Death in the Water

About

Death in the Water is a single player shooter game. It was developed by Lighthouse Games Studio and was released on September 11, 2019. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Death in the Water" is an open water diving survival game where you face off against menacing Great White sharks. The game is designed to be challenging, with most players struggling to survive past three encounters with the sharks. Your goal is to see how long you can last against these powerful predators in the vast underwater world.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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72%

Audience ScoreBased on 148 reviews

graphics15 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game successfully creates a tense atmosphere, making players feel vulnerable as they hunt sharks in low visibility.
Graphics and sound design are surprisingly good for a budget title, enhancing the overall immersive experience.
It's a simple yet fun arcade-style game that can provide a quick thrill, especially for those who enjoy shark-related themes.

The gameplay is repetitive and lacks depth, with only one type of enemy and minimal environmental variety.
Controls can feel janky, and the mechanics are overly simplistic, leading to a lack of long-term engagement.
Many players feel the game is not worth its price, suggesting it should be free or significantly cheaper given its limited content.

graphics
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
79%
5%
16%
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their impressive realism, particularly the depiction of sharks and water effects, which contribute to a beautiful aesthetic. While some users note that the visuals are somewhat rough around the edges, they still consider them surprisingly good for a minimalistic game, especially given its low price point. Overall, the graphics are described as solid and enjoyable, enhancing the gaming experience.
- “The graphics are surprisingly good, the sharks are impressive and look almost realistic at times, and the water and lighting effects are solid.”
- “The game offers some nice graphics and a beautiful aesthetic which is pleasant all the same and has some amazing attention to detail even though it is a little rough around the edges.”
- “The graphics are stunning.”
- “It's a shame that Death in the Water 2 used AI for the artwork of the main menu along with a few other things.”
- “The graphics are serviceable.”
- “The graphics are pretty solid for a $3 game.”
gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The gameplay is straightforward and primarily focused on survival, with players aiming to beat their records while navigating a submerged environment. While the controls and mechanics are well-integrated, the game lacks depth, offering minimal combat options and challenges. Overall, it provides a brief but enjoyable experience, though expectations should be tempered as it is not complex or varied.
- “The controls and mechanics pair well with the submerged gameplay.”
- “I really liked seeing how the engine and mechanics were carried over to the second game!”
- “It only has 20 minutes of gameplay, but it's pretty good actually.”
- “The gameplay is basic; you just have to survive and try to beat your record.”
- “Don't expect a lot of combat mechanics or weapons.”
- “No other mechanics or challenges to look forward to.”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
20%
30%
The atmosphere in "Death in the Water" is described as tense and immersive, effectively capturing the feeling of being underwater and surrounded by danger, particularly with the threat of sharks lurking in the depths. While the game excels in creating a compelling underwater ambiance with impressive water effects and models, some players feel that the environment can become monotonous, lacking variety beyond the aquatic setting. Overall, the atmosphere is a standout feature, though opinions vary on its depth and engagement.
- “The sharks are also tanky, being able to take nearly a full mag of harpoons, which leads to the later part of the game having you completely swarmed and needing to constantly scan the 360 degrees around you to see which shark is nearest, giving this tense atmosphere that reminds you of how exposed you would be in a real ocean.”
- “The game is cool, the atmosphere is awesome, and it makes you feel like you're underwater, surrounded by danger.”
- “The water effects, the models, the look of darkness... all create a good atmosphere.”
- “Death in the water honestly feels like an old school Xbox 360 arcade game. It's a little rough around the edges, the controls are a bit janky, but for what the game set out to achieve, I feel like it nails it. The atmosphere is honestly quite tense at times; not having complete visibility really adds to the scare of a shark suddenly appearing from any direction.”
- “The sharks are also tanky, being able to take nearly a full magazine of harpoons, which leads to the later part of the game having you completely swarmed and needing to constantly scan the 360 degrees around you to see which shark is nearest, giving this tense atmosphere that reminds you of how exposed you would be in a real ocean.”
- “But the atmosphere felt boring, which was only water and a few rocks.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The music in the game is described as fitting and intense, enhancing the overall experience with a creepy atmosphere that complements the gameplay. While some players find it repetitive, others appreciate its ability to evoke a sense of challenge and tension, particularly during encounters with sharks. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong aspect of the game, contributing to its unique and immersive qualities.
- “The soundtrack is good for what the game is.”
- “The music has a fitting intensity to it that captures the entire experience in a great way.”
- “The graphics are great; as well as the music.”
- “The music is okay but it can get repetitive, just like the gameplay.”
- “For what it's worth, I would say the music was creepy, like blowing a long horn.”
- “The game should have a start menu showing bloody waters and some intense music.”
story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The game lacks a defined story or end goal, with players noting that the environment feels flat and directionless. Some users suggest that incorporating a simple narrative, such as diving for hidden treasures, could enhance the experience. There is hope for a sequel that may offer a more engaging storyline.
- “A story can be likened to diving for lost and hidden treasures scattered all over different parts of the ocean.”
- “Can't wait for the second one! Maybe that will have a bit more story and gameplay.”
- “There is no story that I could find, and it doesn't look like you can swim somewhere new by swimming in one direction the entire time; it's all just one flat open area underwater.”
- “There is no story or end goal.”
- “If this game was given a simple story like I mentioned earlier, I think it would be better.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
Overall, the game's replayability is limited, with some players expressing no desire to play again. While it tracks best runs, which adds a slight incentive to replay, the absence of a leaderboard for score comparison diminishes competitive replay value. Some users appreciate the game as a more engaging alternative to typical achievement-grinding titles.
- “The game keeps track of your best runs, which adds replay value. It would be nice if there was a leaderboard to compare your scores with others.”
- “If you want some achievement score points without grinding through cheap 1,000-point achievements, this game is a more playable and entertaining version.”
- “There is no replayability at all; I have zero intention of redownloading and playing this again after posting this review.”
- “The game also keeps track of your best runs, which adds some replay value, but it would be nice if there was a leaderboard to compare your scores with others.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of absurdity and relatable fears, with players finding amusement in the endless demo loop and the combination of thalassophobia and galeophobia, leading to both screams and laughter. Overall, it seems to effectively blend comedic elements with thrilling experiences.
- “Haha... funny endless demo loop... for 5 dollars?”
- “Thalassophobia + galeophobia = lots of screams, soiled pants, and laughing kids.”