Roblox. If you’re a Gen Z-er, you’ve certainly heard of the game or even played it yourself. One of the most iconic games that I experienced growing up was undoubtedly Roblox’s FPS “Phantom Forces,” developed by Stylis Studios (Stylis) in 2015 and made free to play in 2016. It has seen some downfall in players since its debut and because of the competing game “Arsenal,” but since I first played as a young child, it still keeps me at the edge of my seat for hours. With its current triad of honorable game physics, a massive arsenal of weapons and of modifications, and a world of different maps, locations and game modes, “Phantom Forces” simply defies the growing stigmatization of Roblox FPS titles.
As a rank 1, you are introduced to a confined 15 vs. 15 battlefield with a variety of physically accurate combat mechanics. The sheer amount of world physics offers an immersive experience for the player; bullets can go through a set thickness of walls (depending on its caliber, shape and velocity), bullets drop, bullets can deviate from your aim and firearms are mechanically accurate, even down to the internals which the player never sees. In some cases, the mechanics of this free Roblox game exceed that of some AAA titles.
Additionally, “Phantom Forces” provides the player with over 180 firearms, ranging from archaic black powder circa-1850 Civil War pistols to current-era firearms. On top of the generous options, Stylis gives players accurate descriptions of the weapon, each being historically or conceptually accurate.
“Phantom Forces” has over 20 votable in-game maps, with locations ranging from abandoned malls to barren deserts. Additionally, there are several votable game modes, ranging from classic Capture the Flag to Kill Confirmed.
To this day, Stylis still updates monthly, giving new maps, weapons, game modes, balancing and mechanics upgrades. A public test place is also playable, allowing players to test potential new additions. Although often overshadowed by the younger “Arsenal,” “Phantom Forces” still stands as a Roblox classic, and it won’t be leaving many gamers’ list of recurrence for a long time.
“Phantom Forces” is still and will likely always be free to play on Roblox, and given its clever mechanics and faithful developers, it certainly doesn’t hurt to give the game a try.
