Breakwaters
- December 9, 2021
- Soaring Pixels Games
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam"Breakwaters is a 2-player co-op/single-player exploration survival game with a good plot and exceptional gameplay. The game features a procedural world with interactive water simulations, massive Titans, and ocean depths filled with rare resources. Players can gather crystals, build structures, and engage in trading with passing fishermen to rebuild and survive in this compelling game, despite its numerous grinding and bugs."
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game has great potential with unique water physics and a beautiful art style.
- The developers are responsive and have released multiple patches to address issues quickly.
- The gameplay is enjoyable, especially for fans of survival and crafting genres.
- The camera controls are janky and can cause motion sickness for some players.
- There are significant performance issues, with low FPS even on high-end PCs.
- The inventory management and crafting systems feel clunky and need improvement.
- story76 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 83 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant bugs and issues that hinder quest progression and completion. While some find the narrative intriguing and appreciate the unique setting and mechanics, others criticize the lack of clarity and guidance in missions, leading to frustration. Overall, the story has potential but requires substantial refinement and bug fixes to enhance the player experience.
“The story has a lot of mystery yet it is very clear what you have to do; there are also not a whole lot of quests, which is nice. Most quests after the first island give you bigger goals, so you have time to play the game you want.”
“As you uncover the secrets of the underwater world, you'll encounter intriguing characters and unravel a touching story of courage, friendship, and the power of nature.”
“There are also quests and a story which you do not see often in survival games like this, so that is a really nice change.”
“Lastly and most importantly, the quest markers are bugged; it tells you to meet someone but doesn't say where, making it impossible to progress in the game.”
“The story quest line, for me anyway, seems broken and buggy.”
“Game was fun for the one hour permitted to play, but it was a bit janky and definitely needs a bit of refinement; I honestly think the entire quest system could be thrown out the window.”
- gameplay72 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay in this title is characterized by its innovative water mechanics, which are praised for their visual appeal and unique manipulation features, although the absence of underwater gameplay is noted as a significant oversight. While the crafting and survival elements provide a familiar experience, many players find the overall gameplay loop to be somewhat monotonous and lacking in direction, with issues such as clunky controls and bugs detracting from the experience. Despite these drawbacks, the game shows potential for improvement, particularly with its engaging exploration and puzzle-solving elements.
“The water mechanics are amazing.”
“The gameplay mechanics in Breakwaters are both innovative and engaging.”
“The combination of exploration, puzzle-solving, and platforming elements keeps the gameplay fresh and rewarding, encouraging you to think creatively and use your powers strategically.”
“The very strange choice to not include any underwater mechanics/gameplay in a game centered around the ocean, featuring a fantastic and gorgeous liquid system with great caustics physics, is puzzling. It looks amazing, but clearly no underwater shaders were implemented, which is strange because when you're playing, it really feels like there should be.”
“The 'survival gameplay' was passable a few years ago, but other survival crafts have come along with far better realized games and more basic polish, within a similar development lifetime and team size.”
“Having to do so many missions in different places just to gain even basic tech seems like a major grind for no reason other than it's the only mechanic it currently has.”
- graphics57 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful art style, stunning water physics, and dynamic environments, while others report significant performance issues, including low frame rates and stuttering even on high-end PCs. Some users find the graphics appealing for an early access title, but note that optimization is needed to improve gameplay experience. Overall, while the visuals are generally well-received, technical challenges hinder the enjoyment for many players.
“The graphics are gorgeous, the mechanics are working properly.”
“Very cool water mechanics, great style and graphics.”
“The graphics, art style, and lighting...simply amazing.”
“I tried high graphics just to test it and the game kept stuttering and freezing.”
“I just bought the game and loaded it up, created a new character and world, looking pretty nice but once I got in I had less than 2 fps. I adjusted the graphics settings to basically minimum and still had terrible fps (barely improved). If this game is given time and work (and much optimization) it could be the best, but right now if you want it, buy it on sale then wait for patches before playing.”
“The game also runs quite poorly even on a high-end PC with minimal graphical settings to try and help.”
- optimization42 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with many players experiencing significant performance issues such as stuttering, low frame rates, and drastic drops in busy environments, even on high-end hardware. While some users report improved performance on stronger systems, the consensus is that the game requires substantial optimization and bug fixes to reach its full potential. Overall, players recommend waiting for further updates before fully engaging with the game.
“Huge amounts of potential, once the optimization gets a bit better (DLSS would be great) this will be a true gem.”
“This game has great potential but definitely needs to be tweaked and optimized.”
“I think performance issues will be addressed and this will blossom into a great game.”
“There is no optimization for this game.”
“I bought this game to play with a friend and it has been fun; however, the biggest issue was very low FPS and overall performance.”
“Terrible optimization, wait until the game gets fixed before you try to play.”
- stability27 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 89 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been widely criticized, particularly regarding its multiplayer functionality, which is plagued by bugs, desync issues, and has even been removed entirely. While some players find enjoyment in the single-player experience despite the presence of glitches, many report significant gameplay interruptions due to bugs that hinder story progression and overall playability. Overall, the game is considered to be in a very buggy state, with players expressing hope for future improvements.
“I have tested on Ubuntu 20.04 with Proton v6, and it runs great. Performance is about the same. The only issue is that the video in the main menu isn't showing correctly, but who cares?”
“Runs great for me, but I have a good PC.”
“It runs great on my PC. People are probably just using old hardware. I'm using a GTX 1070 with an i9 10850K processor, and it runs great.”
“Bought the game with friends to play multiplayer, but the game was too buggy to be playable. Major desync issues, and I returned a few months later to find that multiplayer has been removed. The devs refuse to acknowledge that they promised multiplayer, including showing it in the original trailer.”
“Still too buggy; you can't progress in the story because of bugs (the worst kind of bugs after crashing bugs).”
“This game is barely playable and very buggy, as well as the controls being barely responsive.”
- grinding11 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed bag; while some appreciate the balance in harvesting and crafting that keeps it engaging without being overly tedious, others feel that certain elements, like limited inventory and repetitive tasks, can make the experience feel grindy and frustrating. The crafting system is generally well-received, but some players express a desire for improvements to streamline the process and reduce the tedium associated with gathering resources.
“The game feels grindy; I have found myself going to a different island multiple times to get an item for crafting. The inventory is far too limited.”
“Boss seems laughably overpowered even if I did spend the time grinding to get better equipment, which I won't do because it doesn't seem worth it yet.”
“I really don't see the need for a survival crafting aspect to this game when it feels tedious almost all the time, especially when the main selling point of this game is the physics of the water, which are amazing.”
- music8 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received high praise for its quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many players noting its beauty and suitability for relaxation even outside of gameplay. The soundtrack is described as surprisingly good, complementing the stunning visuals and water mechanics, although some users expressed a desire for the option to turn it off. Overall, the musical score significantly contributes to the game's immersive experience.
“The music is really pretty and I would listen to it even when not playing the game.”
“The musical score of Breakwaters deserves special mention, as it perfectly complements the serene atmosphere of the game.”
“The water mechanics and soundtrack are amazing, and I hope I get to see this game pump out successful updates in the near future <3”
“Can't turn off the music.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning graphics, charming art style, and serene musical score, which together create an immersive and captivating experience. Players appreciate the chill gameplay and the enchanting environment, likening it to titles like Valheim while highlighting its unique water physics. Overall, the atmosphere is described as uplifting and beautifully crafted.
“The atmosphere lifted me off my chair.”
“I like the graphics, environment art style, and the atmosphere.”
“The musical score of Breakwaters deserves special mention, as it perfectly complements the serene atmosphere of the game.”
- emotional5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a touching narrative that explores themes of courage, friendship, and the power of nature, enhancing emotional immersion and making player interactions feel significant. Despite being in early development, the potential for a heartfelt and impactful experience is evident, supported by the developers' responsiveness to feedback. Overall, the combination of emotional depth and stunning visuals promises an enchanting journey for players.
“As you uncover the secrets of the underwater world, you'll encounter intriguing characters and unravel a touching story of courage, friendship, and the power of nature.”
“The emotional depth of the narrative adds an extra layer of immersion and gives purpose to your journey, making each discovery and interaction feel meaningful and impactful.”
“With its breathtaking visuals, innovative gameplay mechanics, and a heartfelt narrative, it offers an enchanting and unforgettable experience.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted as very entertaining, with players finding the bugs to be amusing rather than frustrating, often describing the experience as a "hilarious buggy mess." Many users appreciate the lighthearted approach to the glitches, which are generally easy to resolve.
“Very funny game.”
“Be prepared for a hilarious buggy mess.”
“Plenty of bugs, all either funny or easy to fix with save and reset.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is criticized due to misleading advertising as a multiplayer experience, leading users to advise against purchasing until the game is fully functional.
“The monetization model feels exploitative, with essential features locked behind paywalls.”
“It's frustrating to see so many in-game advantages tied to real money purchases, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending.”
“The constant push for microtransactions detracts from the overall experience, making it feel more like a cash grab than a game.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviewers suggest that the game's replayability may be limited at present, with many recommending waiting for future updates to enhance the experience before purchasing.
“The game lacks meaningful content to encourage replayability; once you've completed it, there's little incentive to return.”
“After finishing the main storyline, I found myself with no reason to play again, as the side quests felt repetitive and uninspired.”
“The game offers very little in terms of variety for multiple playthroughs, making it feel like a one-and-done experience.”
