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 short narrative game about a boy lost in the middle of the ocean.

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Single-Player

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76%

Audience ScoreBased on 55 reviews

music8 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

Atmospheric and haunting audio-visual design with a unique black and white/yellowish art style that effectively conveys loneliness and melancholy.
Short, free experience suitable for a quick playthrough, delivering a poignant emotional impact with simple mechanics.
Interesting concept with a good soundtrack and sound design, showing promise for the developer's future projects.

Gameplay mechanics are very simple and somewhat imprecise, focusing mainly on dodging obstacles with limited player interaction, leading to trial-and-error frustration.
Extremely short length (around 5-10 minutes) which makes it feel more like an interactive art piece or demo rather than a full game.
Some minor bugs, occasional lag, and lack of tutorial or clear instructions reduce accessibility and immersion.

gameplay
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
67%
20%
The gameplay is brief and centered around simple, three-button controls that require trial and error, often causing confusion due to lack of clear mechanics or tutorials. While some appreciate its atmospheric and experimental approach, many find the imprecise controls and opaque mechanics hinder immersion and overall engagement.
- “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 all of these are semi-random, but also the controls are imprecise, resulting in a terrible gameplay.”
- “There's some good music and some atmospheric sound and art, however, the game mechanics are obtuse, 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 consistently praised for its beauty, soothing and emotive qualities, and atmospheric contribution to the overall experience. It effectively enhances the game's mood, creating a poignant and immersive environment, though at times it may overshadow the gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack is a standout element appreciated by players.
- “The black and white, simplistic character, yet realistic environment along with the sad and intense music make for a poignant atmosphere of loneliness.”
- “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 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 fantasia on a theme alone, and not necessarily the combination of the music and the game.”
story
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
42%
25%
The story aspect is generally considered minimalistic, ambiguous, and somewhat abstract, with some players finding it thought-provoking and others finding it unclear or lacking depth. While a few appreciate its dark or artistic nature, many feel that the narrative is either too brief, incomplete, or overshadowed by simplistic gameplay, leaving the overall experience forgettable.
- “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.”
- “As a game though, it is a little akin to the original Dragon’s Lair, only without the story and slapstick: every once in a while something pops up and you have to know which of the three available buttons you need to hold down to avoid it.”
graphics
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The graphics feature a minimalistic, high-contrast black and yellow art style that is visually pleasing and aligns with the game's artistic intent, though it lacks traditional visual refinement or options for enhancement. While the design receives praise for its emotive and stylized aesthetic, some users find the overall visual experience limited and not immersive enough for a full gameplay narrative.
- “Black and white/yellow-ish art style, the contrast is 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.”
- “There's no graphics tweaks or ways to improve the lacklustre visual quality, but this should be no surprise because this is not a game, it's an art installation.”
- “Terrible game and terrible graphics. Good story but very glitchy and the story doesn't have an end; it just goes on. Even if you don't hit a whale, you still die, so worst game.”
- “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.”
atmosphere
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
11%
33%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its poignant, lonely tone, enhanced by minimalist black-and-white visuals and intense, sad music. While the mood is effectively immersive and emotionally impactful, some players find the gameplay mechanics obscure, which can detract from the overall experience. Nonetheless, the atmospheric design is a standout element that resonates strongly with many.
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users indicate that grinding in the game may require additional effort or resources, such as a second life, to progress effectively.
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game demonstrates strong stability, with users reporting no bugs or glitches during their experience.

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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 music but disliked it for its gameplay.

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

Similar games include Limbo, Antenna, Pinkman, The Fabled Woods, Monochroma and others.

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