Beneath The Surface

About

"Beneath the Surface" is a calming fishing game where you catch a variety of unique fish by dropping a line and waiting for a bite. Upgrading your fishing rod and line allows you to go deeper underwater for even more interesting catches. With soothing music and simple gameplay, this is a great escape from the stress of daily life.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 418 reviews

story9 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

The game offers a unique blend of psychological horror and relaxing idle gameplay, making it an enjoyable experience.
Players appreciate the humor and quirky items found while fishing, which adds charm to the overall experience.
The game is praised for its unexpected twists and engaging narrative, particularly the shocking ending that leaves a lasting impression.

The gameplay is considered repetitive and shallow, with some players feeling it lacks depth and long-term engagement.
Several bugs, such as the non-functioning fish counter, detract from the overall experience and can be frustrating.
The game is quite short, with many players completing it in under an hour, leading to concerns about its replay value and content.

story
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
72%
7%
The story aspect of the game is described as a mix of engaging character-driven narratives and predictable plotlines, with some players appreciating the twists and character development while others found it lacking depth and long-term engagement. Many reviews highlight the entertaining side quests and character interactions, but some felt the overall story was underwhelming or repetitive, leaving them wanting more. Overall, the narrative offers a blend of humor, drama, and family dynamics, though opinions vary on its execution and impact.
- “Definitely worth playing to the end for that plot twist.”
- “The characters, however, were where this story shined.”
- “The story unfolds from multiple points of view, immersing the reader ever deeper beneath the surface of a wealthy family bound together by secrets, lies, and ambition.”
- “All the nuggets are there for it to be something either really humorous or really entertaining or something you could keep messing with for a long time, but it just kind of feels like there were all these good ideas and then the creator went 'okay, good enough, I'm done making this.' It doesn't offer long-term play, it doesn't offer any real laughs, it doesn't offer any meaning or message or story, it just kind of... is a thing and then it's done.”
- “I felt like there was a lot of telling over showing in this story and did not really buy decisions made by characters.”
- “The dialogue and storylines are just kind of repetitive to me.”
humor
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players highlighting its funny moments, quirky gags, and amusing endings that elicit genuine laughter. While some found the humor to be a delightful addition to the gameplay, others noted that the game could feel repetitive and lacked depth, suggesting that the comedic elements were not enough to sustain long-term engagement. Overall, the game is described as a lighthearted and entertaining experience, particularly for those who appreciate quirky humor.
- “Hilarious and cute.”
- “There's small little gags and funny moments sprinkled throughout to make the game more entertaining.”
- “Hey, it's free, it's fun, it only lasted me 48 minutes, but that ending made me laugh my frigging ass off!”
gameplay
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
60%
20%
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity and repetitiveness, primarily involving basic controls for fishing mechanics that may feel reminiscent of mobile or browser games. While some players find enjoyment in the relaxing nature and the item store that adds variety, others criticize it for being dull and lacking depth, with a gameplay loop that can become tedious after a short period. Overall, it offers a casual experience that may appeal to those looking for a light, stress-free game, but may not satisfy players seeking more engaging or complex gameplay.
- “Fun little gameplay loop, anyway.”
- “I could get 10 hours of gameplay from a full version.”
- “The gameplay is extremely simple; you only use W, S, and the right mouse button.”
- “Had no clue about the connection to the other game when I played it; not worth trying if you don't care about the other game as the gameplay is boring.”
- “Gameplay consists of lowering the fishing line, waiting for a fish, then holding 'W' to bring up the line, which results in collecting some money.”
- “The shallow gameplay is reminiscent of a mobile app or a browser/flash game.”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The graphics are generally praised for their cute aesthetic and pleasing design, particularly in the depiction of various fish and critters. While the artwork is considered novel and engaging, there are concerns about the origins of some image assets, raising potential legal issues. Overall, the visuals contribute to a relaxing and enjoyable fishing experience.
- “Interesting kinds of fish the deeper you go; I like the design and aesthetic of the critters.”
- “There's no frustration, waiting times, or unnecessary level barriers, just peaceful, continuous fishing, with a backdrop of pleasing aesthetics.”
- “The graphics are cute, and the theme is rather nice.”
- “The artwork and gimmick are novel enough to interest me for a little while.”
- “I kind of doubt it would be pretty helpful or downright lazy, especially since I have no idea where the so-called image assets came from. I don't have plans to deal with potential legal issues if the AI provided me with some copyrighted artwork or something.”
- “The graphics are cute, but they lack depth and variety.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it repetitive and unengaging, leading to frustration during gameplay. However, others appreciate the music as enjoyable, particularly for those who enjoy fishing simulators, despite acknowledging its lack of variety. Overall, there is a call for more options, such as volume control and diverse tracks, to enhance the experience.
- “Great game, fun to listen to music or watch videos.”
- “Excellent fishing simulator, great music, a bit repetitive, but worth playing if you like fishing.”
- “I keep getting weird items that make no sense, and the music is honestly really repetitive.”
- “Not even an hour into the game and I can no longer use the pole; everything is maxed out. So I just sit here and listen to the poorly sounding music while the fish on the ice make popping sounds. You made a game that had potential, but then you just became lazy and did nothing more. Oh well, anything else you make I most likely won't even look at twice because of how you did this game. Hell, I'd rather go back to playing Bethesda games where I get lied to, but at least I can play a game that works.”
- “Things I want to be added: automatic fish places, more different upgrades, and more upgrades on those that already exist. You should be able to fish up different hats, and every hat should do different things. Also, a menu to control music volume would be great.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game minimal, lasting only about 10 minutes, which contributes to an overall enjoyable experience. Most can complete the game in around 30 minutes without extensive farming, making it less of a long-term grind and more of a quick playthrough.
- “It's grindy for about 10 minutes total; otherwise, it's fun.”
- “I played non-stop and farmed a little more than needed, and I beat the game in about 30 minutes.”
- “Try it out, but don't expect a game you'll be grinding for weeks, days, or even hours.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's atmosphere is enriched by its atmospheric history and experimental gameplay, complemented by humorous banter referencing memes. The stormy sea setting intensifies the emotional turbulence among the characters, creating a compelling and immersive experience.
- “Atmospheric history, experimental gameplay, banter on memes.”
- “The atmosphere of the storm on the sea added to the turbulence going on between all the people on the ship.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
200%
300%
Players express a strong desire for increased replayability, noting that while the game is enjoyable, its limited length and lack of additional content hinder extended play. Many feel that with more features or longer gameplay, they would have invested significantly more time.
- “The game offers so many different paths and choices that I can't wait to play it again.”
- “Each playthrough feels fresh due to the random events and character interactions.”
- “9/10 would have played for hours if it was longer or had more replay value.”
- “The game feels like a one-time experience; there's not much incentive to play again.”
- “Once you finish the main story, there's little left to explore or do.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its heartwarming simplicity, evoking genuine feelings and connections through straightforward storytelling and relatable themes.
- “Heartwarming in simplicity.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game is generally enjoyable, but players have reported experiencing some glitches that affect its stability.
- “Pretty funny little game, but there are some glitches that affect gameplay.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it hard to enjoy.”
- “I encountered several bugs that disrupted my experience.”

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Beneath The Surface
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10h Median play time

10h Average play time

10-10h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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