In the Darkness of the Sea

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In the Darkness of the Sea is a single player action game. It was developed by Olivier Leclair and was released on February 1, 2017. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"In the Darkness of the Sea" is a 2D-narrative game where players control a boy lost at sea in a lifeboat. Throughout the game, players must avoid menacing sea creatures and weather a powerful storm, all while being inspired by classic literary works such as "The Old Man and the Sea," "Life of Pi," and the illustrations of "Moby Dick" by Raymond Bishop. The game promises a hauntingly beautiful and unforgettable experience.

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Single-Player

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77%

Audience ScoreBased on 106 reviews

gameplay4 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

The game features a beautiful and expressive art style, creating a poignant atmosphere of loneliness.
It has a hauntingly good soundtrack that complements the visuals well, enhancing the overall experience.
As a free game, it offers a brief but interesting interactive experience that can be enjoyed in about 5-10 minutes.

The gameplay mechanics are simplistic and often frustrating, with imprecise controls and a lack of clear instructions.
The experience is very short, lasting only around 5-10 minutes, which may leave players wanting more substance.
Many players feel it lacks a coherent narrative, making it feel more like an art project than a traditional game.

gameplay
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
77%
10%
The gameplay is characterized by a brief and experimental experience that relies on simple three-key controls, but it suffers from imprecise mechanics and a lack of clear instructions, leading to confusion and immersion-breaking trial-and-error moments. While the atmospheric elements are praised, many players feel that the gameplay is too minimal and lacks depth, requiring a tutorial or more engaging mechanics to enhance the overall experience. Overall, the game offers a captivating but frustrating gameplay experience that may not satisfy those looking for more substantial interaction.
- “As it stands, there is some gameplay; and there isn't even anything wrong with the fact that it uses only three buttons.”
- “For what it was, it was nice; still, 7 minutes of gameplay is not a lot, but the game is free so I cannot bash it.”
- “A brief, captivating experience that explains very little about its simple mechanics, forcing you to experiment with 3-key controls in order to survive the ride.”
- “Not only are all of these semi-random, but also the controls are imprecise, resulting in terrible gameplay.”
- “There's some good music and some atmospheric sound and art; however, the game mechanics are obtuse, and it's not always apparent why you're dying or even that you're dying.”
music
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
26%
12%
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and ability to create a poignant atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience with soothing and emotive themes. While the soundtrack is considered a highlight, some players feel it occasionally overshadows the gameplay, suggesting that the music should complement rather than dominate the scenes. Overall, the combination of atmospheric sounds and visuals contributes to a striking, albeit short, interactive experience.
- “The music is nice, the sound of the water is nice, and the overall experience for me was nice.”
- “It starts off by suggesting a sense of serenity, carried over by a soothing musical theme and even more by a highly emotive visual aesthetic.”
- “While this game (more like interactive experience) is very, very short; it's a striking almost piece of art with really beautiful music to go along with it.”
- “It’s a really nice song, but I think sometimes what is going on in the game isn’t as powerful as the music.”
- “Music is generally supposed to complement a scene - not overshadow it.”
- “I think some of what I felt was due to the music alone, and not necessarily the combination of the music and the game.”
story
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
54%
13%
The game's story is often described as minimalistic and lacking depth, with some players finding it forgettable or confusing. While a few appreciate its dark themes and artistic intent, many criticize the absence of a coherent narrative and direction, leading to a gameplay experience that feels more like a visual piece than a fully realized story. Overall, the storytelling aspect seems to be a mixed bag, with some enjoying the brief narrative while others find it glitchy and unsatisfying.
- “100% good 1 min game that tells a story and that story ended but will love to play any update that comes along.”
- “In the darkness of the sea is a fun little story adventure game where you paddle your way through a storm on a little rowboat.”
- “Story is one of those types that make you think of what it's trying to say.”
- “The problem is that, for all its minimalistic-yet-pleasing visuals and frankly exemplary sound design, there isn't really much of an experience here, much less a 'story'.”
- “But, I didn't understand the story (if there is one...) and the game is easily forgettable...”
- “It has something we may call a dark story, but it is more of an art for art’s sake kind of little thing.”
graphics
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
50%
17%
The graphics are characterized by a minimalistic black and yellow art style that some players find visually pleasing, though others criticize the overall quality as lackluster. While the high-contrast visuals contribute to a serene atmosphere, the game's short duration and lack of depth leave some players feeling underwhelmed. Overall, the graphics serve more as an art installation than a traditional gaming experience, with no options for enhancement.
- “The black and white/yellow-ish art style creates a nice contrast that enhances the visual experience.”
- “As an art project, it uses a very simple, clear graphical design, relying on stylised, high-contrast black and yellow scenery to depict a lone boy floating in a derelict lifeboat.”
- “It starts off by suggesting a sense of serenity, carried over by a soothing musical theme and even more by a highly emotive visual aesthetic.”
- “There's no graphics tweaks or ways to improve the lackluster visual quality, but this should be no surprise because this is not a game, it's an art installation.”
- “The problem is that, for all its minimalistic-yet-pleasing visuals and frankly exemplary sound design, there isn't really much of an experience here, much less a 'story'.”
- “Terrible game and terrible graphics; good story but very glitchy, and the story doesn't have an end. It just goes on, and even if you don't hit a whale, you still die, so it's the worst game.”
atmosphere
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
27%
17%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its poignant sense of loneliness, enhanced by a combination of black and white visuals, realistic environments, and evocative music. While some players appreciate the immersive and experimental qualities, others find the trial-and-error mechanics frustrating, which can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the atmosphere successfully resonates with many players, creating a memorable emotional impact.
- “Well made game, and the atmosphere reaches the player as intended!”
- “The atmosphere of the game is good, and there was enough in there to surprise me and make me feel something.”
- “However, if you despise trial-and-error, not even the gloomy atmosphere may salvage this project for you.”
- “The black and white, simplistic character, yet realistic environment along with the sad and intense music make for a poignant atmosphere of loneliness.”
- “As a constant champion of games that dare to favor atmosphere and/or experimentation over 'gameplay', I feel I should have appreciated this one a bit more.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players indicate that grinding in the game is so demanding that it may require a second playthrough or additional effort to achieve desired progress or rewards.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report a high level of stability, with no bugs or glitches encountered during gameplay.

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Frequently Asked Questions

In the Darkness of the Sea is a action game.

In the Darkness of the Sea is available on PC and Windows.

In the Darkness of the Sea was released on February 1, 2017.

In the Darkness of the Sea was developed by Olivier Leclair.

In the Darkness of the Sea has received mostly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

In the Darkness of the Sea is a single player game.

Similar games include MANDAGON, Burning Daylight, LIMBO, Monochroma, The Spirit of the Samurai and others.

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