Forts is a physics-based real-time strategy game where players build and defend custom structures while trying to demolish their opponents' bases. Released for PC, it blends action and strategy elements in an indie package that emphasizes creativity and quick thinking during battles.
Gameplay
In Forts, the core experience revolves around constructing forts from various materials while managing resources like metal and energy. Players start with a basic structure and expand it in real time, adding braces, doors, and foundations to support weapons and defenses. The physics system plays a key role, as poorly built sections can collapse under fire or from structural strain.
Resource gathering happens through mines and storage upgrades, which fund tech tree advancements. This unlocks new weapons and abilities, allowing players to adapt strategies mid-game. Combat involves arming the fort with options like machine guns, missiles, lasers, and snipers, each suited to different threats. Targeting enemy weak points, such as reactors or commanders, is essential for victory.
Commanders add variety, with 12 options each offering unique perks. For example, one might boost resource production, while another enhances weapon efficiency. This encourages different playstyles, from aggressive rushes to defensive turtling.
Game Modes
The single-player campaign spans 28 missions, pitting players against AI in scenarios that involve saving the world from a corporate threat. These missions introduce mechanics gradually and include challenges like limited resources or specific objectives.
Multiplayer supports up to eight players in matches that can be 1v1, team-based, or free-for-all. Ranked play occurs in two-month seasons, where participants climb leaderboards through competitive battles and earn medals. Co-op options let friends team up against AI or other groups.
DLC expands modes with High Seas, featuring naval battles on water with ships and buoyancy mechanics, and Moonshot, which introduces portal technology and new arenas across a Pacific Rim storyline. Training missions help newcomers learn online play basics, and modding through an inbuilt editor allows custom maps, weapons, and campaigns.
Commanders and Weapons
Choosing a commander shapes the battle approach. Options include the Warthog for firepower focus, Armourdillo for durability, Shockenaugh for tactical tricks, and Architect for building speed. Each has distinct abilities that influence resource use or combat effectiveness.
Weapons total 16 types, ranging from basic machine guns to advanced plasma cannons and missiles. Players unlock them via the tech tree, selecting loadouts to counter enemy setups. Customization extends to fort design, where placement of weapons and defenses must account for physics and line of sight.
Updates and Community
Forts receives bi-monthly updates tied to ranked seasons, including balance changes, new features like additional commanders, and free content such as the Tons of Guns pack or Repair Station. Seasonal themes appear for holidays, and the community thrives on a Discord server for strategy sharing, tournaments, and mod discussions.
Modding integration with workshop support keeps the game fresh, with user-created content expanding replayability.
Is It Worth Playing?
Forts appeals to those who enjoy strategy games with a physics twist, offering a mix of building creativity and destructive combat. Its niche focus on fort construction and real-time decisions suits players seeking quick, intense matches rather than long campaigns.
With ongoing updates and a dedicated community, it remains active years after release. Reviews highlight its fun multiplayer chaos and satisfying destruction mechanics, making it a solid choice for strategy fans looking for something different. If building and blasting in a competitive setting sounds engaging, Forts delivers lasting value through its modes and custom content.
