Don't Sink
- August 24, 2018
- thirteen
- 5h median play time
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Get on Xbox Games Store"Don't Sink" is a swashbuckling adventure game where you command a pirate fleet. Manage resources, engage in ship-to-ship combat, and make important decisions that can lead to prosperity or pirate peril. Your goal is to become the most notorious pirate captain on the high seas, while outwitting rivals and uncovering the mysteries of the Caribbean.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
Linux
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- Charming pixel art style and vibrant graphics that enhance the gameplay experience.
- Engaging and humorous dialogue with quirky NPCs that add personality to the game.
- Simple yet addictive gameplay loop that combines sailing, combat, and island management.
- Lacks depth and variety in gameplay, leading to repetitive tasks and limited content.
- Frequent crashes and bugs, particularly when interacting with shops or during combat.
- Short playtime with most content accessible within a few hours, making it feel less worth the price.
- story87 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's story is criticized for being shallow and largely composed of repetitive fetch quests, with a limited number of original missions that fail to engage players. While some users appreciate the humor and character interactions, many feel that the lack of a compelling main storyline and meaningful side quests detracts from the overall experience. Overall, players express a desire for more diverse and engaging content to enhance the narrative depth of the game.
“I enjoyed the quests and the general positive message of the game, and the laid-back pace.”
“Behind all the normal pirate things to do, there are missions to find and complete to advance a storyline in the game.”
“The gameplay consists of traveling from island to island finding and completing quests by well-written and witty characters.”
“Buggy, simplistic, and lacking any true story or goal to keep you going.”
“Way too short, repetitive, a small map, and quests run out really fast.”
“The main storyline in Don't Sink is pretty brief and leaves you to your own devices pretty much right off the bat.”
- gameplay56 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this 2D sidescroller is characterized by simple mechanics and a repetitive loop that, while fun and addictive, lacks depth and challenge. Players engage in maritime shipping, questing, and crew management, but many find the overall experience shallow and short, with some mechanics feeling underdeveloped or superfluous. Despite its charming visuals and humor, the game may not satisfy those seeking a more robust and polished gameplay experience.
“The game features a pixel art style with very simple mechanics of taking your ship to do quests, delivery jobs, governing the lands, and sailing the seas.”
“The gameplay is a mix of casual adventure, exploration, and a whole lot of fun.”
“It's super simple gameplay, but for all the other quest addicts out there, it really satisfies that craving.”
“The gameplay loop is fairly basic and simplistic, and as other reviews have mentioned, the game lacks true challenge in combat.”
“The general gameplay loop, outside of specific quest objectives, consists of sailing between islands via a sort of loading screen that tracks crew management.”
“There is barely any content; the game mechanics are barebones, and there is an overall lack of polish; the interface is cluttered and difficult to read.”
- graphics32 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by charming pixel art that evokes a vibrant and whimsical pirate aesthetic, enhancing the overall experience. While many players appreciate the simplicity and humor in the visuals, some find the mechanics clunky and the interaction points frustrating. Overall, the art style is well-received, with detailed backgrounds and a unique aesthetic that contributes positively to the game's atmosphere.
“The graphics are overwhelmingly charming.”
“The art style alone is great and it is so satisfying to see another ship explode when you take it down.”
“Also, hands down this game has a beautiful art style that gives the ocean life a very vivid and dreamy feel.”
“Well, we have a 2D-based game here, and that usually means pixelated graphics.”
“The graphics, while charming, are annoyingly clunky.”
“The graphics look okay.”
- music22 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, described as charming, soothing, and beautifully implemented, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. However, many players note that the soundtrack can become repetitive due to a limited number of looping tracks, which may detract from long play sessions. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the game's aesthetic, its lack of variety is a common criticism.
“When I stepped into this game, listened to the simple but charming music, with my daring-looking pirate captain, walked to the end of a pier and looked out on the sea... reading a really quite adept pondering on the nature of existence, followed by my pirate captain doing a double take and declaring something to the effect of 'uh, I mean... yarr, loot and booty,' I was certain I was going to be recommending this game.”
“The background music enhances the overall gameplay; whether you are in port stocking up on supplies or sailing the ocean, there are gorgeous sounds in the background to ensure your journey is not lonely.”
“This music is amazing; both the quality and how it varies slightly from island to island, giving each area a unique feel.”
“The music gets old quickly, and the sound effects are okay.”
“The art and music are weak and the gameplay is fetch quests with thoughtless clicks.”
“The music in Don't Sink is pretty well done and fits the casual nature of the game; however, it isn't really too pirate-y and there are only a few tracks that loop.”
- humor19 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for being clever and engaging, avoiding the forced millennial jokes often found in other titles. Players appreciate the lighthearted dialogue, quirky character names, and amusing quips from the crew, which contribute to a fun and relaxed gaming experience. Overall, the humor enhances the enjoyment of the game, making it a standout feature despite some technical issues.
“The humor is great and I got quite a few laughs out of it.”
“My favorite part was the funny quips the crew had about your actions on islands.”
“The game has light humor in its writing and it's all the better for it, setting the tone for a more relaxed pirate experience.”
- replayability10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has been criticized for its lack of replayability, with many users noting that once completed, there is little incentive to return. While it offers a fun experience initially, the absence of additional content or challenges leads to a consensus that replay value is essentially nonexistent. Players suggest that it may only be revisited years later for nostalgia rather than for engaging gameplay.
“The game is fun for a bit, but it could have used more things to do in-game to give it more replay value.”
“Don't expect amazing replayability; it's one of those games that you just complete 100% and never play them again except maybe in a couple of years because of nostalgia.”
“Even without much of any replayability (besides perma-death), this game was extremely fun.”
“It has 0 replayability whatsoever.”
“And for me the replay value was nil; I finished everything in the game and completed all the achievements, and that was that for me.”
“The depth of play is extremely shallow, even for a casual game, and the replayability is essentially nil as the game stands.”
- grinding8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and unengaging, often feeling that it detracts from the overall experience. Many express frustration with repetitive quests and a lack of meaningful content, leading to a sense of monotony as they grind for currency and achievements. Additionally, the interface and management systems are criticized for being confusing and cumbersome, further diminishing motivation to continue playing.
“Despite the nice feelings of nostalgia the game produced, I have to say overall that the game was not very in-depth and started to feel a bit grindy.”
“Just grinding currency to buy some stuff for achievements isn't that fun as an 'end game' stage to me.”
“There's not really something to keep you motivated to play, as it's basically just a whole lot of grinding and repetitive quests.”
- stability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's stability is mixed, with some users reporting occasional bugs that detract from the experience, while others note that it is relatively bug-free overall. However, the gameplay is described as simplistic and lacking depth, which may hinder enjoyment despite its humorous dialogue.
“The game is relatively bug free.”
“As it is, there is very little fun about this game except its sense of humor in dialogue, which you need to push through the occasionally buggy gameplay to get to, and there isn't much when you find it.”
“Buggy, simplistic, and lacking any true story or goal to keep you going.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews; while some players report good performance even on older hardware, others experience bugs and lower-than-expected frame rates, particularly for a pixel-art title. Overall, it struggles to deliver a consistently smooth experience across various systems.
“This game has very good performance; even on my 6-year-old laptop at max settings, I still got an average of 18 fps. At lower settings, I got it to run at an average of 32 fps.”
“For a pixel-art game, even on a low-end but still modern laptop, a high framerate is pretty much a given, but not for this game.”
“There were a few bugs and sometimes performance issues.”
“Low performance: for a pixel-art game, even on a low-end but still modern laptop, a high framerate is pretty much a given, but not for this game.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its fantastic pixel art and overall quality, reflecting the developers' effort to enhance the gaming experience. However, some users emphasize that despite these strengths, the game ultimately remains a game and may not transcend that boundary.
“The pixel art is fantastic, and the atmosphere is immersive, showcasing the valuable work put into enhancing the overall experience.”
“The atmosphere is beautifully crafted, drawing players into a captivating world that feels alive and engaging.”
“The game's atmosphere is rich and inviting, making every moment spent in it feel meaningful and memorable.”
