In the Darkness of the Sea

About

"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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

77%

Audience ScoreBased on 53 reviews

music8 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game features a beautiful and expressive art style, creating a haunting atmosphere that enhances the experience.
It's a free game that offers a brief but captivating experience, making it a worthwhile way to spend a few minutes.
The soundtrack is well-composed and complements the visuals, adding to the overall emotional impact of the game.

The gameplay is overly simplistic and lacks depth, with imprecise controls and minimal mechanics that can lead to frustration.
The experience is very short, lasting only about 5-10 minutes, which may leave players feeling unsatisfied.
There is little to no narrative context, making it feel more like an interactive art piece than a traditional game.

gameplay
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
67%
20%
The gameplay is characterized by a brief and experimental experience that relies on simple three-key controls, leading to a trial-and-error approach that can disrupt immersion. While some players appreciate the atmospheric elements, many criticize the lack of clear mechanics and tutorials, resulting in confusion and imprecise controls that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the gameplay feels underdeveloped and may leave players wanting more direction and depth.
- “As it stands, there is some gameplay; and there isn't even anything wrong with the fact that it uses only three buttons.”
- “Then it cleverly lets you scramble at the start of every scene, by not explaining the few basic mechanics you need to move forwards, and thus evoking a sense of helplessness and confusion.”
- “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
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
15%
23%
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the overall experience, creating a poignant atmosphere that complements the visuals. While many find the soundtrack soothing and emotive, some reviewers feel that it occasionally overshadows the gameplay, suggesting a disconnect between the music and the game's mechanics. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's artistic impact.
- “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 an interactive experience) is very, very short; it's a striking almost piece of art with really beautiful music to go along with it.”
- “The black and white, simplistic character, yet realistic environment along with the sad and intense music make for a poignant atmosphere of loneliness.”
- “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
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
42%
25%
The reviews indicate a mixed reception regarding the game's story, with some players finding it minimalistic and lacking depth, while others appreciate its dark themes and thought-provoking elements. However, many feel that the narrative is either confusing, incomplete, or overshadowed by gameplay issues, leading to an overall forgettable experience. Despite some positive mentions, the consensus suggests that the story does not significantly enhance the game's appeal.
- “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
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The graphics are characterized by a minimalistic black and yellow art style that creates a high-contrast, emotive aesthetic, which some players find pleasing despite the overall lack of visual depth. While the visuals are described as exemplary in their simplicity, the game's short duration and limited interactive experience 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/yellowish art style is striking, and the contrast is visually appealing.”
- “As an art project, it uses a very simple, clear graphical design, relying on stylized, 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 worst game.”
atmosphere
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
11%
33%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its poignant and immersive qualities, featuring a blend of gloomy visuals, minimalist character design, and evocative music that effectively conveys feelings of loneliness and intensity. While some players appreciate the atmospheric depth, others find the gameplay mechanics frustrating, which can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the atmosphere is a standout element that resonates with many players, despite some criticisms regarding gameplay clarity.
- “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
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
200%
300%
Players indicate that grinding in the game can be quite demanding, often requiring significant time investment or additional lives to progress effectively.
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is satisfying and offers a real sense of progression.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
- “I spent hours grinding, and it felt like I made no progress.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report a high level of stability, with no significant bugs or glitches encountered during gameplay.