Forgive Me Father 2, developed by Byte Barrel and published by Fulqrum Publishing, is a blood-soaked, Lovecraftian boomer shooter that builds on the foundations of its predecessor with sharper combat, deeper madness mechanics, and a more refined visual identity. It’s a sequel that builds upon what worked the first time around and tries to push those ideas further — though not always with absolute precision.
The original Forgive Me Father was a surprise hit, praised for its comic-book aesthetic, eldritch atmosphere, and unapologetically old-school gunplay. As Rob wrote in our original review, “Forgive Me Father is a great shooter with a unique visual style and a solid gameplay loop.” That loop — tight arenas, grotesque enemies, and a sanity system that added flavour without overcomplicating — was the backbone of the experience. Forgive Me Father 2 keeps that backbone intact but packs on a lot more muscle.
Visually, Forgive Me Father 2 is a clear upgrade. The hand-drawn comic-book style has been deepened with richer textures, more dynamic lighting, and a stronger sense of environmental storytelling. Levels feel more oppressive, Lovecraftian and surreal — like you’re descending deeper and deeper into the darkness associated with the lore. The colour palette is darker, the gore is more visceral and the enemy designs more varied. Forgive Me Father 2 is still recognisably pulp horror, but the tone leans harder into psychological decay.
Mechanically, the biggest shift is in how madness is handled. In the first game, sanity was a thematic flourish — something that added flavour but didn’t dramatically alter gameplay. In Forgive Me Father 2, madness is central. As you descend into insanity, your abilities mutate, your perception of the world shifts, and your combat options evolve.
It’s a clever system that rewards aggression and risk-taking, but it also adds unpredictability. You might gain a powerful area attack, but lose precision. You might see enemies that aren’t really there. It’s a more integrated mechanic, and it gives the game a distinct identity within the crowded boomer shooter space that feels very, very thematic.
Combat itself is faster and more fluid. Movement has been tightened, weapon feedback is punchier, and enemy AI is more aggressive. There’s a greater emphasis on crowd control and mobility — players are encouraged to keep moving, keep shooting, and keep adapting. The arsenal is familiar but expanded, with new weapons that feel appropriately absurd: meat grinders, lightning cannons, and other eldritch contraptions that toe the line between science and sorcery.
The gunplay is fantastic — every bit the match for the classic boomer shooters like DOOM and Hexen that inspired it. Combat and exploration flow one into the other, with our protagonist (now just the returning priest) moving around expansive, three-dimensional environments beset at almost all times by enemies who all pose a decent level of threat. There are plenty of secrets too, and Forgive Me Father teases you with them constantly.
That said, Forgive Me Father 2 isn’t without its quirks. The level design can occasionally feel pedestrian — featuring a series of corridors and arenas that don’t always make the most of the game’s visual creativity. Console controls can also be a bit sluggish, particularly when trying to activate abilities mid-combat or trying to aim at enemies who come at you fast from every direction and elevation. While the madness system is thematically rich, it can occasionally feel restrictive, especially when certain mutations limit your tactical options.
Forgive Me Father 2 is short but intense, with a stronger narrative thread than the first game given it doesn’t have to branch for the two characters that appeared last time. You’re still battling through a world corrupted by ancient horrors, but the sequel leans harder into psychological storytelling — dream sequences, hallucinations, and cryptic messages that suggest your protagonist may be as much a threat as the monsters they’re fighting. It’s not deep, but it’s effective, and it gives the action a sense of purpose.
Forgive Me Father 2 is a confident sequel that sharpens its predecessor’s strengths while adding new layers of madness and mechanical depth. It’s faster, darker, and more ambitious, even if it occasionally stumbles in execution. Fans of the original will find plenty to love, and newcomers will be welcomed into a world of stylish violence and creeping dread. It’s not perfect — but in the realm of Lovecraftian shooters, it’s one of the most memorable descents yet.
Forgive Me Father 2 is available now on Xbox, PlayStation and PC.
