In the world of VR survival games, the battle between Green Hell vs The Forest has become a hot topic. Both games offer immersive environments, great gameplay, and unique challenges, but which one truly stands out as the best VR survival game? I’ve spent hundreds of hours between these two fantastic games and this article is going to share my thoughts about which is the best option.
Introduction To Green Hell And The Forest
Having played both games extensively, I can confidently say that both Green Hell and The Forest are more than worthy of your time. Although they are superficially similar games, there are considerable differences between them, and I hope this article helps you decide which is the best one for you.
The Forest is an immersive survival horror game that invites players to navigate a mysterious and perilous island teeming with hostile enemies, an intriguing storyline, and survival mechanics. As you progress through the game, you’ll encounter numerous challenges that will test your survival skills, including crafting, building, and battling terrifying enemies.
The Forest is available exclusively for PC VR headsets. It’s reasonably demanding on your hardware, but the graphics are surprisingly impressive for a game that is now quite a few years old. It’s an incredibly immersive VR experience that can be fun, challenging, and terrifying in equal measure.
I’ve enjoyed a flawless experience playing The Forest VR with the HP Reverb G2 headset, as well as the Quest 2 and Pico 4 via wireless connections. For those who want to experience The Forest in virtual reality, read my guide on How To Play The Forest In VR, which covers settings, controls, and helpful tips.
Green Hell, on the other hand, offers a more challenging survival experience in the unforgiving Amazon rainforest. Unlike The Forest, Green Hell can be played on the standalone Quest 2 or Quest Pro, but there is also a version of Green Hell on Steam for PC VR headsets with upgraded graphics. I have had the opportunity to play Green Hell on the Quest 2 in standalone mode, as well as in PC VR mode using both the Quest 2 and HP Reverb G2.
Immersion And Visuals In VR: Green Hell vs The Forest
Green Hell’s realistic survival mechanics and stunning visuals create a really immersive experience in the heart of the Amazon rainforest. The attention to detail in the environment, from the lush vegetation to the diverse wildlife, truly makes you feel as though you are fighting for your life in a harsh and unforgiving world.
Green Hell’s day-night cycle, dynamic weather system, survival mechanics, and in-depth crafting add extra layers of depth, enhancing the overall sense of immersion. When playing Green Hell on standalone headsets like the Quest 2 or Quest Pro, the graphics are more basic due to the limited capabilities of these headsets. However, compared to other similar games, the graphics compare favorably, and they only detract minimally from the experience compared to the PC version.
The Forest provides an equally immersive and visually engaging experience, with a more horror-oriented twist. As you explore the eerie forest, you’ll encounter unsettling sights and chilling sounds that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
The Forest’s graphics are impressively detailed, with rich and atmospheric visuals that heighten the tension and horror elements of the game. Furthermore, the game’s crafting and building mechanics, as well as the relentless enemies, ensure that you remain fully engaged and invested in your survival.
In terms of immersion, both games are terrific and will draw you into their respective worlds. Both games can be extremely tense, and The Forest can be genuinely terrifying at times. Both Green Hell and The Forest can be demanding in VR; learn more about Why VR is So Demanding and how to boost performance for a smoother experience.
Gameplay Mechanics: Green Hell Vs The Forest VR
Green Hell’s gameplay mechanics have a greater focus on survival elements than The Forest. The game requires you to:
- Hunt and gather food
- Find clean water
- Maintain your health by treating wounds and illnesses
- Create tools, weapons, and shelters with a comprehensive crafting system
Green Hell can be very unforgiving, even on the easier difficulty levels, so be prepared to fail, a lot, before you eventually learn to survive in the harsh jungle. I still vividly remember the struggles I had when first playing the game when just trying to survive more than a few days seemed impossible. Push through the learning curve, as each hard-fought little victory feels so sweet after many failures.
Green Hell’s psychological aspect adds another layer of depth. During my time playing Green Hell, I had to actively manage my character’s mental state. This psychological element kept me on my toes, as I had to balance my physical needs with my character’s mental well-being.
The Forest’s gameplay mechanics lean more toward the horror genre. The game’s crafting and building systems are also essential to your survival, but the focus is more on:
- Creating defenses against the relentless cannibalistic enemies that lurk within the forest
- Experiencing the adrenaline rush of fending off cannibals from your makeshift base
- Navigating the constant weight of dread in VR as you anticipate attacks
Having played The Forest on PC for several years before playing it in VR, I can’t emphasize how much more intense and terrifying it can be playing in VR. There were times when I could barely keep playing due to the constant weight of dread as you constantly anticipate an attack. And don’t get me started about the terror of exploring the underground caverns!
The Forest also features:
- An intriguing storyline that unfolds as you explore the environment and uncover hidden secrets
- A deep narrative that adds another dimension to the gameplay and keeps you motivated to progress
During my extensive playtime, I found myself deeply invested in the game’s narrative, which added another dimension to the gameplay and kept me motivated to progress.
Both Green Hell and The Forest offer unique gameplay experiences in VR, with Green Hell focusing on realistic survival and psychological aspects, while The Forest emphasizes horror and narrative elements.
If you don’t deal well with horror games, Green Hell is a much better option, but if you don’t mind dealing with pure terror and want more forgiving survival mechanics, The Forest may be the better option. If you’re a fan of this type of game, you may also be interested in my top picks for the 20 Best VR RPGs.
Crafting And Resource Management
Green Hell challenges players with its intricate crafting system, requiring them to gather a wide variety of resources from the environment. You will need to search for specific plants to benefit from their unique properties, like the Quassia Amara, to craft medicine for treating fever.
This level of detail encourages exploration and experimentation as you learn which items can be combined to create useful tools and items. Moreover, the game places a strong emphasis on managing your character’s nutrition levels.
You need to balance proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and hydration to maintain your health and stamina. You will need to keep an eye on the stats on your smartwatch to monitor these levels and adjust your food intake accordingly.
In contrast, The Forest’s crafting system is more streamlined and accessible. Although there are still numerous resources to gather, the combinations tend to be more straightforward, and the game’s UI provides guidance on potential recipes. For example, you combine a stick with a piece of cloth to craft a simple torch, and most crafted tools are similarly simple.
Resource management in The Forest also involves defending your base and resources from the cannibalistic creatures that roam the island. You will need to make tactical decisions about where to build your base and how to fortify it with traps and walls.
Survival And Exploration
Green Hell challenges players with its more realistic survival mechanics. You need to pay close attention to your physical and mental health, as well as your surroundings. You’ll need to meticulously manage your character’s wounds, using specific plants to create bandages and antivenom, and even removing leeches from your body to avoid infection.
Additionally, navigating the dense jungle can be disorienting, and you’ll need to pay close attention to your surroundings to ensure you don’t get lost. Much of the satisfaction of Green Hell VR lies in overcoming the significant challenge of surviving in these harsh conditions and becoming an adept jungle survivor.
The Forest, on the other hand, leans more heavily into exploration and combat against the island’s cannibalistic inhabitants. While survival mechanics like hunger, thirst, and shelter are still present, the primary focus is on uncovering the island’s secrets and defending your base from enemy attacks.
Exploration can be nerve-wracking, as you venture deep into dark caves, flashlight in hand, stumbling upon disturbing clues about the island’s history. This sense of discovery and adventure is a driving force in The Forest’s gameplay.
The combat in The Forest is also more intense, with a wide range of weapons and traps at your disposal. The adrenaline rush from engaging in fierce battles with the cannibals can be intense, as you use your crafted weapons and the environment to your advantage. The need for constant vigilance adds a layer of tension to the gameplay, which may appeal to players seeking a more action-packed experience.
If you enjoy exploration and freedom to forge your own adventure in VR, check out my article about the 19 Best Open World VR Games you should check out.
Environmental Hazards and Dangers: Green Hell vs The Forest
In Green Hell, the environment is as much of an adversary as the wildlife. The treacherous Amazon rainforest presents various hazards, such as poisonous plants, venomous insects, and unpredictable weather. Players must be vigilant to avoid stepping on harmful flora or being bitten by snakes hidden in the undergrowth.
Rainstorms can quickly lead to hypothermia, requiring the player to find or build a shelter to stay warm and dry. Furthermore, the dynamic weather system can impact the availability of resources, making survival even more challenging.
The Forest, while still dangerous, has a slightly different set of environmental hazards. Once you master the basics of survival in The Forest, the main challenge switches to the hostile residents of the island, and you are encouraged to explore the subterranean caverns that usually house hostile enemies.
While both games present players with challenging environments to survive in, Green Hell focuses more on the intricacies of navigating a realistic jungle ecosystem, while The Forest’s hazards are more directly tied to the player’s actions and exploration.
Players who prefer the challenge of managing survival against the elements may find Green Hell more appealing, while those who enjoy a balance of environmental dangers and direct combat with hostile enemies might prefer The Forest.
Multiplayer And Co-op
In The Forest, players can join forces with up to seven other survivors, working together to gather resources, build shelters, and defend against the island’s cannibalistic inhabitants. The VR version of The Forest maintains these multiplayer features, including crossplay between the VR and flatscreen versions of the game. This allows players on PC and VR headsets to team up seamlessly, further enhancing the social aspects of the game.
Green Hell VR, on the other hand, is preparing to introduce multiplayer co-op in the very near future. Incuvo, the developer, is currently testing the multiplayer update, which will allow up to four players to cooperate in surviving the Amazon rainforest. However, it is important to note that crossplay between the VR and flatscreen versions of Green Hell is unlikely to be possible due to the VR version being a fundamentally different build.
Replayability And Content Updates
Both Green Hell and The Forest offer compelling replayability and content updates to keep players engaged and coming back for more.
In The Forest, replayability stems from its procedural generation of resources and enemy encounters, ensuring that each playthrough is unique. Additionally, the game’s open-world design encourages exploration and experimentation with different strategies for survival. Players can choose to focus on building elaborate bases, mastering combat, or uncovering the island’s secrets through its story-driven narrative.
Green Hell also offers a high level of replayability thanks to its realism and deep survival mechanics. The game’s unforgiving environment requires players to learn and adapt to various situations, from managing their character’s physical and mental well-being to navigating the treacherous Amazon rainforest. As players become more experienced, they can attempt the game’s permadeath mode, which adds an extra layer of challenge and risk.
In terms of content updates, Green Hell is actively expanding its VR experience with ongoing work to bring the three-part DLC, “Spirits of Amazonia” that has already been released for the flat screen version across to VR. This DLC is set to introduce new story elements, gameplay mechanics, and immersive content, promising even more engaging experiences for players.
Additionally, the highly anticipated multiplayer co-op mode is currently being tested, adding another dimension to the game that will keep players engaged.
The Forest, while not receiving as many content updates in recent times, has a well-established foundation that continues to draw players in with its immersive atmosphere and cooperative multiplayer features.
Conclusion: Green Hell Vs The Forest
Green Hell and The Forest are both exceptional VR survival games, each offering unique experiences and challenges. To help you decide which game may be the best fit for you, I have highlighted the benefits and drawbacks of each, as well as the type of player each game is best suited for.
Green Hell
Benefits:
- Realistic and deep survival mechanics
- Unforgiving Amazon rainforest environment
- Upcoming content updates, including “Spirits of Amazonia” DLC and multiplayer co-op mode
- Can be played on both standalone and PC VR headsets
Drawbacks:
- Steeper learning curve due to its realism and complexity
- Graphics on standalone headsets are more basic compared to the PC version
Best suited for:
- Players who enjoy realism and challenging survival experiences
- Those who value ongoing content updates and future multiplayer options
- Gamers with standalone or PC VR headsets
The Forest
Benefits:
- Thrilling survival horror experience with mysterious and hostile environments
- Procedurally generated resources and enemy encounters
- Cooperative multiplayer options with crossplay between PC and VR headsets
Drawbacks:
- Only available on PC VR headsets
- Fewer content updates in recent times
Best suited for:
- Players who prefer survival horror and a more fantastical setting
- Those who enjoy cooperative multiplayer experiences
- Gamers with access to a PC VR headset
Personally, I love both of these games and think you’ll have a great time with either of them. However, if you are looking for a more realistic and challenging survival experience with ongoing content updates, Green Hell is the ideal choice. On the other hand, if you prefer a survival horror experience with great cooperative multiplayer, The Forest is the game for you. If you’re interested in more survival games, check out my list of the 19 Best VR Survival Games.