The Forge is already built around a tight loop of mining, crafting, and fighting your way through caves. The next major step in that loop is a full third island, and it’s not just a reskin of what’s already there. The new area brings a winter biome, fresh ore types, new enemies, at least one headline boss, and some quality-of-life options for players who hate spiders.
The Forge island 3 release timing
There is no announced release date for the third island. The developers have said they only started work on it in late November, and all current timelines are speculative.
Given the heavy winter theming and the timing of early sneak peeks, the most reasonable expectation is a launch window around late December or into January 2026. Treat that as a target rather than a promise; the island will only land once the team is ready.
The third island’s new winter biome
Island 3 is built around a cold, snow-covered landscape. Screenshots and clips of the map show:
- Snow and ice covering most ground surfaces.
- A central cave entrance with frozen terrain around it.
- A river or frozen stream slicing through the play space, adding more varied navigation than the largely circular earlier maps.
- Cabin-style buildings and houses perched around the main area, likely anchoring quest hubs and NPCs.
The island will feature a new hub area with a mix of returning faces and brand-new NPCs. Expect several major questlines anchored to this hub, similar to how earlier islands gate progression through story beats and key objectives.
Each region in The Forge also has its own ore pool, and the third island continues that pattern. The winter zone adds several new ore types, alongside at least one new Pickaxe and new Traits tied to those materials.
New enemy types on the third island
Combat in the new zone revolves heavily around ice and crystal-themed enemies. The two confirmed enemy families are both variants of an insectoid design built from jagged ice.
Ice Crystal Bug
- Compact, spider-like body with prominent ice shards growing from its back.
- Strong glow and particle effects that make it visually stand out in snowy environments.
- Fits into the standard mob role for the island: fast, visually “sharp,” and likely to swarm players around ore deposits and quest routes.
“Bigger Bug Enemy” (large ice spider)
- A scaled-up, heavier variant of the Ice Crystal Bug.
- Bulkier model with more pronounced icicles and stronger glow.
- Likely tuned as an elite or mini-boss version of the basic bug, with higher health and more punishing hits.
These enemies are designed to match the winter theme, with bodies that read as carved from ice and charged with cold elemental energy. They slot into the broader enemy catalogue that already includes zombies, skeletons, Reapers, and slimes in earlier areas, pushing combat toward faster dodging and more careful positioning in narrow, icy caves.
Arachnophobia filter for spider-style enemies
The bug family on island 3 leans heavily into spider silhouettes, which is a problem for some players. To address that, the update adds an Arachnophobia Filter mode.
The exact visuals of the filter have not been detailed, but the intent is clear: players who are uncomfortable with spiders will be able to toggle a mode that modifies how these enemies appear, letting them take part in the new content without dealing with realistic arachnid models.
The new skeleton boss on island 3
The biggest single addition in the third island update is a new boss built around long-range melee pressure.
- Appearance: a horned skeleton in armor, towering over players.
- Weapons: two chained labrys-style double axes, one in each hand.
- Theme: visually closer to an executioner or warlord than a caster; all about physical threat at range.
The chains on the axes define how this boss is expected to play. The reach is much longer than a normal melee enemy, so standing “just outside” basic attack range is unlikely to be safe. You can expect to dodge or parry wide swinging arcs and possibly hook-style pulls that punish players who try to kite for too long.
The boss’s stats, specific abilities, and drop table are not yet revealed, but its place in the progression is clear: it functions as a capstone encounter for the winter island, giving players a high-threat target to farm for endgame materials, weapons, or armor components once they can reliably beat it.
New gear: ores, Traits, weapons, and pickaxes
Every area currently in The Forge ships with its own ore mix and corresponding Trait pool, and the third island follows that structure.
- New ores: at least a few ore types unique to the winter biome, available only in its caves and nodes.
- New Traits: additional modifiers linked to those ores, which can roll on equipment as buffs or debuffs.
- New Pickaxe: a fresh mining tool that lets you harvest the new ores efficiently and keeps the mining progression moving forward.
On the combat side, upcoming content around island 3 includes:
- Maces: blunt weapons with a spiked ball head, shown in animation tests with new walk and idle cycles.
- Spears: polearms with custom attack animations (jabs, swings, blocks, and parries) and stylized heads, including skull motifs.
- Scythes: a scythe design with multiple visual variants that change with the ore used, layering in different elements such as ice shards, fire effects, or galaxy-like accents.
- Armor sets: at least one new armor set with a wolf-like or coyote-like helmet and chained chest detailing, matching the cold, predator-heavy tone of the island.
None of these weapons or armor sets have final names or drop sources locked in publicly, but they are positioned as the next tier of gear to chase after clearing existing islands and bosses.
How island 3 fits into enemy progression
Enemy scaling in The Forge is driven by five core stats: Health, Damage, Level, Gold, and Experience.
- Health: tougher enemies and elites carry much larger health pools, trading speed for survivability.
- Damage: deep-cave enemies and elites hit harder; mistakes against them cost big chunks of HP.
- Level: higher-level enemies represent clear difficulty spikes and usually sit deeper in the cave systems.
- Gold and EXP: high-threat enemies reward more gold and experience, making them attractive but risky farm targets.
On early islands, that scaling is represented by undead enemies such as Zombies, Elite Zombies, Delver Zombies, Brute Zombies, several Skeleton variants, Reapers, and Slimes. Island 3 extends this curve rather than resetting it. Ice Crystal Bugs and their larger counterparts are likely tuned above the basic undead mobs, and the skeleton boss is designed to sit near the top of the current power band alongside the existing hardest encounters.
Practically, that means you should expect:
- Higher minimum gear requirements to survive sustained engagements in island 3 caves.
- Heavier emphasis on movement and dodging, as bug enemies close gaps quickly and the skeleton boss punishes mid-range safety.
- Better yields of gold and experience per kill once you can clear these enemies efficiently.
Frequently asked questions about The Forge island 3
Is there a confirmed release date?
No. The third island does not have a set date. The most realistic window is late December or January 2026, but that can shift with development.
What new enemies are confirmed?
The Ice Crystal Bug and a larger “Bigger Bug Enemy” variant are confirmed, both built as icy, spider-like creatures. A horned skeleton boss wielding chained double axes is also confirmed for the update.
Will island 3 add new Traits and ores?
Yes. The winter island introduces new ore types and new Traits associated with them, continuing the pattern where each region has its own resource pool and modifier set.
Are new weapons part of this update?
New weapon categories and variants are in development around the same content cycle: maces, spears, and a scythe with multiple ore-based visual forms. Exact stats, rarities, and drop locations are not yet public.
Is a new Pickaxe included?
At least one new Pickaxe is expected as part of the island 3 rollout to support mining the new ores and keeping progression through the caves consistent.
The third island is built to be more than a backdrop. With an entirely new biome, enemy family, and a boss built around long-range melee pressure, it’s the next major test of both your mining builds and your combat reflexes. If you’re still progressing through the first two islands, now is the time to refine weapons, armor, and Traits so you can step onto the snow and survive what’s waiting there.
