Forspoken

The PS5’s next big showcase title blends magical combat with frenetic parkour movement – but is this open world actually worth exploring?

- Alan Wen

There’s culture shock, and then there’s going from dodging street gangs in New York to fighting fire-breathing dragons in a fantasy kingdom. Forspoken literally drops zoomer protagonist Frey into a fairytale yarn, slapping a mysterious talking bracelet on her wrist and tasking her with battling a corruption that threatens to engulf the land.

It’s an ‘odd couple’ relationship, told through dialogue that’s trying its best to sound down with the kids. Frey just wants to “voosh” back to NYC, but she’s up for using her new-found magical abilities to defeat “The Break” first. Especially when they let her parkour across this open world, named Athia, in an effortlessly cool fashion.