Hidden Deep

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Hidden Deep is a 2D sci-fi thriller game set in a sub oceanic mining and research facility, where you lead a team to discover what happened to the previous researchers who went missing. Utilize specialized equipment, give orders to your team, and defend against horrific alien life forms and other unknown dangers. The game features multiple game modes, including a single-player option.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

Reviews

79%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,463 reviews

story68 positive mentions

stability50 negative mentions

The game has a great atmosphere and sound design, creating a tense and immersive experience.
The grappling hook mechanics are fun and add a unique element to traversal and exploration.
The game shows a lot of potential with its interesting concept and engaging gameplay.

The controls can be clunky and unresponsive, leading to frustrating deaths and gameplay experiences.
There is a lack of enemy variety, making encounters feel repetitive and less engaging over time.
The game is currently buggy, with issues such as soft-locks and crashes that can disrupt progress.

story
354 mentions
19 % positive mentions
76 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as intriguing yet sparse, with many players expressing a desire for more narrative depth and clarity. While some appreciate the atmospheric setting and potential for a compelling plot, others find the storytelling disjointed and lacking in coherence, often feeling like a series of disconnected missions rather than a cohesive narrative. Overall, players are eager for future updates to enhance the story and gameplay experience.
- “Immersive narrative: the plot is intriguing and is told in an indirect manner, encouraging players to unearth the story through exploration and the clues found along the way.”
- “The story, atmosphere, graphics, and everything else like those things are great.”
- “I really dig the story and can't wait to finish it.”
- “The story is boring and I already forgot what it's even about; it's pretty generic.”
- “Uhhh, it's a chill game, not much there when it comes to plot at the moment. It's sort of choppy with you doing one mission and then suddenly jumping weeks ahead with no explanation of what's been going on in between those jumps, so it's a bit silly.”
- “The story feels lacking.”
gameplay
262 mentions
35 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Hidden Deep" is characterized by a blend of exploration, survival, and strategy, offering a mix of engaging mechanics and atmospheric tension. While many players appreciate the unique tools and physics-based interactions, they also note issues with clunky controls, bugs, and frustrating mechanics that can detract from the overall experience. Despite its potential and enjoyable elements, the game is still in early access and requires further polish and content to fully realize its promise.
- “Released in 2022, the game stands out for its tense atmosphere and engaging gameplay mechanics.”
- “Hidden Deep's gameplay blends exploration, survival, and strategy elements.”
- “The gameplay is challenging and varied, with different tools and weapons to use, puzzles to solve, and enemies to fight.”
- “If I could get a refund on this, I would. But if you like unfair game mechanics, an overabundance of microscopic creatures, and cheap deaths, then this is the game for you.”
- “The game is boring, combat is annoying, it's buggy as hell, getting stuck in walls, and the climbing mechanics often fail, leading to frequent deaths. I can’t even use a ladder without restarting multiple times because it throws me off the ledge instead of letting me climb.”
- “At this quality of gameplay, with deaths to janky mechanics more often than actual enemies, I start to regret the money spent.”
atmosphere
181 mentions
71 % positive mentions
28 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and tense qualities, effectively combining dark visuals, eerie sound design, and a sense of mystery that enhances the gameplay experience. Many players appreciate the game's ability to evoke feelings of dread and suspense, reminiscent of classic sci-fi horror films like "The Thing" and "Alien." While some reviewers note minor issues with pacing and mechanics, the overall consensus is that the atmosphere is a standout feature that captivates players and keeps them engaged.
- “The narrative is revealed through exploration and discoveries in the environment, creating an atmosphere of mystery and tension.”
- “Fantastic grimy and sufficiently vintage sci-fi visuals coupled with a dark brooding soundscape comprised of unnerving droning, industrial accidents, brief moments of fatality breaking the silence of a cave, and gross things crawling around, heavily atmospheric all around.”
- “The atmosphere is amazing and the gameplay is interesting.”
- “The atmosphere is dark and dense; it sets the mood well.”
- “While this is definitely a good backbone of systems to build on, the actual world-building and atmosphere needed for it to reach what it is appears to be marketing to are yet to be fleshed out.”
- “The story and atmosphere were also lacking.”
graphics
75 mentions
43 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Hidden Deep" are generally praised for their atmospheric and immersive qualities, effectively creating a dark and tense environment that enhances the horror experience. While some users appreciate the detailed 2D art style and nostalgic feel, others criticize the presence of bugs, wonky controls, and a lack of variety in environmental graphics. Overall, the visuals are considered good for an indie title, though there are calls for further polish and improvement.
- “Hidden Deep features a graphical style that combines realism and a dark atmosphere, reflecting the oppressive underground environment.”
- “The game has a dark and atmospheric art style that creates a sense of dread and tension.”
- “Fantastic grimy and sufficiently vintage sci-fi visuals coupled with a dark brooding soundscape comprised of unnerving droning, industrial accidents, and gross things crawling around, heavily atmospheric all around.”
- “Ugly graphics, bugs, contrived level design, frustrating controls, and bad English.”
- “Furthermore, the game desperately needs more variety in environmental graphics and enemy types.”
- “The graphics settings will not save.”
stability
50 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game is widely criticized for its instability, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly hinder gameplay. Players frequently encounter issues such as softlocks, erratic physics, and unresponsive controls, leading to frustrating experiences. While some appreciate the game's potential and enjoy its core mechanics, the overall consensus is that it remains unpolished and in need of substantial fixes.
- “At the time, the game is buggy; it can crash after a level is completed or when a save point is reloaded.”
- “The game is great, but it's buggy as hell. Boring machines only work at specific angles, and you will constantly softlock yourself because the game just refuses to work as intended.”
- “I've gotten softlocked three times on the same level because of some glitches. I would not recommend this until the developers have fixed a bit more of the bugs and glitches that are currently very common in the game.”
music
40 mentions
33 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere and tension, effectively complementing the dark and eerie aesthetic. Reviewers note that the soundtrack and sound effects are well-composed, creating an immersive auditory experience that contributes significantly to the horror elements. While some players express a desire for more variety in the music, the overall consensus is that the sound design is a high point, adding to the game's chilling ambiance.
- “The soundtrack and sound effects are designed to heighten tension and immersion.”
- “Atmospheric soundtrack: the music and sound effects are well composed and help to create an auditory experience that complements the dark atmosphere of the game.”
- “The subtle music coupled with the sound design really make the game eerie as you progress.”
- “I want it to do well, but there's other issues like the lack of variety for weapons and enemies, the use of repetitive copyright-free music that sounds like the stuff in creepypasta YouTube videos.”
- “Simply the music puts me on edge.”
- “The soundtrack is kinda small for the most part but it is good.”
grinding
19 mentions
5 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
95 % negative mentions
Players consistently find the grinding aspect of the game to be frustrating and tedious, often feeling like they are stuck in repetitive tasks with limited enemy variety and cumbersome mechanics. Many reviews highlight that the combat and mission objectives become monotonous, detracting from the overall enjoyment and sense of accomplishment. The game's physics and character controls further exacerbate the tedium, making progression feel more like a chore than an engaging experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “I really want to like this game, but so far it is pretty frustrating and tedious to clear the same 3 enemies out over and over again while taking damage in the most annoying and cheap ways.”
- “After 4 or 5 levels, the game began to feel a little bit more like tedious work, and left less of a sense of accomplishment.”
- “I understand this may be my own taste, but I think it's something to say that this game is more tedious task than scary, if scary at all.”
humor
15 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely derived from its unpredictable physics and ragdoll animations, leading to both hilarious and frustrating moments, such as comical deaths and unexpected NPC behaviors. Players appreciate the slapstick nature of the gameplay, reminiscent of titles like "Happy Wheels," though some find the janky mechanics can become annoying, especially when they lead to repeated failures. Overall, the game offers a mix of laugh-out-loud scenarios and moments of irritation, making for a uniquely entertaining experience.
- “The physics are really something; it's the most enjoyable experience I've had in a long time. Nothing is more classic than trying to swing across a chasm only to faceplant into the opposite wall, blood and all, then watch your lifeless body fall to the bottom. Watch out for environmental hazards like a slippery ledge—literally watch your character fly off it, then repeat it, wondering what is going on, only to realize a small sign on the wall behind you after wasting three lives says 'slippery ledge.' This game is too much fun, and some of the ways you'll die are absolutely hilarious.”
- “Some silly stuff is going to happen, and sometimes there are things that will make you mad—in a funny way.”
- “This game is hilarious!”
replayability
10 mentions
30 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
30 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the variety of challenges and exploration opportunities that encourage revisiting, others find it lacking in content and depth, limiting its long-term appeal. Features like challenge modes and potential future updates may enhance replayability, but currently, many feel it offers only a one-time enjoyable experience.
- “The combination of exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving also contributes to high replayability.”
- “Replayability: the variety of challenges and the ability to explore different approaches to problem-solving encourage players to revisit the game for new experiences.”
- “Challenge mode adds a ton of replayability, and remote play means I can force one of my friends to play it with me.”
- “Though a bit short, the game has some replayability value.”
- “It isn't a bad game, but in its current early access state, it is not worth more than $10. Even with more levels, guns, and enemies added, I can't see enough content ever existing to justify more than twice that, as the game has basically no replay value.”
- “Overall, it was an enjoyable one-time experience, but with very little replay value for me.”
emotional
5 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express a mix of emotions regarding the game's narrative and challenges, highlighting a desire for deeper storytelling while appreciating the wholesome campaign experience. The emotional impact is amplified by the game's difficulty, with some players experiencing frustration and tears during intense moments, particularly during the final boss fight. Overall, the game promises an evolving emotional journey with future content.
- “With endless possibilities of where this game will go and new content to come in the future, the emotional roller coaster I feel is just getting started.”
- “You can play the game for the campaign right now; it is very wholesome.”
- “Yeah, no, it's pretty good. The final boss is very hard; I cried.”
optimization
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
Overall, users indicate that while the game runs smoothly and is stable, there are optimization issues, particularly for players with high refresh rate monitors, leading to mouse stuttering. However, there is optimism that future updates will improve performance.
- “Really solid early access game; the game itself doesn't crash and runs smoothly.”
- “This probably isn't an issue for anyone with a 60Hz monitor, but if you have a 120+Hz monitor, it's extremely jarring to see your mouse stuttering at half the refresh rate you normally use it at.”
- “Will get better with updates and optimization.”
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn criticism for not aligning with player expectations, particularly regarding its advertised couch co-op features, which appear to be incomplete or absent. Players feel that the current focus on puzzles detracts from the promised multiplayer experience, raising concerns about the game's marketing strategy.
- “The monetization model feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
- “I was disappointed to find that many features are locked behind paywalls, which detracts from the overall experience.”
- “The constant prompts to purchase in-game currency disrupt the flow of gameplay and make it feel more like a cash grab.”