringing the right mix of units determined success or failure. The roguelite structure replaces Shining Force’s linear campaign, but the core appeal of building and commanding diverse fantasy squads remains.
Who Is Jens Arvidsson
Note: There’s potential confusion here because there’s a famous game developer named Jens Andersson (not Arvidsson) who founded Collecting Smiles and worked on Yoku’s Island Express and as Design Director for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. However, Jens Arvidsson appears to be a different solo developer with no publicly available track record or previous releases based on search results.
As a solo developer tackling a complex tactics roguelite, Arvidsson is following the path of countless indie devs who spend years bringing ambitious projects to life alone. The Spring 2026 release window and active playtest phase suggest Save the Forest is substantially complete, with the remaining development focused on polish, balance, and incorporating player feedback. The decision to run a playtest until Christmas gives over three weeks for gathering community input before final development push.
The Playtest Strategy
Running an extended playtest through the holiday period is smart community building. Players have more free time during Christmas break, increasing the likelihood they’ll actually download and play the demo rather than adding it to their backlog. The timing also means Arvidsson gets feedback before the January development sprint, allowing him to incorporate player suggestions into the final months before Spring 2026 release.
The game includes in-game feedback boxes and Discord link, showing Arvidsson wants direct communication with playtesters rather than passive data collection. He specifically asks for thoughts on boss difficulty and squad composition testing, indicating those are areas he’s actively balancing. The transparent development approach builds goodwill with early adopters who become advocates when the game fully launches.
FAQs
How do I join the playtest?
Visit the Save the Forest Steam page and request access to the playtest. The playtest runs until Christmas 2025, so you have until December 25th to sign up and try the game. Playtest access is typically granted quickly for indie games actively seeking feedback.
When exactly does it release?
Spring 2026, meaning March, April, or May 2026. No specific date has been announced. The extended playtest through Christmas suggests development is advanced enough that a Spring window is realistic rather than overly optimistic.
Will progress carry over from playtest?
Not confirmed. Most roguelites don’t carry progress between runs anyway since permadeath and starting fresh is core to the genre. Any meta-progression unlocks (new units, starting bonuses) from the playtest likely won’t transfer to full release, but this hasn’t been explicitly stated.
How long is a single run?
Not specified, though Arvidsson describes combat as “quick yet intense” with a focus on short, focused battles. Into the Breach runs typically last 30-60 minutes, while Slay the Spire runs can stretch 1-2 hours. Save the Forest probably falls somewhere in that range.
Is there permadeath?
As a roguelite, yes. When your run ends (presumably when your squad is defeated), you start over with a fresh run. The roguelite structure means some form of meta-progression likely unlocks between runs, whether that’s new units to recruit, permanent upgrades, or expanded options.
Does it have random chance or is everything deterministic?
Not confirmed. Into the Breach eliminated all randomness from combat, but many tactics games use hit chances and damage variance. Given Arvidsson’s emphasis on quick, focused battles and tactical positioning, the game likely minimizes randomness but this needs player confirmation.
Can I play co-op?
Nothing suggests multiplayer features. The game appears to be single-player only, which is standard for tactics roguelites where you’re making constant upgrade decisions and controlling entire squads yourself.
How much will it cost?
Pricing hasn’t been announced. Into the Breach launched at $14.99 and Slay the Spire at $24.99, suggesting Save the Forest will likely price between $10-20 depending on content scope. Check the Steam page closer to Spring 2026 for confirmed pricing.
The Tactics Roguelite Opportunity
The tactics roguelite sub-genre remains relatively underserved despite Into the Breach proving the concept works brilliantly. While dozens of developers have created Slay the Spire clones in the deckbuilding roguelite space, fewer have attempted combining tactical grid-based combat with roguelite run structures. Games like Vault of the Void, Trials of Fire, and Across the Obelisk explore related territory, but most lean heavily toward card mechanics rather than pure spatial tactics.
Save the Forest’s combination of Into the Breach’s puzzle-combat, Slay the Spire’s constant upgrades, and Shining Force’s squad building could fill that niche perfectly. If Arvidsson delivers on the premise of 28 units with 130+ stackable upgrades creating vastly different builds, the game offers substantial replayability and build crafting depth. The Spring 2026 window positions it well between major releases, and the multi-platform launch including Steam Deck means tactics fans can play anywhere. Anyone curious should grab the playtest before Christmas to experience the core loop and provide feedback that shapes the final release.