The Forest Quartet

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The Forest Quartet is a 2022 puzzle-based adventure game by Danish indie developer Mads Vadsholt (Mads and Friends) and publisher Bedtime Digital Games. In the game, you play Nina’s spirit, helping the members of her former jazz band—Kirk, JB, and Sebastian—reunite and heal their grief as they prepare a final tribute concert in the forest where they once lived.

The journey unfolds across three stages. In the first, you float and power large generators by finding cables and turning valves and dials. In the second, you illuminate the forest by activating light bulbs. In the final stage, you become a swarm of butterflies to navigate pipes and direct water to extinguish fires blocking their path. Nina’s spirit guides their emotions: Kirk’s depression appears as black blobs, JB’s anxiety as harmless black creatures, and Sebastian’s anger as a wildfire. Through Nina’s interventions, the trio reaches out to each other, confronts their feelings, and ultimately makes it to the concert.

The story centers on the Danish quartet’s connection after Nina’s death from illness. As the three musicians work through their grief, they learn to face their troubles and come together for one last performance. In the end, they find a way to say goodbye to Nina and perform a heartfelt concert, letting her spirit find peace.

Development and reception:
- Created by Mads Vadsholt (a graduate of The Animation Workshop) from 2016 onward, with the project growing from personal grief and family memories. The game received funding from the Danish Film Institute Games Scheme and the Danish Arts Foundation. Nina Vadsholt (the developer’s sister) voices Nina, and Kaspar Vadsholt (the developer’s father) composed the soundtrack, performed by The Danish Radio Big Band.
- A pre-release forest soundtrack event in Gisselfeld helped promote the game.
- The Forest Quartet released on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, and Nintendo Switch on December 8, 2022.

Critics gave mixed or average reviews. The game was praised for its audiovisual design—The Guardian called the music phenomenal and Edge highlighted the ethereal soundscapes, while several outlets noted the music as forgettable in places. Visuals were generally well received for their painterly look and atmosphere, though some critics felt the narrative and treatment of grief were uneven. Puzzles were seen as straightforward and not the main focus of the experience.

Awards:
- The Forest Quartet won the Excellence in Audio award at the 2023 Independent Games Festival.