Aspire: Ina's Tale
Aspire: Ina's Tale
Game
Game2022
The Forest Quartet
Developer Mads & Friends
The Forest Quartet is a 2022 video game created by Danish independent developer Mads Vadsholt under the name Mads and Friends, and published by Bedtime Digital Games. The game is a puzzle-based adventure game in which the player is a spirit tasked to reunite the members of her former band by reinvigorating life into the forest they inhabit. Players float around three stages and interact with items to complete… From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
213 reactions from 4 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Lemmy, Mastodon) · newest Sep 29, 2026 · last updated Oct 8, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
92
LovedLoved
172 positive · 14 negative
95% range 88–95%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 172 | 14 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 5 | 0 | 7 |
| Lemmy * | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Mastodon * | 3 | 0 | 4 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
201 of 215 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
93% recommend · 175 yes, 14 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 189 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Very Positive (434 of 467 positive).
Players describe it as a short, emotional experience about grief and loss. [1][2][3] Many praise the music and sound design as outstanding. [4][5][6] Some find the puzzles too simple or repetitive. [7][8][9]
Liked
Representative posts
- [8]
the puzzles arnt fun. doesnt matter that pretty much everything else (music,story,art style etc.) is done really well the GAME portion of this game isnt good so cant recommend. if you dont mind basically all the puzzles feeling like filler content that requires no brain power and you think the story is cool maybe you will like
- [4]
Do not buy this game if you're looking for a satisfying gameplay experience. This is not a puzzle game. I'm not sure I would even call it a game. It's a short (1.5hr) interactive experience. DO buy this game if: * You appreciate extraordinary sound design * You think games are an art form
- [1]
The Forest Quartet is an emotional puzzle adventure about a spirit helping the ones she left behind deal with their depression, anxiety and anger in the aftermath of her passing away. It’s a short and touching story about grief and finding the motivation to keep going after suffering a big loss. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2917517401 You play as Nina, the lead singer of a jazz band called …
- [7]
Some fun (but HIGHLY repetitive) puzzles raised up by some semi-attractive graphics and some phenomenal music (if you like jazz that is), but then weighted down by poor writing and voice acting (ignore anyone who says it's some profound meditation on grief.....the writing is completely facile and basic, with all the depth of a kiddie pool, and something that should be sad and affecting is just.....meh). So, since …
- [16]
This is one of those games I wish I could give a neutral review, but I did enjoy my experience so I’ll give it a recommendation. The art direction is very nice and the music is great. However, there’s not quite enough gameplay to call it a “game” and not enough depth for it to be an interactive story. It’s sort of a walking simulator with light interactions occasionally. There are “enemies” in some levels but they …
Summarised from 34 of the 217 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 10, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
93% of the 189 Steam reviewers we collected recommend The Forest Quartet. The complaint that keeps coming up: puzzles are too simple or repetitive. Deal-breaker or nitpick?
Critics, per Wikipedia
The Forest Quartet received "mixed or average reviews", according to review aggregator Metacritic. The game received praise for its soundtrack. The Guardian described the game's music as "phenomenal", citing the game's mixture of genres and tone as a "wonderfully apt musical ode to the confusing aftermath of death". Edge highlighted the game's "forlorn" and "ethereal soundscapes". Multiplayer.it commended the game's sound design for recovering "the magic underlying music and jazz", citing its use of improvisation and fragmentation to symbolize the game's themes of loss and death. However, Gaming Age found the music to be "awfully forgettable" and "nothing special", citing the band's music…
From the “Reception” section of Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Critic context only — not part of the audience score.
Reactions
60 of 213 · most liked firstDo not buy this game if you're looking for a satisfying gameplay experience. This is not a puzzle game. I'm not sure I would even call it a game. It's a short (1.5hr) interactive experience. DO buy this game if: * You appreciate extraordinary sound design * You think games are an art form
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A melancholic tribute to a deceased singer. I don't know her, and never knew her until I played this and listened to her music, but with heavy heart, I'm glad I came to know of her and her beautiful voice. The game seems to be an homage to her effect on others, and concludes with her song "In My Garden". Unfortunately, this game focuses more on the people that were around Emma, which to me seems to be at odds with what a tribute should be. Most exposition throughout the game is of friends,…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →the puzzles arnt fun. doesnt matter that pretty much everything else (music,story,art style etc.) is done really well the GAME portion of this game isnt good so cant recommend. if you dont mind basically all the puzzles feeling like filler content that requires no brain power and you think the story is cool maybe you will like
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The Forest Quartet is an emotional puzzle adventure about a spirit helping the ones she left behind deal with their depression, anxiety and anger in the aftermath of her passing away. It’s a short and touching story about grief and finding the motivation to keep going after suffering a big loss. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2917517401 You play as Nina, the lead singer of a jazz band called The Forest Quartet, who passed away due to an unknown illness. As a ghost, you…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I just finished playing "The Forest Quartet". What a nice surprise. It is a one-and-a-half-hour indie game where a jazz band decides to make a farewell concert in homage to their singer who recently passed away. A tale about art, mental health, and grieving. Yes. Videogames can be art.
positive · AI labelView post →Weekend PC Game Deals: Bundled VR and narrative ventures, Xbox PC hits, and more. Big Deals - Cyberpunk 2077 – $35.99 on Steam - Resident Evil 4 – $33.59 on Fanatical - Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice - GOTY Edition – $29.99 on Steam - Grounded – $26.79 on Steam - The Expanse - A Telltale Series – $23.99 on Epic Store - Stray – $22.49 on Steam - EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 5 – $20.99 on Steam - Gloomhaven – $20.99 on Steam - Hi-Fi RUSH – $20.39 on GreenManGaming - Sea of Thieves 2023 Edition – $19.99 on…
neutral · AI labelView post →Two games free on Epic Games - The Forest Quartet & Out of Line. **The Forest Quarter** - https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/forest-quartet-5d03e3 Store description: > The Forest Quartet is a 3D narrative puzzler about a gone, but not forgotten, lead singer. Play her spirit and travel through 3 acts unique to the members of her band for a final farewell concert. Face their emotions, solve puzzles and fight the corruption plaguing their souls. **Steam reviews**: 92% --- **Out of line**…
neutral · AI labelView post →My Playtime: 1.7h (finished the game) Intro The Forest Quartet is a puzzle adventure game where a band is grieving the loss of their band member, Nina. It spans four acts, with the first three detailing the emotional scars that each band member has, while the last one describes how bright the last band member is. Pros: - Easy puzzles, most are intuitive Cons: - Game only saved in checkpoints Specs [url=https://store.steampowered.com/steamdeck]Steam Deck: AMD Zen 2 4c/8t 2.4-3.5GHz, 16 GB…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Two games free on Epic Games - The Forest Quartet & Out of Line. **The Forest Quarter** - https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/forest-quartet-5d03e3 Store description: > The Forest Quartet is a 3D narrative puzzler about a gone, but not forgotten, lead singer. Play her spirit and travel through 3 acts unique to the members of her band for a final farewell concert. Face their emotions, solve puzzles and fight the corruption plaguing their souls. **Steam reviews**: 92% --- **Out of line**…
neutral · AI labelView post →The Forest Quartet – Launch Trailer – Nintendo Switch.
neutral · AI labelView post →[Epic Games] The Forest Quartet. Store description: > The Forest Quartet is a 3D narrative puzzler about a gone, but not forgotten, lead singer. Play her spirit and travel through 3 acts unique to the members of her band for a final farewell concert. Face their emotions, solve puzzles and fight the corruption plaguing their souls. **Steam reviews**: 92%
neutral · AI labelView post →This is not a puzzle game. I played 15min and asked for a refund so I can't tell if the story is good, but the "puzzles" are just there to fill the void and are totally uninteresting. Only buy this game if you're interested in the story.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game looks good and sounds good but in terms of story telling it is not that good. I don't like writing negative reviews for indie titles but I really don't think the story was told well. It felt rushed and it didn't left an emotional impact. Look, at the end of the day it is only my opinion. I bought this game and I don't think it is a bad game, I usually like similar games soooooo.....maybe you will like it.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →[url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/32732116-IndieGems/]Follow our curator page: IndieGems if you like and want to see more reviews like this one. Story: After losing their lead singer to a mysterious illness, each of the remaining three members retreats to their forest cabin to deal with the loss, the emotions and the doubt about the future of the band. Out of love for their lost band member, they want to play a final goodbye concert as a tribute to Nina, whose spirit you will play as…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Just finished this game called The Forest Quartet. It's a very short (less than 2 hours) simple puzzle experience tackling grief, depression, anxiety and anger. And I really enjoyed it for what it was. It had a lovely style to it, I just wish there was more of it.
positive · AI labelView post →Two games free on Epic Games - The Forest Quartet & Out of Line. **The Forest Quarter** - https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/forest-quartet-5d03e3 Store description: > The Forest Quartet is a 3D narrative puzzler about a gone, but not forgotten, lead singer. Play her spirit and travel through 3 acts unique to the members of her band for a final farewell concert. Face their emotions, solve puzzles and fight the corruption plaguing their souls. **Steam reviews**: 92% --- **Out of line**…
neutral · AI labelView post →[Epic Games] The Forest Quartet. Store description: > The Forest Quartet is a 3D narrative puzzler about a gone, but not forgotten, lead singer. Play her spirit and travel through 3 acts unique to the members of her band for a final farewell concert. Face their emotions, solve puzzles and fight the corruption plaguing their souls. **Steam reviews**: 92%
neutral · AI labelView post →Two games free on Epic Games - The Forest Quartet & Out of Line. **The Forest Quarter** - https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/forest-quartet-5d03e3 Store description: > The Forest Quartet is a 3D narrative puzzler about a gone, but not forgotten, lead singer. Play her spirit and travel through 3 acts unique to the members of her band for a final farewell concert. Face their emotions, solve puzzles and fight the corruption plaguing their souls. **Steam reviews**: 92% --- **Out of line**…
neutral · AI labelView post →I finished the game in about an hour. I would have quit much sooner, but I was hoping there was more to it. (There isn't) Pros: * Nice music * Gorgeous graphics * OK story Cons: * Extremely simple and linear gameplay. Liuterally move in a straight line and activate the next thing you see, 95% of the time. The bass level with the creatures is the only part that feels like an actual game rather than a guided activity.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I'm live playing #TheForestQuartet for the first time! 🌲 www.twitch.tv/mothescorpio
neutral · AI labelView post →Finished The Forest Quartet 🌲 🎹 🎶 It's a lovely narrative puzzle game about grief set to jazz music. ➡️ Trailer: mastodon.social/@Gamrok/1115... A lot of love and emotion has been poured into it ❤️ Thanks to the developers for this little gem 🙏 #TheForestQuartet #IndieGame #PuzzleGame #Jazz
positive · AI labelView post →[url=store.steampowered.com/app/1620720/The_Forest_Quartet/]The Forest Quartet is a very chill short story about the state of desolation incurred by the loss of a loved one. There is an honesty to the sort of documentary interviews heard at various moments that make them sound authentic, though ultimately does not lend to very deep characters as everything remains shrouded in a bit of a mystery. Each of the three musicians has its own little special puzzle type, where you activate light…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A beautiful experience. Perfect for a chill evening :) At ~1.5hrs it's the perfect length for a game of this style. Nice job devs on not feeling the need to bloat it with filler.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This has been a game on my wishlist for the longest of times, and due to recent events for me since the writing of this review, a friend recommended me it. The Forest Quartet is a short but sweet tale of a band who has recently loss their lead singer, Nina, who died. You play as her spirit and solve puzzles to assist in the grief of the band mates and push forward. The visuals of depression, anxiety, and anger are just done well. I purchased this game on sale but in honesty, I don't think…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →We all react differently to loss. It was an interesting narrative, but ruined by uninteresting gameplay. Not enough narrative, the gameplay itself feels too much like padding for what would be an extremely short game otherwise. The narrative, and ultimately, music wasn’t inspiring enough to recommend a play through, even at the sale price.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Finished The Forest Quartet 🌲 🎹 🎶 It's a lovely narrative puzzle game about grief set to jazz music. A lot of love and emotion has been poured into it ❤️ Thanks to the developers for this little gem 🙏 #TheForestQuartet #IndieGame #PuzzleGame #Jazz @madsvadsholt
positive · AI labelView post →It's... okay. Innovative gameplay? Nah. Stunning soundtrack? Nope. Tells a story that hasn't been done before? Hu-uh. That said, it's not a bad way to spend a lunch break - but at $10 for full price, for an hour or so of gameplay? Noooooooooo way! (Maybe worth it for a few USD)
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I don't wanna call this is puzzle... it's too easy and just walk straight all the way. music and the concept is great but as a game this is not fun game it's boring one, so if you look for a challenge and fun game you should find another game to play I not recommended this one. ps. at first I buy this game because the cover that have 3 instrument so I think it will be a fun game with puzzle about musical but it's not at all...
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A jazz quartet shattered apart when the lead singer and sax player suddenly dies. The three men left behind are then helped through their grief and mental struggles by the spirit of the now deceased singer in a fairly short puzzle game. I wasn't expecting anything supremely profound or moving from this game, but it was kinda sweet. (I definitely though the second guy, the cellist, was the one with depression though, not going to lie. The "monsters" were cute though). The puzzles were pretty…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It was a short (about 1 hour) touching story about music, loss and closure. With some simple puzzles, great sound design and beautiful visuals inspired by retrofuturism and (maybe?) David Lynch works.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Some fun (but HIGHLY repetitive) puzzles raised up by some semi-attractive graphics and some phenomenal music (if you like jazz that is), but then weighted down by poor writing and voice acting (ignore anyone who says it's some profound meditation on grief.....the writing is completely facile and basic, with all the depth of a kiddie pool, and something that should be sad and affecting is just.....meh). So, since it's so short and the puzzles are largely enjoyable (even if a little finicky…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Honestly, I didn’t have high expectations since I just stumbled upon this game while looking for something with a jazz theme because I love jazz. This game is a puzzle-based adventure! I think it’s a simple yet heartwarming game that gives players courage.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →What I liked - Great music: Really liked the music and sound design of this game. Ofcourse the story is about music so there were a lot of opportunities. The song at the end of the game is a great ending. - Voice acting: The Danish narrator in the beginning really sets a good atmosphere and the radio interview that plays in snippets through out the game was also very well done. It gave a good feel for the different characters and what personalities they had. - Jucy game: Everything has lots…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →As I was playing this game, this *gorgeous* game by the way, I had this sinking thought in the back of my mind. I was enjoying myself as the bulk of this hour long experience is a visual and audio feast, the audio design in particular was kinda blowing me away. But I had this nagging thought. That nagging thought at the back of my head was, "I really hope this one final show is good." You spend the majority of the game quite literally bringing the band back together. A 4 person jazz quartet…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is one of those games I wish I could give a neutral review, but I did enjoy my experience so I’ll give it a recommendation. The art direction is very nice and the music is great. However, there’s not quite enough gameplay to call it a “game” and not enough depth for it to be an interactive story. It’s sort of a walking simulator with light interactions occasionally. There are “enemies” in some levels but they can’t actually hurt you. For each level, you follow a fairly linear path…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →well darn it, i cried again to a game.... LETS PLAY ONE MORE SAD GAME AGAIN NEXT TIME WOHO
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Charming, therapeutic, and bittersweet; The Forest Quartet delivers a rich experience that dives into topics like: depression, anxiety, anger, grief, and overcoming those hurdles. It tells its narrative in the band's interaction with each other and visual representations of what each member's monsters are, following the death of Nina. In the end, from what I've gathered, seems to tell us that who you are isn't as impactful as your art and how you've connected with people, as those things paint…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The Forest Quartet offers a special experience by telling a story of sorrow, grief and loss, deals also with topics such as depression and self-doubt. Game and level design is appealing, fitting and artfully created. In my opinion, sound and musical score in general, as well as the sound design for itself, was well done and deserves the most praise, and I say this even though there are also a few points that could be constructivley criticized, when Nina sings in the game, it sounds a bit…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game is so peaceful and beautiful, the sound quality is absolutely amazing, it tears me up a little <3
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →lovely game and if its one sale definitely worth a pickup. its short beat it in 70 minutes puzzles weren't bad not great but bad and the soundtrack slaps so if nothing else buy that.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's a beautiful and heartwarming puzzle about losing someone dear. Amazingly done, simple yet touching. Voice actors deserve special thanks as it adds so much to atmosphere alongside with music and visuals. We all need light in the darkest times - and this game delivers it perfectly.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is a beautiful short experience and if you enjoy jazz music it's worth your time. The game aspect is relatively simple. I wish we had more of the interview lines as we learned/got to know the characters.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A beautiful tribute. A little spirit walk through the forest set to jazz music. Light puzzles mixed with a mini-narrative. It was like if Peter and the Wolf got together with talk radio to make a game.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A short, heartfelt indie about loss, music, and mental healing. You play as Nina’s spirit, helping her bandmates overcome grief through light, sound, and simple environmental puzzles. The atmosphere is warm despite the darkness — a mix of abstract visuals, subtle jazz textures, and symbolic forest. The puzzles are intuitive rather than challenging, and the whole experience feels like a playable requiem. A visually and sonically coherent work with genuine emotional depth. Took me about two…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Incredible and hauntingly beautiful. The dialogue is authentic and the story, while a simple introspection of how different people heal from loss, is well developed. The vibe is esoteric, atmospheric, and gentle. The puzzles are pretty basic and uncomplicated, but it compliments this game. The jazz music featured is peaceful, The gameplay/controls/movement is buttery smooth. Just a pleasant, thoughtful, short game <3
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Short but meaningful tribute game which flows around the conversation and emotions relating to death of a loved one. it sounds morbid but with a jazz theme and simple enough game play it kept me going until completion. Can easily be finished in under 2 hrs, and lets your brain wander over the topic as you play through at your own pace.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Missing something are we? How I imagine this game was made: Bro: Ayyyy bro I'm REALLY good at music! His Bro: Ayyyyyy and I'm REALLY good at illustrations! (Passes the joint) Bro: Broo you know what we should make? ... ...?
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Review of The Forest Quartet The Forest Quartet is a beautiful and deeply evocative narrative puzzle game that blends emotional storytelling with atmospheric design. Developed by Bedtime Digital Games, the title offers a poignant exploration of loss, grief, and the healing process through the lens of a mesmerizing musical journey. Story and Themes The Forest Quartet tells the story of a jazz singer who has passed away, leaving her bandmates to grapple with their grief. Players take on the role…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The Forest Quartet is a very short and simple Danish indie game The audiovisual design is the only exceptional part, everything else, game-wise, is pretty primitive. The story is average, the levels represent depression, anxiety and anger well enough. The puzzles are baby level easy and the overall gameplay is too basic. Not bad for $1 quick run.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →An ode, a requiem from a family that lost a loved one, for those that have lost a loved one. A very artistic approach on coping with your own brain, while being pressed and tortured by the thoughts of your lost one. Mental issues, grief, self-control and other serious matters are discussed with an amazingly respectful and touching way. I wouldn't really consider the Forest Quartet a video game, but rather a form of digital art. It contains some form of gameplay, but it is rather light…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is a beautiful experience. Definitely play this game with great headphones and definitely get it when it is on sale.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →And from the same publisher, there's also the magnificent and vibrant The Forest Quartet on special offer 🥰 ➡️ https://store.steampowered.com/app/1620720/The_Forest_Quartet/ 🧵 2/ #IndieGame #PuzzleGame #TheForestQuartet #BedtimeDigitalGames
neutral · AI labelView post →Hosting another Game Audio Playthrough in Copenhagen tonight with The Forest Quartet presented by Mads Vadsholt. Trying to set up a live stream as well - testing out new streaming equipment so bear with us - we expect hiccups along the way! Links below 👇#gameaudio
neutral · AI labelView post →Overall, the sound design and environmental storytelling did a great job of conveying the mood of each band member. Each puzzle had thematic ties to those emotional states in interesting ways. The music was also weaved into the gameplay in masterful ways; the angry banging of drums and lonely piano tune stood out as the antithetical sounds to a quartet in need of orchestration. Nonetheless, a few parts dragged in my opinion, like the finicky sections of gameplay. I also felt like there was not…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Wow, this game is a very nice experience! It hit home for me quite a lot and I love how it combined humor and sadness to tell fragments of a touching story.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The Forest Quartet is an indie adventure/puzzle game where you play as the spirit of a recently deceased lead singer trying to help the remaining members of her jazz band overcome grief and reunite for a final concert. The game blends gentle exploration with light puzzles as you travel through three unique stages tied to each band member’s emotional journey. The experience focuses on narrative and atmosphere, combining expressive art, a jazz-infused soundtrack, and intuitive interactions that…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Very touching, very beautiful, very short game. One evening well spent. Puzzles are simple, but controls are not the best,
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Very cute and short game created by a small team, made in memory of someone special
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Short and sweet story of the spirit of a jazz singer, NIna, trying to bring peace and reunite her former band mates. Some of the puzzles were a bit fiddly but on the whole enjoyed the artistic style and certainly kept me interested. Too bad steam achievements were never added, but not really a big deal.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Neat little game about grieving jazz musicians
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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