For forum administrators looking to modernize their community without sacrificing usability, Metro — A Responsive Theme for phpBB3 offers a clean, contemporary solution. Developed by PixelGoose, this premium theme transforms the standard phpBB interface into a sleek, tile-based layout inspired by the Metro design language. Built for phpBB versions 3.0.x through 3.3.x, the theme prioritizes readability and cross-device functionality, ensuring your forum looks polished on desktops, tablets, and smartphones alike. With over 2,700 sales on ThemeForest, it has proven itself as a reliable choice for forum owners who want a professional appearance without complex setup.
Key Features
- 10 Color Schemes: Choose from Blue, Teal, Green, Lime, Golden, Orange, Red, Violet Red, Purple, and Black & White. This variety allows you to match your forum’s branding or personal preference without editing CSS.
- Fully Responsive Layout: The theme adapts fluidly to any screen size, from large desktop monitors to small phone screens. This ensures a consistent user experience across all devices.
- Google Web Fonts: Typography is powered by Google Fonts, giving your forum a modern, clean look that improves readability.
- Completely Remade Icons: All forum icons have been redesigned from scratch to align with the Metro aesthetic, creating a cohesive visual experience.
- Two Editable Footer Blocks: The prefooter area includes two customizable blocks. Use them to display community guidelines, social media links, or important announcements.
- Layered PSD Files Included: Designers can modify the source PSD files to create custom layouts or color variations, offering full creative control.
- Cross-Browser Support: The theme works reliably on all modern browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.
- Easy Installation: Installation is straightforward, with clear instructions provided. No advanced coding knowledge is required.
- Full Documentation and Support: PixelGoose provides comprehensive documentation and responsive support to help you resolve any issues.
Who Is This For? Use Cases
Community Forum Owners
If you run a forum for gaming, hobbies, tech support, or local communities, Metro — A Responsive Theme for phpBB3 gives your members a visually appealing environment. The clean layout reduces clutter, helping users focus on discussions rather than distracting design elements.
Small Business Owners
Businesses that use phpBB for customer support forums or internal communication can benefit from the theme’s professional look. The responsive design ensures employees and customers can access the forum from any device, and the customizable footer blocks let you add contact information or links to your main website.
Designers and Developers
With the included layered PSD files and 10 color schemes, designers can quickly prototype new looks or adapt the theme for client projects. Developers will appreciate the clean code structure and easy installation process.
Forum Migrators
If you are moving your community from an older, outdated phpBB theme to something more modern, this theme offers a smooth transition. Its compatibility with phpBB 3.0.x through 3.3.x means you can upgrade your forum software without worrying about theme compatibility.
Technical Details & Compatibility
Metro — A Responsive Theme for phpBB3 is designed to work with phpBB versions 3.0.x, 3.1.x, 3.2.x, and 3.3.x. This broad compatibility makes it a versatile choice whether you are running an older installation or the latest version. The theme is fully responsive, using CSS media queries to adjust layout and font sizes based on the viewport width. It is compatible with all modern browsers, including the latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. The theme does not rely on external JavaScript libraries for its core functionality, keeping page load times minimal. Performance is optimized for shared hosting environments, and the lightweight design ensures your forum pages render quickly even on slower connections. PixelGoose has maintained the theme with regular updates, as evidenced by the update list available on the product page.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Broad phpBB Compatibility: Works with versions 3.0.x through 3.3.x, covering a wide range of installations.
- 10 Color Schemes: Offers significant visual variety without requiring custom coding.
- Responsive Design: Provides an excellent mobile experience, which is critical for modern forum usage.
- Customizable Footer Blocks: Adds functional value by allowing you to display important information or links.
- Source Files Included: The layered PSD files give designers full control over customization.
- Affordable Price: At $17.00, the theme offers excellent value for a premium, supported product.
- Proven Track Record: With over 2,700 sales, the theme has a large user base and established reliability.
Cons
- No Demo Link Provided: You may need to rely on screenshots or user reviews to evaluate the live look and feel.
- Limited to phpBB: The theme cannot be used with other forum software like vBulletin or XenForo.
- No Built-in Page Builder: Customization beyond the included options requires manual CSS or PSD editing.
- No Mention of RTL Support: If your forum uses a right-to-left language, you may need additional modifications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this theme compatible with phpBB 3.3.x?
Yes. Metro — A Responsive Theme for phpBB3 is explicitly stated to be compatible with phpBB 3.0.x, 3.1.x, 3.2.x, and 3.3.x. You can safely install it on the latest version of phpBB without compatibility issues.
Can I customize the colors beyond the 10 included schemes?
Yes. The theme includes layered PSD files that allow you to modify the design at the source level. Additionally, you can apply custom CSS to override any color values. The documentation provides guidance on making these changes.
Does the theme support custom fonts or icons?
Yes. The theme uses Google Web Fonts for typography, and all forum icons have been completely remade to match the Metro design. You can also replace the fonts or icons using CSS if you prefer different options.
Final Verdict
Metro — A Responsive Theme for phpBB3 delivers exactly what it promises: a clean, modern, and responsive design that works across multiple phpBB versions. PixelGoose has built a theme that balances aesthetics with practicality, offering 10 color schemes, customizable footer blocks, and full responsive behavior. With over 2,700 sales and a reasonable $17.00 price point, it represents a solid investment for any forum owner looking to refresh their community’s appearance. The included documentation and support further reduce the risk of purchase. If you want a straightforward, professional theme that enhances user experience without unnecessary complexity, this is a strong contender. Visit the ThemeForest product page to see the full demo and make your purchase today.
