As a solo developer, I truly value every piece of feedback the community has shared. The demo played an important role in identifying areas that required improvement - especially regarding navigation clarity and the compass system.
To avoid fragmentation and confusion, I have temporarily disabled the separate demo store page, including its dedicated review section.
The demo itself remains fully playable and accessible directly from the main game page.
Over time, a significant number of demo reviews began repeating the same concerns about a specific gameplay system that is currently undergoing a full rework. That feedback was clearly communicated and carefully analyzed. At this stage, additional reviews repeating the same issue no longer provide new insight, as the system is already being redesigned and improved.
As many of you know, Steam visibility is influenced by review metrics. When a large portion of demo reviews reflects an outdated build that is actively being improved, it can unintentionally make it harder for the updated version of the game to reach a broader audience.
The demo has successfully fulfilled its purpose - it highlighted what needed to change. The focus now is on implementing those improvements and strengthening the overall experience ahead of Early Access.
At the same time, the network code has been significantly improved, and overall game optimization is currently in a very good state. I will continue to prioritize performance and stability to ensure the game remains smooth and well-optimized as new content and systems are added.
The separate demo store page - including its review section - will be restored within the next 1-2 weeks.
This will happen once the most frequently mentioned issues (particularly related to the compass system and navigation clarity) are fully implemented, tested, and live.
The goal is to ensure that when the demo review page returns, it reflects the improved experience rather than an outdated build that no longer represents the current state of the game.
Thank you for your patience, your feedback, and for being part of the development journey.
Your support and honest feedback truly help shape Fearwoods into a stronger experience. <3
See you back in the forest. 🌲
Mike