Bunker
A two-level military bunker: barracks, a motor pool, the firing range and the tunnels underneath. The power is downstairs. The Forge is not.
A co-op, round-based zombie shooter. Survive the night, forge your weapons, and find out what's waiting at the bottom.
Free beta on itch.io for Windows · Coming to Steam Early Access, free to keep
What's in the box
Four maps
A buried military bunker, a farmhouse at the end of the road, a whole small town at night, and (with Early Access) a black fortress full of skeletons.
The Forge
Feed your gun to the Forge and get back something meaner. Three upgrade tiers, each one louder than the last.
54 guns + Gunsmith
Rifles, SMGs, shotguns, snipers, LMGs and more, with attachments, camos to earn and a level for every gun.
Wonder weapons
Every map hides one: the Ray Gun, the Arc Caster, the Soulforge Bow. Finding them is half the fun.
Perks and augments
Nine perk machines, each with Major and Minor augments to research and tune to the way you play.
Co-op for 4
Play solo or online with up to three friends. Revive each other, split the doors, share the box.
Easter eggs
No quest log, no hints. Main quests, bosses and story are out there for the ones who dig.
Prestige and challenges
55 levels, ten prestiges, daily and weekly challenges, calling cards and gold-to-diamond camo grinds.
The maps
Abandoned
A lonely farmhouse and a barbed-wire yard. Small, tight and brutal, the classic way: board the windows and hold.
Hollow Creek
A whole small town at night: the motel, the bowling alley, Main Street and the bank vault. And something in the storm.
Coming with Early AccessSoulforge Citadel
A black fortress overrun by skeletons, from the Gatehouse to the catacombs. Home to the first main Easter egg.
The road to release
- Now
Free beta
On itch.io for Windows. A new update every few days, four maps and growing.
- Next
Steam Early Access
Free, and yours to keep. Everyone starts fresh once at launch; regular updates from there.
- ~2 months later
Full release
The finished game. Your Early Access progress carries straight over: no reset.
Map tour
Screenshots
Questions
Is it free?
The beta is free on itch.io right now. The Forge then launches on Steam in Early Access, also free: grab it during Early Access and it's yours to keep, for good. The full release follows about two months later.
Where is the beta?
On itch.io: redbottlestudios.itch.io/the-forge. Download it there (the free itch app keeps it updated for you), or press Play the free beta anywhere on this site.
What is Early Access?
For us it is the release, just early. The game is complete and playable; Early Access is where it keeps growing with your feedback, with regular updates, until the full release.
What do I need to play?
A Windows PC. Grab the beta from itch.io; the itch app keeps it up to date for you.
Can I play with friends?
Yes: online co-op for up to four players. Host a game and send your friends the join code.
Does my progress carry over?
From beta to beta, yes. When The Forge launches on Steam Early Access, everyone starts fresh once. From then on your progress is yours: nothing resets at the full release.
I found a bug.
Thank you! Email us at contact@redbottlestudios.com with what happened and which map you were on.
Feed the Forge.
Grab the free beta and see how far you get.